HINDUTVA AND INDIAN SECULARISM by Balram Misra
and/or www.mantra.com/jai
Hindutva and Indian secularism
By Balram Misra
Thursday, April 15, 2010
In his recent blog L K Advani has aptly quoted Ram Jethmalani's
observation on Hindutva. In his article titled Hindutva is not
property of BJP published in an issue of the Delhi and London based
English weekly The Sunday Guardian Ram Jethmalani says it is a pity
that the BJP has not been able to explain that Hindutva and Indian
secularism are practically synonymous. The observation shows how
deeply concerned Jethmalani is about Hindutva, secularism and the
BJP. He expects BJP to explain how Hindutva is synonymous with
secularism. In deed, Ram Jethmalani should be thanked by BJP and
Shiva Sena and given a high pedestal, because it was he who very ably
argued the case of Hindutva in Supreme Court of India and convinced
the apex court to decree that Hindutva is a way of life, or state of
mind, and can not be understood as religious Hindu fundamentalism. It
appears that the history-baggage that named the ancient Indian way of
life as Hinduism has created a serious confusion, by forcing it to
accept the epithet supposedly connoting a religion, which, like any
other religion, is alleged to be incompatible with secularism.
History emasculated this universal way of life and, quite
surreptitiously, reduced it, at least it's body, to the form of a
religion. Dharma or Dhamma, it's very life-spirit that really meant
universal humanism, were ignored to suit political interests of the
invaders. It was the need to rejuvenate the tattered Indian society
that the ideologues thought it best to retrieve the original meaning
of the ancient Indian way of life that by nature has been secular.
Eventually, that resulted in under currents of modern Hindu
renaissance. No body will deny the fact, as pointed out by Advani ji,
and implicitly desired by Jethmalani ji, that Hindutva and Indian
secularism are practically synonymous, and it is this Hindu ethos
that accounts for the success of both, democracy as well as
secularism in India. It is so, because all the India born faiths have
enshrining Dharma/Dhamma in the core of their spirit since very
beginning, and these terms have always enjoyed the highest honor in
the common Indian ethos. However, as emphasized in Shri Guru Granth
Saheb, there is some thing higher than that, and that is the conduct
upon them. Conduct brings longevity and prosperity. If BJP, or for
that matter any other party conducts well the desire of Jethmalani ji
and thousands of others may be fulfilled, and society may be free
from want, ignorance, disease and the politically motivated communal
tensions.
I am tempted to quote here some instances from scriptures to buttress
the view that the basic aim of Dharma/Dhamma has been ensuring
youthful and healthy human life, capable of living happy and secular
living without any pressure, fear or temptation,
The Buddh was really The Enlightened One. What he discovered after
about six years of penance and forty nine days crossed leg-sittings
under the Bodhi (Peepal) tree was the twelve articled fact of human
life. The first was the ignorance (Avijja or Avidya), which has
always been the root cause of all the human miseries. The last was
the expediency to get rid of old age and death (Jara-Marana).
According to his findings any body could attain immunity from the
infirmities of old age and death by getting rid of the first article,
viz. the ignorance. The scheme based on his findings was known after
his name and called Buddhism, a way of life that knows no
discrimination in mankind. It is truly a secular, democratic and
healthy scheme that aims to grant peace and prosperity for all. Shri
Guru Grantha Saheb is another great gift to mankind. It propounds the
need to realize that we all humans are the children of the One
Father. The uniquely secular practice of Sangats and the Pangats of
Sikhs knows no discrimination in society. Jainism too is absolutely a
secular way of life and aims at making a healthy and prosperous
society with out any discrimination.
The barbaric history- weathered ancient Indian way of life consisting
of hundreds of roots and branches is in fact no religion, but a sort
of a common wealth of hundreds of religions. It would be a futile and
politically insinuated effort to say that this or that root or branch
is the original one. Its predominantly panoramic, pantheistic, and
pantheonic exuberances of many sorts and the innumerable paths have
been the most distorted and misunderstood phenomena to appreciate the
inherent secularism. Dismantlers of integrated humanism often forget
Hindi poet Malik Mohammad Jayasi who had said that the number of
paths leading to Creator is sum total of the number of stars in sky
and the number of hair on the bodies of living beings: vidhanaa ke
maarag hain tete, sarag nakhat tan rowan jete.
I think, the Shrimadbhagavadgeeta, commonly known as Geeta, can
justifiably be taken for study in question, as it is supposed to be
the crux of all the knowledge. It exhorts to transcend even the Vedas
as they are the subjects of the three constituent properties
(trigunas) of Maya that deludes, namely satva, rajas, and tamam.
These properties divide mankind on the basis of devotion, food
habits, sacrifices, penances, speech, and donations. God does not
approve it, hence the clear order to rise above the controversial
trigunas : traigunya vishayaa vedaah, nistraigunyo bhavaarjuna. The
implied stratification of the followers of these three properties
creates social disharmony, hence the dictate to rise above them.
However, it may imply the importance of preserving all these
properties, and using them as per the requirement of different
situations. Summarizing chapter 8 the Geeta says that those who take
God's shelter and contrive to get liberty from old age and death
really know what do the terms Brahma, Adhyatma, and Karma mean. Verse
3 of chapter 8 defines these terms, which are often philosophized and
mercilessly interiorized by professional and careerist religionists.
Brahma means indestructible (Akshara), Adhyatma means ones own state
of being and disposition (Swabhaava), and Karma means the self-
sacrifice that creates (generates and elevates congenial) disposition
in living beings. All that is applicable to every one without any
discrimination. Every normal person wants to maintain youthful life,
push away old age and live for ever, even though natural laws take
their own course. That enduring spirit needs material support, such
as food, drinking water, homes with sanitation facilities, medicines,
education, fearless family atmosphere, and weather proof roads
etc.These are the essentials that hold old age and death at bay. No
faith is worth conducting if its followers lack the mundane
developments. Those who oppose development, or are active or passive
partners with the netas, bureaucrats, engineers and contractors in
the loot of the funds meant for development can never be termed as
believers, whatsoever may be their attire, knowledge or talk. That is
precisely what scriptures tell us. It would be relevant to remember
here that the veneration of concept of only one God, and freedom from
rebirth have a very special place in Hindu view of life. Geeta says
that dimwits venerate various gods, and one may get rid of the
rebirths by believing in God. Islam and Christianity do not believe
in rebirths. They do believe in one God.
How to mitigate the economic imbalance in society? A Sanskrit adage
gives allegorical solution: dwaavambasi niveshtavyo gale badhvaa
dridhaam shilaam, dhanavantam adaataaram, daridram cha atapaswinam.
It roughly means that the two types of persons should be drowned in
water, with huge boulders tied around their necks: the ones who are
wealthy but do not donate; and the ones who are paupers but do not do
rigorous hard work.
How much material belongings one should accumulate? An adage decrees:
Yaavat Shriyet jatharam tavat swatvam hi dehinaam, adhiko yobhimanyet
sa-steno dandamarhati. One should not own more than what is required
for living. If someone does that, he or she should be treated as a
thief, and punished accordingly.
Indian ethos takes it for granted that all the residents of our
planet are members of the one world family: Vasudhaiva kutumbakam. In
family dealings qualities of head are superseded by qualities of
heart. Intelligence (buddhi) has, therefore, been bracketed in Geeta
(4/7) with other seven remiss organs of the Nature (prakruti), which
is said to be subservient to the Consciousness (chetana). The other
equivalents of buddhi are bhoomi (earth), aapah (water), anala
(fire), kha (sky), mana (mind, wish, or inclination), and ahankara
(haughtiness), the beloved companion of almost all politicians
Obviously, use of buddhi should be restricted by Consciousness to the
extent it restricts the other seven organs of Nature. It is the extra
use of the buddhi that creates havocs. Aren't most of our politicians
indiscreetly busy in multi dimensional dirty practices, and covering
them with the extra use of buddhi? Aren't their heart-qualities like
consideration, compassion, sympathy, benevolence, co-existence, and
above all shame, over ridden by buddhi?
All the scriptures are replete with decrees and injunctions to ensure
a prosperous and secular life. Their propagators will have to ensure
that they conduct upon them before expecting others to follow their
empty words. No explanation will do.
End of forwarded message from Balram Misra
Jai Maharaj, Jyotishi
Om Shanti
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Hindu Moral Mess-Message-Age: Sid Harth
Indian Morality Meltdown: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/37334fb34fbe6d7c/d8b818f4833e131e?q=Indian+Morality+Meltdown%3A+Sid+Harth&lnk=ol&
Sex and CD Scandal: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/3f5e2a3be4798e7d/d07894e22ef23690?lnk=gst&q=sex+and+cd+scandal#d07894e22ef23690
Child Labor in India: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/2549df32f41afcce/611166c361f27724?lnk=gst&q=child+labor+in+india#611166c361f27724
Of God, Godmen and Good men: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/beee6405766fa364/9da06195753e584a?lnk=gst&q=of+god%2C+godmen+and+good+men#9da06195753e584a
Human Trafficking in India: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/55d1782ed4144490/23de5a277a4b6730?lnk=gst&q=human+trafficking+in+india#23de5a277a4b6730
Kill Bill: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/f7b4e319f7a4fa28/ad4a6038f51d0cba?lnk=gst&q=kill+bill#ad4a6038f51d0cba
2.8 mn sex workers in India, 36 pc children
STAFF WRITER 19:26 HRS IST
New Delhi, Apr 19 (PTI) There are about 2.8 million prostitutes in
India out of which 36 per cent are children, the Rajya Sabha was
informed today.
The common factors for entry into prostitution have been economic
distress, growing consumerism, illiteracy, lack of vocational skills,
migration, ill-treatment by parents and desertion by spouse, according
to a study on girls and women in prostitution conducted between
2002-2004 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
The village panchayats have not been assigned any direct role in
prevention of trafficking, but under a special scheme called
'Ujjwala', financial assistance is provided for formation of community
vigilance groups for its prevention, Minister of State for Women and
Child Development Krishna Tirath said in replying to a written
question.
http://www.ptinews.com/news/616763_2-8-mn-sex-workers-in-India--36-pc-children
Rapes on minors outnumber those on women in Mumbai
STAFF WRITER 12:18 HRS IST
Mumbai, Apr 18 (PTI) Rapes on minors have outnumbered those on women
in the city, making the former more vulnerable and soft targets of the
crime.
Till February this year, the city police has registered 36 rape cases
out of which 23 are of rapes on minors.
In 2009, a total of 182 rape cases were registered out of which 128
belong to cases of rapes on minors. In 2008, a total of 216 cases were
registered in the city in which 147 belong to cases of rapes on
minors.
Joint Police Commissioner Rajnish Seth (Law and Order) says such cases
are more as the culprits feel they could easily overpower the minor
girls and after committing crimes, they could easily escape.
"In many cases, the culprit either is a relative, neighbour or someone
living in the same locality where the girl stays.
http://www.ptinews.com/news/614706_Rapes-on-minors-outnumber-those-on-women-in-Mumbai
Meira Kumar says caste divisions sadden her
STAFF WRITER 21:33 HRS IST
New Delhi, Apr 17 (PTI) Maintaining that religious harmony was
essential for creating a better India, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar
today said she is saddened by the fact that the country is divided on
the lines of caste and creed.
"Ours is a country with a rich history and heritage, we have people of
different religions and communities but it saddens me that we have
divided ourselves in the name of caste and creed", said Kumar in her
address at the national convention of 'Sanatan Dharma' here.
"It is our duty to respect other religions and only then can we have a
united and better India," she said.
She also said that she was amazed by the sheer number of people at the
convention and that such attempts to unite the country should be
applauded.
http://www.ptinews.com/news/614371_Meira-Kumar-says-caste-divisions-sadden-her
Prostitution in India.
Article 6: States Parties shall take all appropriate measures,
including legislation, to suppress all forms of traffic in women and
exploitation of prostitution of women in India. According to a 1994
report in Asian Age there are at least 70,000 women sex workers in
Delhi, Madras, Calcutta, Bangalore and Hyderbad. 30% of these women
are under 20 years of age. 40% are 20-30 years of age, and
approximately 15% of them became prostitutes as children under the age
of 12.
In India, many innocent victims are forced into prostitution by their
husbands or relatives. Some are tricked or enticed into prostitution.
Links :
Apne-aap The coalition to end sex trafficking and organize
marginalized women and girls
Women traffic The bondage of cross-border sex-workers to India.
Hrw.org- India Trafficking of Nepali Girls and Women to India's
Brothels
Escape from Prostitution Apne Aap turns destroyed lives around in
Kamathipura
Asiasource Trafficking of Children for Prostitution and the UNICEF
response
The National Commission For Women - A must visit site. Organisation
for helping and protecting women in India. Help for dowry issues,
female foeticide, child marriage, sexual harassment, and legal advice.
http://www.indianchild.com/prostitution_in_india.htm
Sexual Harassment, abuse, rape, pornography in India.
As in other countries throughout the world, rape is common in India.
Rape is a social disease. Hardly a day passes without a case of rape
being reported in Indian newspapers and media. Women belonging to low
castes, and tribal women are more at risk. What is sad about rape in
India is the lack of seriousness with which the crime is often
treated.Statistics from 2000 showed that on average a woman is raped
every hour in India.
Women's groups attest that the strict and conservative attitudes about
sex and family privacy contribute to ineffectiveness of India's rape
laws. Victims are often reluctant to report rape. In an open court
victims must prove that the rapist sexually penetrated them in order
to get a conviction. This can be especially damaging. After proving
that she has been raped, a victim is often ostracized from her family
and community. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that rape laws
are inadequate and definitions so narrow that prosecution is made
difficult.
Rape is a Crime
If you are raped do not bathe, shower, or change clothes. This is
important to preserve any evidence of the rape. Go to a friend, well
known social worker or to a place where you know someone can help you.
Report the rape to the authorities. Seek counseling; this can help you
deal with the issues you might face after the attack.
What is Pornography?
Pornography is a systematic practice of exploitation and subordination
based on sex that differentially harms and disadvantages women through
dehumanization. Pornography diminishes the worth and civil status of
women and damage mutual respect between the sexes.
Can Pornography Cause Violence Against Women?
If you have ever viewed pornographic material, it is clear that not
only does pornography cause violence against women, but the material
itself is violence against women, the women in the pornographic
material.
Pornography also sends out the message to men that women enjoy being
beaten, abused and raped. It is unfortunate, but over the last few
years the violence portrayed in pornographic material has increased
greatly.
The material also tries to send the message that women secretly enjoy
the abuse. Many studies have proven that pornography can lead to
violence.
Some links :-
Molestation - site offers Information on molestation including useful
contact details.
The National Commission For Women - A must visit site. Organisation
for helping and protecting women in India. Help for dowry issues,
female foeticide, child marriage, sexual harassment, and legal advice.
Domestic violence - Indian site on domestic violence
Types Of Sexual Harassment - India
Death penalty for rapists.
Effects Of Harassment On Women
http://netsafety.nic.in/ Official Government of India site to fight
online Pornography.
Internet pornography, Cyber Laws, Tools to combat Cyber - Porn, Whom
to Report in India
http://www.asianlaws.org/fact/index.htm - To tackle the abuse of
children through the misuse of modern technology, Asian School of
Cyber Laws (India) has launched FACT (Freedom from Abuse of Children
through Technology). FACT is a five-pronged programme that includes
Educating the children, Educating the parents, Schools awareness
program, Creating Media awareness, and Establishing a FACT Help Line.
http://www.indianchild.com/sexual_harassment_india.htm
Factbook on Global Sexual Exploitation
India
Trafficking
As of February 1998, there were 200 Bangladeshi children and women
awaiting repatriation in different Indian shelters. ("Boys, rescued in
India while being smuggled to become jockeys in camel races," www.elsiglo.com,
19 February 1998)
India, along with Thailand and the Philippines, has 1.3 million
children in its sex-trade centers. The children come from relatively
poorer areas and are trafficked to relatively richer ones. (Soma
Wadhwa, "For sale childhood," Outlook, 1998)
In cross border trafficking, India is a sending, receiving and transit
nation. Receiving children from Bangladesh and Nepal and sending women
and children to Middle Eastern nations is a daily occurrence.
(Executive Director of SANLAAP, Indrani Sinha, Paper on Globaliation
and Human Rights"
India and Paksitan are the main destinations for children under 16 who
are trafficked in south Asia. (Masako Iijima, "S. Asia urged to unite
against child prostitution," Reuters, 19 June 1998)
More than 40% of 484 prostituted girls rescued during major raids of
brothels in Bombay in 1996 were from Nepal. (Masako Iijima, "S. Asia
urged to unite against child prostitution," Reuters, 19 June 1998)
In India, Karnataka, Andha Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu are
considered "high supply zones" for women in prostitution. Bijapur,
Belgaum and Kolhapur are common districts from which women migrate to
the big cities, as part of an organised trafficking network. (Central
Welfare Board, Meena Menon, "The Unknown Faces")
Districts bordering Maharashtra and Karnataka, known as the "devadasi
belt," have trafficking structures operating at various levels. The
women here are in prostitution either because their husbands deserted
them, or they are trafficked through coercion and deception Many are
devadasi dedicated into prostitution for the goddess Yellamma. In one
Karnataka brothel, all 15 girls are devadasi. (Meena Menon, "The
Unknown Faces")
Hundreds, if not thousands, of Bangladeshi women and children are held
in foreign prisons, jails, shelters and detention centers awaiting
repatriation. Many have been held for years. In India, 26 women, 27
girls, 71 boys and 13 children of unknown gender are held in Lilua
Shelter, Calcutta; Sheha Shelter, Calcutta; Anando Ashram, Calcutta;
Alipur Children's Home, Delhi; Nirmal Chaya Children's Home, Delhi;
Prayas Observation House for Boys; Delhi; Tihar Jail, Delhi; Udavam
Kalanger, Bangalore; Umar Khadi, Bangaore; Kishalay, West Bengal;
Kuehbihar, West Bengal and Baharampur, West Bengal. (Fawzia Karim
Firoze and Salma Ali of the Bangladesh National Women Layer
Association," Bangladesh Country Paper: Law and Legislation")
Women and children from India are sent to nations of the Middle East
daily. Girls in prostitution and domestic service in India, Pakistan
and the Middle East are tortured, held in virtual imprisonment,
sexually abused, and raped. (Indrani Sinha, SANLAAP India, "Paper on
Globalization and Human Rights")
In Bombay, children as young as 9 are bought for up to 60,000 rupees,
or US$2,000, at auctions where Arabs bid against Indian men who
believe sleeping with a virgin cures gonorrhea and syphilis. (Robert
I. Freidman, "India’s Shame: Sexual Slavery and Political Corruption
Are Leading to An AIDS Catastrophe," The Nation, 8 April 1996)
160,000 Nepalese women are held in India's brothels. (Executive
Director of SANLAAP, Indrani Sinha, Paper on Globalization and Human
Rights")
Approximately 50,000, or half of the women in prostitution in Bombay,
are trafficked from Nepal. (Robert I. Freidman, "India’s Shame: Sexual
Slavery and Political Corruption Are Leading to An AIDS Catastrophe,"
The Nation, 8 April 1996)
The brothels of India hold between 100,000 and 160,000 Nepalese women
and girls, 35 percent were taken on the false pretext of marriage or a
good job. (Radhika Coomaraswamy, UN Special Report on Violence Against
Women, Gustavo Capdevila, IPS, 2 April 1997)
About 5,000-7,000 Nepalese girls are trafficked to India every day.
100,000-160,000 Nepalese girls are prostituted in brothels in India.
About 45,000 Nepalese girls are in the brothels of Bombay and 40,000
in Calcutta. (Women’s groups in Nepal, ‘Trafficking in Women and
Children: The Cases of Bangladesh, pp.8 & 9, UBINIG, 1995)
Calcutta is one of the important transit points for the traffickers
for Bombay and to Pakistan. 99% women are trafficked out of Bangladesh
through land routes along the border areas of Bangladesh and India,
such as Jessore, Satkhira, and Rajshahi. (Trafficking in Women and
Children: The Cases of Bangladesh, pp.18 & 19, UBINIG, 1995)
In shelters in India, there are 200 Bangladeshi women and children who
have been trafficked awaiting repatriation. (http://www.webpage.com/
hindu/daily/980220/03/03200004.htm, 19 February 1998)
Of the 5,000-7,000 Nepalese girls trafficked into India yearly, the
average age over the past decade has fallen from 14-16 years old to
10-14 years old. (CATW - Asia Pacific, Trafficking in Women and
Prostitution in the Asia Pacific)
In Bombay, one brothel has only Nepalese women, who men buy because of
their golden skin and docile personalities. (Robert I. Freidman,
"India’s Shame: Sexual Slavery and Political Corruption Are Leading to
An AIDS Catastrophe," The Nation, 8 April 1996)
2.5% of prostitutes in India are Nepalese, and 2.7% are Bangladeshi.
("Devadasi System Continues to Legitimise Prostitution: The Devadasi
Tradition and Prostitution," TOI, 4 December 1997)
Some Indian men believe that it is good luck to have sex with scalp-
eczema afflicted prostitutes. Infants with the condition, called "pus
babies," are sold by their parents to brothels for a premium. (Robert
I. Freidman, "India’s Shame: Sexual Slavery and Political Corruption
Are Leading to An AIDS Catastrophe," The Nation, 8 April 1996)
70% of students surveyed at a wealthy high school seek a career in
organized crime, citing their reasoning as "good money and good
fun." (surveyed student, [Robert I. Freidman, "India’s Shame: Sexual
Slavery and Political Corruption Are Leading to An AIDS Catastrophe,"
The Nation, 8 April 1996]
Methods and Techniques of Traffickers
Every year between 5,000 and 7,000 Nepalese girls are trafficked into
the red light districts in Indian cities. Many of the girls are barely
9 or 10 years old. 200,000 to over 250,000 Nepalese women and girls
are already in Indian brothels. The girls are sold by poor parents,
tricked into fraudulent marriages, or promised employment in towns
only to find themselves in Hindustan's brothels. They're locked up for
days, starved, beaten, and burned with cigarettes until they learn how
to service up to 25 clients a day. Some girls go through 'training'
before being initiated into prostitution, which can include constant
exposure to pornographic films, tutorials in how to 'please'
customers, repeated rapes. (Soma Wadhwa, "For sale childhood,"
Outlook, 1998)
Trafficking in women and girls is easy along the 1,740 mile-long open
border between India and Nepal. Trafficking in Nepalese women and
girls is less risky than smuggling narcotics and electronic equipment
into India. Traffickers ferry large groups of girls at a time without
the hassle of paperwork or threats of police checks. The procurer-pimp-
police network makes the process even smoother. Bought for as little
as Rs (Nepalese) 1,000, girls have been known to fetch up to Rs 30,000
in later transactions. Police are paid by brothel owners to ignore the
situation. Girls may not leave the brothels until they have repaid
their debt, at which time they are sick, with HIV and/or tuberculosis,
and often have children of their own. (Soma Wadhwa, "For sale
childhood," Outlook, 1998)
The areas used by traffickers to procure women and girls are the
isolated districts of Sindhupalchow, Makwanpur, Dhading and Khavre,
Nepal where the population is largely illiterate. (Soma Wadhwa, "For
sale childhood," Outlook, 1998)
Health and Well-being
Of the 218 Nepalese girls rescued in February 1996 from a Bombay
police raid, 60-70% of them were HIV positive. (Tim McGirk "Nepal's
Lost Daughters, 'India's soiled goods," Nepal/India News, 27 January
1997)
Cases
Activists discovered inter-state trafficking in teenaged girls from
poor families in 24 Parganas North districts. More than 300 teenagers
from Deganga, Harwa and Bashirhat may have been lured by false
marriages to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab. 32 victims from six
villages have been identified. After the girl was taken from her home
village she would be sold for Rs 2,500 to Rs 10,000, depending on the
number of middlemen involved. Those who escaped said the girls were
watched all the time and not allowed to speak to anyone outside their
room. Any attempt to resist resulted in brutal torture. All their
"earnings" was taken away by the so-called husbands or mistresses. The
"husbands" would occasionally write from fake addresses to their
parents to avoid arousing any suspicion. Women organized a rally to
protest the inaction of police, who they suspect knew about the
trafficking. (Mumtaz Khatun, Kolsur Nari Vikas Kendra, Cente of
Communication and Development, Madhyamgram, The Times of India News
Service, 1 October 1997)
A twenty year old Bangladeshi woman escaped prostitution in Calcutta.
A year before she had been sold for Rs. 10,000 to men who forced her
into prostitution and tortured her. She later escaped to become a
maid, then escaped from that to seek help from police. Along with
others, her husband was arrested by police. She informed police that
she knew a lot of Bangladeshi girls in Calcutta who were being
prostituted. (Ittefak report, 8 March 1993, Trafficking in Women and
Children: The Cases of Bangladesh, pp. 29 & 30, Ittefak, 5 March 1993,
UBINIG, 1995)
13-year-old Mira of Nepal was offered a job as a domestic worker in
Bombay, India. She arrived at a brothel on Bombay’s Falkland Road,
where tens of thousands of young women are displayed in row after row
of zoo-like animal cages. Her father had been duped into giving her to
a trafficker. When she refused to have sex, she was dragged into a
torture chamber in a dark alley used for ‘breaking in’ new girls. She
was locked in a narrow, windowless room without food or water. On the
fourth day, one of the madam’s thugs goonda wrestled her to the floor
and banged her head against the concrete until she passed out. When
she awoke, she was naked; a rattan cane smeared with pureed red chili
peppers shoved into her vagina. Later she was raped by the goonda.
Afterwards, she complied with their demands. The madam told Mira that
she had been sold to the brothel for 50,000 rupees (about US$1,700),
that she had to work until she paid off her debt. Mira was sold to a
client who then became her pimp. (Robert I. Freidman, "India’s Shame:
Sexual Slavery and Political Corruption Are Leading to An AIDS
Catastrophe," The Nation, 8 April 1996)
In 1982, 13 year old Tulasa was abducted from a village near Kathmandu
in Nepal and sold to a brothel in Bombay. She was dressed in European-
style clothes and taken to luxury hotels to serve mostly Arab clients
until a hotel manager called the police. Hospitalized, Tulasa was
found to be suffering from three types of venereal disease and
tuberculosis. (Robert I. Freidman, "India’s Shame: Sexual Slavery and
Political Corruption Are Leading to An AIDS Catastrophe," The Nation,
8 April 1996)
Policy and Law
The UN Convention of the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and the
Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others (1949), and the
supplementary convention on the abolition of slavery, the slave trade
and institutions and practices of slavery have been signed by most of
the SAARC countries, including Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri
Lanka. (Trafficking in Women and Children: The Cases of Bangladesh, p.
9, UBINIG, 1995)
In 1992, Bombay, India, police intercepted the traffic of 25
Bangladeshi children, 5 to 8 years old. The children and trafficker
were held in the same jail. Three years later, 12 of the children were
returned to their homes. (Fawzia Karim Firoze & Salma Ali of the
Bangladesh National Women Layer Association," Bangladesh Country
Paper: Law and Legislation")
Actions of NGOs
A major trafficking network was discovered by the Karnataka State
Commission for Women (KSCW), smuggling 12-18-year-old girls from
various impoverished districts to contractors who run brothels in Goa.
The contractors pay the parents for their girl children under false
pretenses. (Seethalakshmi S., "Karnataka girls being sold to Goa
breothels," Time of India, 28 May 1998)
The exploitation of Nepalese women and girls may never end. "[F]or
some there is too much easy money in it, for others there's nothing to
be gained by lobbying for its abolition. But surely, for now, it can
be monitored. Its magnitude can be lessened," says Durga Ghimire,
chairperson of a 98-NGO-strong pressure group National Network Groups
Against Trafficking. She feels that the alarmingly low rates of female
literacy, coupled with the traditionally low status of the girl-child
in Nepal have to be addressed to tackle the problem. Gauri Pradhan of
Child Workers in Nepal Concerned Centre (CWIN) emphasizes the need for
collaboration by the two governments on this issue. (Soma Wadhwa, "For
sale childhood," Outlook, 1998)
There are several shelters run by various Katmandu-based NGOs working
against trafficking and towards rehabilitation of girls who manage to
escape or are rescued from Indian brothels. This is not easy work.
Relatives of the rescued girls generally don't want them back and
Nepal's government is worried about the spread of HIV, as many of the
trafficked girls have contracted HIV while enslaved in India. (Soma
Wadhwa, "For sale childhood," Outlook, 1998)
Official Response and Action
139 prostituted Nepalese girls were rescued through a police raid in
Kamatipura, India and were then repatriated to Katmandu. (Soma Wadhwa,
"For sale childhood," Outlook, 1998)
Rehabilitation of trafficked women and children forced into
prostitution in Indian brothels is hampered by lack of Indian
government support and agenda for their rehabilitation. The sending
country may not come forward to claim them and younger children may
not know where they originally came from. (Soma Wadhwa, "For sale
childhood," Outlook, 1998)
Prostitution
There are approximately 10 million prostitutes in India. (Human Rights
Watch, Robert I. Freidman, "India’s Shame: Sexual Slavery and
Political Corruption Are Leading to An AIDS Catastrophe," The Nation,
8 April 1996)
There are more than 100,000 women in prostitution in Bombay, Asia’s
largest sex industry center. (Robert I. Freidman, "India’s Shame:
Sexual Slavery and Political Corruption Are Leading to An AIDS
Catastrophe," The Nation, 8 April 1996)
At least 2,000 women are in prostitution along the Baina beachfront in
Goa. (Frederick Moronha, India Abroad News Service, 9 August 1997)
There are 300,000-500,000 children in prostitution in India. (Rahul
Bedi, "Bid To Protect Children As Sex Tourism Spreads,"London’s Daily
Telegraph, 23 August, 1997)
Men who believe that AIDS and other STDs can be cured by having sex
with a virgin, are forcing young girls into the sex industry; seven
year old girls are neither uncommon nor the youngest. (Tim McGirk
"Nepal's Lost Daughters, 'India's soiled goods,"Nepal/India News, 27
January 1997)
Approximately 20,000 or 20% of women in prostitution in Bombay are
under 18. (Robert I. Freidman, "India’s Shame: Sexual Slavery and
Political Corruption Are Leading to An AIDS Catastrophe," The Nation,
8 April 1996)
Every day, about 200 girls and women in India enter prostitution, 80%
of them against their will. (Centre for Development and Population
Activities (CEDPA) and Planning Rural-Uraban Intergrated Development
through Education (PRIDE), "Devadasi System Continues to Legitimise
Prostitution: The Devadasi Tradition and Prostitution," TOI, 4
December 1997)
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil, Nadu and Uttar Pradesh
are the high-supply zones for women in prostitution. Belgaum, Bijapur,
and Kolhapur are some common districts from which women migrate to
cities either through an organized trafficking network, or due to
socioeconomic forces (Central Social Welfare Board, Meena Menon,
"Women in India’s Trafficking Belt", 30 March 1998)
Bangalore is one of the five major cities in India which together
account for 80 percent of child prostitutes in the country.
(Seethalakshmi S., "Karnataka girls being sold to Goa breothels," Time
Of India, 28 May 1998)
90% of the 100,000 women in prostitution in Bombay are indentured
slaves. (Robert I. Freidman, "India’s Shame: Sexual Slavery and
Political Corruption Are Leading to An AIDS Catastrophe," The Nation,
8 April 1996)
Prostitution is increasing in India where there have been fears over
the spread of AIDS and reports of young girls being abducted and
forced into prostitution. ("Asian prostitutes meet to demand legal
status," Reuters, 29 July 1998)
It takes up to fifteen years for girls held in prostitution via debt-
bondage to purchase their freedom. (Robert I. Freidman, "India’s
Shame: Sexual Slavery and Political Corruption Are Leading to An AIDS
Catastrophe," The Nation, 8 April 1996)
Children of prostituted women are victims of sexual abuse as well.
Children are forced to perform dances and songs for male buyers, and
some are forced to sexually service the males. (Activists, Meena
Menon, "Tourism and Prostitution," 1997)
Of 1,000 red light districts all over India, cage prostitutes are
mostly minors, often from Nepal and Bangladesh. (CATW - Asia Pacific,
Trafficking in Women and Prostitution in the Asia Pacific)
In Bombay, 95% of the children of prostituted women become
prostitutes. One child, who had repeatedly been sodomized by the men
who bought his mother, decided to become a eunuch. He was ritually
castrated. (Sheela Remedios program director of Project Child, Robert
I. Freidman, "India’s Shame: Sexual Slavery and Political Corruption
Are Leading to An AIDS Catastrophe," The Nation, 8 April 1996)
There are three routes into prostitution for most women in India. 1)
Deception; 2) Devadasi dedication and 3) Bad marriages or families.
For some women their marriages were so violent they preferred
prostitution. Husbands or families introduced some women to
prostitution. Many families knew what the women had to do, but ignored
it as long as they got the benefits from it. (Malini Karkal "Down
Memory Lane," (interview, The Maharashtra Times, 19 November 1997)
The red light district in Bombay generates at least $400 million a
year in revenue, with 100,000 prostitutes servicing men 365 days a
year, averaging 6 customers a day, at $2 each. (Robert I. Freidman,
"India’s Shame: Sexual Slavery and Political Corruption Are Leading to
An AIDS Catastrophe," The Nation, 8 April 1996)
The largest red light district in India, perhaps in the world, is the
Falkland Road Kamatipura area of Bombay. (film,"The Selling of
Innocents" 1997)
In Kamathipura brothel district in Bombay more than 70,000 prostituted
women and girls are bought by three men a day. Condoms are seldom
used. Escape is rare. (Tim McGirk "Nepal's Lost Daughters, 'India's
soiled goods,'" 27 January 1997)
There are many dhabhas, or small-scale brothels, along the Solapur-
Hyderabad highway, which provide women as an "additional service" to
truck drivers and motorists. One woman who runs a dhabha had
previously been in prostitution. Now, with a shed, two cots and a few
girls from nearby villages, she owns the brothel. "I rented this place
for Rs 1000 a month and take Rs 20 per man from the girls. (Meena
Menon "The Twilight Zone," The Hindu, 27 July 1997)
A brothel owner along the Solapur-Hyderabad highway reported that he
has two women. He takes a Rs 15 commission for each man. Since this is
illegal, he pays the nearest police station Rs 1,000 a month as hafta,
or bribe. If a girl is beautiful, she will be bought by five to ten
men a day. The owner’s monthly earnings can reach Rs 4,000 to 5,000 a
month. (Meena Menon "The Twilight Zone," The Hindu, 27 July 1997)
A brothel owner along the Solapur-Hyderabad highway reported that
prostituting women is good a business. He had ten to 12 girls. He paid
the police Rs 6,000 as a monthly bribe. He goes to Bombay to bring
women and girls, implying he was part of a bigger network. (Meena
Menon, "The Twilight Zone," The Hindu, 27 July 1997)
The women and girls in the dhabhas, or brothels, along the Solapur-
Hyderabad highway, are threatened, harassed, forced to service men, or
goondas, freely and beaten by men and police. Local farmers abuse them
also. Police do not register any complaints of assault. In one cases,
a woman who was running over unfamiliar fields to escape the police in
pitch darkness; she stumbled into a well and was killed. Sometimes,
bodies of women are found on the fields, half eaten by animals.
Another woman had her ears cut off, was robbed and left unconscious on
the road. (Meena Menon, "The Twilight Zone," The Hindu, 27 July 1997)
Eunuch Lane in Bombay has more than 2,000 eunuchs in prostitution. The
eunuchs, or hijras, have deep religious roots in Hinduism. As young
boys they are abandoned or sold by their families to a sex ring and
taken into the jungle, where a priest cuts off their genitals in a
ceremony called nirvana. The priest then folds back a strip of flesh
to create an artificial vagina. Eunuchs are generally more available
to perform high-risk sex than female prostitutes, and some Indian men
believe they can’t contact HIV from them. (Robert I. Freidman,
"India’s Shame: Sexual Slavery and Political Corruption Are Leading to
An AIDS Catastrophe," The Nation, 8 April 1996)
A survey of prostituted women in India reveals their reasoning for
staying in prostitution (in descending order of significance):
poverty/ unemployment; lack of proper reintegration services, lack of
options; stigma and adverse social attitudes; family expectations and
pressure; resignation and acclimation to the lifestyle. (CATW - Asia
Pacific, Trafficking in Women and Prostitution in the Asia Pacific)
Health and Well-being
Madams take sick women to one of the red light districts 200
unlicensed doctors, who give the women mood elevators, IV drips of
colored water or medicinal herbs. The women must pay for this
"treatment" with cash from moneylenders, and the Mafia collects a
percentage from the "doctors." (Robert I. Freidman, "India’s Shame:
Sexual Slavery and Political Corruption Are Leading to An AIDS
Catastrophe," The Nation, 8 April 1996)
60% of prostituted women in Bombay's red-light district areas are
infected with STDs and AIDS. (CATW - Asia Pacific, Trafficking in
Women and Prostitution in the Asia Pacific)
More than half of Bombay’s 100,000 prostitutes are infected with HIV.
A magazine publisher in Bombay said AIDS will benefit the country
because it will depopulate the vast underclass. (Robert I. Freidman,
"India’s Shame: Sexual Slavery and Political Corruption Are Leading to
An AIDS Catastrophe," The Nation, 8 April 1996)
In July 1990, mob bosses permitted Savahdan, a charity group, to
repatriate 700 South Indian prostitutes to Madras, most of whom were
HIV positive. It was perceived as a cheap way of getting rid of HIV
infected girls. Many women, too sick to prostitute are thrown onto the
street. Government hospitals won’t treat prostitutes who are HIV
positive, or are developing symptoms of AIDS. In Bombay’s J.J.
Hospital an HIV infected woman was refused treatment, though she was
bleeding and her condition was life threatening. She delivered a baby
in the brothel. [government report, Robert I. Freidman, "India’s
Shame: Sexual Slavery and Political Corruption Are Leading to An AIDS
Catastrophe," The Nation, 8 April 1996]
In Bombay, on average the girls are bought by six men a day, who pay US
$1.10 - 2 per sex act, the madam gets the money up front. To pay for
movies, clothes, make-up and extra food to supplement a diet of rice
and dal, the girls have to borrow from moneylenders at an interest
rate of up to 500%. They are perpetually in debt. (Robert I. Freidman,
"India’s Shame: Sexual Slavery and Political Corruption Are Leading to
An AIDS Catastrophe," The Nation, 8 April 1996)
In 1991, Bombay’s 100,000 prostituted women averaged 600,000 sexual
contacts a day. At the time 30% were HIV positive, the chance of
transmission was 0.1%. On that basis, 200 clients were being infected
with HIV everyday, 6,000 each month. (Robert I. Freidman, "India’s
Shame: Sexual Slavery and Political Corruption Are Leading to An AIDS
Catastrophe," The Nation, 8 April 1996)
Prostitution Tourism
Foreign tourists are frequenting India because of its relaxed laws,
abundant child prostitutes and the false idea that there is a lower
incidence of AIDS. (Rahul Bedi, "Bid To Protect Chedren As Sex Tourism
Spreads," 1997)
India is one of the favored destinations of paedophile sex tourists
from Europe and the United States. ("Global law to punish sex tourists
sought by Britain and EU," The Indian Express, 21 November 1997
Multinational tour operators, hotel companies, airlines and travel
agencies are setting up the tourism agenda for Goa, India and the
world over. However, they ignore the host community. (Roland Martins,
Jagrut Goenkaranchi Fauz, "While the Locals Visit the Temple to Pray,
You Will Have Bikini-Clad Women Moving Around," Herald, 4 October
1997)
Cases
December 1997, a nine-year-old girl from Pune was found living with a
54- year- old Swiss national in a Goa hotel for over nine months. A
local NGO filed a complaint with the police and the girl was sent to
an observation home. When contacted, her father said she was there
with his consent. The man was released following an investigation.
Inspector General, Goa Police, Mr. P.R.S. Brar said "paedophilia is a
myth, it just does not exist." Ms. Mohini Giri, chair of the National
Commision for Women met with the girl and said she had admitted to
being sexually abused. (Meena Menon, "Tourism and Prostitution," The
Hindu, 14 February, 1998)
In 1990 an orphanage owner in Goa was arrested for allegedly supplying
children to British, French, German, Swiss and Scandinavian
prostitution tourists. He was freed on bail and the case has still not
gone to court. (Rahul Bedi, "Bid To Protect Children As Sex Tourism
Spreads,"London’s Daily Telegraph, 1997)
The main frequenters of prostitutes in Goa are tourists, local men and
college boys. United States "seamen" ask locals in Goa which bars to
find prostitutes in. Taxi drivers take tourists from Delhi, Gurjarat,
Bangalore, Bombay and Punjab to brothels in Baina. Some men have taxi
drivers bring prostituted girls from Baina back to their hotels in
Panjim. The next morning, the taxi drivers rape the girls before
taking them home. (taxi driver, Meena Menon, "Tourism and
Prostitution,"The Hindu 1997)
Policy and Law
Although prostitution is legal in India, brothel keeping, living off
the earnings of a prostitute, soliciting or seducing for the purposes
of prostitution are all punishable offenses. There are severe
penalties for child prostitution and trafficking of women. (Robert I.
Freidman, "India’s Shame: Sexual Slavery and Political Corruption Are
Leading to An AIDS Catastrophe," The Nation, 8 April 1996)
Since mid-1997 the International Monetary Fund's structural adjustment
policy for India has given rise to the economic and sexual
exploitation of women in export processing zones, where 70-80% of
workers are young women. (Sujatha Fernandes, "Growing Women’s Movement
in India," Green Left Weekly, 20 July 1997)
The devadasi tradition, still prevalent in many parts of India,
continues to legitimise child prostitution. A devadasi is a woman
married to a god and thus sadasuhagan or married, and hence at all
times blessed. As such, she becomes the wife of the powerful in the
community. Devadasi is known by different names in different states.
In the Vijapur district of Karnataka, girls are given to the Monkey
God (Hanuman, Maruti), and known as Basvi. In Goa, a devadasi is
called Bhavin (the one with devotion), In the Shimoga District of
Karnataka, the girls are handed over to the goddess Renuka Devi, and
in Hospet, to the goddess Hulganga Devi. The tradition lives on in
other states in South India. Girls end up as prostitutes in Bombay and
Pune. The Banchara and Bedia peoples of Madhya Pradesh also practice
"traditional" prostitution. (Farida Lambey, vice-principal of the
Nirmala Niketan College of Social Work, "Devadasi System Continues to
Legitimise Prostitution: The Devadasi Tradition and Prostitution,"
TOI, 4 December 1997)
Official Response and Action
After raiding Kamathipura, Mumbai's largest red district, Mumbai
police 160 women were sent to the St Catherines Rescue Home. Many
women were HIV positive and a large number were pregnant or already
had children. (Sister Shiela, Mitu Varma, "India: Children of a Lesser
God," InterPress Services, 27 October 1997)
In Goa, India there are at least 400 children in prostitution. After
Ms. Mohini Giri, chair of the National Commission for women, visited
and declared there to be rampant child prostitution in the area,
police have conducted some raids in order to find prostituted
children. Although police conduct raids, brothels recieve tip-offs and
hide the minors before raids are conducted. (Meena Menon, "Tourism and
Prostitution," 1997)
Official Corruption and Collaboration
In Bombay, top politicians and police officials are in league with the
mafia who control the sex industry, exchanging protection for cash
payoffs and donations to campaign war chests. Corruption reaches all
levels of the ruling Congress Party in New Delhi. Many politicians
view prostitutes as an expendable commodity. (Robert I. Freidman,
"India’s Shame: Sexual Slavery and Political Corruption Are Leading to
An AIDS Catastrophe," The Nation, 8 April 1996)
The mafia kidnapped a Dutch doctor compiling an ethnographic study for
the World Health Organization. He was released three days later and
warned to stop probing the links among politicians, the mob and
prostitution. (Robert I. Freidman, "India’s Shame: Sexual Slavery and
Political Corruption Are Leading to An AIDS Catastrophe," The Nation,
8 April 1996)
Underage girls are rarely found in brothels because the pimps and
owners receive tip offs from police about impending raids. (Meena
Menon, "Tourism and Prostitution," The Hindu, 14 February,1998)
In one brothel in Bombay, the police receive weekly bribes called
haftas from the madams. Cops harass the girls, take their money, and
demand free sexual services. (Robert I. Freidman, "India’s Shame:
Sexual Slavery and Political Corruption Are Leading to An AIDS
Catastrophe," The Nation, 8 April 1996)
South Central Bombay is home to the biggest organized crime family in
Asia, run by Dawood Ibrahim. In 1992, 40 candidates in Bombay’s
municipal elections, and 180 of 425 legislators in Uttar Pradesh had
criminal records. Shantabai, Bombay’s most powerful madam controlled
as many as 10,000 pimps and prostitutes’ votes in a 1985 election.
Bombay’s sex industry has evolved into a highly efficient business. It
is controlled by four separate crime groups: One in charge of police
payoffs, another controlling money laundering, a third maintaining
internal law and order, and the fourth procures women through a vast
network streching from South India to the Himalayas. Of the four mafia
groups in Bombay, the most powerful is Mehboob Thasildar, the procurer
of women. Thasildar opened a restaurant on the ground floor of a two-
story, blocklong brothel he also owned, one of the biggest in Bombay,
with more than 50 prostituted women. (Indian government sources,
Robert I. Freidman, "India’s Shame: Sexual Slavery and Political
Corruption Are Leading to An AIDS Catastrophe," The Nation, 8 April
1996)
Action of NGOs
As of mid-1998, Sanlaap shelter in Sneha, India has 25 to 30 rescued
prostituted children. 60% of the children rescued from prostitution
are HIV positive. (Indrani Sinha, SANLAAP India, "Paper on
Globalization & Human Rights")
NGO workers, who urge prostitutes to use condoms, have to get the
Mafia's consent, and promise to ignore the child prostitution.
(Shilpa, a 30-year-old social worker who has spent five years in the
red-light district, Robert I. Freidman, "India’s Shame: Sexual Slavery
and Political Corruption Are Leading to An AIDS Catastrophe," The
Nation, 8 April 1996)
Pornography
Most of phone sex numbers called from India are phone sex businesses
run in the United States, Hong Kong and Australia. ("India cuts access
to phone sex numbers," Reuters, 20 August 1998)
Official Response and Action
India has blocked access to international numbers used for phone sex.
"These services are obscene...they are against the moral fibre of the
country and a drain on foreign exchange," said Communications Minister
Sushma Swaraj. She said the government had directed state-run monopoly
international carrier, Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL) to cut off the
calls. The minister said many Indian government phones were being
misused to make calls to sex lines. Swaraj said that she hoped there
would soon be technology to stop people accessing Internet
pornography. ("India cuts access to phone sex numbers," Reuters, 20
August 1998)
Organized and Institutionalized Sexual Exploitation and Violence
50 million girls and women are missing from India's population, the
result of systematic sex discrimination, such as abortion of female
fetuses, which is officially banned. (United Nations report, Sonali
Verma, "Indian women still awaiting independence," Human Rights
Information Network: Indi News Network Digest, Volume2, Issue1648, 16
August 1997)
In 1990, more than 50 widows were burnt alive when their husbands'
bodies were cremated in a ritual known as "sati," based on the belief
that a Hindu woman has no existence independent of her husband.
(Sonali Verma, "Indian women still awaiting independence," Human
Rights Information Network: Indi News Network Digest, Volume2,
Issue1648, 16 August 1997)
Although dowry is legally banned, at least 5,000 women are victims of
"dowry murders," in which they are killed by their husband or his
family because of "insufficient" dowries. At least 12 women "die"
every day from bazzier kitchen fires, which are typically concealed
dowry murders. The dowry system has also led to an inflating female
infanticide. especially among very poor families. Few of these cases
are ever even brought to trial. (UNICEF, United Press International,
23 July 1997)
A very large percentage of marriages are arranged. "The custom of
arranged marriage is a legitimized institution. In a majority of cases
the bride has little or no say. She and the bridegroom are virtual
strangers. In many rural communities the bridegroom does not even
attend his own wedding. The sex act (between the two) is nothing but a
rape. The Indian woman’s acceptance of the inevitable has, sanctified
this abhorrent practice, and, subsequently legitimized it." (Sudhir
Vaishnav, "Legal Indian Rape: The new bride can be an unsuspecting
victim of a legal rape," Femina, 17 September 1997)
More than 5,000 women are murdered each year as the result of dowry
killings in India. (Mindelle Jacobs, "Abuse of Women is Sadly Common,"
Edmonton Sun, 11 July 1998)
In 1993, in-laws killed about 16 women every day for dowry, although
the government declared accepting dowry illegal in 1961. Women's
groups say the number of cases reported is a fraction of the real
figure. (Sonali Verma, "Indian women still awaiting independence,"
Human Rights Information Network: Indi News Network Digest, Volume2,
Issue1648, 16 August 1997)
During the armed conflict in Kashmir, Punjab and other Northeastern
states women are victimized, raped, tortured, sexually abused and
violated by military personnel, militants or insurgents, para-military
units, rebel groups, religious sects, fundamentalist armed groups,
warlords, state security forces, armed opposition groups, or
terrorists and peace-keeping forces. (Indrani Sinha, executive
director, "Paper on Globalization and Human Rights," SANLAAP)
In 1997, there were reports of Indian armed forces arresting,
torturing and molesting women and girls in Kashmir. Every day the
local newspapers report such incidences. (KASHNet, Human Rights
Information Network, 14 August 1997)
Women and girls have been systematically brutalized and raped by
Indian forces in house to house searches in Kashmir between October
1996 and December 1997. ("Rape and Molestation: A Weapon of War in
Kashmir," The Institute of Kashmir Studies," 1998)
Official Response and Action
To halt child marriages, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
in India has recommended compulsory registration of marriages to be
added as an amendment to the Child Marriage (Restraint) Act. ("NHRC
for amendments to Child Marriage Act," Hindu Daily, 17 August 1998)
A considerable number of child marriages, performed on April 29, 1998
(Akshay Thithiya day), were witnessed and took place without any
obstruction from the authorities or members of the public in Bikaner
and Jodhpur, India. (Senior Superintendent of Police, National Human
Rights Commission’s (NHRC) Investigation Division, "NHRC for
amendments to Child Marriage Act," Hindu Daily, 17 August 1998)
The National Girl Child Week began in India on 23 September 1998 as
part of a regional celebration of the rights of the girl child in
India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka to reaffirm
commitment to the SAARC Decade of the Girl Child. The UNICEF India
Country Office has identified high maternal mortality, low birth
weight babies and discriminatory post-natal attention to boys in India
as some of the major reasons for disparity in male-female child ratio.
The week will highlight governmental, inter-governmental, and non-
governmental efforts to end this disparity. ("Steps to strengthen
rights of the girl child," Hindu Daily, 23 September 1998)
Cases
In September 1987, 18-year-old Roop Kanwar was forced to commit
suttee. Cans of ghee cooking butter were poured on her as she burnt to
death on her husband's funeral pyre. Conch shells were blown like
horns after she died. And a trishul was left as a symbol of the faith
of the sati, or "true wife" in Sanskrit. In October 1996, all 38
defendants in the Kanwar cases were acquitted. Following this, more
than 1,000 devotees staged a major festival at the Rani Sati temple in
Jhunjhunu, in contravention of the 1988 Act, which prohibits
glorification of suttee. The court refused to stop the nine-day event
in late November and early December, but ruled there must be no direct
reference to suttee, and that the rituals must be held outside rather
than within the temple. Protesters violated this order, and filed a
contempt petition. (Muku; Sharma, "Women Fight New Threats of Widow
Sacrifice," 7 February 1997)
Indian armed forces stormed into the house of Kamal Dar, in Padshahi
Bagh area and locked his daughter Madeeha in a separate room where she
was subjected to severe torture for many hours. Kamal Dar said the
person gave electric shocks to his 18-year-old daughter and molested
her. The armed personnel also treated in a similar way another woman,
wife of one Bashir Amad and mother of five children. They also
molested two girls in Pahalgam. A group of security forces men in the
village of Dehar Muna raided the house of Ghulam Muhammad and abducted
her daughter, Raja Bano, at gunpoint. The girl was taken to a security
camp. After her release she explains that she was interrogated for
whole night and kept naked throughout the night. She also showed
torture marks on her body. She was taken to hospital for medical
examination. (police sources, KASHNet, Human Rights Information
Network, 14 August 1997)
Maimun, 19 was gang-raped and attempts made to murder her following
her love marriage to Idris, 28. A team from the National Commission
for Women to investigate the torture of the young woman was attacked
by nearly 1,000 villagers. Maumun’s cousin had cut Maimun’s abdomen
and neck with a butcher knife, leaving her to bleed to death. (Piyush
Mathur, "NCW members probing rape of girl attacked," Times of India,
16 August 1997)
http://www.uri.edu/artsci/wms/hughes/india.htm
PUCL Bulletin, August 1987
Child prostitution in India
-- By Sarika Misha
I. Introduction
Child labour is not a new phenomenon. It has existed in one form or
the other in all historical periods. What is new, however, it its
perception as a social problem and its being a matter of social
concern.
In older days the child was viewed with a tender feeling and treated
with warmth, mercy, and compassion. But the fund of knowledge about
the psychophysical needs and the environmental influence impinging on
his growth and development was rather meager. The mechanics and
dynamics of child development were not adequately and scientifically
understood. Today on scientific grounds it can be asserted that work
as a direct fulfilment of child's natural abilities and creative
potentialities is always conducive to healthy growth but work when
taken up as a means for fulfilment of some other needs becomes
enslaving in character of a social problem in as much as it hinders,
arrests, or distorts the natural growth processes and prevents the
child from attaining full blown personality.
The lions share of the value generated by it is appropriated by some
one else and the child is left with a fraction that can not meet
comfortably even the survival needs.
Child labour is thus defined as work performed by children that either
endangers their health or safety, interferes with or prevents
education or keeps them from play and other activity important to
their development. Child labour of this kind is considered a social
evil.
The problem of child labour is a multi-dimensional one as the children
from a large segment of the total population. Child prostitution
involving both boys and girls is very common today but female child
prostitution is more common than male child prostitution.
Termed as the oldest profession, prostitution has become an integral
part of 'all sorts' that make the world. Women who resort to this
rarely get a sympathetic word from the society and their life is
wasted away selling momentary pleasures for a meal and existence in
cubby holes called 'cages'. If their plight is pathetic, worse still
is that of the child prostitutes.
Today there is existence of 'kid porn' where children and not adults
are chosen for sexual exploitation.
Ironically child prostitution is a special category of rigorous case
of child labour and it raises more troubling ethical problems than
child labour in general.
II. Extent
Many surveys have been conducted to find out the extent of child
prostitution. Dr. Gilada's paper on perspectives and positional
problems of social intervention" shows that,
"70% of women are forced into prostitution and 20% of these are child
prostitutes."
Statistics of the survey done show:-
City Population Prostitute Population
Bombay 10 million 100,000
Calcutta 9 million 100,000
Delhi 7 million 40,000
Agra 3 million 40,000
A survey conducted by Indian Health Organization of a red light area
of Bombay shows:-
1. 20% of the one lakh prostitutes are children.
2. 25% of the child prostitutes had been abducted and sold.
3. 6% had been raped and sold.
4. 8% had been sold by their fathers after forcing them into
incestuous relationships.
5. 2 lakh minor girls between ages 9yrs-20yrs were brought every year
from Nepal to India and 20,000 of them are in Bombay brothels.
6. 15% to 18% are adolescents between 13 yrs and 18 yrs.
7. 15% of the women in prostitution have been sold by their husbands
8. Of 200m suffering from sexually transmitted diseases in the world
50m alone were in India.
9. 15% of them are devdasis.
III. Cases
There are several causes of child prostitution but some of the most
important ones are as follows:
1. Devdasi system:- many of the devdasis are the girls who were
dedicated to the Goddess Yellamma by their parents at a very young
age. They are the servants of God as they are married to the Goddess.
This ceremony takes place twice a year. The main one is during the
second fortnight of January at Karnatakas Saudatti village in South
West of Miraj. Once the girl is married to a Goddess she cannot marry
a mortal.
The procurers frequent the place inorder to get the fresh supplies of
girls as 4000 to 5000 girls are dedicated every year to the Goddess.
Attaining puberty is a secondary thing as there is a ceremony known as
heath Lawni (or touching ceremony) whereby the girl is made over to
the highest bidder.
A study revealed that one third, of which three fourth are under
fourteen years, are in Bombay's cheapest brothels. They belong to the
low castes like Mahars, Matangs, etc. who give low priority to
education. They are so poverty stricken that Fathers, brothers and
husbands do not hesitate to sell their daughters, sisters and wives.
Prevention of devdasis Act has been in the statute book since 1935 and
amended recently but the system continues even today despite
governmental ban, Still the girls are dedicated to the Goddess and
forced into virtual prostitution and made to entertain males in order
to invoke the blessings of the deity.
It was estimated that in Delhi 50% of the prostitutes are devdasis and
in Bombay, Pune, Solapur and Sangli. 15% of them are devdasis,
(2) It is also noticed that young and old men prefer young and new
girls.
(3) Growing poverty, increasing urbanization, and industrialization,
migration, and widespread unemployment, breaking up of joint family
system etc. are also responsible for the prevalence and perpetuation
of the child prostitution.
(4) The influx of the affluent and not so affluent people from Gulf
countries in India has boosted the flesh trade in cities like Bombay,
Hyderabad etc. The parents are forced to part with their daughters for
as little as 2 rupees tow two thousand in the fond hope that they
would get two square meals in the moneyed new world.
(5) Quick marriages without proper knowledge of the bridegroom's
family background leading to a divorce initiates the gravitation of
girls to the red light area.
(6) Another inaction is after rape. A fifteen years old girl was
brought to Dr, Gildas Clinic as she was suffering from the symptoms of
an STD she had been raped and sold by a self styled social worker. The
poor girl was forced into silence by the threats of dire
consequences.
(7) The children are not lured into it but are thrust into it. There
was a case of a sixteen years old girl who was sold to a brothel owner
by her father following incest. 8% of these girls are victims of
incest because of the myth-that one of the causes for an STD is
intercourse with a virgin.
(8) Many a times when a child who has lost both his parents is looked
after by the relatives and these relatives too force the child into
prostitution.
(9) Child marriages are a common phenomenon even today and the bride
is very much younger to the bridegroom so the husband drives the
innocent wife into prostitution. There is a case where a girl of 13
was married off to a man of thrice her age three months later he
abandoned her and married another girl. She returned to her poor
parents and three months later a man promised her a good job and took
her to Bombay from where he went and sold her to a middle aged woman
at Kamatipura for rupees ten thousand and did not come back to take
her.
(10) Some of them are lured to Bombay the tinsel town. They dream of
stellar roles in films and mostly end up as prostitutes in the cages.
IV. Who are these girls, where then they procured from? How and why?
Tribal Kolta women and girls from Garhwal hills are compelled to
become prostitutes to rescue their family from debt bondage. Poverty
stricken young girls from Bengal and Nepal are lured with promises of
attractive jobs and marriage. The agents came to know about the
existing condition in the areas of U. P. Tehri Garhwal. Dehradun etc.
The local Rajputs used to keep the men as animals and exploit their
wives, sisters and daughters too. The agents were successful in
convincing these women well and hence brought them to Delhi and Agra
and sold them to the brothels there.
The phenomenon of commercialized trafficking of their girls found an
easy acceptability among kollas as Nadeem Hasnain, an anthropologist
researched the Socio-economic and cultural variables responsible for
the bondage. In his book Bonded for ever (1982) says. "… Centuries of
exploitation and extreme degrees of material and non material
deprivation and the resultant wretchedness have taken the fight out of
them and they can hardly resist the temptation of getting some hundred
rupees even at the cost of selling their offsprings and wives. It is
an economic battle for life".
Nearly 5000 teenagers and women in a Tehsil of sangli district in
South Maharastra wait for the month of June when the Arabs come and
the year long poverty and hunger of these women, children, and babies
is dispelled over night. The flesh trade flourishes from June to
September and makes all the people connected with it happy.
In Rajashtan teenage prostitution is catching up as men sit and smoke
hukkas while women fix bargains years after passing of the suppression
of immoral traffic of women and children act. The children of the age
group between 12 yrs to 20 yrs practice prostitution after school
hours. Most of these children are later sold to the brothels of Agra
and Delhi.
In big cities women procures are on a lookout for girls and they get
girls from Basti, Gonda, Gorakhpur, Shahjahanpur, which are
particularly notorious areas. Trilokpur police said that in a period
of a year one thousand girls were sold in Doomariyaganj tahsil alone.
Nepal has a very large female population and majority of them are
illiterate and are very gullible and can be lured under any pretext.
They are very religious and succumb to the promises of being taken to
temples in India. They are fair skinned and attractive and a promise
to get them into films tempts them. There is widespread unemployment
in Nepal and the girls are totally unexposed to the outer world.
About 40% of these girls are habitual bidi smokers so a little bit of
the soporific can be mixed in the cigarettes for e.g. Ganja, Charas
before abducting them. The Govt. of Nepal plans to ban smoking for
women for this reason. The procurers find new ways of abducting them.
One of the ways is giving them the 'magic paan' (betel) which is
cocaine mixed, as most of the girls are abdicts of paan and beedi fall
an easy prey to the cocaine intoxication.
Another bait is that of dowry which exists in reverse from in Nepal. A
man can buy a bride and then he brings her to Bombay or anywhere and
sells her at a brothel. Bombay seems to be an end of the rainbow when
the daughters disappeared, the parents did not try to find out because
they neither had the resources nor the ability to do so. They are
assured that each girl can look after herself and if she does not
reach so far. But when the girls started disappearing more frequently
the rumours filtered back to the villages the neighbours were told
that she was working in Bombay.
The parents do not accept the girls back but the money they send to
them 80% of the girls crossing the Indo-Nepal border fall victims to
racketeers who include Government officials of the two countries.
Girls are also brought from Karnataka, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh
and are assaulted and raped till they submit to this shameful life.
V. Conditions
In the seamy and sordid world where each painted faced hides its own
talk of abduction coercion an submission the 'gharwali' or the
'madani' rules by force and is helped by 'Goondas'. The prostitute is
deprived of her earnings till the price which was paid to buy her is
procured. If she utters a word of dissatisfaction she is whipped. They
are kept in sophisticated cages by their owners. The child prostitutes
who are minors and virgins are kept under strict vigil in reserve as
they are in great demand. The Arabs and Koreans are used to paying
thousands for these girls. The girls are never lodged at the same
place permanently and they are shifted occasionally to a dozen of
brothels owned by the procuress of their own country to avoid
familiarity with the customers or police detection.
The procurer first rechristens the girl and the cautions them against
revealing their real names and also disclosing there true addresses to
the customers. Thereafter they are trained on the ethics of flesh
trade never to turn away any customer, to treat all customers well
equally courteously and superficially and never to discuss personal
matters and keep themselves clean. They are also given one weekly
holiday. The brothels where minor girls are kept, have two entries so
as to escape during the sudden raids.
The girls have to live in a really unhygenic condition with very
little food. A dozen girls have to live in a 10 x 10 room and that too
without any medical check ups. These girls are forced to work round
the clock. They are excused only when they are physically very weak.
Madams have quacks to treat them who dispense debilitating remedies
and also use dangerous and unhygenic methods of abortion. The quacks
inject coloured liquid in the infected areas as the treatment for
various sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis, scabies,
venereal wart etc. making the children never totally cured thus
extending their hold on them. The girls are seldom taken for treatment
as sex with a minor girl is a crime so the madams are scared of the
criminal proceedings.
For decades the most important red light areas have been enjoying the
police protection. The policemen themselves go to the brothels for tea
snacks and girls. They inform the brothel keepers in advance about the
raids which are scheduled to take place.
The police, the brothel keeper, and pimps share the major part of the
earnings of the prostitutes and the rest of it that percolates down to
the prostitutes is a mere pittance. It is alleged that the police and
abet the running of the brothels. They accept the hospitability, money
and free use of the girls. The police helps the brothel keeper even by
bringing back the ones who have run away. In a case where a girl named
Geeta who was ten years old was rescued by a hawker after many
attempts was returned back to the brothel keeper by the inspector
himself on the same day.
The escapes by the victims and recovery by the police are rare. The
recoveries do not account for even 2% of the actual number of girls
procured it different places.
Child prostitution does not exists only in India but also in other
parts of the world.
"60 sex salves all from impoverished Dominican republic were found
hidden in sealed containers unloaded at the port St. Thomas in U. S.
Virgin Islands. 28 of these died and survivors were weak with no
identity papers. They work for 18 hrs in a day and get only 20 dollars
per client."
"Millions of third worlds young women and children are sold. Sexual
slavery is becoming increasingly international and industrial
incharacter".
An organization of Manila which exports girls had 18 girls between the
ages of 10 yrs to 17 yrs ready to be exported with same sign tattooed
on the right thigh.
In Thailand child prostitution is relatively discrete and tolerated by
police.
VI. Effects
Practice of child prostitution is economically unsound,
psychologically disastrous, and morally dangerous and harmful on even
and individual child. One can hardly imagine the extreme trauma that a
child under goes. There is a case of a child prostitute who lost her
speech after being raped by one who had hired her. She is now placed
in a deaf mute school for speech recovery.
The case of Tulsa a Nepali girl is more pathetic. Since the age of 13
she was sold and brought by many people and shifted from brothel to
brothel and was forced by five to seven men every day. In this process
she ended up with many diseases. She was taken to J. J. Hospital at
Bombay. She was said to be suffering from meningitis, tuberculosis of
brain, bone and chest and had an STD in advanced stage. The police
took over sixteen months a file a charge sheet. Finally she was
repatriated to Nepal. The culprits in the Himalayan. Kingdom were
tried and imprisoned for 20 years.
Child prostitutes become ready recruits for flesh trade for they are
rendered unfit for any other trade or calling not being educated or
having any knowledge of any other trade.
Child prostitution itself is a criminal activity and serves as a
catalyst for further criminal association in other fields. The
helpless children are turned into mere pawns in the criminal
syndicates which lead to a steady deterioration of morals.
50m of the worlds 200m prostitutes who suffer from STD are in India
and they are mostly found to be affected by tuberculosis, meningitis
scabies, chronic pelvic injections anaemia, syphilis, chaneroid.
Tineacrutis, vevercal war etc. This was the scars that the child
prostitution leaves on the child prostitutes can not be erased but to
a certain extent can be minimised by the medical help.
VII. Law and child prostitution
The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act passed by both houses of
parliament last August come into force from Monday 26th January 1987.
Under the amended act detention of a woman for purposes of
prostitution is punishable with a minimum of seven years of
imprisonment and maximum of life imprisonment Equally Stringent
punishment will be awarded to those procuring children for
prostitution.
Earlier, the act was known as suppression of Immoral Traffic in Women
and Girls Act (SITA). The name of the act has been changed and it has
been made more effective and stringent. The definition of prostitute
itself has been changed to include persons of both sexes. Earlier it
included girls and women only. The amendment takes into account the
growing menace of male prostitution especially that involving young
boys.
Under the new act there are three categories of victims-children,
minors and majors. The children are those upto 16 years and minors are
those between 16 to 18yrs and majors are those above 18 yrs. The
earlier act recognized only women and girls - a women being one who
has completed 21 years. Punishment for offences committed against
these categories differ in severity Offences Committed against
children and minors will be dealt with more severely than those
against majors.
The new act provides for the appointment of a special police officer
for investigating offences with inter-state ramifications the women
who are resended by the police during raids will be questioned only by
women police officers and if none is available they can be
interrogated only in the presence of a female representative of a
recognised welfare institution or organisation. To make a search or
conduct a raid too the police officer has to be accompanied by at
least two police women.
VIII. Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation of the prostitutes is a big problem because people
donate for different causes like handicapped people, blind etc but
when it cames to helping these girls not many are willing. There is a
stigma attached to this profession once rescued the girls are sent to
the Remand houses or the protective houses which are overcrowded,
mismanaged, without facilities or vocational training and living
conditions threadbare. The Government gives an aid of just Rs. 75/-
per girl per month. So the girl realises that the life before was
better and so when the pimp comes to claim them as a brother or a
sister she readily goes with him or her to the old life.
IX. Conclusion
Our society has not only turned a blind eye to minor girls being
enticed into prostitution but also is directly responsible for the
continuance in growth of child prostitution. First the demand for
virgin prostitutes, and secondly it abets child prostitution by
failing to provide adequate facilities for orphan and destitute
children. Unless so called respectable sections of the society rise in
revolt against exploitation the future of younger generation looks
bleak. We have to forget the idea of once a prostitute for ever a
prostitute and think how can a child help what has been done her by an
unthinking adult? We have to overlook their past and rehabilitate them
as one of the agencies in Bombay called Savadhan headed by Mr. Gupta
is doing. They have got 30 of prostitutes who were rescued married to
respectable people of the society. The IHO has been clamoring for
women police to patrol red light area because policemen themselves
exploit the inhabitant of the Red light area. The Government should
divert more funds for rehabilitation and private charitable
institutions should also contribute what we achieve in science and
technology will be negated if we cannot protect our minor girls who
are being exploited. The Government should severely punish the people
connected with this inhuman practice should be totally banned for the
good of the future citizens of our country.
X. Bibliography
1. Child Prostitution: SC notice to state 15th February 1984, Indian
Express (Bombay).
2. Forum against child prostitution formed 3rd August 1985, The Times
of India (Bombay).
3. Women in Bondage, Prashant Kumar, 11th November 1984, Sunday
Observer.
4. A doctors crusade against child Prostitution by Chaya Srivastava.
18th June1986, Deccan Herals (Bangalore)
5. Rescue, Protect, Destroy: Sheela Barse, 10th February 1985,
Statesman.
6. Miraj's monsoon harvest, Anand Agashe, 8th May 1986, Indian Express
(Bombay).
7. From Nepal without Love, Shashi Menon, 7th April 1985, Indian
Express.
8. Profile of sexually transmitted diseases in child prostitutes in
the Red light areas of Bombay, V. R. Bhalerao.
9. Courtesans in the house of God, 8th September 1985. Free Press
Journal.
10. Child Prostitution, 3rd August 1985. Times of India.
11. 60 Girls as Cargo to Virgin Ils, 21st April 1985, Indian Express.
12. Teenage Prostitution up in Rajasthan, 28th December 1984, The
Daily.
13. 20% of the Prostitutes are minors. V Mathews, 11th August 1985,
The Daily
14. Encyclopedia Americana
15. Urbanization a hell for poor kids, 2nd November 1986, The Times of
India, Bombay.
16. New act to curb, child Prostitution, 24th January 1987, Times of
India (Bombay).
17. Prostitution Thrives in Bombay, 7th April 1987, Times of India,
(Bombay).
http://www.pucl.org/from-archives/Child/prostitution.htm
Prostitution in India
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In India, prostitution (exchanging sex for money) is legal, but
related activities such as soliciting sex, operating brothels and
pimping are illegal.[1].
Prostitution is currently a contentious issue in India. In 2007, the
Ministry of Women and Child Development reported the presence of 2.8
million sex workers in India, with 35.47 percent of them entering the
trade before the age of 18 years. [2][3]. The number of prostitutes
has also doubled in the last decade. [4].
According to a Human Rights Watch report, Indian anti-trafficking laws
are designed to combat commercialized vice; prostitution, as such, is
not illegal. A sex worker can be punished for soliciting or seducing
in public, while clients can be punished for sexual activity in
proximity to a public place, and the organization puts the figure of
sex workers in India at around 15 million, with Mumbai alone being
home to one hundred thousand sex workers, the largest sex industry
centre in Asia [5]. Over the years, India has seen a growing mandate
to legalize prostitution, to avoid exploitation of sex workers and
their children by middlemen and in the wake of growing HIV/AIDS menace
[6]
Normally, girl prostitutes as categorised as common prostitutes,
singers and dancers, call girls, religious prostitutes (or devdasi),
and caged brothel prostitutes. Districts bordering Maharashtra and
Karnataka, known as the ‘devadasi belt’, have trafficking structures
operating at various levels [5]. Brothels are illegal de jure but in
practice are restricted in location to certain areas of any given
town. Though the profession does not have official sanction, little
effort is made to eradicate or impede it.
Sonagachi in Kolkata, Kamathipura in Mumbai, G. B. Road in New Delhi,
Reshampura in Gwalior and Budhwar Peth in Pune host thousands of sex
workers. They are famous red light centres in India. Earlier, there
were other centres such as Dal Mandi in Varanasi, Naqqasa Bazaar in
Saharanpur, Mali Sahi in Bhubaneshwar, Chaturbhuj Sthan in
Muzaffarpur, Peddapuram and Gudivada in Andhra Pradesh.
History
In ancient India, there is a practice of having Nagarvadhus, "brides
of the town". Famous examples include Amrapali, state courtesan and
Buddhist disciple, described in Vaishali Ki Nagarvadhu by Acharya
Chatursen and Vasantasena, a character in the classic Sanskrit story
of Mricchakatika, written in 2nd century BC by Sudraka. The Devadasis,
who performed in temples, were described as "temple prostitutes".
Kanhopatra is venerated as a saint in the Varkari sect of Hinduism,
despite spending most of her life as a courtesan. Binodini Dasi
started her career as a courtesan, later to become a Bengali theatre
actress.
In Goa, a Portuguese colony in India, during the late 16th and 17th
centuries, there was a community of Japanese slaves, who were usually
young Japanese women and girls brought or captured as sexual slaves by
Portuguese traders and their South Asian lascar crewmembers from Japan.
[7]
During the British East India Company's rule in India in the late 18th
and early 19th centuries, it was initially fairly common for British
soldiers to frequently visit local Indian nautch dancers. Likewise,
Indian lascar seamen taken to the United Kingdom also frequently
visited the local British prostitutes there.[8][9] In the 19th and
early 20th centuries, thousands of women and girls from continental
Europe and Japan were also trafficked into British India, where they
worked as prostitutes servicing both British soldiers and local Indian
men.[10][11][12]
Legal status
The primary law dealing with the status of sex workers is the 1956 law
referred to as the The Immoral Traffic (Suppression) Act (SITA).
According to this law, prostitutes can practice their trade privately
but cannot legally solicit customers in public. Organized prostitution
(brothels, prostitution rings, pimping etc) is illegal. As long as it
is done individually and voluntarily, a woman (male prostitution is
not recognized in the Indian constitution) can use her body's
attributes in exchange for material benefit. In particular, the law
forbids a sex worker to carry on her profession within 200 yards of a
public place. Unlike as is the case with other professions, sex
workers are not protected under normal labour laws, but they possess
the right to rescue and rehabilitation if they desire and possess all
the rights of other citizens.
In practice SITA is not commonly used. The Indian Penal Code (IPC)
which predates the SITA is often used to charge sex workers with vague
crimes such as "public indecency" or being a "public nuisance" without
explicitly defining what these consist of. Recently the old law has
been amended as The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act or PITA. Attempts
to amend this to criminalise clients [13] have been opposed by the
Health Ministry, [14] and has encountered considerable opposition.
[15] In an interesting and positive development in the improvement of
the lives of female sex workers in Calcutta, state owned insurance
company has provided life insurance to 250 individuals.[16]
Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act
The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act or PITA is a 1986 amendment of
legislation passed in 1956 as a result of the signing by India of the
United Nations' declaration in 1950 in New York on the suppression of
trafficking.[17] The act was then called the All India Suppression of
Immoral Traffic Act (SITA), was amended to the current law. The laws
were intended as a means of limiting and eventually abolishing
prostitution in India by gradually criminalizing various aspects of
sex work. The main points of the PITA are as follows: [18]
Sex Workers
A prostitute who seduces or solicits shall be prosecuted. Similarly,
call girls can not publish phone numbers to the public. (imprisonment
up to 6 months with fine, point 8)
Sex worker also punished for prostitution near any public place or
notified area. (Imprisonment of up to 3 months with fine, point 7)
Clients
A client is guilty of consorting with prostitutes and can be charged
if he engages in sex acts with a sex worker within 200 yards of a
public place or "notified area". (Imprisonment of up to 3 months,
point 7) The client may also be punished if the sex worker is below 18
years of age. (From 7 to 10 years of imprisonment, whether with a
child or a minor, point 7)
Pimps and Babus
Babus or pimps or live-in lovers who live off a prostitute's earnings
are guilty of a crime. Any adult male living with a prostitute is
assumed to be guilty unless he can prove otherwise. (Imprisonment of
up to 2 years with fine, point 4)
Brothel
Landlords and brothel-keepers can be prosecuted, maintaining a brothel
is illegal. (From 1 to 3 years imprisonment with fine for first
offence, point 3)
Detaining someone at a brothel for the purpose of sexual exploitation
can lead to prosecution. (Imprisonment of more than 7 years, point 6)
Procuring and trafficking
A person procures or attempts to procure anybody is liable to be
punished. Also a person who moves a person from one place to another,
(human trafficking), can be prosecuted similarly. (From 3 to 7 years
imprisonment with fine, point 5)
Rescued Women
The government is legally obligated to provide rescue and
rehabilitation in a "protective home" for any sex worker requesting
assistance. (Point 21)
Public place in context of this law includes places of public
religious worship, educational institutions, hostels, hospitals etc. A
"notified area" is a place which is declared to be "prostitution-free"
by the state government under the PITA. Brothel in context of this
law, is a place which has two or more sex workers (2a). Prostitution
itself is not an offence under this law, but soliciting, brothels and
pimps are illegal.[19]
Causes
Most of the research done by Sanlaap indicates that the majority of
sex workers in India work as prostitutes due to lacking resources to
support themselves or their children. Most do not choose this
profession out of preference, but out of necessity, often after the
breakup of a marriage or after being disowned and thrown out of their
homes by their families. The children of sex workers are much more
likely to get involved in this kind of work as well. A survey
completed in 1988 by the All Bengal Women's Union interviewed a random
sample of 160 sex workers in Calcutta and of those, 23 claimed that
they had come of their own accord, whereas the remaining 137 women
claimed to have been introduced into the sex trade by agents of
various sorts. The breakdown was as follows:
Neighbour in connivance with parents: 7
Neighbours as pimps (guardians not knowing): 19
Aged sex workers from same village or locality: 31
Unknown person/accidental meeting with pimp: 32
Mother/sister/near relative in the profession: 18
Lover giving false hope of marriage or job and selling to brothel: 14
Close acquaintance giving false hope of marriage or job: 11
"Husband" (not legally married): 3
Husband (legally married): 1
Young college student selling to brothel and visiting free of cost: 1
The breakdown of the agents by sex were as follows: 76% of the agents
were female and only 24% were males. Over 80% of the agents bring
young women into the profession were known people and not traffickers:
neighbors, relatives, etc.
Also prevalent in Indian prostitution is the Chukri System, whereby a
female is coerced into prostitution to pay off debts, as a form of
bonded labour. In this system, the prostitute generally works without
pay for one year or longer in order to repay a supposed debt to the
brothel owner for food, clothes, make-up and living expenses. In
India, the Government's "central sponsored scheme" provides financial
or in-kind grants to released bonded labourers and their family
members, the report noted, adding over 2,85,000 people have benefited
to date. Almost 5,000 prosecutions have been recorded so far under the
Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act of 1976.
Some women and even girls are by tradition born into prostitution to
support the family. The Bachara, for example, follow this tradition
with eldest daughters often expected to be prostitutes.
Over 40% of 484 prostituted girls rescued during major raids of
brothels in Mumbai in 1996 were from Nepal.[20] In India as many as
200,000 Nepalese girls, many under the age of 14, have been sold into
sexual slavery. Nepalese women and girls, especially virgins, are
favoured in India.[21][22]
At the other end of the spectrum operate high class escort girls
recruited from women's colleges and the vast cadres of India's fashion
and film industries. They can command large sums of money. These
services usually operate by way of introduction. However a recent
trend has seen the emergence of several snazzy websites, openly
advertising their services.
Male sex workers
Male prostitution is increasingly visible in India. Gigolo service in
India is growing.[23] But there are cases of harassment of client
women by gigolos.[24] In Delhi there are as many as twenty "agencies"
offering "handsome masseurs" in the classifieds of the newspapers
(Hindustan Times). They offer both in and out services, although the
facilities are usually very basic. Most western clients are visited at
their hotels. Local middle class Indians are also now using these
services. Fees are discussed over the phone, typically 1000 - 3000
Rs[citation needed]. Safe sex and condom use is generally well
understood. The workers typically do not speak English too well. They
are also found in Delhi's emerging gay night life scene, with several
"one nighters" at various middle class night clubs in the city.
In India, male homosexual acts are now legal but male prostitution is
all but invisible and not much is currently known about the status of
male sex workers. Due to the social stigma attached to homosexuality
in India and the lack of legal protection, they tend to face higher
risks than females. They are often faced with violence from the
police, clients, and are often subjected to extortion from the police
in order to carry on with their work. A large percentage of male sex
workers are eunuchs or hijrahs. Most know of sexually transmitted
diseases through experience, but there are few preventative measures,
such as condoms, that are made available to them. Due to their legal
status, no regimen of testing for AIDS or other diseases, are made
available.
AIDS
Mumbai and Kolkata (Calcutta) have the country's largest brothel based
sex industry, with over 100,000 sex workers in Mumbai[25]. It is
estimated that more than 50% of the sex workers in Mumbai are HIV-
positive[26]. In Surat, a study discovered that HIV prevalence among
sex workers had increased from 17% in 1992 to 43% in 2000.
A positive outcome of a prevention program among prostitutes can be
found in Sonagachi, a red-light district in Kolkata. The education
program targeted about 5,000 female prostitutes. A team of two peer
workers carried out outreach activities including education, condom
promotion and follow-up of STI cases. When the project was launched in
1992, 27% of sex workers reported condom use. By 1995 this had risen
to 82%, and in 2001 it was 86%. Reaching women who are working in
brothels has proven to be quite difficult due to the sheltered and
secluded nature of the work, where pimps, Mashis, and brothel-keepers
often control access to the women and prevent their access to
education, resulting in a low to modest literacy rate for many sex
workers.
Consistently high HIV infection rates among sex workers (50% or more
among Mumbai's female sex worker population since 1993[27]), coupled
with lack of information, failure to use protection, and the migrancy
of their clients [28], may contribute to the spread of AIDS in the
region and the country [27].
Popular culture
Prostitution, has been a theme in Indian literature and arts for
centuries, Mrichakatika a ten act Sanskrit play, set in Pataliputra
(modern-day Patna), was written by Śhudraka in the 2nd century BC. It
entails the story of a nagarvadhu (royal cortesan) Vasantsena. It was
made into Utsav, a 1984 Hindi film. Amrapali (Ambapali) the nagarvadhu
of the Kingdom of Vaishali famously became a Buddhist monk later in
the life, a story retold in a Hindi film, Amprapali (1966) [29]
Tawaif, or the courtesan in the Mughal era, has been a theme of a
number of films including Pakeezah (1972), Umrao Jaan (1981), Tawaif
(film) (1985), and Umrao Jaan (2006 film). Other movies depicting
lives of prostitutes and dancing girls are Sharaabi, Amar Prem (1972),
Devdas (2002), Chandni Bar (2001), Chameli (2003), Laaga Chunari Mein
Daag (2007), and Dev D (2009).
Born into Brothels, a 2004 American documentary film about the
children of prostitutes in Sonagachi, Kolkata, won the Academy Award
for Documentary Feature in 2004.[30].
See also
Prostitution in Kolkata http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_Kolkata
Born into Brothels http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Born_into_Brothels
Pornography in India http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pornography_in_India
References
^ 2008 Human Rights Reports:India http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/sca/119134.htm
^ Around 2.8 mn prostitutes in India Indian Express, May 8, 2007
http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=86159
^ BBC report on number of female sex workers in India BBC News.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7376762.stm
^ Prostitution 'increases' in India BBC News, July 3, 2006
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/south_asia/5140526.stm
^ a b Prostitution: A burning issue in India today merinews.com, April
7, 2008. http://www.merinews.com/article/prostitution-a-burning-issue-in-india-today/131963.shtml
^ A mandate to legalise prostitution The Times of India, August 25,
2003. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/145540.cms
^ Leupp, Gary P. (2003), Interracial Intimacy in Japan, Continuum
International Publishing Group, p. 49 & 52, ISBN 0826460747
^ Fisher, Michael Herbert (2006), Counterflows to Colonialism: Indian
Traveller and Settler in Britain 1600-1857, Orient Blackswan, pp. 106,
111–6, 119–20, 129–35, 140–2, 154–8, 160–8, 172, 181, ISBN
8178241544
^ Fisher, Michael H. (2007), "Excluding and Including "Natives of
India": Early-Nineteenth-Century British-Indian Race Relations in
Britain", Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa and the Middle
East 27 (2): 303–314 [304–5]
^ Fischer-Tiné, Harald (2003), "'White women degrading themselves to
the lowest depths': European networks of prostitution and colonial
anxieties in British India and Ceylon ca. 1880-1914", Indian Economic
Social History Review 40: 163–90, doi:10.1177/001946460304000202
^ Tambe, Ashwini (2005), "The Elusive Ingénue: A Transnational
Feminist Analysis of European Prostitution in Colonial Bombay", Gender
& Society 19: 160–79
^ Enloe, Cynthia H. (2000), Maneuvers: The International Politics of
Militarizing Women's Lives, University of California Press, p. 58,
ISBN 0520220714
^ LEADER ARTICLE: Sex Workers Need Legal Cover-Editorial-Opinion-The
Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Opinion/Editorial/LEADER_ARTICLE_Sex_Work_Is_No_Crime/articleshow/2615557.cms
^ 'Sex workers' clients shouldn't be penalised'-India-The Times of
India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Opinion/Editorial/LEADER_ARTICLE_Sex_Workers_Need_Legal_Cover/articleshow/2353579.cms
^ LEADER ARTICLE: Sex Work Is No Crime-Editorial-Opinion-The Times of
India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Sex_workers_clients_shouldnt_be_penalised/articleshow/2566234.cms
^ BBC NEWS | South Asia | India sex workers get life cover
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7376762.stm
^ The Immoral traffic Prevention Act
^ [1]
^ [2] http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Opinion/Editorial/LEADER_ARTICLE_Sex_Work_Is_No_Crime/articleshow/2615557.cms
^ "S. Asia Urged to Unite Against Child Prostitution", Reuters, June
19, 1998.
^ Millions Suffer in Sex Slavery http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2001/4/23/184354.shtml
^ Fair skin and young looks: Nepalese victims of human trafficking
languish in Indian brothels http://www.thefullmonte.com/traffic.htm
^ [3] http://www.intoday.in/site/intoday/
^ [4] http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/763537.cms
^ "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: India", US State
Department, 2001. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2001/sa/8230.htm
^ "HIV/AIDS in Asia and the Pacific Region 2001", World Health
Organization, 2001. http://whqlibdoc.who.int/wpro/2001/9290611588.pdf
^ a b "AIDS in Asia, Face the Facts", Monitoring the AIDS Pandemic
(MAP) Network report, 2004.
^ Galwankar S., "Sexual behaviors in migrant male workers from Mumbai:
a need for sex education for the uneducated", Internations Conf erence
on AIDS. 2002.
^ Amprali at the Internet Movie Database.
^ "NY Times: Born into Brothels". NY Times.
http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/299929/Born-Into-Brothels/details.
Retrieved 2008-11-23.
Further reading
History of Prostitution in India, by S. N. Sinha. Published by Bengal
Social Hygiene Association, 1933.
Reporting on Prostitution: The Media, Women and Prostitution in India,
Malaysia and the Philippines, by Lois Grjebine, UNESCO. Published by
Unesco, 1985.
Prostitution in India, by Santosh Kumar Mukherji, Biswanath Joardar.
Published by Inter-India Publications, 1986. ISBN 8121000548.
The Castaway of Indian Society: History of Prostitution in India Since
Vedic Times, Based on Sanskrit, Pāli, Prākrit, and Bengali Sources, by
Sures Chandra Banerji, Ramala Banerji. Published by Punthi Pustak,
1989. ISBN 818509425X.
Child Prostitution in India, by Joseph Anthony Gathia, Centre of
Concern for Child Labour. Published by Concept Pub. Co., 1999. ISBN
8170227712.
Immoral Traffic - Prostitution in India, by V. Sithannan. Published by
JEYWIN Publications. ISBN 8190597507.
Broken Lives: Dalit Women and Girls in Prostitution in India, by M.
Rita Rozario. Published by Ambedkar Resource Centre, Rural Education
for Development Society, 2000. ISBN 8187367024.
Gomare et al. 2002. Adopting strategic approach for reaching out to
inaccessible population viz Abstract WePeF6707F abstract, The XIV
International AIDS Conference.
Trafficking in Women and Children in India, by P. M. Nair, Sankar Sen,
Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi, India. National Human Rights
Commission, UNIFEM South Asia Regional Office, New Delhi. Published by
Orient Blackswan, 2005. ISBN 8125028455.
INDIA & Southeast Asia to 1875, Beck, Sanderson. ISBN 0-9762210-0-4
External links
India - Facts on Trafficking and Prostitution from the Coalition
Against Trafficking in Women (CATW) http://www.uri.edu/artsci/wms/hughes/india.htm
Rape For Profit -- Human Rights Watch Report http://www.hrw.org/legacy/reports/1995/India.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_India
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/hindu-moral-messmessageage-sid-harth.html
...and I am Sid Harth
hari....@indero.com
India is by constitution a republic where all stande exactly fully equal
before the law.
The whining radicals want to return to a past that in fact did not
exist.
S. asia has always been a constant stirring of cultures and ethnic
groups coming and going and mixing in very complex ways.
cogitoergosum
dhammam saranam gassami: Sid Harth
<a href="http://navanavonmilita.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/
buddha2.jpg">
dhammam saranam gassami: Sid Harth
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dhammam saranam gassami
Gautama Buddha
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Buddha)
“Buddha” and “Gautama” redirect here. For other uses, see Buddha
(disambiguation) and Gautama (disambiguation).
Siddhārtha Gautama Buddha
A statue of the Buddha from Sarnath, 4th century CE.
Born c. 563 BCE or 623 BCE
Lumbini, today in Nepal
Died c. 483 BCE or 543 BCE (aged 80)
Kushinagar, today in India
Ethnicity Shakya
Known for Founder of Buddhism
Predecessor Kassapa Buddha
Successor Maitreya Buddha
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Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali:सिद्धाथ गोतम
Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher who founded Buddhism.[1] In
most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha (P.
sammāsambuddha, S. samyaksaṃbuddha ) of our age, “Buddha” meaning
“awakened one” or “the enlightened one.” [note 1] In Hindu traditions,
Buddha is regarded as one of the avatars of Vishnu.[2][3][4][5][6][7]
[8][9][10][11][12][13][14] The time of his birth and death are
uncertain: most early 20th-century historians dated his lifetime as c.
563 BCE to 483 BCE; more recently, however, at a specialist symposium
on this question,[15] the majority of those scholars who presented
definite opinions gave dates within 20 years either side of 400 BCE
for the Buddha’s death, with others supporting earlier or later dates.
[16]
Gautama, also known as Śākyamuni or Shakyamuni (“sage of the
Shakyas”), is the key figure in Buddhism, and accounts of his life,
discourses, and monastic rules are believed by Buddhists to have been
summarized after his death and memorized by his followers. Various
collections of teachings attributed to Gautama were passed down by
oral tradition, and first committed to writing about 400 years later.
Life
The primary sources of information regarding Siddhārtha Gautama’s life
are the Buddhist texts. According to these, the Buddha and his monks
spent four months each year discussing and rehearsing his teachings,
and after his death his monks set about preserving them. A council was
held shortly after his death, and another was held a century later. At
these councils the monks attempted to establish and authenticate the
extant accounts of the life and teachings of the Buddha following
systematic rules. They divided the teachings into distinct but
overlapping bodies of material, and assigned specific monks to
preserve each one.[17] In some cases, essential aspects of teachings
attributed to the Buddha were incorporated into stories and chants in
an effort to preserve them accurately.[18]
From then on, the teachings were transmitted orally. From internal
evidence it seems clear that the oldest texts crystallized into their
current form by the time of the second council or shortly after it.
The scriptures were not written down until three or four hundred years
after the Buddha’s death. By this point, the monks had added or
altered some material themselves, in particular magnifying the figure
of the Buddha.[17]
The ancient Indians were generally not concerned with chronologies,
being more focused on philosophy. The Buddhist texts reflect this
tendency, providing a clearer picture of what Shakyamuni may have
taught than of the dates of the events in his life. These texts
contain descriptions of the culture and daily life of ancient India
which can be corroborated from the Jain scriptures, and make the
Buddha’s time the earliest period in Indian history for which
significant accounts exist.[19] According to Michael Carrithers, there
are good reasons to doubt the traditional account, though, according
to Carrithers, the outline of “birth, maturity, renunciation, search,
awakening and liberation, teaching, death” must be true.[20]
Conception and birth
Maya Devi Temple in Lumbini, Nepal.
Birth of Buddha at Lumbini. Picture of a painting in a Laotian
Temple.
Prince Siddhartha Gautama, Musée Guimet, Paris
Siddhartha was born in Lumbini[21] and raised in the small kingdom or
principality of Kapilvastu, both of which are in modern day Nepal[22].
At the time of the Buddha’s birth, the area was at or beyond the
boundary of Vedic civilization, the dominant culture of northern India
at the time; it is even possible that his mother tongue was not an
Indo-Aryan language.[23] The early texts suggest that Gautama was not
familiar with the dominant religious teachings of his time until he
left on his religious search, which was motivated by an existential
concern with the human condition.[24] At the time, a multitude of
small city-states existed in Ancient India, called Janapadas.
Republics and chiefdoms with diffused political power and limited
social stratification, were not uncommon amongst them, and were
referred to as gana-sanghas.[25] The Buddha’s community does not seem
to have had a caste system. It was not a monarchy, and seems to have
been structured either as an oligarchy, or as a form of republic.[26]
The more egalitarian gana-sangha form of government, as a political
alternative to the strongly hierarchical kingdoms, may have influenced
the development of the Shramana type Jain and Buddhist sanghas, where
monarchies tended toward Vedic Brahmanism.[27]
According to the traditional biography, the Buddha’s father was King
Suddhodana, the leader of Shakya clan, whose capital was Kapilavastu,
and who were later annexed by the growing Kingdom of Kosala during the
Buddha’s lifetime; Gautama was the family name. His mother, Queen Maha
Maya (Māyādevī) and Suddhodana’s wife, was a Koliyan princess. On the
night Siddhartha was conceived, Queen Maya dreamt that a white
elephant with six white tusks entered her right side,[28] and ten
months later Siddhartha was born. As was the Shakya tradition, when
his mother Queen Maya became pregnant, she left Kapilvastu for her
father’s kingdom to give birth. However, she gave birth on the way, at
Lumbini, in a garden beneath a sal tree.
The day of the Buddha’s birth is widely celebrated in Theravada
countries as Vesak.[29] Various sources hold that the Buddha’s mother
died at his birth, a few days or seven days later. The infant was
given the name Siddhartha (Pāli: Siddhatta), meaning “he who achieves
his aim”. During the birth celebrations, the hermit seer Asita
journeyed from his mountain abode and announced that the child would
either become a great king (chakravartin) or a great holy man.[30]
This occurred after Siddhartha placed his feet in Asita’s hair and
Asita examined the birthmarks. Suddhodana held a naming ceremony on
the fifth day, and invited eight brahmin scholars to read the future.
All gave a dual prediction that the baby would either become a great
king or a great holy man.[30] Kaundinya (Pali: Kondanna), the
youngest, and later to be the first arahant other than the Buddha, was
the only one who unequivocally predicted that Siddhartha would become
a Buddha.[31]
While later tradition and legend characterized Śuddhodana as a
hereditary monarch, the descendant of the Solar Dynasty of Ikṣvāku
(Pāli: Okkāka), many scholars believe that Śuddhodana was the elected
chief of a tribal confederacy.
Early life and marriage
Siddhartha, said to have been destined to a luxurious life as a
prince, had three palaces (for seasonal occupation) especially built
for him. His father, King Śuddhodana, wishing for Siddhartha to be a
great king, shielded his son from religious teachings or knowledge of
human suffering. Siddhartha was brought up by his mother’s younger
sister, Maha Pajapati.[32]
As the boy reached the age of 16, his father arranged his marriage to
Yaśodharā (Pāli: Yasodharā), a cousin of the same age. According to
the traditional account, in time, she gave birth to a son, Rahula.
Siddhartha spent 29 years as a Prince in Kapilavastu. Although his
father ensured that Siddhartha was provided with everything he could
want or need, Siddhartha felt that material wealth was not the
ultimate goal of life.[32]
Departure and Ascetic Life
The Buddha travelled the plain of the Ganges river, where his
philosophy attracted followers.
The Great Departure. Gandhara, 2nd century.
Prince Siddharta shaves his hair and become an ascetic. Borobudur, 8th
century.At the age of 29, Siddhartha left his palace in order to meet
his subjects. Despite his father’s effort to remove the sick, aged and
suffering from the public view, Siddhartha was said to have seen an
old man[citation needed]. Disturbed by this, when told that all people
would eventually grow old by his charioteer Channa, the prince went on
further trips where he encountered, variously, a diseased man, a
decaying corpse, and an ascetic. Deeply depressed by these sights, he
sought to overcome old age, illness, and death by living the life of
an ascetic[citation needed].
Siddhartha escaped his palace, accompanied by Channa aboard his horse
Kanthaka, leaving behind this royal life to become a mendicant. It is
said that, “the horse’s hooves were muffled by the gods”[33] to
prevent guards from knowing of the Bodhisatta’s departure. This event
is traditionally called “The Great Departure”. Siddhartha initially
went to Rajagaha and began his ascetic life by begging for alms in the
street. Having been recognised by the men of King Bimbisara, Bimbisara
offered him the throne after hearing of Siddhartha’s quest. Siddhartha
rejected the offer, but promised to visit his kingdom of Magadha
first, upon attaining enlightenment.
Siddhartha left Rajagaha and practised under two hermit teachers.
After mastering the teachings of Alara Kalama (Skr. Ārāḍa Kālāma),
Siddhartha was asked by Kalama to succeed him, but moved on after
being unsatisfied with his practices. He then became a student of
Udaka Ramaputta (Skr. Udraka Rāmaputra), but although he achieved high
levels of meditative consciousness and was asked to succeed Ramaputta,
he was still not satisfied with his path, and moved on.[34]
Gandhara Buddha. 1st–2nd century CE, Tokyo National Museum.Siddhartha
and a group of five companions led by Kaundinya then set out to take
their austerities even further. They tried to find enlightenment
through near total deprivation of worldly goods, including food,
practising self-mortification. After nearly starving himself to death
by restricting his food intake to around a leaf or nut per day, he
collapsed in a river while bathing and almost drowned. Siddhartha
began to reconsider his path. Then, he remembered a moment in
childhood in which he had been watching his father start the season’s
plowing. Looking near his feet he noticed the insects that lived there
and realized that they would die or be displaced by the plowing. He
then realized that all life is connected. With this revelation he
attained a concentrated and focused state that was blissful and
refreshing, the jhāna.
Enlightenment
After asceticism and concentrating on meditation and Anapana-sati
(awareness of breathing in and out), Siddhartha is said to have
discovered what Buddhists call the Middle Way—a path of moderation
away from the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification. He
accepted a little milk and rice pudding from a village girl named
Sujata, who wrongly believed him to be the spirit that had granted her
a wish, such was his emaciated appearance. Then, sitting under a pipal
tree, now known as the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India, he vowed never
to arise until he had found the Truth. Kaundinya and the other four
companions, believing that he had abandoned his search and become
undisciplined, left. After 49 days meditating, at the age of 35, he
attained Enlightenment; according to some traditions, this occurred
approximately in the fifth lunar month, and according to others in the
twelfth. Gautama, from then on, was known as the Buddha or “Awakened
One.” Buddha is also sometimes translated as “The Enlightened One.”
Often, he is referred to in Buddhism as Shakyamuni Buddha or “The
Awakened One of the Shakya Clan.”
At this point, he is believed to have realized complete awakening and
insight into the nature and cause of human suffering which was
ignorance, along with steps necessary to eliminate it. This was then
categorized into ‘Four Noble Truths’; the state of supreme liberation—
possible for any being—was called Nirvana. He then allegedly came to
possess the Ten Characteristics, which are said to belong to every
Buddha.
According to one of the stories in the Āyācana Sutta (Samyutta Nikaya
VI.1), a scripture found in the Pāli and other canons, immediately
after his Enlightenment, the Buddha was wondering whether or not he
should teach the Dharma to human beings. He was concerned that, as
human beings were overpowered by greed, hatred and delusion, they
would not be able to see the true dharma, which was subtle, deep and
hard to understand. However, Brahmā Sahampati interceded and asked
that he teach the dharma to the world, as “there will be those who
will understand the Dharma”. With his great compassion to all beings
in the universe, the Buddha agreed to become a teacher.
Formation of the sangha
Painting of the first sermon depicted at Wat Chedi Liem in
Thailand.After becoming enlightened, two merchants whom the Buddha
met, named Tapussa and Bhallika became the first lay disciples. They
are given some hairs from the Buddha’s head, which are believed to now
be enshrined in the Shwe Dagon Temple in Rangoon, Burma. The Buddha
intended to visit Asita, and his former teachers, Alara Kalama and
Uddaka Ramaputta to explain his findings, but they had already died.
The Buddha thus journeyed to Deer Park near Vārāṇasī (Benares) in
northern India, he set in motion the Wheel of Dharma by delivering his
first sermon to the group of five companions with whom he had
previously sought enlightenment. They, together with the Buddha,
formed the first saṅgha, the company of Buddhist monks, and hence, the
first formation of Triple Gem (Buddha, Dharma and Sangha) was
completed, with Kaundinya becoming the first stream-enterer. All five
soon become arahants, and with the conversion of Yasa and fifty four
of his friends, the number of arahants swelled to 60 within the first
two months. The conversion of the three Kassapa brothers and their
200, 300 and 500 disciples swelled the sangha over 1000, and they were
dispatched to explain the dharma to the populace.
It is unknown what the Buddha’s mother tongue was, and no conclusive
documentation has been made at this point. It is likely that he
preached and his teachings were originally preserved in a variety of
closely related Middle Indo-Aryan dialects, of which Pali may be a
standardization.
Travels and teaching
Buddha with his protector Vajrapani, Gandhara, 2nd century CE,
Ostasiatische Kunst MuseumFor the remaining 45 years of his life, the
Buddha is said to have traveled in the Gangetic Plain, in what is now
Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and southern Nepal, teaching his doctrine and
discipline to an extremely diverse range of people— from nobles to
outcaste street sweepers, mass murderers such as Angulimala and
cannibals such as Alavaka. This extended to many adherents of rival
philosophies and religions. The Buddha founded the community of
Buddhist monks and nuns (the Sangha) to continue the dispensation
after his Parinirvāna (Pāli: Parinibbāna) or “complete Nirvāna”, and
made thousands of converts. His religion was open to all races and
classes and had no caste structure. He was also subject to attack from
opposition religious groups, including attempted murders and framings.
The sangha travelled from place to place in India, expounding the
dharma. This occurred throughout the year, except during the four
months of the vassana rainy season. Due to the heavy amount of
flooding, travelling was difficult, and ascetics of all religions in
that time did not travel, since it was more difficult to do so without
stepping on submerged animal life, unwittingly killing them. During
this period, the sangha would retreat to a monastery, public park or a
forest and people would come to them.
The first vassana was spent at Varanasi when the sangha was first
formed. After this, he travelled to Rajagaha, the capital of Magadha
to visit King Bimbisara, in accordance with his promise after
enlightenment. It was during this visit that Sariputta and
Mahamoggallana were converted by Assaji, one of the first five
disciples; they were to become the Buddha’s two foremost disciples.
The Buddha then spent the next three seasons at Veluvana Bamboo Grove
monastery in Rajagaha, the capital of Magadha. The monastery, which
was of a moderate distance from the city centre was donated by
Bimbisara.
Upon hearing of the enlightenment, Suddhodana dispatched royal
delegations to ask the Buddha to return to Kapilavastu. Nine
delegations were sent in all, but the delegates joined the sangha and
became arahants. Neglecting worldly matters, they did not convey their
message. The tenth delegation, led by Kaludayi, a childhood friend,
resulted in the message being successfully conveyed as well as
becoming an arahant. Since it was not the vassana, the Buddha agreed,
and two years after his enlightenment, took a two month journey to
Kapilavastu by foot, preaching the dharma along the way. Upon his
return, the royal palace had prepared the midday meal, but since no
specific invitation had come, the sangha went for an alms round in
Kapilavastu. Hearing this, Suddhodana hastened to approach the Buddha,
stating “Ours is the warrior lineage of Mahamassata, and not a single
warrior has gone seeking alms”, to which the Buddha replied
That is not the custom of your royal lineage. But it is the custom of
my Buddha lineage. Several thousands of Buddhas have gone by seeking
alms
Suddhodana invited the sangha back to the royal palace for the meal,
followed by a dharma talk, after which he became a sotapanna. During
the visit, many members of the royal family joined the sangha. His
cousins Ananda and Anuruddha were to become two of his five chief
disciples. His son Rahula also joined the sangha at the age of seven,
and was one of the ten chief disciples. His half-brother Nanda also
joined the sangha and became an arahant. Another cousin Devadatta also
became a monk although he later became an enemy and tried to kill the
Buddha on multiple occasions.
Of his disciples, Sariputta, Mahamoggallana, Mahakasyapa, Ananda and
Anuruddha comprised the five chief disciples. His ten foremost
disciples were completed by the quintet of Upali, Subhoti, Rahula,
Mahakaccana and Punna.
In the fifth vassana, the Buddha was staying at Mahavana near Vesali.
Hearing of the impending death of Suddhodana, the Buddha went to his
father and preached the dharma, and Suddhodana became an arahant prior
to death. The death and cremation led to the creation of the order of
nuns. Buddhist texts record that he was reluctant to ordain women as
nuns. His foster mother Maha Pajapati approached him asking to join
the sangha, but the Buddha refused, and began the journey from
Kapilavastu back to Rajagaha. Maha Pajapati was so intent on
renouncing the world that she led a group of royal Sakyan and Koliyan
ladies, following the sangha to Rajagaha. The Buddha eventually
accepted them five years after the formation of the Sangha on the
grounds that their capacity for enlightenment was equal to that of
men, but he gave them certain additional rules (Vinaya) to follow.
This occurred after Ananda interceded on their behalf. Yasodhara also
became a nun, with both becoming arahants.
Devadatta tries to attack the Buddha. Picture of a wallpainting in a
Laotian monastery.During his ministry, Devadatta (who was not an
arahant) frequently tried to undermine the Buddha. At one point
Devadatta asked the Buddha to stand aside to let him lead the sangha.
The Buddha declined, and stated that Devadatta’s actions did not
reflect on the Triple Gem, but on him alone. Devadatta conspired with
Prince Ajatasattu, son of Bimbisara, so that they would kill and usurp
the Buddha and Bimbisara respectively. Devadatta attempted three times
to kill the Buddha. The first attempt involved the hiring of a group
of archers, whom upon meeting the Buddha became disciples. A second
attempt followed when Devadatta attempted to roll a large boulder down
a hill. It hit another rock and splintered, only grazing the Buddha in
the foot. A final attempt by plying an elephant with alcohol and
setting it loose again failed. Failing this, Devadatta attempted to
cause a schism in the sangha, by proposing extra restrictions on the
vinaya. When the Buddha declined, Devadatta started a breakaway order,
criticising the Buddha’s laxity. At first, he managed to convert some
of the bhikkhus, but Sariputta and Mahamoggallana expounded the dharma
to them and succeeded in winning them back.
When the Buddha reached the age of 55, he made Ananda his chief
attendant.
Death / Mahaparinirvana
An artist`s portrayal of Buddha’s entry into Parinirvana.According to
the Mahaparinibbana Sutta of the Pali canon, at the age of 80, the
Buddha announced that he would soon reach Parinirvana or the final
deathless state abandoning the earthly body. After this, the Buddha
ate his last meal, which he had received as an offering from a
blacksmith named Cunda. Falling violently ill, Buddha instructed his
attendant Ānanda to convince Cunda that the meal eaten at his place
had nothing to do with his passing and that his meal would be a source
of the greatest merit as it provided the last meal for a Buddha.[35]
Mettanando and von Hinüber argue that the Buddha died of mesenteric
infarction, a symptom of old age, rather than food poisoning.[36] The
precise contents of the Buddha’s final meal are not clear, due to
variant scriptural traditions and ambiguity over the translation of
certain significant terms; the Theravada tradition generally believes
that the Buddha was offered some kind of pork, while the Mahayana
tradition believes that the Buddha consumed some sort of truffle or
other mushroom.
The sharing of the relics of the Buddha, Zenyōmitsu-Temple Museum,
Tokyo
Buddha relics from Kanishka’s stupa in Peshawar, Pakistan, now in
Mandalay, Burma. Teresa Merrigan, 2005The Mahayana Vimalakirti Sutra
claims, in Chapter 3, that the Buddha doesn’t really become ill or old
but purposely presents such an appearance only to teach those born
into samsara about the impermanence and pain of defiled worlds and to
encourage them to strive for Nirvana.
“Reverend Ánanda, the Tathágatas have the body of the Dharma—not a
body that is sustained by material food. The Tathágatas have a
transcendental body that has transcended all mundane qualities. There
is no injury to the body of a Tathágata, as it is rid of all
defilements. The body of a Tathágata is uncompounded and free of all
formative activity. Reverend Ánanda, to believe there can be illness
in such a body is irrational and unseemly!’ Nevertheless, since the
Buddha has appeared during the time of the five corruptions, he
disciplines living beings by acting lowly and humble.”[14]
Ananda protested Buddha’s decision to enter Parinirvana in the
abandoned jungles of Kuśināra (present-day Kushinagar, India) of the
Malla kingdom. Buddha, however, reminded Ananda how Kushinara was a
land once ruled by a righteous wheel-turning king that resounded with
joy:
44. Kusavati, Ananda, resounded unceasingly day and night with ten
sounds—the trumpeting of elephants, the neighing of horses, the
rattling of chariots, the beating of drums and tabours, music and
song, cheers, the clapping of hands, and cries of “Eat, drink, and be
merry!”
Buddha then asked all the attendant Bhikshus to clarify any doubts or
questions they had. They had none. He then finally entered
Parinirvana. The Buddha’s final words were, “All composite things pass
away. Strive for your own liberation with diligence.” The Buddha’s
body was cremated and the relics were placed in monuments or stupas,
some of which are believed to have survived until the present. For
example, The Temple of the Tooth or “Dalada Maligawa” in Sri Lanka is
the place where the relic of the right tooth of Buddha is kept at
present.
According to the Pāli historical chronicles of Sri Lanka, the
Dīpavaṃsa and Mahāvaṃsa, the coronation of Aśoka (Pāli: Asoka) is 218
years after the death of Buddha. According to one Mahayana record in
Chinese (十八部論 and 部執異論), the coronation of Aśoka is 116 years after
the death of Buddha. Therefore, the time of Buddha’s passing is either
486 BCE according to Theravāda record or 383 BCE according to Mahayana
record. However, the actual date traditionally accepted as the date of
the Buddha’s death in Theravāda countries is 544 or 543 BCE, because
the reign of Aśoka was traditionally reckoned to be about 60 years
earlier than current estimates.
At his death, the Buddha told his disciples to follow no leader, but
to follow his teachings (dharma). However, at the First Buddhist
Council, Mahakasyapa was held by the sangha as their leader, with the
two chief disciples Mahamoggallana and Sariputta having died before
the Buddha.
Physical characteristics
Main article: Physical characteristics of the Buddha
For the Fat or Laughing Buddha, see Budai.
The 8m tall statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha in the Tawang Monastery.
Buddha Daibutsu in Kamakura, Japan.Buddha is perhaps one of the few
sages for whom we have mention of his rather impressive physical
characteristics. A kshatriya by birth, he had military training in his
upbringing, and by Shakyan tradition was required to pass tests to
demonstrate his worthiness as a warrior in order to marry. He had a
strong enough body to be noticed by one of the kings and was asked to
join his army as a general. He is also believed by Buddhists to have
“the 32 Signs of the Great Man”.
The Brahmin Sonadanda described him as “handsome, good-looking, and
pleasing to the eye, with a most beautiful complexion. He has a
godlike form and countenance, he is by no means unattractive.”(D,I:
115).
“It is wonderful, truly marvellous, how serene is the good Gotama’s
appearance, how clear and radiant his complexion, just as the golden
jujube in autumn is clear and radiant, just as a palm-tree fruit just
loosened from the stalk is clear and radiant, just as an adornment of
red gold wrought in a crucible by a skilled goldsmith, deftly beaten
and laid on a yellow-cloth shines, blazes and glitters, even so, the
good Gotama’s senses are calmed, his complexion is clear and
radiant.” (A,I:181)
A disciple named Vakkali, who later became an Arahant, was so obsessed
by Buddha’s physical presence that Buddha had to tell him to stop and
reminded Vakkali to know Buddha through the Dhamma and not physical
appearances.
Although the Buddha was not represented in human form until around the
1st century CE (see Buddhist art), the physical characteristics of
fully-enlightened Buddhas are described by the Buddha in the Digha
Nikaya’s Lakkhaṇa Sutta (D,I:142).[37] In addition, the Buddha’s
physical appearance is described by Yasodhara to their son Rahula upon
the Buddha’s first post-Enlightenment return to his former princely
palace in the non-canonical Pali devotional hymn, Narasīha Gāthā (“The
Lion of Men”).[38]
Teachings
Main article: Buddhist philosophy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_philosophy
Seated Buddha, Gandhara, 2nd century CE.Some scholars believe that
some portions of the Pali Canon and the Agamas could contain the
actual substance of the historical teachings (and possibly even the
words) of the Buddha.[39][40] This is not the case for the later
Mahayana sutras.[41] The scriptural works of Early Buddhism precede
the Mahayana works chronologically, and are treated by many Western
scholars as the main credible source for information regarding the
actual historical teachings of Gautama Buddha.
Some of the fundamentals of the teachings of Gautama Buddha are:
The Four Noble Truths: that suffering is an inherent part of
existence; that the origin of suffering is ignorance and the main
symptoms of that ignorance are attachment and craving; that attachment
and craving can be ceased; and that following the Noble Eightfold Path
will lead to the cessation of attachment and craving and therefore
suffering.
The Noble Eightfold Path: right understanding, right thought, right
speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right
mindfulness, and right concentration.
Dependent origination: that any phenomenon ‘exists’ only because of
the ‘existence’ of other phenomena in a complex web of cause and
effect covering time past, present and future. Because all things are
thus conditioned and transient (anicca), they have no real independent
identity (anatta).
Rejection of the infallibility of accepted scripture: Teachings should
not be accepted unless they are borne out by our experience and are
praised by the wise. See the Kalama Sutta for details.
Anicca (Sanskrit: anitya): That all things are impermanent.
Dukkha (Sanskrit: duḥkha): That all beings suffer from all situations
due to unclear mind.
Anatta (Sanskrit: anātman): That the perception of a constant “self”
is an illusion.
However, in some Mahayana schools, these points have come to be
regarded as more or less subsidiary. There is some disagreement
amongst various schools of Buddhism over more esoteric aspects of
Buddha’s teachings, and also over some of the disciplinary rules for
monks.
According to tradition, the Buddha emphasized ethics and correct
understanding. He questioned the average person’s notions of divinity
and salvation. He stated that there is no intermediary between mankind
and the divine; distant gods are subjected to karma themselves in
decaying heavens; and the Buddha is solely a guide and teacher for the
sentient beings who must tread the path of Nirvāṇa (Pāli: Nibbāna)
themselves to attain the spiritual awakening called bodhi and see
truth and reality as it is. The Buddhist system of insight and
meditation practice is not believed to have been revealed divinely,
but by the understanding of the true nature of the mind, which must be
discovered by personally treading a spiritual path guided by the
Buddha’s teachings.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_ethics
See also
Bodh Gaya
Buddha as an Avatar of Vishnu
Buddha as viewed in other religions
Buddhahood
History of Buddhism
Iconography of the Buddha
List of the 28 Buddhas
Maitreya Buddha (Future Buddha)
Prem Sanyas, a 1925 silent film, directed by Franz Osten and Himansu
Rai.
The Light of Asia, a book by Edwin Arnold
^ Turner, Sir Ralph Lilley (1962–1985). “buddha 9276″. A comparative
dictionary of the Indo-Aryan languages. London: Oxford University
Press. Digital Dictionaries of South Asia, University of Chicago. p.
525. http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/contextualize.pl?p.2.soas.1976481.
Retrieved 22 Feb 2010. “Hypothetical root budh ‘ perceive ’ 1. Pali
buddha – ‘ understood, enlightened ’, masculine ‘ the Buddha ’;
Aśokan, that is, the language of the Inscriptions of Aśoka Budhe
nominative singular; Prakrit buddha – ‘ known, awakened ’; Waigalī
būdāī ‘ truth ’; Bashkarīk budh ‘ he heard ’; Tōrwālī būdo preterite
of bū – ‘ to see, know ’ from bṓdhati; Phalūṛa búddo preterite of buǰǰ
– ‘ to understand ’ from búdhyatē; Shina Gilgitī dialect budo ‘ awake
’, Gurēsī dialect budyōnṷ intransitive ‘ to wake ’; Kashmiri bọ̆du ‘
quick of understanding (especially of a child ’); Sindhī ḇudho past
participle (passive) of ḇujhaṇu ‘ to understand ’ from búdhyatē, West
Pahāṛī buddhā preterite of bujṇā ‘ to know ’; Sinhalese buj (j written
for d), budu, bud – , but – ‘ the Buddha ’.”
References
^ The Buddha, His Life and Teachings
^ List of Hindu scripture that declares Gautama Buddha as 9th Avatar
of Vishnu as as follows [Harivamsha (1.41) Vishnu Purana (3.18)
Bhagavata Purana (1.3.24, 2.7.37, 11.4.23 name="Bhagavata Purana
1.3.24">Bhagavata Purana 1.3.24
^ Garuda Purana (1.1, 2.30.37, 3.15.26) [Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi
1982.
^ Agni Purana (160.Narada Purana (2.72)Linga Purana (2.71) Padma
Purana (3.252) etc. (Dhere Ramchandra Chintaman) [Dhere Ramchandra
Chintaman, Shri Vitthal: ek maha samanvaya, Shri Vidya Prakashan,
Pune, 1984 (Marathi
^ Bhagavata Purana, Canto 1, Chapter 3 - SB 1.3.24: "Then, in the
beginning of Kali-yuga, the Lord will appear as Lord Buddha, the son
of Anjana, in the province of Gaya, just for the purpose of deluding
those who are envious of the faithful theist." ... SB 1.3.28: "All of
the above-mentioned incarnations [avatars] are either plenary portions
or portions of the plenary portions of the Lord [Krishna or Vishnu]“
^ O Keshava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the
form of Buddha! All glories to You! O Buddha of compassionate heart,
you decry the slaughtering of poor animals performed according to the
rules of Vedic sacrifice.] [http://www.salagram.net/Dasavatara-
page.htm#Sri Dasavatara stotra
^ Lecture 1974 by founder of ISKCON - A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada "Because people were addicted so much in violence, in
killing the animals, therefore Buddha philosophy was needed"'
^ Vivekananda: May he who is the Brahman of the Hindus, the Ahura
Mazda of Zoroastrians, the Buddha of Buddhists, the Jehovah of the
Jews, the Father in Heavens of Christians, give strength to you to
carry out your noble ideas!] Hinduism, in The World’s Parliament of
Religions, J. H. Barrows (Ed.), Vol. II, Chicago 1893, p. 978.
^ Radhakrishnan: If a Hindu chants the Vedas on the banks of the
Ganges, … if the Japanese worship the image of Buddha, if the European
is convinced of Christ’s mediatorship, if the Arab reads the Koran in
the mosque … It is their deepest apprehension of God and God’s fullest
revelation to them.] Eastern Religions and Western Thought, New York
1969, pp. 326–7.
^ name=”Bhagavata Purana 1.3.24″/>Buddha as an Avatar of Vishnu at
HinduWiki
^ Buddha: The Refiner of Hinduism? (hinduism.about.com)
^ The Buddha as an Avatar of Vishnu (article by A. Seshan from The
Times of India)
^ Mahatma Gandhi and Buddhism (pdf file)
^ The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 1/Addresses at The
Parliament of Religions/Buddhism, the Fulfilment of Hinduism|Buddhism,
the Fulfilment of Hinduism, by Swami Vivekananda
^ L. S. Cousins (1996), “The dating of the historical Buddha: a review
article”, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society (3)6(1): 57–63.
^ “As is now almost universally accepted by informed Indological
scholarship, a re-examination of early Buddhist historical material,
…, necessitates a redating of the Buddha’s death to between 411 and
400 BCE.” Paul Dundas, The Jains, 2nd edition, (Routledge, 2001), p.
24.
^ a b Michael Carrithers, The Buddha, 1983, pages 13, 14. Found in
Founders of Faith, Oxford University Press, 1986.
^ Sue Hamilton, Identity and Experience. LUZAC Oriental, 1996, pages
110-111.
^ Carrithers, page 15.
^ Carrithers, page 10.
^ Buddhanet.net
^ [1] http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/666
^ Richard Gombrich, Theravada Buddhism: A Social History from Ancient
Benares to Modern Colombo. Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1988, page 49.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Gombrich
^ Sue Hamilton, Early Buddhism: A New Approach: The I of the Beholder.
Routledge 2000, page 47.
^ Romila Thapar, The Penguin History of Early India: From Origins to
AD 1300. Penguin Books, 2002, page 137.
^ Richard Gombrich, Theravada Buddhism: A Social History from Ancient
Benares to Modern Colombo. Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1988, pages
49-50.
^ Romila Thapar, The Penguin History of Early India: From Origins to
AD 1300. Penguin Books, 2002, page 146. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romila_Thapar
^ Sacred-texts.com http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/lob/lob04.htm
^ Turpie, D. 2001. Wesak And The Re-Creation of Buddhist Tradition.
Master’s Thesis. Montreal, Quebec: McGill University. (p. 3).
Available from: Mcgill.ca, Accessed 17 November 2006.
^ a b Narada (1992). A Manual of Buddhism. Buddha Educational
Foundation. p. 9–12. ISBN 967-9920-58-5.
^ Narada (1992), p11-12
^ a b Narada (1992), p14
^ Narada (1992), pp15-16
^ Narada (1992), pp19-20
^ Maha-parinibbana Sutta (DN 16), verse 56
^ Mettanando Bhikkhu and Oskar von Hinueber, “The Cause of the
Buddha’s Death”; Vol. XXVI of the Journal of the Pali Text Society,
2000. See also this article by Mettanando saying the same thing:
Buddhanet.net. http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.16.1-6.vaji.html
^ Maurice Walshe, The Long Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of
the Dīgha Nikāya, 1995, Boston: Wisdom Publications, “[DN] 30:
Lakkhaṇa Sutta: The Marks of a Great Man,” pp. 441-60.
^ Ven. Elgiriye Indaratana Maha Thera, Vandana: The Album of Pali
Devotional Chanting and Hymns, 2002, pp. 49-52, retrieved 2007-11-08
from “BuddhaNet” at Buddhanet.net http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/vandana02.pdf
^ It is therefore possible that much of what is found in the
Suttapitaka is earlier than c.250 B.C., perhaps even more than 100
years older than this. If some of the material is so old, it might be
possible to establish what texts go back to the very beginning of
Buddhism, texts which perhaps include the substance of the Buddha’s
teaching, and in some cases, maybe even his words. How old is the
Suttapitaka? Alexander Wynne, St John’s College, 2003, p.22 (this
article is available on the website of the Oxford Centre for Buddhist
Studies: [www.ocbs.org/research/Wynne.pdf]
^ It would be hypocritical to assert that nothing can be said about
the doctrine of earliest Buddhism … the basic ideas of Buddhism found
in the canonical writings could very well have been proclaimed by him
[the Buddha], transmitted and developed by his disciples and, finally,
codified in fixed formulas. J.W. De Jong, 1993: The Beginnings of
Buddhism, in The Eastern Buddhist, vol. 26, no. 2, p. 25
^ The Mahayana movement claims to have been founded by the Buddha
himself. The consensus of the evidence, however, is that it originated
in South India in the 1st century CE–Indian Buddhism, AK Warder, 3rd
edition, 1999, p. 335.
Further reading
Armstrong, Karen. Buddha. (New York: Penguin Books, 2001).
Bechert, Heinz (ed.) (1996) When Did the Buddha Live? The Controversy
on the Dating of the Historical Buddha. Delhi: Sri Satguru.
Sathe, Shriram: Dates of the Buddha. Bharatiya Itihasa Sankalana
Samiti, Hyderabad 1987.
Susan Roth: Buddha. (New York : Delacorte Press, 1994).
Deepak Chopra: Buddha. (Newsarama, 2008).
Jon Ortner: Buddha. (New York : Welcome Books, 2003).
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Gautama Buddha
Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:
Gautama Buddha
Wikisource has original works written by or about: Gautama Buddha
A sketch of the Buddha’s Life http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/buddha.html
Critical Resources: Buddha and Buddhism http://www.synaptic.bc.ca/ejournal/buddhist.htm
What Was The Buddha Like? by Ven S. Dhammika
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhism/disciples05.htm
What Was The Buddha Like?
18. So extraordinary was the Buddha, so unerringly kind and wise and
so positive was an encounter with him, that is would change people’s
lives. Even while he was alive legends were told about him. In the
centuries after his final Nirvana it sometimes got to the stage that
the legends and myths obscured the very real human being behind them
and the Buddha came to be looked upon as a god. Actually the Buddha
was a human being, not a ‘mere human being’ as is sometimes said, but
a special class of human being called a complete person (mahapurisa).
Such complete persons are born no different from others and indeed
physically they always remain quite ordinary. But through their own
efforts they bring to completion every human potential and their
mental purity and understanding develop to the stage where they far
exceed those of ordinary human beings. A Buddha, a complete person, is
even higher than a god because he or she is even free from the
jealousy, anger and favouritism that we are told a god is still
capable of feeling.
19. So what was the Buddha like? What would it have been like to meet
him? The Buddha was about six feet tall with coal black hair and a
golden brown complexion. When he was still a layman he wore his hair
and beard long but, on renouncing the world, shaved them both like
every other monk.[ N1 ] All sources agree that the Buddha was
strikingly handsome. The Brahmin Sonadanda described him as “handsome,
good-looking, and pleasing to the eye, with a most beautiful
complexion. He has a godlike form and countenance, he is by no means
unattractive.”[ N2 ] Vacchagotta said this of him:
“It is wonderful, truly marvellous, how serene is the good Gotama’s
appearance, how clear and radiant his complexion, just as the golden
jujube in autumn is clear and radiant, just as a palm-tree fruit just
loosened from the stalk is clear and radiant, just as an adornment of
red gold wrought in a crucible by a skilled goldsmith, deftly beaten
and laid on a yellow-cloth shines, blazes and glitters, even so, the
good Gotama’s senses are calmed, his complexion is clear and
radiant.”[ N3 ]
But of course as he got older his body succumbed to impermanence as do
all compounded things. Ananda described him in his old age like this:
“It is strange, Lord, it is a wonder how the Exalted One’s skin is no
longer clear and radiant, how all his limbs are slack and wrinkled,
how stooped his body is and how a change is to be seen in eye, ear,
nose, tongue and body.”[ N4 ]
In the last year before his final Nirvana the Buddha said this of
himself:
“I am now old, worn out, venerable, one who has walked life’s path,
and I have reached the end of my life, being now eighty. Just as an
old cart can only be kept going by being held together with straps, so
too the Tathagata’s body can only be kept going by being held together
with bandages.”[ N5 ]
However, in his prime people were attracted by the Buddha’s physical
good looks as much as they were by his pleasant personality and his
Dharma. Just to be in his presence could have a noticeable effect upon
people. Once Sariputta met Nakulapita and noticing his peaceful
demeanour said to him: “Householder, your senses are calmed, your
complexion is clear and radiant, I suppose today you have had a talk
face to face with the Exalted One?” Nakulapita replied: “How could it
be otherwise, master? I have just now been sprinkled with the nectar
[…]“[ N6 ]
20. The Buddha was a masterful public speaker. With a pleasant voice,
good looks and poise combined with the appeal of what he said, he was
able to enthral his audience. Uttara described what he saw at a
gathering where the Buddha was speaking like this:
“When he is teaching Dharma to an assembly in a park he does not exalt
them or disparage them but rather he delights, uplifts, inspires and
gladdens them with talk on Dharma. The sound that comes from the good
Gotama’s mouth has eight characteristics: It is distinct and
intelligible, sweet and audible, fluent and clear, deep and resonant.
Therefore, when the good Gotama instructs an assembly, his voice does
not go beyond that assembly. After being delighted, uplifted, inspired
and gladdened, that assembly, rising from their seats, depart
reluctantly, keeping their eyes upon him.”[ N7 ]
King Pasenadi once expressed his amazement at how silent and attentive
people were when listening to the Buddha’s talk.
“I am a noble anointed king, able to execute those deserving
execution, fine those deserving a fine or exile those deserving exile.
But when I am deciding a case sometimes people interrupt even me.
Sometimes I don’t even get a chance to say: ‘While I am speaking, sir,
don’t interrupt me.’ But when the Lord is teaching the Dharma to
various assemblies, at that time not even the sound of coughing is to
be heard from the Lord’s disciples. Once, when the Lord was teaching
the Dharma a monk did cough; one of his fellows in the holy life
tapped him on the knee and said: ‘Quiet, make no noise, the Lord, our
teacher, is teaching Dharma.’ When I saw this I thought: ‘It is
wonderful, truly marvellous, how well-trained, without stick or sword
this assembly is.’”[N8]
21. Although the Buddha never gave cause for people to dislike him,
there were people who did, sometimes out of jealousy, sometimes
because they disagreed with his Dharma and sometimes because he held
up their beliefs to the cold light of reason. Once, when he was
staying at Kapilavatthu, Dandapani the Sakyan asked him what he taught
and when the Buddha told him, Dandapani was not impressed, “shaking
his head, wagging his tongue he departed leaning on his stick, his
brow furrowed into three wrinkles”.[ N9 ] The Buddha did not chase
after him trying to convince him of the truth of his message. The
Buddha responded to all criticism by calmly and clearly explaining why
he did what he did and where necessary correcting misunderstanding
that gave rise to the criticism. He was always unflustered, polite and
smiling in the face of criticism and he urged his disciples to be the
same.
“If anyone should criticise me, the Dharma or the Sangha, you should
not on that account be angry, resentful or upset. For if you were,
that would hinder you, and you would be unable to know whether they
said right or wrong, would you?”
“No, Lord.”
“So, if others criticise me, the Dharma or the Sangha, then simply
explain what is incorrect, saying: ‘That is incorrect, that is not
right, that is not our way, and we do not do that.’”[ N10 ]
Sometimes the Buddha was not criticised but rather abused ‘with rude,
harsh words’. At such times, he usually maintained a dignified
silence.
22. The Buddha is often seen as a gentle and loving person and indeed
he was, but that didn’t mean that he would not himself be critical
when he thought it was necessary. He was very critical of some of the
other ascetic groups of the time, believing that their false doctrines
misled people. About the Jains he said: “The Jains are unbelievers,
immoral, shameless and reckless. They are not companions of good men
and they exalt themselves and disparage others. The Jains cling to
material things and refuse to let go of them. They are rogues, of evil
desires and perverse views.”[ N11 ] When, through misunderstanding,
Buddhist monks taught distorted versions of the Dharma, the Buddha
would reprimand them, saying: “You foolish man, how could you think
that I would teach Dharma like that!”[ N12 ] But his reprimands and
rebukes were never to hurt but to spur people to make more efforts or
to re-examine their actions or beliefs.
23. The Buddha’s daily routine was a very full one. He would sleep at
night for only one hour, wake up and spend the early morning in
meditation, often doing loving-kindness meditation. At dawn he would
often walk up and down for exercise and later talk to people who came
to visit him. Just before noon, he would take his robe and bowl and go
into the nearest city, town or village to beg for alms. He would stand
silently at each door and gratefully receive in his bowl whatever food
people cared to offer. When he got enough, he would return to the
place he was staying at or perhaps go to a nearby woodland area to
eat. He used to eat only once a day. After he had become famous, he
would often be invited to people’s homes for a meal and, being an
honoured guest, he would be given sumptuous food, something other
ascetics criticised him for. On such occasions he would eat, wash his
own hands and bowl after the meal and then give a short Dharma talk.
Straight after his meal he would usually lie down to rest or sometimes
to have a short sleep. As at night, it was the Buddha’s habit to lie
in the lion posture (sihasana) on his right side, with one hand under
his head and the feet placed on each other. In the afternoon he would
talk to people who had come to see him, give instruction to monks or,
where appropriate, go to visit people in order to talk to them about
the Dharma. Late at night when everyone was asleep, the Buddha would
sit in silence and sometimes devas would appear and ask him questions.
Like other monks, the Buddha would usually wander from place to place
for nine months of the year, which gave him many opportunities to meet
people, and then settle down for the three months of the rainy season
(vassa). During the rains he would usually stay in one of the huts
(kuti) that had been built for him at various locations like the
Vultures Peak, the Jetavana or the Bamboo Grove. Ananda would tell
visitors approaching the Buddha’s abode to cough or knock and that the
Buddha would open the door. Sometimes the Buddha would instruct Ananda
not to let people disturb him. We read of one man who, on being told
that the Buddha did not wish to see anyone, sat down in front of the
Buddha’s residence saying: “I am not going until I see him.” When he
was wandering the Buddha would sleep anywhere – under a tree, in a
roadside rest house, in a potter’s shed. Once Hatthaka saw the Buddha
sleeping out in the open and asked him: “Are you happy?” The Buddha
answered that he was. Then Hatthaka said: “But sir, the winter nights
are cold, the dark half of the moon is the time of frost. The ground
has been trampled hard by the hooves of the cattle, the carpet of
fallen leaves is thin, there are few leaves on the trees, your yellow
robes are thin and the wind is cold.” The Buddha reaffirmed that
despite his simple and austere lifestyle he was still happy.[ N13 ]
24. Because he had such a busy teaching schedule and because he was so
often approached for advice on different matters, sometimes he felt
the need to be completely alone. On several occasions, he told Ananda
he was going into solitude and that only those who were bringing him
his food were to come and see him.[ N14 ] The Buddha’s critics claimed
that he only went into solitude because he found it difficult to
answer people’s questions and because he wanted to avoid public
debates. The ascetic Nigrodha said of him: “The ascetic Gotama’s
wisdom is destroyed by the solitary life, he is not used to
assemblies, he is not good at debates, and he has got out of
touch.”[ N15 ] But usually, the Buddha made himself available for
anyone who needed him – for comfort, for inspiration, for guidance in
walking the path. Indeed, the most attractive and noticeable thing
about the Buddha’s personality was the love and compassion that he
showered towards everybody, it seemed that these qualities were the
motive of everything he did. The Buddha himself said: “When the
Tathagata or the Tathagata’s disciples live in the world, it is done
for the good of the many, for the happiness of the many, out of
compassion for the world.”[ N16 ]
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhism/disciples05.htm
http://navanavonmilita.wordpress.com/2010/04/19/dhammam-saranam-gassami-sid-harth/
…and I am Sid Harth
cogitoergosum
Hindu Moral Mess-Message-Age: Sid Harth
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/hindu-moral-messmessageage-sid-harth.html
Indian Morality Meltdown: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/37334fb34fbe6d7c/d8b818f4833e131e?q=Indian+Morality+Meltdown%3A+Sid+Harth&lnk=ol&
Sex and CD Scandal: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/3f5e2a3be4798e7d/d07894e22ef23690?lnk=gst&q=sex+and+cd+scandal#d07894e22ef23690
Child Labor in India: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/2549df32f41afcce/611166c361f27724?lnk=gst&q=child+labor+in+india#611166c361f27724
Of God, Godmen and Good men: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/beee6405766fa364/9da06195753e584a?lnk=gst&q=of+god%2C+godmen+and+good+men#9da06195753e584a
Human Trafficking in India: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/55d1782ed4144490/23de5a277a4b6730?lnk=gst&q=human+trafficking+in+india#23de5a277a4b6730
Kill Bill: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/f7b4e319f7a4fa28/ad4a6038f51d0cba?lnk=gst&q=kill+bill#ad4a6038f51d0cba
Opposition wants ban on IPL and JPC probe into funding
Special Correspondent
Pranab says government won't spare “guilty or wrongdoer”
— Photo: PTI
FIRM STAND:Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Lok Sabha
NEW DELHI: An unrelenting Opposition mounted a sharp attack in the Lok
Sabha on the United Progressive Alliance government on Monday,
demanding a ban on the Indian Premier League and the setting up of a
Joint Parliamentary Committee to probe the sources of funding of the
cricket teams.
This came a day after Shashi Tharoor resigned as Minister of State for
External Affairs over his controversial role in the Kochi IPL
franchise.
The government said “no guilty or wrongdoer” would be spared and
assured the House that all aspects of funding would be probed.
While the Opposition parties slammed the IPL format of the game,
alleging that it was a “betting and gambling ring” where blackmoney
was being “white-washed,” Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said
“appropriate action as per law” would be taken if any wrongdoing was
found in the manner of funding.
“The department concerned has already started investigation. All
aspects, including sources of funding and routes through which the
funds arrived, would be looked into. No guilty or wrongdoer will be
spared,” Mr. Mukherjee said.
His response came after the Left parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party,
the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Samajwadi Party, the Janata Dal
(United), and the Bahujan Samaj Party alleged that the IPL tournament
involved “laundering of blackmoney” and demanded that the government
take over it. They also welcomed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's
decision to seek the resignation of Mr. Tharoor.
The IPL issue was raised as soon as the House assembled for the day.
RJD leader Lalu Prasad, SP president Mulayam Singh and JD(U) leader
Sharad Yadav demanded that the Centre ban the tournament.
Even as Speaker Meira Kumar appealed to them to allow question hour
proceed peacefully, Mr. Sharad Yadav said: “The moot question is the
IPL, and not Shashi Tharoor.”
Raising the matter during zero hour, CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta said
that while he welcomed Dr. Singh's decision to ask Mr. Tharoor to
quit, the main issue related to the IPL. Alleging that the game
involved “laundering” and “white-washing” of blackmoney, he said it
was an “aberration” taking place right “under the nose of the Finance
Ministry.”
Mr. Dasgupta termed the T20 format a “caricature” of cricket, which
was only “maligning and diluting cricket, sending a message to budding
players to go to 20:20 to earn huge sums of money.” “Players are
bought like vegetables. Betting is taking place openly. It is not
cricket, but an organised gamble.” He also pointed to reports that
funds were coming from dubious sources in Mauritius and Dubai as well
as from Swiss banks.
BJP's Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde said the IPL was
not set up to encourage cricket, but to make money. “It involves a lot
of blackmoney.”
In the Rajya Sabha, the issue was raised by Shivanand Tiwari of the
JD(U), who demanded that the funds of the IPL and the BCCI be
confiscated.
Tuesday, Apr 20, 2010
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The perils of political paratrooping
Siddharth Varadarajan
In Shashi Tharoor's rise and fall, a Congress attempt to woo middle
class
New Delhi: The petit-bourgeois mind is superficial and fickle. It is
awe struck by the accumulation and consumption that go on in the
highest echelons of society, even if outside the borderlines of
legality and good taste. But it is repulsed and outraged when forced
to confront the tawdriness and venality on which the life it aspires
to is built.
Framed by these two extremes, the long-shot and the close-up, the rise
and fall of Shashi Tharoor is a cautionary tale about the dangers of
entering public life through the constituency of the middle class. The
‘perils of political paratrooping' is how a former colleague of the
erstwhile junior minister pithily described Mr. Tharoor's fate when
asked for his assessment by The Hindu. What made his jump even more
dangerous was that it was made without the safety net that grassroot
experience or backroom goodwill provides. By the standards of Indian
politics, his impropriety in the IPL affair was relatively minor; but
unlike others whose warts catch the glare of the arclights from time
to time, there was nobody willing to pad up for him when the media
drew blood. Fatally injured, he stood his ground just a moment too
long. Had he walked back to the pavilion unprompted, he might have
survived to play a second innings. But he didn't do that. Which is why
his political career is today at an end.
This was not the way things were meant to be. A month ago, Mr. Tharoor
had successfully weathered the latest of several controversies
triggered by his infelicitously timed or worded statements. But he had
a charmed life. “Mark my words”, a former External Affairs Minister
who knows a thing or two about the ways of the Congress party told
this reporter over lunch in March. “When Rahul Gandhi becomes Prime
Minister, Shashi will be his EAM. He just has to lie low, play a long
innings.”
In the run-up to the 2009 elections, the Congress and Shashi Tharoor
were happy to court each other. Mr. Tharoor had spent a lifetime as a
highly visible and voluble international servant and the thought of
toiling away in anonymity as a lobbyist for Afras Ventures in Dubai
must have seemed pretty unappetising. He joined the Congress and, with
the blessings of Sonia Gandhi, got the ticket for the prestigious
Thiruvananthapuram seat. The fact that he chose to enter politics
through the heat and dust of an actual election campaign, rather than
through the Rajya Sabha, like most other middle class icons, further
endeared him to his constituency.
On their part, Congress leaders, and particularly Ms. Gandhi, saw in
the foppish and articulate former United Nations official a totem to
woo back the middle class. For the Congress president, this goal had
been a key element of her politics since at least 2000.
Beginning with the Narasimha Rao-Chandraswami link and the infamous
hawala diary of 1995, the middle class, which had stuck with the
Congress as the ‘natural party of governance' through most of the post-
independence period, began to cast around for alternatives. The
opportunism of the party in toppling the United Front government in
1998 and then trying to cobble together the magical figure of 272 in
1999 further sullied its reputation. Within five years of losing power
at the Centre, the Congress managed to completely lose the mantle of
being a party of stability and decency, ceding that space to the
Bharatiya Janata Party. Improbable though it seems now, all of these
qualities so dear to the middle class got neatly channelled around the
personality of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
The Congress won the 2004 elections for a variety of reasons but Ms.
Gandhi was clear that it could stay in power only if it kept
recharging its middle class credentials. The presence of Manmohan
Singh as Prime Minister was vital but the party saw in 2009 the need
to go one step further, bringing in newer and younger faces, fresh and
articulate. Within that overall strategy, Mr. Tharoor had an appeal
that was irresistible. Globally connected but capable of acquiring
local anchorage, he was seen as an excellent candidate for a party
keen to project ‘merit', ‘talent' and civil debate over the usual din
of caste, money power and goondaism.
Though Mr. Tharoor's entry into Parliament and government caused
heartburn, few could grudge the positive energy he brought to the job.
As a well-known face on the international circuit because of his long
years at the UN secretariat, the junior minister invariably charmed
all foreign leaders he interacted with. The fact that he could slip
effortlessly into French while talking to Ivorien or Togolese
ministers or journalists was a bonus for Indian diplomacy.
Shashi Tharoor's one failing as a minister was the need he felt for
constant public articulation. The opposition and even his party
colleagues — most of them humourless apparatchiks — misunderstood or
even distorted his messages on Twitter. But his virtual constituents
revelled in his irreverence. Such was his five-star appeal that the
Indian and diasporic middle class forgave Shashi Tharoor for living in
an expensive hotel for months on end, even when it emerged that he
tried very hard to have the government pay for his stay there. Who
paid his bills and why were questions they never really sought an
answer to. In hindsight, that episode was an early pointer to the
outsider's disdain for the rules of Indian politics. A disdain that
ended in the controversy over the Rs. 70 crore worth of ‘sweat equity'
given to his girlfriend, Sunanda Pushkar, for the IPL Kochi team. The
Hindi channels are calling it ‘haseena ka paseena.' Mr. Tharoor has
protested his innocence. Only a thorough investigation will reveal the
truth. But for the Congress, matters had crossed a point of no return.
It is one thing to be accused of speaking out of turn, another to be
accused of corruption. Mr. Tharoor's indiscretions the Congress could
live with, his impropriety it could not. The party which brought him
into politics to propitiate the middle class now realised it had to
throw him out in a final act of appeasement. But only if it moves to
clean the wider rot that is the IPL will it emerge from this fiasco
with its image intact.
Tuesday, Apr 20, 2010
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Bangalore bombings cast spotlight on stadium security
Praveen Swami and Parvathi Menon
It is clear that the police did not check the periphery where the
bombs were planted; experts say poor security leaves spectators
vulnerable
NEW DELHI/BANGALORE: Last week's bombings at the M. Chinnaswamy
stadium in Bangalore have set off an intense debate on the safety of
India's sports venues.
Intelligence and security experts responsible for securing the
Commonwealth Games in New Delhi have told The Hindu there are grave
concerns over bomb threats to high-profile venues like the Jawaharlal
Nehru stadium, which will host the opening ceremonies, as well as the
roads leading to them.
Pressed for manpower, the Delhi police have been unable to maintain a
watch on workers and trucks carrying material into construction
venues. Integrated-circuit timers, which have been deployed with
increasing frequency by jihadist groups, can be programmed to detonate
up to a year after they are planted —demonstrating the need for better
security at construction sites.
Last month, the Central Industrial Security Force was asked to assist
in screening construction sites but declined, evidently reluctant to
take responsibility for security failures that took place before it
was assigned responsibility.
Few stadia hosting Indian Premier League matches, government sources
said, have clearly laid-down procedures to sanitise the venue or
evacuate tens of thousands of spectators in the event of a crisis.
Major lapses
Security sources in New Delhi say that there were potentially
disastrous security failures in Bangalore in the course of Saturday's
attacks in Bangalore. First, while Bangalore police officials say a
full anti-sabotage check was carried inside the stadium in the
spectators area, it remains unclear if there was enough time to do a
thorough job.
What is clear is that the police did not check the periphery of the
stadium where the bombs were planted. No official explanation has been
offered for how police failed to detect the improvised explosive
devices, which were packaged inside easily-visible blue-and-yellow
wrapping held together with twine.
The devices made of ammonium nitrate explosive material, similar to
those used by the Indian Mujahideen during a series of urban bombings
between 2005 and 2008, malfunctioned due to high humidity. In two
cases, police sources said, the devices only failed to explode because
of faulty wiring and a malfunctioning detonator.
Worrying
More worrying, senior officials say, was Bangalore police commissioner
Shankar Bidari's decision to allow the match to proceed even after two
bombs went off — a decision evidently taken with the conviction that
the inside of the stadium was safe. “The fact that explosions had
taken place on the periphery of the stadium,” a senior police official
told The Hindu, “meant that all was not well with security, and that
bombs could have been planted in the audience as well. An evacuation
was clearly called for once the two bombs exploded — but there seems
to have been no preparation for an emergency evacuation.”
Each venue, one official linked to the conduct of the Commonwealth
Games in New Delhi said, also needed to have a well-laid down
evacuation drill which would allow for the vacation of a stadium in
half an hour or less. “You need drills like this not just to cope with
terrorist attacks,” the official said, “but other situations like a
fire, or just mob violence”. Private security guards had been
extensively deployed inside the stadium, but do not appear to have
been trained in conducting an emergency evacuation either.
Interestingly, the Union government is contemplating legislation which
would allow private security companies a greater role in protecting
vulnerable public facilities like sports venues, hotels, and shopping
complexes. Government sources said the new law would allow private
security guards to carry weapons. However, concerns have been raised
about the lack of training and safety standards at private security
companies — concerns the Bangalore attack has underlined.
Diffused responsibility
“Part of the problem,” one official at the Ministry of Home Affairs in
New Delhi said, “is that there is no single-point authority
responsible for security at sports venues. The police have a role.
Private security guards have a role. The organisers have their own
agenda. In the end, there is no one person who can be held to account
if something goes wrong.”
“Governments need to get more serious about security,” the official
said, “but private companies are also making millions out of sport —
and they need to be compelled to spend some of that on making sure
fans are safe.”
India's poor sports-security management stands in stark contrast with
China, where each stadium used for the Beijing Olympic Games was
designed and built in consultation with security and emergency
experts. By 2005, Beijing had put in place a comprehensive security
plan, and a central control room, to monitor security. Intelligence
services and independent experts from across the world — including
India — were repeatedly invited for consultations.
Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 20, 2010
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Fix responsibility up to my level, Chidambaram tells Rammohan panel
Sujay Mehdudia
P. Chidambaram
NEW DELHI: Admitting to command and control failure in the Dantewada
massacre of 76 CRPF jawans, Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Monday
told the Rajya Sabha that he had asked the inquiry committee headed by
E.N. Rammohan to fix responsibility from top to bottom.
“I have asked the probe team to pinpoint the failures from the
Assistant Commandant level right up to the Home Minister's level. The
report will be submitted by April 25 and I will share the contents of
the report with the House,” Mr. Chidambaram said, replying to the
debate on the massacre.
Aircraft for surveillance
The Minister ruled out the use of the Army and the Air Force in the
naxal-affected areas but said the government was examining whether a
special force could be used to supplement the paramilitary forces.
“The use of aircraft could be considered for surveillance, logistics
and evacuation.”
Not ruling out the possibility of peace and dialogue, the Home
Minister said while he was willing to be advised for course correction
on tackling the naxal issue, “the challenge had to be met squarely and
we have to fight the menace fearlessly.”
He said: “Let the naxals abjure violence and express their willingness
to hold talks. The State and the Central governments will do the
needful. Issues like socio-economic development cannot be overlooked,
but the fact can't be denied that naxalism is a law and order problem
and has to be dealt without fear.
“I am determined to continue providing leadership to the Home Ministry
and the paramilitary forces. I am determined to provide assistance to
the States to fight the menace,” the Minister said.
Responding to Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley's remarks that the
Home Minister did not have support from his own party members, Mr.
Chidambaram said: “My party and the UPA are totally united in the
fight against naxals. You will not succeed in trying to divide my
party.”
Mr. Jaitley was referring to Congress MP K. Keshava Rao's newspaper
interview, supporting senior party leader Digvijay Singh's disapproval
of the handling of the issue by Mr. Chidambaram.
AICC resolution
The Home Minister insisted that his anti-naxal policy was in sync with
the 2006 All-India Congress Committee resolution which had stated that
the issue had to be addressed as a serious law and order problem with
an underlying socio-economic process.
“We are a robust democracy. We must allow various shades of opinion
and it is the government which has to evolve a policy,” Mr.
Chidambaram said, referring to attacks by the Opposition which said
the Congress was not united on the issue of tackling naxalism.
In his intervention, Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M), in an apparent reference
to Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleged that an ally of the UPA
and a Union Cabinet member had boycotted the meetings convened by the
West Bengal government and the debates in both Houses of Parliament on
the issue.
To this Mr. Chidambaram said, “Mr. Yechury's problem with an ‘unnamed
antagonist' would be resolved in 12 months from now politically,”
apparently referring to the Assembly polls in West Bengal next year.
Replying to a point made by Brinda Karat (CPI-M), , he said cadres of
more than one party were being killed in West Bengal and he had taken
up the issue with the Chief Minister.
Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 20, 2010
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IPL Governing Council meet on April 26
Special Correspondent
MUMBAI: The fate of IPL chairman Lalit Modi will be known on April 26.
Shashank Manohar, President of the Board of Control for Cricket in
India (BCCI), has asked Modi to convene the Governing Council meeting
at the Cricket Centre within 24 hours of the IPL III final to be
played at the D.Y. Patil Stadium on Sunday.
Reliable sources said Manohar may have taken the consent of all the
members of the GC before asking Modi to convene the meeting. According
to the IPL rule, only the chairman has the right to convene a meeting.
Clearly, the Kochi franchisee issue will dominate the proceedings and
the senior GC members expect a hard time for the IPL chairman.
GC members
The members of the GC are: Lalit Modi (chairman), Niranjan Shah (vice-
chairman), Shashank Manohar, N. Srinivasan, Sanjay Jagdale, Mohinder
Pandove, Inderjit Bindra, Farokh Abdulla, Arun Jaitley, Rajiv Shukla,
Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri and Chirayu
Amin.
At a Special General Body meeting of the BCCI on December 16, 2007,
amendments were approved for the formation of the first GC. It was
resolved that “the Committee shall be appointed by the General Body of
the Board and the term of the members of the committee shall be for a
period of five years.''
It was also decided that the committee shall comprise of a chairman,
four members appointed by the Board and three ex-cricketers of repute
and the office-bearers of the Board during their tenure would be ex-
officio members of the committee.
It was also decided that “all decisions relating to the league would
be taken by the GC committee by majority and in the case of equality
of votes, the chairman shall have the casting vote.''
It's clear that only the BCCI General Body can bring about changes in
the composition of the IPL GC and the GC by itself can only recommend
to the Working Committee for removal of a member of the GC. Once the
Working Committee takes a decision on any matter, it becomes a
formality of being adopted by the AGM.
Come clean
Modi would be asked to make a clean breast of all matters related to
the IPL since its inception in 2008, and more so with the events
surrounding the Kochi franchise (Rendevouz Sports World). “The mood
appears to have swung against him (Lalit),'' said a senior BCCI
official and member of the GC.
When asked if Modi would be asked to resign as chairman of the IPL and
who would succeed him, the GC member said: “It's possible, and perhaps
the BCCI president may take full charge. That's the only way to go.''
— Special Correspondent
Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 20, 2010
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version
http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/20/stories/2010042056381900.htm
Supreme Court upholds life term for Manu Sharma
J. Venkatesan
‘Prosecution has established its case beyond doubt'
Manu Sharma
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday confirmed the Delhi High court
judgment awarding life imprisonment to Manu Sharma, son of senior
Congress leader and former Union Minister Vinod Sharma, in the Jessica
Lal murder case.
A Bench of Justices P. Sathasivam and Swatanter Kumar, dismissing
three appeals, said: “The prosecution has established its case beyond
doubt against the appellants [Sharma and two others] and we are in
agreement with the conclusion arrived at by the High Court.”
The Bench said the High Court had rightly convicted the other accused
also, Amardeep Singh Gill and Vikas Yadav, and awarded four-year
rigorous imprisonment.
According to the prosecution, Jessica Lal was shot dead by Manu Sharma
on the night of April 29-30, 1999 at Qutub Colonnade, also called
Tamarind Cafe restaurant, owned by Bina Ramani, where a Thursday party
was held. While the trial court in February 2006 acquitted the
accused, the High Court in December 2006 convicted the accused.
Jessica Lal
Writing the judgment, Justice Sathasivam said: “The evidence regarding
the actual incident, the testimonies of witnesses, the evidence
connecting the vehicles and cartridges to the accused — Manu Sharma,
as well as his conduct after the incident prove his guilt beyond
reasonable doubt. The High Court has analysed all the evidence and
arrived at the correct conclusion.”
The Bench relied on the testimonies of eyewitnesses Deepak Bhojwani, a
businessman; model-turned-actor Shyan Munshi, fashion designer Malini
Ramani, her mother Bina Ramani, George Mailhot (husband of Bina) and
fashion designer Rohit Bal, who were at the party when Jessica was
shot at.
“The presence of the accused [Manu Sharma] at the scene of crime is
proved through the ocular testimonies of prosecution witnesses which
were corroborated by the three calls made to the police control room
after the incident.”
The only inference
The evidence of witnesses, if read in whole in conjunction and in
harmony with what was stated by one another, would show the chain of
circumstances of evidence leading to only one inference — guilt of the
accused, the Bench said. It was proved beyond reasonable doubt that
Manu Sharma absconded after the incident — a relevant conduct under
the Evidence Act.
On the contention that he was innocent and that the High Court ought
not to have reversed the acquittal, the Bench said the appellate court
had all the powers to re-evaluate the evidence let in before the trial
court as well as the conclusions reached.
“In this case, the High Court, by adhering to all the ingredients and
by giving cogent and adequate reasons, reversed the order of
acquittal.”
Ram Jethmalani, senior counsel for Manu Sharma, had argued that the
appellant had been specifically targeted and maligned before and
during the proceedings by the media, which proclaimed him guilty even
after the acquittal by the trial court.
Rejecting this argument, the Bench said: “Certain articles and news
items appearing in the newspapers immediately after the date of
occurrence did cause certain confusion in the mind of the public as to
the description and number of the actual assailants/suspects. It is
unfortunate that trial by the media did, though to a very limited
extent, affect the accused, but [was] not tantamount to a prejudice
which should weigh with the court in taking any different view.”
Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 20, 2010
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version
http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/20/stories/2010042059030100.htm
SIT summons Togadia
Manas Dasgupta
GANDHINAGAR: The Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team
(SIT), probing nine relatively serious incidents of massacre during
the post-Godhra communal riots in Gujarat and the Godhra train
carnage, has reportedly summoned Vishwa Hindu Parishad international
general secretary Pravin Togadia for questioning.
Dr. Togadia is believed to have been asked to appear before the SIT at
its office here on any day during the coming week. A message to this
effect from the SIT office was faxed to the VHP Delhi office, it is
reliably learnt here.
Dr. Togadia is currently in Jammu and is not expected to return here
in the next three days. Informed sources said if he chose to respond
to the summons, he might appear before the probe team towards the week-
end.
Even during the carnage, Dr. Togadia, a medical practioner, was
holding the same office. The VHP had given a bandh call a day after
the train carnage that led to widespread violence. After Chief
Minister Narendra Modi, who appeared before the SIT last month, Dr.
Togadia is considered to be the next key witnesses for the SIT. — PTI
Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 19, 2010
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version
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A case of ‘stinking corruption,' says BJP
Sujay Mehdudia
Tharoor abused authority for undue enrichment of his friend: BJP
‘Sunanda giving up sweat equity does not change things'
— Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar
Enough evidence:BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad shows
“documentary evidence” at a press conference in New Delhi to claim
that the “sweat equity” offered to Sunanda Pushkar was directly linked
to Shashi Tharoor.
NEW DELHI: The BJP on Sunday termed the allocation of “sweat equity”
to Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor's friend
Sunanda Pushkar a case of “stinking corruption.”
At a press conference here, senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad
exhibited “documentary evidence” to claim that the “sweat equity”
offered to Ms. Pushkar was directly linked to Mr. Tharoor.
“A front for Tharoor”
On reports of Ms. Pushkar giving up her sweat equity voluntarily, Mr.
Prasad said her offer did not change things.
“Stain of corruption is not wiped off by returning the money. It is
now confirmed that she is a front for Mr. Tharoor,” he alleged.
Quoting from documents, which he claimed were obtained from the
Company Law Board, Mr. Prasad said that under Section 79 (a) of the
Company Act, sweat equity was allocated only to employees or the
director of a company.
Mr. Prasad said:
“Another rule states that a company can make such an offer only after
having been in operation for more than one year and lastly, if it is a
listed company then it has to seek approval from the market regulator
SEBI and if unlisted then it is guided by the rules of the Union
government on the issue.
“The company, Rendezvous Sports World, came into being on March 3,
2010 and earlier was known as Rendezvous Cricket Management, which
started operations on August 28, 2009. Till February 25, 2010, she was
not even a director of the company. Neither there was a resolution by
the company's Board for allotment of sweat equity to her.
“No approval”
“There is no Government of India approval for such an exercise and it
is clear that Ms. Pushkar was acting as the parking lot and Mr.
Tharoor was the real beneficiary.
“The surrounding suspicious circumstances outline that he [Mr.
Tharoor] abused his authority for undue enrichment of his friend [Ms.
Pushkar].
“This is a clear case of corruption — directly and under the authority
of the Union Minister. It is a blatant violation of law; it is a fraud
on the company laws, it is a fraud on the rules, and the most
important point is that it is being done under the patronage of a
Union Minister.
“Blatant case of corruption”
“I wish to remind the Prime Minister that when he was the Finance
Minister in the P.V. Narasimha Rao regime, something similar took
place and fingers were pointed at the then Commerce Minister P.
Chidambaram for allotment of shares of certain company against his
wife's name even after payment of money. Mr. Chidambaram had to resign
his position and set an example. It is time for the Prime Minister to
seek the same of Mr. Tharoor in this blatant case of corruption.”
Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 19, 2010
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version
http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/19/stories/2010041961341400.htm
IPL misusing Indian passion for cricket, says Yechury
Staff Reporter
It has nothing to do with the game; actually being used as a backdrop
for shady ventures
Seeks probe into source of IPL funds and where they were going
Actual role of media as the Fourth Estate relegated to the backseat
ALAPPUZHA: Communist Party of India (Marxist) Polit Bureau member
Sitaram Yechury on Sunday said the Indian Premier League (IPL) had
nothing to do with cricket and that it was misusing the Indian passion
for cricket.
Inaugurating a symposium on ‘EMS and the Media,' held in connection
with the birth centenary of the former Chief Minister, E.M.S.
Namboodiripad, here on Sunday, Mr. Yechury said the IPL was actually
being used as a backdrop for shady ventures that ran into thousands of
crores of rupees. The source of IPL funds and where they were going
had to be probed thoroughly, he said.
Crucial role
With the media too playing a crucial role in the mounting of the IPL
spectacle, it was essential to find the source of such money,
particularly at a time when the common man was finding it tough to
find food and to tackle rising prices.
On Union Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor's
alleged involvement in the controversy, Mr. Yechury said Mr. Tharoor,
if he genuinely had Kerala's interests at heart, should have fought
for the Kochi Metro Rail project or for rectifying the below poverty
line (BPL)-above poverty line (APL) categorisation imbroglio in the
State.
Earlier, terming EMS a master communicator who was never afraid of
controversies and even generated them to mobilise people on various
issues, Mr. Yechury said there was no person like him in contemporary
Indian politics.
Power of media
EMS believed in the power of the media to mould people's consciousness
and to elevate people's thoughts. He was the staunchest defender of
freedom of expression and the media. However, the post-EMS era was
witnessing a distortion of responsibility of the media to make the
judiciary, executive and legislature accountable and to raise issues
that they ignored. This was mainly happening through globalisation-
fuelled trends for maximisation of profits, he said.
Lucrative institution
With the media turning into a lucrative institution and trends like
commercialisation and paid news setting in, the actual role of being
the Fourth Estate was relegated to the backseat. Cautioning against
agenda-driven media attempts to manufacture people's consent, Mr.
Yechury said this was dangerous because people were deprived of their
right to know the truth. Parliamentary democracy would be undermined
and democracy itself would be restricted to the rich.
Calling for the media too to be part of the solution, which had to be
evolved through discussions with the people and the political process,
he said the right form of regulation of media too had to be evolved
through debate.
Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 19, 2010
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version
http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/19/stories/2010041961281400.htm
Bill will benefit only rich, corrupt women: Mulayam
Says poll process will then become costlier
Mulayam Singh
LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh, who had drawn flak
for his ‘sexist' remarks on the Women's Reservation Bill, on Sunday
claimed that the legislation would only benefit rich women, who would
corrupt the election process.
“If the bill is passed, it would only benefit women of the rich and
the influential class and they would corrupt the election process
which would also become costlier,” he said, while addressing a meeting
at the Samajwadi Party headquarters here.
“Not in its present form”
He said the bill was not acceptable in its present form.
Mr. Singh's remark last month that women elected through quota would
be whistled at had drawn flak from political parties and rights
bodies.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) had slammed the SP leader for
resorting to a “low level” of debate. Friend-turned-foe Amar Singh had
termed it “sexist, Talibani and a cheap remark.”
The SP chief, however, remained unapologetic and asserted that his
statement was deliberate and made after evaluating all aspects, so as
to initiate a debate on the issue.
Accusing the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government of being hand-in-
glove on the price rise issue, Mr. Singh said there was a possibility
of mid-term-election in the State.
“People, who are taking a beating due to the price rise caused by the
collusion of the two governments, should remain prepared for a unified
protest on the issue on April 27,” Mr. Singh said.
“There is a possibility of mid-term elections in the State, therefore
party leaders and workers should go to the people,” he said.
He alleged that the Centre and the State had made education and health
facilities expensive and had hit the poor and the middle classes
badly.
“Take the support of all sections including industrial and business
establishments, teachers, students, youths, traders, farmers, lawyers
and workers in this strike, but there should be no violence,” the SP
supremo told his party leaders and workers.
Mr. Singh said that as women were the most affected, they should
actively participate in the strike. He claimed that only his party was
fighting for the cause of backwards, the minorities and Dalit women.
State president Akhilesh Yadav said the proposed strike was against
both the Central and State governments. — PTI
Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 19, 2010
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http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/19/stories/2010041961401500.htm
Ambushed personnel were trained in counter-insurgency, says CRPF
K. Srinivas Reddy
“The CRPF company had been most negligent in choosing the camp site,
which was being carefully observed by Maoists”
CRPF not trained on a par with Andhra Pradesh's Greyhounds
‘Slain company had been most negligent in choosing the camp site'
HYDERABAD: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) discounted the
criticism that drafting personnel untrained in jungle warfare led to
the massacre of 76 of its men at Chintalnar in Bastar on April 6. It
pointed out that its forces were trained in the basics of counter-
insurgency operations, though not on par with the Greyhounds raised by
Andhra Pradesh.
Rebuts criticism
Rebutting all-round criticism on untrained personnel becoming sitting
ducks, the paramilitary force informed the Centre that Assistant
Commandant B.L. Meena, who led the decimated Alpha Company, had
earlier participated in two major rescue operations when the CRPF
personnel were ambushed by Maoists in the same area.
Sources said that it was the Golf Company of the 62nd battalion,
commanded by Assistant Commandant Meena that countered a People's
Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) ambush at Paidiguda on a 40-member
CRPF team on April 8, 2009. While the rebels managed to kill a deputy
commandant and 11 jawans, Assistant Commandant Meena successfully
fought Maoists to rescue others.
On September 9, 2009, he rushed to help the CoBRA (Commando Battalion
for Resolute Action) commandos who were ambushed and surrounded by the
PLGA forces at Chintagupha. Reinforcements led by him fought bravely
and saved the CoBRA forces. In this incident, six commandos were
killed by Maoists.
LUP mistake
However, in the April 6 massacre, something had certainly gone wrong.
The company led by Meena appeared to have made the dangerous mistake
of not choosing its camp site, called LUP or Lying Up Position,
carefully. A LUP is the tactical place where an operating unit of the
security forces stops for a brief period and the location is chosen in
a way that the forces are ready for an ambush or a raid after alerts
from sentries posted on high features.
The CRPF company, sources said, had been most negligent in choosing
the camp site, which was being carefully observed by Maoist rebels who
fired volleys of shots from
Light Machine Guns and assault rifles. The company, security analysts
say, could have been negligent as they were sent on an Area Domination
(AD) operation and not an operation based on intelligence input.
Interestingly, more than 35 companies of the CRPF and the local police
had participated in the four-day AD operation in Dantewada, Bijapur,
Narayanpur and Jagdalpur districts. The forces were briefed to move on
the peripheries of the naxal strongholds.
Purpose of operation
The purpose of the AD operation was to sanitise the area ahead of the
launch of the Tactical Counter-Offensive Campaign by Maoists, which
the Chhattisgarh police believed would commence from April 15.
With this view, the CRPF assisted operations were primarily meant to
secure the proximate areas around the base camps, since most attacks
on security forces took place nearby.
Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 19, 2010
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version
http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/19/stories/2010041961481600.htm
Sabrina hails verdict, thanks media
Staff Reporter
NEW DELHI: Sabrina Lal, sister of Jessica Lal, has hailed the Supreme
Court's judgment upholding the life imprisonment awarded to Manu
Sharma by the Delhi High Court in December 2006.
She said she was satisfied with the verdict. She thanked the media and
well-wishers for supporting her all along while she sought justice for
her sister, who was shot dead at Tamarind Court restaurant in South
Delhi in April 1999.
As for Shyan Munshi who turned hostile, she said perjury was common in
cases involving high-profile persons.
Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 20, 2010
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version
http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/20/stories/2010042056920100.htm
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth.html
cogitoergosum
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth.html
Hindu Moral Mess-Message-Age: Sid Harth
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/hindu-moral-messmessageage-sid-harth.html
Indian Morality Meltdown: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/37334fb34fbe6d7c/d8b818f4833e131e?q=Indian+Morality+Meltdown%3A+Sid+Harth&lnk=ol&
Sex and CD Scandal: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/3f5e2a3be4798e7d/d07894e22ef23690?lnk=gst&q=sex+and+cd+scandal#d07894e22ef23690
Child Labor in India: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/2549df32f41afcce/611166c361f27724?lnk=gst&q=child+labor+in+india#611166c361f27724
Of God, Godmen and Good men: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/beee6405766fa364/9da06195753e584a?lnk=gst&q=of+god%2C+godmen+and+good+men#9da06195753e584a
Human Trafficking in India: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/55d1782ed4144490/23de5a277a4b6730?lnk=gst&q=human+trafficking+in+india#23de5a277a4b6730
Kill Bill: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/f7b4e319f7a4fa28/ad4a6038f51d0cba?lnk=gst&q=kill+bill#ad4a6038f51d0cba
Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi denies allegations of money
laundering
Lalit Modi, the chairman and driving force of the Indian Premier
League, is facing pressure to stand down after the Indian government
confirmed that it is investigating the financial affairs of the
competition he helped create.
By Paul Kelso
Published: 8:45AM BST 20 Apr 2010
Denial: Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi has denied
allegations in the Indian press that he is being investigated for
money laundering Photo: AP
Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee told Parliament in New Delhi
yesterday that “all aspects” of the competition will be investigated
including how more than $3bn raised from franchise sales and
television rights have been invested.
"Some members raised the issue of the IPL and wanted to have the probe
in all its aspects. In fact, I want to assure them that all aspects of
the IPL, including the source of funding, how they have been invested,
will be looked into," he said. “No guilty or wrong doers will be
spared."
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The developments come four days after the IPL’s offices were raided by
investigators from the Indian tax authorities, and two days after a
bomb exploded outside an IPL match in Bangalore on Saturday.
In just three years the IPL has become India’s highest-profile
sporting competition, raising more than $2bn in franchise sales and
television rights deals. Its rise has attracted criticism and tension
within the Indian cricketing and political establishment, where Modi
has made some enemies, and the latest developments threaten to
overshadow the already troubled build-up to its showpiece final later
this week.
Modi has been facing concern over his management of the IPL since last
week when he revealed on his Twitter account that the girlfriend of
Shashi Tharoor, a junior government minister, had invested in
consortium bidding for a new IPL franchise. The revelation caused a
political storm in India and Tharoor was forced to resign.
Confirmation of the government probe, which coincided with detailed
allegations in India’s Economic Times about Modi’s handling of the
competition’s finances, will increase the pressure.
Reports in India last night suggested that the BCCI is ready to force
Modi to step aside, possible as soon as this weekend following the
conclusion of this year’s competition.
The Economic Times claimed that Modi’s affairs have been the subject
of a six month investigation by the Indian Income Tax Department (I-T)
which has tapped Modi’s email account and a UK cellphone in his name,
and have also examined regulatory filings from around the world
including Mauritius and Ireland.
The I-T report is also said to includes allegations that Modi is a
silent partner in three IPL teams, the Kolkata Knight Riders,
Rajhastan Royals and Kings XI Punjab. The Kolkata Knight Riders and
Kings XI Punjab denied to the newspaper that this was the case.
It is also claimed that Modi was involved in betting on IPL matches
through an intermediary, and that companies with whom he has previous
business dealings have been awarded IPL contracts.
In a statement released on Monday Modi denied the allegations and
implied that they were politically motivated.
“Mr. Lalit Kumar Modi, Chairman & Commissioner, Indian Premier League
(IPL) has rubbished the front page article that appeared today in the
Economic Times under the title ‘I-T Blows The Lid off IPL Sleaze -
Lalit Modi charged with Betting & Laundering,’” the statement said.
“Describing the article as absolutely baseless, ill founded and
motivated, Lalit Modi said that he will initiate appropriate legal
action against such defamatory and malicious campaign against him by a
motivated section of media.”
Later he added via Twitter: “Lots in media - speculations. welcome all
investigation - ready to extend all cooperation.”
Bangalore and Kevin Pietersen were 'sitting ducks' in fresh IPL
security scare
The Indian Premier League was hit by a fresh security alert on Monday
when the Bangalore team bus carrying Kevin Pietersen travelled to the
airport without an armed guard despite passing the scene of Saturday’s
bomb blasts.
By Nick Hoult
Published: 8:36PM BST 19 Apr 2010
Nosing around: Indian security personnel walk a sniffer dog as they
scan an area at Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium where two bombs exploded
Photo: AP
The Bangalore team were travelling to Mumbai for this week’s semi-
finals after the IPL switched the matches from their home city
following the two explosions at the Chinnaswamy Stadium before their
match against Mumbai on Saturday.
Despite the assurances that security for the IPL teams had been
stepped up the Bangalore players yesterday travelled through thick
traffic without their customary armed escort and were, in the words of
one source, “sitting ducks”.
Sport on television The Professional Cricketers’ Association is now
seeking further guarantees from the IPL organisers and its security
firm, Nicholls Steyn and Associates, that full armed escorts will be
provided in Mumbai.
The failure to provide armed police officers is being blamed on the
security services in Bangalore rather than the IPL, but highlights the
difficulty of co-ordinating watertight security operations across
different Indian cities.
It was that aspect of the IPL’s security plan which concerned player
associations before the tournament began and almost led to a boycott
by overseas players.
There is more confidence in security arrangements in Mumbai, where the
final four matches — two semi-finals, a third-placed play-off and
final – will be played this week.
“We are seeking assurances about what measures will be put in place in
Mumbai to protect the players better than has been demonstrated in
Bangalore,” Ian Smith, the PCA legal director, told The Daily
Telegraph.
The IPL is being viewed by the player associations as a dry run before
next year’s World Cup, which is due to be held in India, Bangladesh
and Sri Lanka.
“The main impact of this is going to be not just on the future of
IPL4, but primarily on the cricket World Cup next year,” Smith said.
“The IPL is primarily an Indian event, whereas at the World Cup you’ve
got a far more dangerous situation, more spread out with whole teams
of foreigners rather than just a couple of blokes.”
Organisers of the Commonwealth Games, which will be held in New Delhi
this October, have reiterated their promises of tight security for an
event that is expected to attract 100,000 foreign visitors to the
city.
“The security arrangements for the Games are constantly being
monitored by the organising committee in tandem with the Ministry of
Home Affairs and Delhi police,” organising committee chairman Suresh
Kalmadi said. “We are sure we will have a safe and secure Games and
that the athletes will be able to perform, assured that they would be
given the best protection.”
Commonwealth Games England refuses to disclose its security plans.
A spokeswoman said it received ongoing security advice from the
Metropolitan Police and the Foreign Office. As part of that, any plans
for special police to accompany the team remain top secret.
English swimmer David Davis has previously expressed concern about his
family, and this week Australian swimmers followed suit. Olympic
champion Kieren Perkins, who is due at the Commonwealth Games as part
of a trade delegation, will make up his mind whether to attend “very
close to the event. I’ve got family, I’ve got kids and I’m not going
to be risking my life for a sporting event,” he said.
IPL 2010: PCA investigates claims players were put under pressure to
play
The Professional Cricketers' Association is investigating claims that
players were put under pressure to go ahead with Saturday's Indian
Premier League match between Royal Challengers and Mumbai Indians
despite a bomb blast outside the stadium in Bangalore.
By Paul Bolton
Published: 7:27PM BST 18 Apr 2010
Investigation: police and forensic officials check for evidence after
a crude bomb exploded outside an Indian Premier League match at the
Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium Photo: EPA
Competition organisers have switched the IPL semi-finals which were
due to be played in Bangalore on Wednesday and Thursday to Mumbai in
response to the blast which injured at least 14 people. A second bomb
exploded close to the Chinnaswamy Stadium and two further unexploded
devices were found on Sunday.
But the PCA still wants more details about the circumstances that led
to Saturday's match being played after one of the non-Indian players
involved – not England batsman Kevin Pietersen who played for the
Mumbai Indians – claimed the decision was left to the players.
IPL bomb blast sparks security fears for World Cup "The immediate
worry for us, and I have heard this direct from one of the players, is
that after the initial explosion and a sweep of the stadium, the
decision that the game should go ahead was taken by the players," said
Ian Smith, the PCA's legal adviser.
"From what I have been told, the Indian guys said very quickly that
they felt unfazed. But the foreign guys then felt under pressure to
agree with their colleagues. The idea that you can determine whether
conditions are safe by a referendum of the players is outrageous.
"They were out in the middle warming up when the bomb went off. We
don't know who provided them with the information on which they made
their decision."
Smith has been unable to speak to any of the six English players –
Paul Collingwood, Eoin Morgan, Owais Shah, Michael Lumb, Pietersen and
Ravi Bopara – who are involved in the IPL.
But Smith has had email communication with them and advised them to
await a full report from IPL security experts Nicholls Steyn
Associates and Reg Dickason, security adviser to the Federation of
International Cricketers' Associations.
IPL commissioner Lalit Modi said the decision to relocate the semi-
finals had been taken reluctantly. "The incidents were assessed by
local police and the IPL's security agency as being of a minor nature
but they have forced our hand," he said. "We do not want to take any
chances and we want to ensure total safety for the players and the
spectators."
Saturday's bomb blast coincided with the start of an International
Cricket Council board meeting in Dubai and is bound to raise renewed
concerns about security for next year's World Cup, which will be co-
hosted by India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, a meeting to resolve the controversy over a new IPL team is
being put off until the event finishes on April 25.
The controversy stems from an auction last month when a group made a
successful bid of more than $330 million for a Kochi franchise. Modi
then questioned why 25 per cent of the team was given to a group that
included a friend of India's junior foreign minister.
Kevin Pietersen 'anxious' over IPL bombings
The Professional Cricketers' Association have expressed concerns over
security for next year's World Cup in the wake of an explosion at
Saturday's Indian Premier League match between Royal Challengers
Bangalore and Mumbai Indians.
By Telegraph staff and agencies
Published: 10:25AM BST 19 Apr 2010
Nosing around: Indian security personnel walk a sniffer dog as they
scan an area at Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium where two bombs exploded
Photo: AP
Bangalore's England batsman Kevin Pietersen played in the match -
which went ahead after an hour-long security check at the venue,
though the decision was left in the hands of the players themselves.
Pietersen was left anxious and upset over the handling of the
incident, although the decision to switch the semi-finals and final
from Bangalore to Mumbai is likely to ease players' concerns as the
event reaches its conclusion.
IPL bomb blast sparks security fears for World Cup But PCA legal
director Ian Smith has wider concerns about security in the region,
affecting not just future editions of the Twenty20 league but also the
ICC's global showpiece, due to be held in India, Sri Lanka and
Bangladesh from February 19 to March 2 next year.
He fears a worst-case scenario in which the tournament may have to be
moved away from the region - echoing the 2009 Champions Trophy, which
was taken away from Pakistan.
The latter country has already seen its World Cup games relocated due
to ongoing security concerns - particularly after Sri Lanka's team bus
and that carrying match officials were attacked by gunmen en route to
a Test in Lahore - and Smith fears an even bigger decision may yet
have to be taken.
South African security firm Nicholls Steyn and Associates were
employed by IPL organisers to formulate a security plan for the
tournament, and are scheduled to do likewise for the World Cup.
Smith has no concerns over their efforts, but focused instead on the
implementation of the plan by local police and armed forces.
"Players are not supposed to be stuck in traffic, stationary in the
bus, but they are," he continued.
"We ought to have a visible uniformed presence on every bridge that
crosses the road on the way, and every player will tell you they've
never seen a bloke on a bridge.
"We've only got a few games left in IPL, and they're in one venue
(Mumbai) after today. That's a controllable situation so I'm not
overly worried about that.
"Mumbai police have been excellent, the only implementation better was
in Nagpur, which is obviously a much smaller venue.
"The ICC use the same security advisors as IPL, so they will be
expecting a full report post-IPL.
"The main impact of this is going to be not just on the future of
IPL4, but primarily on the cricket World Cup next year.
"The IPL is primarily an Indian event, whereas at the World Cup you've
got a far more dangerous situation, more spread out with whole teams
of foreigners rather than just a couple of blokes."
This October's Commonwealth Games in Delhi will provide a further
barometer of the situation, and Smith said: "That's slightly easier to
control because it's in one city. They've got a good security plan,
we're aware of that, so the test is can they implement it?
"There are a lot of very bad people out there, doing things for
different reasons - but when a bomb explodes, who cares why?
"But if they can keep the Commonwealth Games safe, that might start to
make you believe that they can keep the other venues safe in the
Cricket World Cup."
English counties set to follow Hampshire's link-up with IPL's
Rajasthan Royals
Formal links between counties and Indian Premier League sides are set
to grow as fears increase over the threat to grants from the England
and Wales Cricket Board.
By Nick Hoult
Published: 9:05PM GMT 08 Feb 2010
Batting partners: The Rajasthan Royals of the Indian Premier
League ... now officially linked with Hampshire's Twenty20 side Photo:
REUTERS Sources suggest that up to six counties are in talks to
replicate Hampshire's deal with the Rajasthan Royals, which was
revealed by Telegraph Sport and formally announced at Lord's on
Monday. Hampshire have joined Cape Cobras, Trinidad and Tobago and a
team from Australia, likely to be Victoria, as part of a global
franchise entitled Royals 2020 and led by former IPL winners, the
Rajasthan Royals.
"They [counties] have to look at this," said Sean Morris, chief
executive of the Rajasthan Royals. "It is tough commercially for a
county club. Things are very tight. They have all got a similar
problem. If they can only make money in the summer what do they do in
the winter? They have costs, 12-month contracts, it is hard. If they
don't qualify for the Champions League what can they do? So it is no
secret that there are a variety of leading county chief executives in
Mumbai every week at the moment."
Sport on television With the threat of a reduction in broadcasting
income, due to the ongoing Government consultation over the
preservation of Ashes series for terrestrial television, counties fear
their ECB handout, worth £1.5 million annually, cannot be guaranteed
in the future.
"The longer game is to create a genuinely valuable worldwide franchise
which will leave our county less dependent on the central distribution
from the broadcasting rights and other deals that at the moment are
the lifeblood of the game," said Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove.
"You can see the benefit immediately."
All teams under the Rajasthan umbrella will incorporate 'Royals' into
the name of their Twenty20 sides. Plans for tournaments around the
world between the Royals 2020 teams were also revealed yesterday, with
Lord's and the Rose Bowl set to be the first venues in July. All five
clubs will pool winnings, but the main source of income will be
sponsorship deals in India.
Bransgrove said: "Royals sell the primary position on their shirts for
something in excess of $4 million. At Hampshire we aspire to
£200,000 ... a massive difference."
Graeme Swann turns his thoughts to IPL deal
The Indian Stock Exchange sits just a few blocks from the hotel which
will host Tuesday's third Indian Premier League auction, where 66
cricketers will be traded by some of the world's richest men.
By Nick Hoult in Mumbai
Published: 5:48PM GMT 18 Jan 2010
Spin king: England's Graeme Swann has had a terrific 12 months in
international cricket, and is now poised to be given his chance in the
Indian Premier League Photo: GETTY IMAGES
One player hoping his base price does not panic potential buyers will
be Graeme Swann, the England spinner who Telegraph Sport has learnt
will have the highest reserve value on Tuesday.
Swann has been priced at a minimum of $250,000 (£153,000) by the IPL
and will be drawn in the first group of cricketers to be sold by
British auctioneer Richard Madley.
Related Articles
More on the Indian Premier League
Ramprakash joins IPL auction
Morgan emerges as glittering IPL prospect
Swann in line for IPL payday
IPL reveals auction shortlist
Sport on television Last year Swann's England colleagues, Andrew
Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen, were the biggest winners at the IPL
auction in Goa, walking away with annual contracts worth $1.5 million
(£920,000). Both enjoyed little success, Bangalore improved markedly
and reached the final after captain Pietersen's return home while
Flintoff's injury has ruled him out this season. Lessons have been
learnt.
Swann may find the fact he is not available until March 26, three
weeks after the start of the IPL, due to England's tour to Bangladesh,
will harm his chances of a few lucrative weeks in India.
The same cannot be said for Eoin Morgan, who has valued himself at
$200,000 (£122,000), and with around three of the eight teams looking
for a specialist batsman, he could be the subject of a bidding battle.
Mark Ramprakash is also thought to be rated in the $200,000 region, a
high price for a 40 year-old. Monty Panesar and the five other English
players will have a maximum reserve fee of $100,000.
"Batting all-rounders are the most prized," said one IPL source.
"Probably around three teams are looking for guys who can score runs
so the specialist Twenty20 batsmen such as Morgan and even someone
like Rob Key might have a sniff."
Kieron Pollard, of Trinidad, is attracting interest along with New
Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond and Australian Phillip Hughes, with
each franchise having $750,000 (£460,000) to spend and 12 vacancies to
fill.
Ricky Ponting (who is not available this year), Nathan Bracken and
India fast bowler Mohammad Kaif were all bought out of their contracts
on Monday as franchises looked to free slots for Tuesday's auction.
Sources have indicated that teams will not be bidding for Pakistani
players fearing they may be denied visas by the Indian government.
One England player has already landed an IPL contract, with Hampshire
opener Michael Lumb signing a $50,000 (£31,000) move to the Rajasthan
Royals. He has not played international cricket and can therefore be
bought outside the auction room.
Splash the cash...
Graeme Swann (reserve price $250,000)
Mark Ramprakash ($200,0000)
Eoin Morgan ($200,000)
Tim Bresnan ($100,000)
Jonathan Trott ($100,000)
Anthony McGrath ($50,000)
Monty Panesar ($50,000)
Rob Key ($50,000)
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-1.html
cogitoergosum
Taj Mahal
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see Taj Mahal (disambiguation).
The mausoleum of the Taj MahalThe Taj Mahal (English pronunciation: /
ˈtɑːʒ məˈhɑːl/; Hindi: ताज महल [taːdʑ mɛɦɛl];[dubious – discuss]
Persian/Urdu: تاج محل) is a mausoleum located in Agra, India, built by
Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz
Mahal.
The Taj Mahal (also "the Taj") is considered the finest example of
Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian,
Indian, and Islamic architectural styles.[1][2] In 1983, the Taj Mahal
became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was cited as "the jewel of
Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of
the world's heritage."
While the white domed marble mausoleum is its most familiar component,
the Taj Mahal is actually an integrated complex of structures.
Building began around 1632 and was completed around 1653, and employed
thousands of artisans and craftsmen.[3] The construction of the Taj
Mahal was entrusted to a board of architects under imperial
supervision including Abd ul-Karim Ma'mur Khan, Makramat Khan, and
Ustad Ahmad Lahauri.[4][5] Lahauri is generally considered to be the
principal designer.[6]
Origin and inspiration
Main article: Origins and architecture of the Taj Mahal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_and_architecture_of_the_Taj_Mahal
Shah Jahan, who commissioned the Taj Mahal -"Shah jahan on a globe"
from the Smithsonian Institution Artistic depiction of Mumtaz Mahal
In 1631, Shah Jahan, emperor during the Mughal empire's period of
greatest prosperity, was griefstricken when his third wife, Mumtaz
Mahal, died during the birth of their fourteenth child, Gauhara Begum.
[7] Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632, one year after her
death.[8] The court chronicles of Shah Jahan's grief illustrate the
love story traditionally held as an inspiration for Taj Mahal.[9][10]
The principal mausoleum was completed in 1648 and the surrounding
buildings and garden were finished five years later. Emperor Shah
Jahan himself described the Taj in these words:[11]
Should guilty seek asylum here,
Like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin.
Should a sinner make his way to this mansion,
All his past sins are to be washed away.
The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs;
And the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes.
In this world this edifice has been made;
To display thereby the creator's glory.
The Taj Mahal incorporates and expands on design traditions of Persian
architecture and earlier Mughal architecture. Specific inspiration
came from successful Timurid and Mughal buildings including; the Gur-e
Amir (the tomb of Timur, progenitor of the Mughal dynasty, in
Samarkand),[12] Humayun's Tomb, Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb (sometimes
called the Baby Taj), and Shah Jahan's own Jama Masjid in Delhi. While
earlier Mughal buildings were primarily constructed of red sandstone,
Shah Jahan promoted the use of white marble inlaid with semi-precious
stones, and buildings under his patronage reached new levels of
refinement.[13]
Architecture
The tomb
The central focus of the complex is the tomb. This large, white marble
structure stands on a square plinth and consists of a symmetrical
building with an iwan (an arch-shaped doorway) topped by a large dome
and finial. Like most Mughal tombs, the basic elements are Persian in
origin.
The Taj Mahal seen from the banks of river YamunaThe base structure is
essentially a large, multi-chambered cube with chamfered corners,
forming an unequal octagon that is approximately 55 metres (180 ft) on
each of the four long sides. On each of these sides, a massive
pishtaq, or vaulted archway, frames the iwan with two similarly
shaped, arched balconies stacked on either side. This motif of stacked
pishtaqs is replicated on the chamfered corner areas, making the
design completely symmetrical on all sides of the building. Four
minarets frame the tomb, one at each corner of the plinth facing the
chamfered corners. The main chamber houses the false sarcophagi of
Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan; the actual graves are at a lower level.
The marble dome that surmounts the tomb is the most spectacular
feature. Its height of around 35 metres (115 ft) is about the same as
the length of the base, and is accentuated as it sits on a cylindrical
"drum" which is roughly 7 metres (23 ft) high. Because of its shape,
the dome is often called an onion dome or amrud (guava dome). The top
is decorated with a lotus design, which also serves to accentuate its
height. The shape of the dome is emphasised by four smaller domed
chattris (kiosks) placed at its corners, which replicate the onion
shape of the main dome. Their columned bases open through the roof of
the tomb and provide light to the interior. Tall decorative spires
(guldastas) extend from edges of base walls, and provide visual
emphasis to the height of the dome. The lotus motif is repeated on
both the chattris and guldastas. The dome and chattris are topped by a
gilded finial, which mixes traditional Persian and Hindu decorative
elements.
The main finial was originally made of gold but was replaced by a copy
made of gilded bronze in the early 19th century. This feature provides
a clear example of integration of traditional Persian and Hindu
decorative elements. The finial is topped by a moon, a typical Islamic
motif whose horns point heavenward. Because of its placement on the
main spire, the horns of the moon and the finial point combine to
create a trident shape, reminiscent of traditional Hindu symbols of
Shiva.[3]
The minarets, which are each more than 40 metres (130 ft) tall,
display the designer's penchant for symmetry. They were designed as
working minarets — a traditional element of mosques, used by the
muezzin to call the Islamic faithful to prayer. Each minaret is
effectively divided into three equal parts by two working balconies
that ring the tower. At the top of the tower is a final balcony
surmounted by a chattri that mirrors the design of those on the tomb.
The chattris all share the same decorative elements of a lotus design
topped by a gilded finial. The minarets were constructed slightly
outside of the plinth so that, in the event of collapse, (a typical
occurrence with many tall constructions of the period) the material
from the towers would tend to fall away from the tomb.
Base, dome, and minaret
Finial
Top of finial
Main iwan and side pishtaqs
Simplified diagram of the Taj Mahal floor plan
Exterior decoration
Calligraphy on large pishtaqThe exterior decorations of the Taj Mahal
are among the finest to be found in Mughal architecture.[citation
needed] As the surface area changes the decorations are refined
proportionally. The decorative elements were created by applying
paint, stucco, stone inlays, or carvings. In line with the Islamic
prohibition against the use of anthropomorphic forms, the decorative
elements can be grouped into either calligraphy, abstract forms or
vegetative motifs.
Throughout the complex, passages from the Qur'an are used as
decorative elements. Recent scholarship suggests that the passages
were chosen by Amanat Khan.[14][15] The texts refer to themes of
judgment and include:
Surah 91 – The Sun http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ash-Shams
Surah 112 – The Purity of Faith http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Ikhlas
Surah 89 – Daybreak http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Fajr_(sura)
Surah 93 – Morning Light http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad-Dhuha
Surah 95 – The Fig http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/At-Tin
Surah 94 – The Solace http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Inshirah
Surah 36 – Ya Sin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ya_Sin
Surah 81 – The Folding Up http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/At-Takwir
Surah 82 – The Cleaving Asunder http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Infitar
Surah 84 – The Rending Asunder http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Inshiqaq
Surah 98 – The Evidence http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Bayyina
Surah 67 – Dominion http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Mulk
Surah 48 – Victory http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Fath
Surah 77 – Those Sent Forth http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Mursalat
Surah 39 – The Crowds http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Az-Zumar
The calligraphy on the Great Gate reads "O Soul, thou art at rest.
Return to the Lord at peace with Him, and He at peace with you."[15]
The calligraphy was created by the Persian calligrapher Abd ul-Haq,
who came to India from Shiraz, Iran, in 1609. Shah Jahan conferred the
title of "Amanat Khan" upon him as a reward for his "dazzling
virtuosity".[5] Near the lines from the Qur'an at the base of the
interior dome is the inscription, "Written by the insignificant being,
Amanat Khan Shirazi."[16] Much of the calligraphy is composed of
florid thuluth script, made of jasper or black marble,[5] inlaid in
white marble panels. Higher panels are written in slightly larger
script to reduce the skewing effect when viewed from below. The
calligraphy found on the marble cenotaphs in the tomb is particularly
detailed and delicate.
Abstract forms are used throughout, especially in the plinth,
minarets, gateway, mosque, jawab and, to a lesser extent, on the
surfaces of the tomb. The domes and vaults of the sandstone buildings
are worked with tracery of incised painting to create elaborate
geometric forms. Herringbone inlays define the space between many of
the adjoining elements. White inlays are used in sandstone buildings,
and dark or black inlays on the white marbles. Mortared areas of the
marble buildings have been stained or painted in a contrasting colour,
creating geometric patterns of considerable complexity. Floors and
walkways use contrasting tiles or blocks in tessellation patterns.
On the lower walls of the tomb there are white marble dados that have
been sculpted with realistic bas relief depictions of flowers and
vines. The marble has been polished to emphasise the exquisite
detailing of the carvings and the dado frames and archway spandrels
have been decorated with pietra dura inlays of highly stylised, almost
geometric vines, flowers and fruits. The inlay stones are of yellow
marble, jasper and jade, polished and leveled to the surface of the
walls.
Herringbone
Plant motifs
Spandrel detail
Incised painting
Reflective tiles normal exposure
Reflective tiles under exposed
Interior decoration
Jali screen surrounding the cenotaphs
Tombs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal
Cenotaphs, interior of Taj MahalThe interior chamber of the Taj Mahal
steps far beyond traditional decorative elements. Here, the inlay work
is not pietra dura but lapidary of precious and semiprecious
gemstones. The inner chamber is an octagon with the design allowing
for entry from each face, although only the south garden-facing door
is used. The interior walls are about 25 metres (82 ft) high and
topped by a "false" interior dome decorated with a sun motif. Eight
pishtaq arches define the space at ground level and, as with the
exterior, each lower pishtaq is crowned by a second pishtaq about
midway up the wall. The four central upper arches form balconies or
viewing areas, and each balcony's exterior window has an intricate
screen or jali cut from marble. In addition to the light from the
balcony screens, light enters through roof openings which are covered
by chattris at the corners. Each chamber wall has been highly
decorated with dado bas relief, intricate lapidary inlay and refined
calligraphy panels, reflecting in miniature detail the design elements
seen throughout the exterior of the complex. The octagonal marble
screen or jali which borders the cenotaphs is made from eight marble
panels which have been carved through with intricate pierce work. The
remaining surfaces have been inlaid in extremely delicate detail with
semiprecious stones forming twining vines, fruits and flowers.
Muslim tradition forbids elaborate decoration of graves and hence
Mumtaz and Shah Jahan are laid in a relatively plain crypt beneath the
inner chamber with their faces turned right and towards Mecca. Mumtaz
Mahal's cenotaph is placed at the precise center of the inner chamber
on a rectangular marble base of 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) by 2.5 metres
(8 ft 2 in). Both the base and casket are elaborately inlaid with
precious and semiprecious gems. Calligraphic inscriptions on the
casket identify and praise Mumtaz. On the lid of the casket is a
raised rectangular lozenge meant to suggest a writing tablet. Shah
Jahan's cenotaph is beside Mumtaz's to the western side and is the
only visible asymmetric element in the entire complex. His cenotaph is
bigger than his wife's, but reflects the same elements: a larger
casket on slightly taller base, again decorated with astonishing
precision with lapidary and calligraphy that identifies him. On the
lid of this casket is a traditional sculpture of a small pen box. The
pen box and writing tablet were traditional Mughal funerary icons
decorating men's and women's caskets respectively. The Ninety Nine
Names of God are to be found as calligraphic inscriptions on the sides
of the actual tomb of Mumtaz Mahal, in the crypt including "O Noble, O
Magnificent, O Majestic, O Unique, O Eternal, O Glorious... ". The
tomb of Shah Jahan bears a calligraphic inscription that reads; "He
traveled from this world to the banquet-hall of Eternity on the night
of the twenty-sixth of the month of Rajab, in the year 1076 Hijri."
Arch of Jali
Delicate pierce work
Inlay detail
Detail of Jali
The garden
Walkways beside reflecting poolThe complex is set around a large 300-
metre (980 ft) square charbagh or Mughal garden. The garden uses
raised pathways that divide each of the four quarters of the garden
into 16 sunken parterres or flowerbeds. A raised marble water tank at
the center of the garden, halfway between the tomb and gateway with a
reflecting pool on a north-south axis, reflects the image of the
mausoleum. The raised marble water tank is called al Hawd al-Kawthar,
in reference to the "Tank of Abundance" promised to Muhammad.[17]
Elsewhere, the garden is laid out with avenues of trees and fountains.
[18] The charbagh garden, a design inspired by Persian gardens, was
introduced to India by the first Mughal emperor, Babur. It symbolizes
the four flowing rivers of Jannah (Paradise) and reflects the Paradise
garden derived from the Persian paridaeza, meaning 'walled garden'. In
mystic Islamic texts of Mughal period, Paradise is described as an
ideal garden of abundance with four rivers flowing from a central
spring or mountain, separating the garden into north, west, south and
east.
Most Mughal charbaghs are rectangular with a tomb or pavilion in the
center. The Taj Mahal garden is unusual in that the main element, the
tomb, is located at the end of the garden. With the discovery of
Mahtab Bagh or "Moonlight Garden" on the other side of the Yamuna, the
interpretation of the Archaeological Survey of India is that the
Yamuna river itself was incorporated into the garden's design and was
meant to be seen as one of the rivers of Paradise.[19] The similarity
in layout of the garden and its architectural features with the
Shalimar Gardens suggest that they may have been designed by the same
architect, Ali Mardan.[20] Early accounts of the garden describe its
profusion of vegetation, including abundant roses, daffodils, and
fruit trees.[21] As the Mughal Empire declined, the tending of the
garden also declined, and when the British took over the management of
Taj Mahal during the time of the British Empire, they changed the
landscaping to resemble that of lawns of London.[22]
Outlying buildings
The Great gate (Darwaza-i rauza)—gateway to the Taj MahalThe Taj Mahal
complex is bounded on three sides by crenellated red sandstone walls,
with the river-facing side left open. Outside the walls are several
additional mausoleums, including those of Shah Jahan's other wives,
and a larger tomb for Mumtaz's favorite servant. These structures,
composed primarily of red sandstone, are typical of the smaller Mughal
tombs of the era. The garden-facing inner sides of the wall are
fronted by columned arcades, a feature typical of Hindu temples which
was later incorporated into Mughal mosques. The wall is interspersed
with domed chattris, and small buildings that may have been viewing
areas or watch towers like the Music House, which is now used as a
museum.
Arches in the Taj Mahal Mosque interiorThe main gateway (darwaza) is a
monumental structure built primarily of marble which is reminiscent of
Mughal architecture of earlier emperors. Its archways mirror the shape
of tomb's archways, and its pishtaq arches incorporate the calligraphy
that decorates the tomb. It utilizes bas-relief and pietra dura inlaid
decorations with floral motifs. The vaulted ceilings and walls have
elaborate geometric designs, like those found in the other sandstone
buildings of the complex.
Taj Mahal mosque or masjidAt the far end of the complex, there are two
grand red sandstone buildings that are open to the sides of the tomb.
Their backs parallel the western and eastern walls, and the two
buildings are precise mirror images of each other. The western
building is a mosque and the other is the jawab (answer), whose
primary purpose was architectural balance, although it may have been
used as a guesthouse. The distinctions between these two buildings
include the lack of mihrab (a niche in a mosque's wall facing Mecca)
in the jawab and that the floors of jawab have a geometric design,
while the mosque floor was laid with outlines of 569 prayer rugs in
black marble. The mosque's basic design of a long hall surmounted by
three domes is similar to others built by Shah Jahan, particularly to
his Masjid-Jahan Numa, or Jama Masjid, Delhi. The Mughal mosques of
this period divide the sanctuary hall into three areas, with a main
sanctuary and slightly smaller sanctuaries on either side. At the Taj
Mahal, each sanctuary opens onto an enormous vaulting dome. These
outlying buildings were completed in 1643.
Construction
Ground layout of the Taj MahalThe Taj Mahal was built on a parcel of
land to the south of the walled city of Agra. Shah Jahan presented
Maharajah Jai Singh with a large palace in the center of Agra in
exchange for the land.[23] An area of roughly three acres was
excavated, filled with dirt to reduce seepage, and leveled at 50
metres (160 ft) above riverbank. In the tomb area, wells were dug and
filled with stone and rubble to form the footings of the tomb. Instead
of lashed bamboo, workmen constructed a colossal brick scaffold that
mirrored the tomb. The scaffold was so enormous that foremen estimated
it would take years to dismantle. According to the legend, Shah Jahan
decreed that anyone could keep the bricks taken from the scaffold, and
thus it was dismantled by peasants overnight. A fifteen kilometer (9.3
mi) tamped-earth ramp was built to transport marble and materials to
the construction site and teams of twenty or thirty oxen pulled the
blocks on specially constructed wagons. An elaborate post-and-beam
pulley system was used to raise the blocks into desired position.
Water was drawn from the river by a series of purs, an animal-powered
rope and bucket mechanism, into a large storage tank and raised to a
large distribution tank. It was passed into three subsidiary tanks,
from which it was piped to the complex.
The plinth and tomb took roughly 12 years to complete. The remaining
parts of the complex took an additional 10 years and were completed in
order of minarets, mosque and jawab, and gateway. Since the complex
was built in stages, discrepancies exist in completion dates due to
differing opinions on "completion". For example, the mausoleum itself
was essentially complete by 1643, but work continued on the rest of
the complex. Estimates of the cost of construction vary due to
difficulties in estimating costs across time. The total cost has been
estimated to be about 32 million Rupees at that time.[24]
The Taj Mahal was constructed using materials from all over India and
Asia and over 1,000 elephants were used to transport building
materials. The translucent white marble was brought from Rajasthan,
the jasper from Punjab, jade and crystal from China. The turquoise was
from Tibet and the Lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, while the sapphire
came from Sri Lanka and the carnelian from Arabia. In all, twenty
eight types of precious and semi-precious stones were inlaid into the
white marble.
Artist's impression of the Taj Mahal, from the Smithsonian Institution
A labour force of twenty thousand workers was recruited across
northern India. Sculptors from Bukhara, calligraphers from Syria and
Persia, inlayers from southern India, stonecutters from Baluchistan, a
specialist in building turrets, another who carved only marble flowers
were part of the thirty-seven men who formed the creative unit. Some
of the builders involved in construction of Taj Mahal are:
Ismail Afandi (a.ka. Ismail Khan) of the Ottoman Empire — designer of
the main dome.[25]
Ustad Isa and Isa Muhammad Effendi of Persia — trained by Koca Mimar
Sinan Agha of the Ottoman Empire and frequently credited with a key
role in the architectural design.[26][27]
'Puru' from Benarus, Persia — has been mentioned as a supervising
architect.[28]
Qazim Khan, a native of Lahore - cast the solid gold finial.
Chiranjilal, a lapidary from Delhi — the chief sculptor and
mosaicist.
Amanat Khan from Shiraz, Iran — the chief calligrapher.[29]
Muhammad Hanif — a supervisor of masons.
Mir Abdul Karim and Mukkarimat Khan of Shiraz — handled finances and
management of daily production.
History
Taj Mahal by Samuel Bourne, 1860.Soon after the Taj Mahal's
completion, Shah Jahan was deposed by his son Aurangzeb and put under
house arrest at nearby Agra Fort. Upon Shah Jahan's death, Aurangzeb
buried him in the mausoluem next to his wife.[30]
By the late 19th century, parts of the buildings had fallen badly into
disrepair. During the time of the Indian rebellion of 1857, the Taj
Mahal was defaced by British soldiers and government officials, who
chiseled out precious stones and lapis lazuli from its walls. At the
end of the 19th century, British viceroy Lord Curzon ordered a massive
restoration project, which was completed in 1908.[31][32] He also
commissioned the large lamp in the interior chamber, modeled after one
in a Cairo mosque. During this time the garden was remodeled with
British-style lawns that are still in place today.[22]
Threats
Protective wartime scaffoldingIn 1942, the government erected a
scaffolding in anticipation of an air attack by German Luftwaffe and
later by Japanese Air Force. During the India-Pakistan wars of 1965
and 1971, scaffoldings were again erected to mislead bomber pilots.
[33]
More recent threats have come from environmental pollution on the
banks of Yamuna River including acid rain[34] due to the Mathura Oil
Refinery,[35] which was opposed by Supreme Court of India directives.
The pollution has been turning the Taj Mahal yellow. To help control
the pollution, the Indian government has set up the Taj Trapezium Zone
(TTZ), a 10,400 square kilometer (4,015 square mile) area around the
monument where strict emissions standards are in place.[36] In 1983,
the Taj Mahal was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[37]
Tourism
Then President of Russia Vladimir Putin and wife Lyudmila Putina
visiting the Taj Mahal in 2000.The Taj Mahal attracts from 2 to 4
million visitors annually, with more than 200,000 from overseas. Most
tourists visit in the cooler months of October, November and February.
Polluting traffic is not allowed near the complex and tourists must
either walk from parking lots or catch an electric bus. The
Khawasspuras (northern courtyards) are currently being restored for
use as a new visitor center.[38][39] The small town to the south of
the Taj, known as Taj Ganji or Mumtazabad, originally was constructed
with caravanserais, bazaars and markets to serve the needs of visitors
and workmen.[40] Lists of recommended travel destinations often
feature the Taj Mahal, which also appears in several listings of seven
wonders of the modern world, including the recently announced New
Seven Wonders of the World, a recent poll[41] with 100 million votes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Wonders_of_the_World
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Wonders_of_the_World
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Seven_Wonders_of_the_World
The grounds are open from 6 am to 7 pm weekdays, except for Friday
when the complex is open for prayers at the mosque between 12 pm and 2
pm. The complex is open for night viewing on the day of the full moon
and two days before and after,[42] excluding Fridays and the month of
Ramzan. For security reasons[43] only five items—water in transparent
bottles, small video cameras, still cameras, mobile phones and small
ladies' purses—are allowed inside the Taj Mahal.
Myths
Ever since its construction, the building has been the source of an
admiration transcending culture and geography, and so personal and
emotional responses have consistently eclipsed scholastic appraisals
of the monument.[44]
Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, one of the first European visitors to the Taj
MahalA longstanding myth holds that Shah Jahan planned a mausoleum to
be built in black marble across the Yamuna river.[45] The idea
originates from fanciful writings of Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, a
European traveller who visited Agra in 1665. It was suggested that
Shah Jahan was overthrown by his son Aurangzeb before it could be
built. Ruins of blackened marble across the river in Moonlight Garden,
Mahtab Bagh, seemed to support this legend. However, excavations
carried out in the 1990s found that they were discolored white stones
that had turned black.[46] A more credible theory for the origins of
the black mausoleum was demonstrated in 2006 by archeologists who
reconstructed part of the pool in the Moonlight Garden. A dark
reflection of the white mausoleum could clearly be seen, befitting
Shah Jahan's obsession with symmetry and the positioning of the pool
itself.[47]
No evidence exists for claims that describe, often in horrific detail,
the deaths, dismemberments and mutilations which Shah Jahan supposedly
inflicted on various architects and craftsmen associated with the
tomb. Some stories claim that those involved in construction signed
contracts committing themselves to have no part in any similar design.
Similar claims are made for many famous buildings.[48] No evidence
exists for claims that Lord William Bentinck, governor-general of
India in the 1830s, supposedly planned to demolish the Taj Mahal and
auction off the marble. Bentinck's biographer John Rosselli says that
the story arose from Bentinck's fund-raising sale of discarded marble
from Agra Fort.[49]
In 2000, India's Supreme Court dismissed P.N. Oak's petition to
declare that a Hindu king built the Taj Mahal.[48][50] Oak claimed
that origins of the Taj, together with other historic structures in
the country currently ascribed to Muslim sultans pre-date Muslim
occupation of India and thus, have a Hindu origin.[51] A more poetic
story relates that once a year, during the rainy season, a single drop
of water falls on the cenotaph, as inspired by Rabindranath Tagore's
description of the tomb as "one tear-drop...upon the cheek of time".
Another myth suggests that beating the silhouette of the finial will
cause water to come forth. To this day, officials find broken bangles
surrounding the silhouette.[52]
Replicas
Among the buildings modeled on the Taj Mahal are the Taj Mahal
Bangladesh, the Bibi Ka Maqbara in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, and the
Tripoli Shrine Temple in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal_Bangladesh
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibi_Ka_Maqbara
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripoli_Shrine_Temple
In Popular Culture
As a famous world landmark, the Taj Mahal is used extensively in films
and other forms of media.
In the film Mars Attacks!, the Taj Mahal is blown up by martians.
In the film Supernova, the Taj Mahal is destroyed by meteors coming
from a supernova.
See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Taj Mahal
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Taj_Mahal
Agra Fort http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agra_Fort
Fatehpur Sikri http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatehpur_Sikri
Humayun's Tomb http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humayun%27s_Tomb
Indian architecture http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_architecture
Itmad-Ud-Daulah http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itmad-Ud-Daulah
Origins and architecture of the Taj Mahal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_and_architecture_of_the_Taj_Mahal
Persian architecture http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_architecture
Taj Mahal Bangladesh http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal_Bangladesh
Notes
^ Hasan, Parween (November 1994), "Review of Mughal Architecture: Its
outline and its history", The Journal of Asian Studies 53 (4)
^ Lesley A. DuTemple, "The Taj Mahal", Lerner Publishing Group (March
2003). pg 26: "The Taj Mahal, a spectacular example of Moghul
architecture, blends Islamic, Hindu and Persian styles"
^ a b Tillitson, G.H.R. (1990). Architectural Guide to Mughal India,
Chronicle Books.
^ History of the Taj Mahal Agra, Retrieved on: 20 January 2009.
^ a b c Anon. "The Taj mahal". Islamic architecture. Islamic Arts and
Architecture Organization. http://www.islamicart.com/library/empires/india/taj_mahal.html.
Retrieved 22 may 2009.
^ UNESCO advisory body evaluation.
^ "Public Broadcasting Service". PBS.
http://www.pbs.org/treasuresoftheworld/a_nav/taj_nav/main_tajfrm.html.
Retrieved 2010-02-02.
^ "Taj Mahal History". http://www.ourworldwonders.com/TajMahal/History.htm.
^ Muhammad Abdullah Chaghtai Le Tadj Mahal D'Agra (Hindi). Histoire et
description (Brussels) 1938 p. 46.
^ 'Abd al-Hamid Lahawri Badshah Namah Ed. Maulawis Kabir al-Din Ahmad
and 'Abd al-Rahim u-nder the superintendence of Major W.N. Lees. Vol.
I Calcutta 1867 pp384-9 ; Muhammad Salih Kambo Amal-i-Sal\lih or Shah
Jahan Namah Ed. Ghulam Yazdani Vol.I (Calcutta) 1923 p. 275.
^ Mahajan, Vidya Dhar (1970). Muslim Rule In India. p. 200.
^ Chaghtai Le Tadj Mahal p. 146.
^ Copplestone, p. 166.
^ Taj Mahal Calligraphy.
^ a b Koch, p. 100.
^ "Public Broadcasting Service". PBS.
http://www.pbs.org/treasuresoftheworld/taj_mahal/tlevel_2/t4visit_3calligraphy.html.
Retrieved 2010-02-02.
^ Begley, Wayne E. (March 1979). "The Myth of the Taj Mahal and a New
Theory of Its Symbolic Meaning". The Art Bulletin 61 (1): 14.
^ "taj-mahal-travel-tours.com". taj-mahal-travel-tours.com..
http://www.taj-mahal-travel-tours.com/garden-of-taj-mahal.html.
Retrieved 2010-02-02.
^ Wright, Karen (July 2000), "Moguls in the Moonlight — plans to
restore Mehtab Bagh garden near Taj Mahal", Discover,
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1511/is_7_21/ai_63035788
^ Allan, John (edition = First). The Cambridge Shorter History of
India. Cambridge: S. Chand, 288 pages. p. 318.
^ The Taj by Jerry Camarillo Dunn Jr.
^ a b Koch, p. 139.
^ Chaghtai Le Tadj Mahal p54; Lahawri Badshah Namah Vol.1 p. 403.
^ Dr. A. Zahoor and Dr. Z. Haq.
^ Who designed the Taj Mahal.
^ William J. Hennessey, Ph.D., Director, Univ. of Michigan Museum of
Art. IBM 1999 WORLD BOOK.
^ Marvin Trachtenberg and Isabelle Hyman. Architecture: from
Prehistory to Post-Modernism. p. 223.
^ ISBN 964-7483-39-2.
^ It Never Disappoints; The Taj Mahal has the sort of majestic beauty
that catches you unawares
^ Gascoigne, Bamber (1971). The Great Mughals. New York:Harper&Row. p.
243.
^ Lord Curzon's Brass Lamp.
^ Yapp, Peter (1983). The Traveller's Dictionary of Quotations.
London:Routledge Kegan & Paul. p. 460.
^ Taj Mahal 'to be camouflaged'.
^ Acid Rain and the Taj Mahal.
^ Oil Refinery Impact on Taj Mahal.
^ "UNESCO". UNESCO. 1997-04-30. http://www.unesco.org/courier/2000_07/uk/signe.htm.
Retrieved 2010-02-02.
^ Taj Mahal World Heritage Site Page.
^ Koch, p. 120.
^ Koch, p. 254.
^ Koch, pp. 201-208.
^ Travel Correspondent (2007-07-09). "New Seven Wonders of the World
announced". The Telegraph.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/main.jhtml?xml=/travel/2007/07/09/etsevenwonders109.xml.
Retrieved 2007-07-06.
^ "Archaelogical Survey of India: Night Viewings of Taj Mahal".
Asi.nic.in. 2004-11-28. http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_agratajmahal_night.asp.
Retrieved 2010-02-02.
^ DNA India: Going to the Taj? This is all you can carry.
^ Koch, p. 231.
^ Asher, p. 210.
^ Koch, p. 249.
^ Warrior Empire: The Mughals of India (2006) A+E Television Network.
^ a b Koch, p. 239.
^ Rosselli, J., Lord William Bentinck the making of a Liberal
Imperialist, 1774-1839, London Chatto and Windus for Sussex University
Press 1974, p. 283.
^ Supreme Court Dismisses Oak's Petition.
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_going-to-the-taj-this-is-all-you-can-carry_1145100
^ Oak, Purushottam Nagesh. "The True Story of the Taj Mahal". Stephen
Knapp. http://www.stephen-knapp.com/true_story_of_the_taj_mahal.htm.
Retrieved 2007-02-23.
^ Koch, p. 240.
References
Asher, Catherine B. Architecture of Mughal India New Cambridge History
of India I.4, Cambridge University Press 1992 ISBN 0-521-26728-5.
Bernier, Françoi' Travels in the Moghul Empire A.D. 1657-1668
(Westminster: Archibald Constable & Co.) 1891.
Carroll, David (1971). The Taj Mahal, Newsweek Books ISBN
0-88225-024-8.
Chaghtai, Muhammad Abdullah Le Tadj Mahal d'Agra (Inde). Histoire et
description (Brussels: Editions de la Connaissance) 1938.
Copplestone, Trewin. (ed). (1963). World architecture — An illustrated
history. Hamlyn, London.
Gascoigne, Bamber (1971). The Great Moguls, Harper & Row.
Havel, E.B. (1913). Indian Architecture: Its Psychology, Structure and
History, John Murray.
Kambo, Muhammad Salih Amal-i-Salih or Shah Jahan Namah Ed. Ghulam
Yazdani (Calcutta: Baptist Mission Press) Vol.I 1923. Vol. II 1927.
Koch, Ebba (2006) (Paperback). The Complete Taj Mahal: And the
Riverfront Gardens of Agra (First ed.). Thames & Hudson Ltd., 288
pages. ISBN 0500342091.
Lahawri, 'Abd al-Hamid Badshah Namah Ed. Maulawis Kabir al-Din Ahmad
and 'Abd al-Rahim under the superintendence of Major W.N. Lees.
(Calcutta: College Press) Vol. I 1867 Vol. II 1868.
Lall, John (1992). Taj Mahal, Tiger International Press.
Preston, Diana & Michael (2007) (Hardback). A Teardrop on the Cheek of
Time (First ed.). London: Doubleday, 354 pages. ISBN 9780385609470.
Rothfarb, Ed (1998). In the Land of the Taj Mahal, Henry Holt ISBN
0-8050-5299-2.
Saksena, Banarsi Prasad History of Shahjahan of Dihli (Allahabad: The
Indian Press Ltd.) 1932.
Stall, B (1995). Agra and Fathepur Sikri, Millennium.
Stierlin, Henri [editor] & Volwahsen, Andreas (1990). Architecture of
the World: Islamic India, Taschen.
Tillitson, G.H.R. (1990). Architectural Guide to Mughal India,
Chronicle Books.
External links
Archeological Survey of India description http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_agratajmahal.asp
Government of India - Description http://www.indohistory.com/taj_mahal.html
Taj Mahal travel guide from Wikitravel http://wikitravel.org/en/Taj_Mahal
Links to related articles
v • d • e
Tourist attractions in Agra
World Heritage Sites
Taj Mahal ·
Agra Fort ·
Fatehpur Sikri .
Mughal architecture
Sikandra ·
Itmad-Ud-Daulah ·
Chini Ka Rauza ·
Mariam's Tomb ·
Gyarah Sidi .
Mosques Jama Masjid · Moti Masjid
Other Religious places
Swamibagh ·
Mankameshwar Temple ·
Guru ka Tal ·
Bateshwar .
Shopping
Sadar Bazaar ·
Sanjay Place ·
Raja ki mandi ·
Loha Mandi .
Gardens Ram Bagh ·
Mehtab Bagh ·
Paliwal Park .
Wildlife Sanctuaries
National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary ·
Keetham Lake ·
Patna Bird Sanctuary .
Fairs
Taj Mahotsav ·
Ram Barat .
• d • eWorld Heritage Sites in India
North
Agra Fort ·
Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi ·
Fatehpur Sikri ·
Humayun's Tomb ·
Keoladeo National Park ·
Khajuraho Group of Monuments ·
Mountain Railways of India (Kalka-Shimla Railway)1 ·
Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks ·
Qutub Minar and its Monuments ·
The Red Fort complex ·
Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka ·
Taj Mahal .
Northeast
Kaziranga National Park ·
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary .
East
Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya ·
Mountain railways of India (Darjeeling Himalayan Railway)1 ·
Sun Temple at Konark ·
Sundarbans National Park .
South
Great Living Chola Temples at Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram and
Darasuram ·
Group of Monuments at Hampi ·
Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram ·
Group of Monuments at Pattadakal ·
Mountain railways of India (Nilgiri Mountain Railway)1 .
West
Ajanta Caves ·
Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park ·
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus ·
Churches and convents of Goa ·
Elephanta Caves ·
Ellora Caves .
1 Shared with other region/s
v • d • e
Mughal Empire
Emperors
Babur ·
Humayun ·
Akbar ·
Jahangir ·
Shah Jahan ·
Aurangzeb ·
Later Mughals .
Events
First battle of Panipat ·
Battle of Khanwa ·
Second battle of Panipat ·
Battle of Haldighati ·
Battle of Karnal ·
Battle of Buxar .
Architecture
Taj Mahal ·
Fatehpur Sikri ·
Humayun's Tomb ·
Red Fort ·
Lahore Fort ·
Akbar's Tomb ·
Agra Fort ·
Shalimar Gardens ·
Jahangir's Tomb ·
Bibi Ka Maqbara ·
Badshahi Mosque ·
more
Adversaries
Ibrahim Lodi ·
Rana Sanga ·
Sher Shah Suri ·
Hemu ·
Maharana Pratap ·
Gokula ·
Shivaji ·
Khushal Khan Khattak ·
Guru Gobind Singh ·
Nadir Shah ·
Hector Munro .
v • d • eNew Seven Wonders of the World
Giza Pyramid Complex ·
Chichen Itza ·
Christ the Redeemer ·
Colosseum ·
Great Wall of China ·
Machu Picchu ·
Petra ·
Taj Mahal .http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Taj_Mahal
Coordinates: 27°10′27″N 78°02′32″E / 27.17417°N 78.04222°E /
27.17417; 78.04222 (Taj Mahal)
Categories:
1654 architecture | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:1654_architecture
1654 establishments | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:1654_establishments
Monuments and memorials in India | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Monuments_and_memorials_in_India
Mughal architecture | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Mughal_architecture
Islamic architecture | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Islamic_architecture
Indian architecture | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Indian_architecture
Agra | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Agra
Domes | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Domes
Taj Mahal | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Taj_Mahal
Tourism in Uttar Pradesh | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Tourism_in_Uttar_Pradesh
Tourism in Agra | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Tourism_in_Agra
Buildings and structures in Agra | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Buildings_and_structures_in_Agra
Mausoleums in India |http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Category:Mausoleums_in_India
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India rocked by cricket scandal
An Indian government minister is forced to resign over a friend’s
stake in a club in the Indian Premier League, and a financial
investigation of the funding of the nation’s top cricket teams will be
launched.
April 19, 2010|By Mark Magnier, Los Angeles Times
Reporting from New Delhi — Combine two of India's favorite pastimes,
cricket and politics. Add allegations of corruption, greed, and tax
evasion. Throw in the implosion of a highflying political career and
it's not difficult to understand why India's hyperactive broadcast
media are on a tear.
On Monday, India's finance minister announced an investigation of the
funding and sources behind the nation's top cricket teams, suggesting
that more bombshells are to come. The scandal underscores the cost of
operating a business on steroids without creating adequate safeguards,
analysts said.
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/apr/19/world/la-fg-0420-india-cricket-20100420
Bloomberg
India Starts Cricket League Probe After Minister Tharoor Quits
April 19, 2010, 12:37 PM EDT
By Bibhudatta Pradhan
April 19 (Bloomberg) -- India ordered an investigation into the
funding and operation of a cricket body after a minister quit
yesterday over allegations that he influenced the award of a
franchise.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told lawmakers today that the
government won’t spare anyone in its probe of the Indian Premier
League. Junior Foreign Minister Shashi Tharoor resigned after
dismissing opposition claims that he benefitted from free shares given
to a friend by Rendezvous Sports World Ltd., which heads the group
that won bidding for the IPL team in southern Kerala state with a $333
million offer.
An investigation into the IPL issue by “the concerned department” has
already begun, Mukherjee said in Parliament. “All aspects, including
sources of funding and routes through which the funds arrived would be
looked into.”
IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi will “welcome all investigation,” the
Press Trust of India reported, citing a comment on his Twitter Inc.
page. Modi was unavailable for comments today, said Jitendra Jha, an
executive at Adfactors PR, IPL’s public relations agency. Tharoor’s
aide Jacob Joseph did not answer calls to his mobile phone.
President Pratibha Patil accepted Tharoor’s resignation on the
recommendation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the president’s
office said in a statement. Singh has had a tough few weeks with two
major legislative bills stalled and opposition pressure mounting over
rising prices. Frequent adjournments in Parliament risked delays to
the government’s agenda, including approval of this year’s budget.
The ministries for finance and companies plan a detailed inquiry into
the affairs of the Board for Control of Cricket in India, the IPL and
its multiple franchisees, the Financial Express reported citing
officials it didn’t name.
‘Pressure on Government’
The “episode added to pressure on the government,” said N. Bhaskara
Rao, chairman of the Centre for Media Studies in New Delhi, referring
to corruption scandal and the minister’s resignation. “Smooth
functioning of Parliament is essential.”
The decision by Tharoor, 54, a former UN undersecretary general, to
step down ended a year in office punctuated by embarrassments to the
ruling Congress party including a five- star hotel stay during the
government’s austerity drive and controversial tweets on his Twitter
account.
“My role in mentoring the Kerala consortium was throughout within the
bounds of appropriate conduct of a member of Parliament,” Tharoor said
in a statement on April 16. “As a minister, I was in no position to
influence the bid process, let alone its outcome.”
Tharoor, who has lived overseas for most of his life, was elected to
the lower house of Parliament for the first time last year and
appointed to a senior position in India’s foreign ministry.
Hotel Stay
In September, he vacated a luxury hotel after a senior minister
advised him to stay in a government-allotted house as the government
grappled with ways to cut expenditure. Tharoor said he was paying his
own bill as his official house was prepared.
Tharoor was criticized by party colleagues after posting a Twitter
message saying he would be flying “cattle class out of solidarity with
all our holy cows,” as Congress cut back on official expenses.
The eight teams playing in this season’s IPL tournament include owners
such as Mukesh Ambani, the world’s fourth-richest man and chairman of
Reliance Industries Ltd.; billionaire Vijay Mallya, chairman of UB
Group; and movie star Shah Rukh Khan.
The IPL has more than doubled its brand value to $4.13 billion now
from $2.01 billion in 2009, according to Brand Finance Plc.
--Editors: Mark Williams, Sam Nagarajan
To contact the reporter on this story: Bibhudatta Pradhan in New Delhi
at bpra...@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Hari Govind at
hgo...@bloomberg.net
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(AFP) – 2 days ago
NEW DELHI — The Indian government promised on Monday an in-depth tax
and financing probe into the country's cash-rich premier cricket
league, warning that "no wrongdoer will be spared".
The move came after high-profile government minister and former UN
undersecretary Shashi Tharoor quit Sunday after he became embroiled in
a scandal over the ownership of a new Indian Premier League (IPL)
franchise.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told parliament that the tax
authorities, which raided the IPL's Mumbai headquarters late last
week, had already started investigations.
"All aspects including sources of funding and routes through which the
funds arrived would be looked into. Appropriate action as per (the)
law would be taken," Mukherjee said.
"No guilty (person) or wrong-doer will be spared," Mukherjee said.
Tharoor, 54, the junior foreign minister, had been under pressure
since news broke a week ago that a female friend -- said by Indian
media to be his girlfriend -- was given a free stake in a new IPL
team.
Opposition parties say the stake, worth 15 million dollars, was for
Tharoor's behind-the-scenes services in putting together the
consortium that bought the Kochi team, which will be based in Kerala
state.
Tharoor has denied any wrongdoing.
The main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded an
investigation into the IPL, accusing it of being "the Corruption
Premier League."
The ownership details of the Kochi team was put under the spotlight by
IPL founder and boss Lalit Modi.
But now scrutiny has also focused on Modi with opposition politicians
saying in parliament that the IPL is a front for "gambling and
betting."
Modi has denied the allegations, calling them an "attempt to discredit
the IPL."
Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved.
Scrutiny has focused on Modi with the opposition saying that the IPL
is a front for "gambling and betting"
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Cricket scandal bowls politician
4:10 AM Tuesday Apr 20, 2010
An Indian minister resigned yesterday over allegations of corruption
in winning a cricket league franchise.
The row was over junior Foreign Minister Dr Shashi Tharoor's role in a
southern city winning a US$333 million ($470 million) bid for the
cricket franchise in the Indian Premier League.
The controversy erupted after Lalit Modi, the chief of the Indian
Premier League, said the winning consortium allotted stakes worth
about US$15 million for free to a woman Indian media identified as
Tharoor's girlfriend Sunanda Pushkar. Modi said Tharoor had asked him
not to reveal the shareholding details of the consortium.
Pushkar's lawyer said she had decided to give up her allotted stakes.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10639464
IPL row continues to rock Parliament
Headlines Today Bureau
New Delhi, April 19, 2010
The Indian Premier League (IPL) controversy continued to rock
Parliament on Monday even as the Minister of State for External
Affairs Shashi Tharoor quit his post a day before.
While the Rashtriya Janata Dal president, Lalu Prasad Yadav, came down
heavily on the IPL demanding that the tournament be scrapped, the Left
too joined the attack on the government over the issue. On the other
hand, Congress blamed the BJP leaders' links to IPL chief Lalit Modi
in "glorifying the gambling event"
The former railway minister raised the issue in Lok Sabha and said
that black money was involved in the running of league. He said the
sports ministry should take over both the Board of Control for Cricket
in India (BCCI) and the IPL.
"There is mass scale betting in cricket, especially in the IPL.
Government should scrap both-the IPL and the BCCI-and take charge of
the bodies," the MP said.
CPM leader Brinda Karat sought a joint parliamentary committee probe
into the IPL controversy. She said that Tharoor's resignation alone
would not suffice.
Not only the Opposition, the issue also found echo within the ruling
Congress. Senior party leader Vayalar Ravi mounted a scathing attack
on the mega sporting event, equating it with a glorified gambling
event. He however said that the BJP leaders had links with Lalit Modi
which needed to be probed.
The row, which started with the revelations about its Kochi
franchisee, seems to have opened floodgates against the IPL. It has
already claimed the team's mentor Shashi Tharoor his post as a junior
minister in the ministry of external affairs.
Roles of two more Union ministers, both belonging to a Congress ally,
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chief Lalit Modi's seat is under threat after the I-T sleuths launched
an investigation on the IPL and its commissioner.
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IPL commissioner Lalit Modi had wanted to disclose the ownership
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Modi emailed IPL top guns
Modi wanted to disclose the ownership details along with the names of
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governing council and team-owners.
Text of Modi's email
This is what Modi wrote in his email:
"Dear Friends,
Propriety and fair play demand we should as public body disclose
ownership details along with name of directors of all franchisees once
again. Earlier we...at the time of bidding....only disclosed the names
and share holding.
If everyone is okay with this, we will issue the same right away, that
way all doubts and aspersions being cast on IPL franchises and members
of GC appropriately rebutted. I hope you all agree with the same.
Warm Regards,
Lalit Modi
Chairman and Commissioner, IPL"
Among those who got the email are Shashank Manohar, Vijay Mallya, N.
Srinivasan, Chirayu Amin, Sunil Gavaskar, Rajiv Shukla, Arun Jaitley,
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Shilpa Shetty, Raj Kundra, Inderjit Bindra, Mukesh Ambani, Nita
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Niranjan Shah, Ravi Shastri, M.A.K. Pataudi, Farooq Abdullah, M.P.
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Shah too replied saying he agreed with the BCCI chief's view.
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The BCCI's response to Modi's email raises questions. Why did the BCCI
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Adi Shankaracharya (1983)
MOVIEmeter: Down 15% in popularity this week.
Director:G.V. Iyer
Writers:Benanjaya Godvincharya (dialogue) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0324234/
G.V. Iyer (screenplay)
Genre:Biography |
Plot:The first and only Indian movie to be made in Sanskrit. The movie
follows the life and times of Sankara...
Cast (Credited cast)
Sarvadaman D. Banerjee ... Shankara (Adi Shankaracharya)
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0051850/
M.V. Narayana Rao http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0710575/
Manjunath Bhatt http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0080318/
Leela Narayana Rao http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0710572/
L.V. Sharada Rao http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0788687/
Bharat Bhushan http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0080445/
T.S. Nagabharana http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0619056/
Srinivasa Prabhu http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0694898/
Gopal http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0329699/
V.R.K. Prasad http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0695275/
Gopalakrishnan http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1128222/
Gayathri Balu http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0051270/
Balasubramanyam http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0049479/
Balu Barghava http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0054561/
Country:India
Language:Sanskrit
Color:Color
Certification:India:U
Company:National Film Development Corporation
IMDb user reviews for
Adi Shankaracharya (1983)
Index 4 reviews in total
6 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
Amazingly blissful movie, 12 December 2005
Author: m-o-k-s-h-a from Bangalore, India
Its a very well shot movie with the scenes mostly speaking for
themselves, although the dialogues are great in Sanskrit. Shri GV Iyer
definitely must've understood the advaita philosophy well to do such a
fantabulous job. Moreover, the director has kept the events that had
varied opinions (that is, where not everyone agrees on what exactly
happened then) left to interpretation in most cases.
The acting of each individual is praiseworthy. The Vedic recitation
has been captured well, and in these modern years, one of the most
difficult jobs of bringing in age-old authenticity to the geography
has been achieved without doubt.
The movie brings an amazing calm with it and takes you at a different
level with each scene, also making you want to see more of GV Iyer's
works. Sadly, he passed away before finishing his work on Ramayana.
4 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Absolute Bliss - A Gem among the movies, 19 March 2007
Author: madhavsr from United States
DON'T MISS THIS MOVIE AT ANY COST. If you like classics, this would be
at the top your list.
No words can describe the bliss you'd enjoy after watching this movie.
This movie about Advaita and Sankara comes with a screenplay and
characterization that is completely different from the run-of-the-mill
movies and easy-to-swallow story lines. Interpretation is left to the
viewer and whichever way viewer interprets, he/she ends up in
understanding Advaita!
G V Iyer's idea of personifying Wisdom and Death as Sankara's friends,
to me, is the best part of the film. It takes the viewer into a
sublime world. The abstract Advaita explained the best way! Vedic
Hyms, music is excellent (Balamuralikrishna has done a good job).
A special mention for the locations. Amazing locales. Be it Narmada in
full flow or the ascetic caves, G V Iyer has done a terrific
groundwork to identify and use the perfect locales.
All actors lived with their characters. It is a music to ears while
listening to dialogues in Samskrit.
Only sore point of the movie was the production quality. I wish this
movie is remade with better cinematography, cameraman. Pity and shame
that there was no big financial support in 1983 for this first ever
Samskrit movie. And you don't get the DVD for this movie in India. It
is only available in US market. Why?
2 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
A truly devotional, classical and amazing film on life of Adi
Shankaracharya, 24 May 2006
Author: amith_sripad from India
Adi Shankaracharya is well known not only in India but the rest of the
world. He lived around 1100 years ago and has worked greatly for the
benefit of Hindu society. His life is pure and beyond question. He is
an inspiration to all human beings.
G.V.Iyer has captured the mood of the times of Adi Shankara so well
that we feel that we are leaving in a bygone era while watching the
movie. It is taken as an art movie more than a commercial movie and is
a treat to watch. Selection of actors is also good, also the locations
and the narration. The language and the scenes in the movie depict the
times and is not influenced by the present condition. Also there is no
exaggeration which is attempted in the movie. G.V.Iyer has also taken
movies like Madhvacharya, Ramanujacharya, Bhagavad Gita, Shantala,
Swami Vivekananda, Hamsa Geethe to name a few. All the movies are
simple, but the message and mood is definitely out of the world
experience. Hope our new trend of directors will imbibe from the likes
of G.V.Iyer which I feel is a real tribute to the master.
3 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Important movie, 28 July 2006
Author: mlredr from United States
I am thankful to the director for making this movie. The idea of
depicting Death as a young companion of Adi Shankara is just
brilliant. It also gives us a glimpse of times past and the glory and
heroism of Adi Shankara's mission. The only complaint I have is the
low-budget nature of the project. The reason must be that the movie
was not commercially funded and lacked the financial resources of a
big-budget production, but that may be for the better since the
director did not have to bow to commercial compulsions in making the
movie. A grander production of the same movie in regional languages is
long overdue given Adi Shankara's instrumental role in reconciling
Buddhist philosophy with Vedic Philosophy and singlehandedly
revitalizing Dharma in India.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085138/usercomments
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085138/
G.V. Iyer
Date of Birth:1918, Tamil Nadu, British India [now India]
Filmography
Director: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0412676/#director
Vivekananda (1994) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0454314/
Bhagwat Geeta (1993) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106407/
... aka "Bhagvad Gita: Song of the Lord" - USA
Ramanujacharya (1989) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0230683/
Wall Poster (1989) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0230964/
Madhavacharya (1986) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0230483/
Adi Shankaracharya (1983) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085138/
... aka "The Philosopher" - International (English title) (informal
literal title)
Kudre Motte (1977) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0230430/
Nalegannu Maduvavara (1976) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0230564/
Aakhri Geet (1975) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0229947/
Hamse Geethe (1975) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0230271/
Chowkada Deepa (1969) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0230085/
Vichitra Samsara (1969) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0230946/
Mysore Tonga (1968) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0230553/
... aka "Horse Carriage from Mysore" - India (English title)
Nane Bhagyavathi (1968) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0230568/
Rajasekara (1967) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0230681/
Kiladi Ranga (1966) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0230415/
Postmaster (1964) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0230647/
Bangari (1963) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0230023/
Layaru Magalu (1963) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0230450/
Bhoodana (1962) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0230036/
... aka "The Gift of Land" - India (English title)
Thai Karulu (1962) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0230869/
Thayin Karunai (1962) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0230871/
Actor: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0412676/#actor
Hemavathi (1977) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1389491/
Vamsha Vriksha (1971) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067925/
... aka "The Family Tree" - India (English title)
Kantheredu Nodu (1961) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1408018/
Ranadheera Kanteerava (1960) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0323766/
Sadarame (1956) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1111403/
Bhakta Mallikarjuna (1955) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0366230/
Bedara Kannapa (1954) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0273458/
Writer: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0412676/#writer
Vivekananda (1994) (screenplay) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0454314/
Bhagwat Geeta (1993) (writer) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106407/
... aka "Bhagvad Gita: Song of the Lord" - USA
Adi Shankaracharya (1983) (screenplay)
... aka "The Philosopher" - International (English title) (informal
literal title)
Gange Gowri (1967) (writer) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0250400/
Ranadheera Kanteerava (1960) (writer) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0323766/
Bedara Kannapa (1954) (play) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0273458/
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0412676/
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I Write, Therefore I am: Sid Harth
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http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/beee6405766fa364/9da06195753e584a?lnk=gst&q=of+god%2C+godmen+and+good+men#9da06195753e584a
Human Trafficking in India: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/55d1782ed4144490/23de5a277a4b6730?lnk=gst&q=human+trafficking+in+india#23de5a277a4b6730
Kill Bill: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/f7b4e319f7a4fa28/ad4a6038f51d0cba?lnk=gst&q=kill+bill#ad4a6038f51d0cba
Indian Communalism: Sid Harth
http://navanavonmilita.wordpress.com/category/news/communalism/
Hindus of America: Sid Harth
http://www.oocities.com/tikakar/sidharth.html
http://www.oocities.com/tikakar/sidharth.html
Hindu Superstition: Sid Harthhttp://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.japan/browse_thread/thread/0bbe50a323c05335
Regurgitated Saffron Shit: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.iranian/browse_thread/thread/c680e7e7c33dd370#
India Ink: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.iranian/browse_thread/thread/6b8950fb819c5df2#
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Hindus of This World: Sid Harth
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INDIA NEWS
APRIL 22, 2010.India's Cricket Scandal Ensnares IPL's Modi
By ERIC BELLMAN
MUMBAI—Lalit Modi, one of the most powerful men in cricket, faces an
uncertain future at the head of the wildly successful league he
launched, as the Indian government and the sport's authorities here
seek to put a cap on a scandal that has turned the usually genteel
sport into a political football.
In the past five years, Mr. Modi, 46 years old, has gone from being a
little-known businessman to the chairman and commissioner of the
hugely popular Indian Premier League. The IPL, the brainchild of Mr.
Modi, was launched in 2008 and already is worth billions of dollars in
franchise fees, television sponsorships and ticket sales. It offers a
short form of cricket—a roughly three-hour, television friendly
spectacular—that has proved enormously popular with both sports fans
and advertisers.
But his dominance over the short-form version of the sport is being
challenged. The Indian government's tax and financial investigation
authorities, as well as the governing board of cricket in India, have
begun wide-ranging inquiries into how the league has been run. Among
the issues that are being investigated by the Board of Control of
Cricket in India is whether Mr. Modi could have misappropriated Indian
Premier League funds and avoided taxes, one BCCI official said.
View Full Image
Agence France-Presse/Getty Images
Lalit Modi, head of the Indian Premier League, in Mumbai this week.
.Mr. Modi has repeatedly maintained he is innocent and deserves to be
at the head of the league that he grew into a multibillion dollar
business. Mr. Modi and one of his representatives didn't respond to
requests for comment.
"We won't hesitate to take any action against anybody, anytime to
protect the image of cricket and the BCCI," Rajiv Shukla, a senior
member of the BCCI and a member of the IPL governing council, told
reporters Wednesday after meeting with India's Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh.
The BCCI, which oversees the IPL and its governing council, is
expected to ask Mr. Modi to resign or give up some of his functions at
the head of the league when it meets April 26, the BCCI official said.
Officials from the income tax department last week visited offices of
the IPL in Mumbai and questioned Mr. Modi. The tax probe has been
extended to other cities that are home to IPL teams, after Finance
Minister Pranab Mukherjee ordered a probe into the sources and use of
funds by franchisees of the league in case they involved possible tax
evasion or breaches of government regulations.
View Full Image
WENN.com
An Indian Premier League match earlier this month in Calcutta.
.The investigations into how the IPL is managed by Mr. Modi come after
he set off a political firestorm earlier this month by revealing
through a Twitter post that a close friend of Shashi Tharoor, then a
junior foreign affairs minister, had been given a stake in a new team
from the city of Kochi in Kerala, Mr. Tharoor's home state. Mr.
Tharoor had given advice to the winning bidders. Mr. Modi's surprising
and public revelation created much consternation in the government,
according to a government official in New Delhi.
Mr. Tharoor quit his post Sunday, saying he is innocent of any
wrongdoing but wanted to resign to stop the matter from being a
distraction for the government. His friend, Sunanda Pushkar, also said
she will relinquish the stake.
Using the connections and the capital of his family's K.K. Modi Group,
a conglomerate, Mr. Modi took an interest in sports and media in the
early '90s. He had the idea of creating a cricket league with
different teams for different cities. Back then, India was as cricket
crazy as it is today, but fans essentially had only the national team
to root for.
The BCCI rejected his idea in the mid '90s, so he decided to try to
change the sport starting at the state level. He became a member of
the Punjab and Rajasthan cricket associations and started to build new
connections from there. Along the way, he became close to Sharad
Pawar, a powerful politician and then president of the BCCI.
Mr. Modi re-pitched the cricket league concept to the board,
suggesting they use the shortened version of the game called Twenty20.
(Each team gets to bowl 120 balls at the opposition.)
"He is a bit of a whiz kid, and that's what endears him to people in
business," said Ayaz Memon, a cricket commentator for the Indian daily
paper DNA. "He has a very sharp mind and makes quick decisions."
The new league started in 2008 just as India's economy and national
self-confidence were reaching new heights. Each city franchise was
snapped up by heads of business and the biggest stars of Bollywood.
Today it has generated more than $4 billion in revenue. Mr. Modi's
plan was to eventually make the league bigger than even soccer and
baseball.
"Our objective is to be the single largest sporting league in the
world, and we have an opportunity to get there," Mr. Modi told The
Wall Street Journal last month. "It will take us a few years to get to
the level of the top sports leagues in the world—they've been there a
long time and have built huge fan bases—but we've got numbers on our
side."
Now, however, he faces a sharp slump in support at the BCCI. Even Mr.
Pawar is reported by local media to have begun distancing himself from
his protégé. Mr. Pawar, who is also India's agriculture minister,
couldn't be reached for comment.
—Arlene Chang, Vibhuti Agarwal and Jonathan Clegg contributed to this
article.
Write to Eric Bellman at eric.b...@wsj.com
Discuss:
There are 2 comments
4 hours ago
Nonsubscriber
divakars sathya wrote:
The truth is that Dr Manmohan Singh and his Congress party have been
wishy washy, namby pamby, lackadaisical, mealy mouthed and covertly
encouraging of corruption.
As long as the Eleventh Commandment – Thou Shalt Not Get Caught – was
not broken, Dr Singh and his party could be relied upon to engage his
considerable personal influence and the immense powers of his office
to pour unction on roiling waters.
Faced with a eight day long furore and the cold fact of one of his
brightest colleagues having been caught red handed, Dr Singh’s
reported first response was, ” There are ups and downs in politics”.
Given such dissimulation from the Prime Minister Of India, a scholar
with a reputation for probity, for those who stand up for the idea of
the rule of law in India, there is only one long, unbroken “down”.
Till date nobody knows for sure whether Shri Tharoor has been fired
for corruption or has merely had his Blackberry temporarily taken away
from him.
In other words India is so mired in corruption, that it is for all
practical purposes an administrative basket case.
Yesterday it was Satyam, today IPL, tomorrow what ?
It is in the context of Dr Manmohan Singh’s indecisiveness and the
leading political parties’ ambivalence on the idea of the rule of law
in India, that the following recounting of the most perverse injustice
may be seen:
Twenty years ago – I had the privilege of having conceived,
researched, scripted, edited, presented and produced a 37 minute
Doordarshan commissioned documentary in Urdu,”Hyderabad. August 1948?,
on the circumstances in which the 28 year old editor Shoebullah Khan
of an Urdu newspaper, Imroose, was slaughtered, because of his open
defiance of the erstwhile Nizam of Hyderabad.
The documentary was acclaimed nationally.
Historians of the calibre of Dr Bipan Chandra commended the meticulous
research.
Freedom fighters expressed their gratitude that light had been shone
on a chapter of history, which they believed had been obscured.
Among the most epiphanic reviews was the one by Dr Manmohan Singh’s
former media adviser, currently editor of Business Standard and fellow
Hyderabadi Dr Sanjaya Baru.
Under the informal chairmanship of Dr Abid Hussain, India’s former
ambassador to the USA, I was able to organise a petition to the former
Prime Minister Dr P V Narasimha Rao.
This resulted in a freedom fighter’s status and pension for the
martyr’s wiidow, more than four decades after his supreme sacrifice.
However since the past two decades I have been hounded by the
bureaucracy, with the Indian editorial class (with an occasional
honourable exception)doing its bit to trivialise, denigrate and gag
me.
My crime?
I have been outspoken – wrote an article in the editorial page of The
Hindustan Times and The Pioneer- about corruption in Doordarshan – the
Government’s so-called public service broadcaster.
Since the past two decades, the Government of India, the Government of
my own state, Andhra Pradesh, the Andhra Pradesh High Court , the
Chief Information Commissioner and State Information Commissioner have
combined to impress on me that what works in India is what I have
called the “patronage paradigm” – the paradigm of shoddiness,
irresponsibility, cronyism and corruption” – and that ideas of the
rule of law and democratic processes are merely spectacles to lull the
gullible.
I have been denied the recognition that were commended to me by one
former Chief Minister of my state, one former minister of home
affairs, one speaker of the Lok Sabha, several prominent ministers of
the central cabinet, eminent intellectuals and freedom fighters.
I have been unable to earn a decent living.
The office of the Governor of Andhra Pradesh incited my neighbors to
cut off my water supply.
Wajahat Habibullah and C D Arha have conducted themselves as though
the RTI Act 2005 does not exist.
The information commissions in the state and at the centre denied me
my right to information on spurious, brazenly illegal grounds and
punished me for daring to object.
The AP high court sought independent legal opinion on my plaint, which
was completely and unequivocally in my favour, and a judge issued a
notice, yet the AP High Court high court denied me my right to
competent counsel – a right given to the 26/11 gunman – and punished
me for complaining.
The Prime Minister’s Office appears to have jumped through hoops to
heap honour on a businessman alleged to be a serial swindler.
In the same vein, it has and continues to illegally and fraudulently
deny me the information I have sought and stonewall my pursuit of
justice.
Rashtrapathi Bhavan had issued notices to the Ministry of Law and the
Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh almost a year ago, presumably it has
taken a prima facie view, but since then has been content to let
matters fester in limbo.
In other words, even as we speak, Dr Manmohan Singh”s office,
“Daredevil” Pratibha Patil’s Rashtrapati Bhavan, Chief Information
Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah, State Information Commissioner CD
Arha are all locked in a most perverse and ignominious conspiracy of
silence to deny me justice.
India’s editorial class always narcissistic has decayed and is
useless.
Like the police in Hindi films, it arrives after all the action is
over and then mouths "dialogue'.
Variations of this comment have appeared in almost every major Indian
online publication plus in many abroad.
However, not a single editor or reporter has had the professionalism
to pick it up and make it “impact”.
My credentials are strong and I have taken much trouble to meet many
editors personally, usually on impeccable referrals.
Our “know-it-all-in -chiefs” have had nothing but smirks to offer.
When I sought the solidarity of the press, Shekhar Gupta (editor in
chief of The Indian Express) advised me, “You cannot go around taking
pangas (quarrels) with people, yaar.”
Even my comments are mutilated.
Vinod Mehta’s “Outlook” has banned my comments on risible grounds.
The Hindu crawled.
It published “spin” by corrupt officials and got hissy with me for
pointing out, with evidence, its craven, yellow soul.
The Indian Press (with a solitary exception) blacked out the fervent
open letter written by Padma Vibhushan Kaloji Narayana Rao.
That dear man , clear as a bell in his nineties, had laid his head on
my shoulder, hugged me and wept.
What about “civil society” in India ?
Since close to a year now, I have written to the Commonwealth Human
Rights Initiative, Campaign for Judicial Accountability And Reform,
Forum For Judicial Accountability, MKSS (Aruna Roy)and Anna Hazare
regarding this cascading delinquency of constitutional bodies in
India.
There has not been one constructive response.
They all appear to be in helpless denial of the awful truth that an
innocent citizen has been hounded and humiliated since two decades,
not for any bad behaviour or wrongdoing, but for resisting the
dilution of the values of the Indian constitution and standing up for
the correct administration of the Right To Information Act 2005.
Please visit and participate at http://sathyagraha.blogspot.com/ :
Andhra Pradesh High Court’s Pernicious Rebellion Against The Law .
05/29/09
RTI Act 2005 Abuse In Andhra Pradesh- SIC Cheats! Chief Secretary Lies!
05/07/09
Prejudiced CIC Laps Up PMO Lies 05/05/09
Compelling Criminality. Divakar S Natarajan and Varun Gandhi Cannot
Both Be Wrong ! 01/28/09
And India’s editorial class will not report the story!
News and views from Divakar S Natarajan’s, “no excuses”, ultra
peaceful, non partisan, individual sathyagraha against corruption and
for the idea of the rule of law in India.
Now in its 18th year.
56 minutes ago.Nonsubscriber
Gaurav Jain wrote:
The rotten state of Denmark (nee IPL) is not surprising at all. When
you mix that much money, politicians and move stars, you are bound to
get something crooked.
What though is interesting, is how the net weaves itself, where and
how politicians and their relatives get involved in the payola that is
to follow.
Mr. Tharoor was merely one of the casualties, i think the entire
country has been victimised by such dodgy dealing for decades.
It will be fun to watch the involved try and clean their togas
clean...
http://news.google.com/news/search?aq=0&pz=1&cf=all&ned=us&hl=en&q=india+news&oq=India
Page last updated at 17:10 GMT, Wednesday, 21 April 2010 18:10 UK
India steps up tax probe into IPL corruption claims
IPL boss Lalit Modi is under pressure
Indian tax officials have widened their investigation into alleged
corruption in the lucrative Indian Premier League.
Tax officers raided at least four teams in the cricket tournament
hours before the first semi-final began.
The offices of three companies with the rights to broadcast the hugely
popular league's matches were also searched.
Security was tight around the stadium in Mumbai (Bombay) which is
hosting the semi-finals after they were moved following weekend blasts
in Bangalore.
Mumbai Indians, led by Sachin Tendulkar, were due to take on Royal
Challengers Bangalore, captained by Anil Kumble, in Wednesday's
match.
Resignation
The Indian Premier League (IPL) features some of the world's top
cricketers.
The IPL is the world's richest cricket tournament
But correspondents say action off the field and the swirling
allegations of sleaze, illegal betting and money laundering have been
gripping the nation in recent days.
On Wednesday, tax officials searched the offices of IPL franchisees
Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, Deccan Chargers in Delhi
and Kings XI in Chandigarh.
Earlier in the week officials visited the headquarters of the IPL in
Mumbai.
The allegations were sparked off by a row between the IPL
commissioner, Lalit Modi, and a government minister, Shashi Tharoor,
over the ownership of a new IPL franchise.
Mr Tharoor was forced to resign after Mr Modi revealed that a close
female friend of the minister was one of the stakeholders of the new
team.
The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi says this has led to top-to-bottom
scrutiny of the cash-rich tournament with suggestions that more heads
could roll.
Media reports suggest there are plans to force Lalit Modi from
office.
'All precautions'
Police said at least 3,000 security personnel would ring the DY Patil
stadium in Mumbai and every spectator would be checked.
"We have taken all precautions and every single spectator will be
frisked before entering the stadium," Mumbai police chief AN Roy told
the BBC.
Police say they are not leaving anything to chance
At least 60 metal detectors have been installed and closed-circuit
cameras will keep an eye on every corner of the stadium, police say.
The stadium will host semi-final matches on Wednesday and Thursday,
before the third place play-off on Saturday and the final on Sunday.
The venue was switched after two small bombs went off outside
Bangalore's Chinnaswamy Stadium before last Saturday's IPL game
between Bangalore Royal Challengers and Mumbai Indians.
A third device was defused on Sunday.
All three devices were hidden in the stadium's perimeter wall and the
two explosions injured 15 people.
The IPL has become a multi-billion dollar industry, which attracts
some of India's wealthiest businessmen and women.
SEE ALSO
Indian ex-minister defends name http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8631407.stm
20 Apr 10 | South Asia
India orders IPL financing probe http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8630280.stm
19 Apr 10 | South Asia
IPL semis switched after blasts http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/8628079.stm
18 Apr 10 | Cricket
Indian minister in IPL team row http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8616906.stm
13 Apr 10 | South Asia
'Bomb' targets India cricket game http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8626992.stm
17 Apr 10 | South Asia
IPL under way amid security fears http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8563584.stm
12 Mar 10 | South Asia
RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Indian government http://india.gov.in/govt.php
Indian Premier League http://www.iplt20.com/index.php
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8633923.stm
Nationwide raids on IPL entitiesPost CommentLarger | Smaller fe
Bureau
Tags : IPL cricket, raids on IPL
Posted: Thursday , Apr 22, 2010 at 2350 hrs
New Delhi:
The government on Wednesday stepped up efforts to get to the bottom of
alleged financial irregularities in the Indian Premier League (IPL),
with officials from the income tax department visiting the Mumbai
offices of World Sports Group (WSG) and Multi Screen Media (MSM) in
Mumbai. WSG holds all audio and video rights for IPL, while MSM is the
broadcast-rights holder. Media reports had said that MSM had paid a
‘facilitation fee’ of $80 million to WSG to secure the rights.
A similar exercise was undertaken later in the day, when tax officials
visited the offices of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Kolkata and
India Cements in Chennai, the two IPL franchise teams. Tax officials
have already visited IPL headquarters in Mumbai and made enquiries
with the IPL teams of Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab.
Officials said that as part of the probe, offices of all IPL teams
would be visited in a day or two. The day also saw IPL commissioner
Lalit Modi—who is under pressure to step down—questioning the legality
of the governing council meeting slated for April 26. A defiant Modi
said that he alone had the powers to convene the council meeting,
which he wanted to be held on May 1. However, the Board of Control for
Cricket in India (BCCI) is going ahead with the scheduled meeting.
Cricketers who played in IPL in the last three years may not be spared
scrutiny either. Sources said that the IPL franchise teams had been
asked to hand over details of payments made to cricketers of all the
teams who have played in the three IPL editions. The payments include
money paid to the players for the match as well as for the post-match
parties. The IT department has also asked the franchise teams to
provide the details of money paid to the cheerleaders as well as
commentators.
All IPL franchise teams are facing probes by the various departments
of the finance ministry and the Registrar of Companies (RoC).
As earlier reported, the RoC has already sought ownership pattern and
other details from all the franchises.
In Kolkata, the officials from the income-tax department and the
enforcement directorate visited the offices of Shah Rukh Khan-Juhi
Chawla-promoted Red Chillies Entertainment at the Eden Gardens , who
are the promoters of KKR. I-T officials also landed up at the office
of sports marketing agency Gameplan in Kolkata on Wednesday. Gameplan
is a sports management group which looks after KKR’s affairs.
In Chennai, I-T officials visited the office of India Cements, the
owner of Chennai Superkings. The countrywide probe began after reports
of financial irregularities surfaced in the bidding process of Kochi
IPL team and the Shashi Tharoor-Lalit Modi spat over sweat equity
granted to Sunanda Pushkar by Kochi franchise owners. Earlier this
week, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee had assured the Lok Sabha that
a thorough probe will be conducted into all aspects of IPL. The
ongoing I-T actions are believed to be part of this enquiry. On
Tuesday, I-T officials had visited the Kings XI Punjab office.
Summons have already been issued to the BCCI by I-T authorities to
furnish all details of all the eight original IPL franchises. I-T
authorities are investigating the entire IPL structure, which has
become a huge revenue-earning entity for the BCCI, since its inception
in 2008.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/nationwide-raids-on-ipl-entities/609573/0
BJP 'maha rally' in the capital over price rise
Agencies
Tags : BJP, maha rally, UPA, price rise, inflation, Gadkari, Advani
Posted: Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 1738 hrs
New Delhi:
BJP today staged a huge rally in the national capital to mount
pressure on the UPA over spiralling prices of essential commodities,
with its leaders accusing the government of following "lopsided"
economic policies.
Braving the sizzling weather, thousands of BJP activists joined the
public meeting and the march to Parliament, the first big show of
strength after Nitin Gadkari took over as party chief in December last
year.
There was traffic chaos in central Delhi as vehicles crawled and
commuters faced a harrowing time.
The BJP top brass, led by Gadkari and party veteran L K Advani,
attacked the government for rising prices of items like rice, sugar,
pulses, petrol, diesel and fertiliser.
Interestingly, during the public meeting Advani spoke before Gadkari
which many read as an indicator of the change in the hierarchy within
the right-wing party. Usually, Advani is the last to speak at a public
meeting.
Gadkari used the occasion to lash out at the Manmohan Singh regime,
saying the "wrong economic policies and bad governance" had resulted
in price rise.
"Congress had given the slogan of garibi hatao but has worked towards
increasing prices," Gadkari alleged. He claimed that government
figures show an increase of 41 crore in the number of BPL people.
"I have inflation rates of 25 countries where it is less than 2 per
cent while in India it is 11 per cent.... Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan
Singh have betrayed the trust reposed in them by the people," Gadkari
said.
He said no one in the Congress has been able to give a convincing
answer on the issue of price rise.
Gadkari, who was chosen by the Sangh fountainhead RSS to lead a
faction-ridden BJP, seems to have managed to take all camps within the
party together for this rally which had been made a prestige issue by
him.
Senior BJP leaders, including Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma
Swaraj, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley, former party
presidents Rajnath Singh, Murli Manohar Joshi and M Venkaiah Naidu, as
well Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Minister of BJP-ruled states
attended the public meeting.
Later, the leaders moved towards Parliament for a "gherao" but were
arrested.
All the speakers sang praises of Gadkari and said the credit for
organising a public meeting on such a huge scale goes to him.
However, the heat took its toll on Gadkari who fainted while moving
towards Parliament to court arrest. He was then taken out of the
'rath' carrying the top leaders and whisked away in a car.
BJP supporters from several states and regions including Kerala, North-
East, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir were mobilised
for this meeting.
BJP has criticised the government on the issue of price rise in
Parliament and outside it.
The party plans to bring cut motions in Lok Sabha during the ongoing
budget session on increase in prices of petrol, diesel and fertiliser.
Comments (2) |
Kudos the to the BJP for organizing this rally in Delhi
By: JNS | 22-Apr-2010
I am not saying that Congress will come good and start on a correction
course, this is not expected of them, but this rally sure has RATTLED
the very foundations of the Congress led non performing Government of
India. Thank you BJP, I am glad that you guys have finally woken up
from the slumber.
B.J.P. MAHA RALLY A SUCCESS AND A EYE-OPENER FOR UNION GOVERNMENT TO
CURB INFLATION
By: RAJAT KUMAR MOHINDRU.JALANDHAR CITY .PUNJAB | 21-Apr-2010
Bharatiya Janata Party "Maha Rally" at Delhi is a big success and an
eye opener for the Union Government in Delhi that there salogan
commitment "Prices will come down within 100 Days of essential
commodoties " .What are the basic reasons that Prices of essential
commodoties are sky-rocketing and have hit the backbone of the common
man's homely Budget . Commenting on the Prime Minister of
India ,Economist S Manmohan Singh should own the responsibility of the
sharp price rise of essential commodoties ,Mr Nitin Gadkari National
President B.J.P. said that during the N.D.A. regieme the prices of the
essential commodoties remained stable , Are the Economic Policies
responbsible or the Union Government is trying to beniefit the
wholesellers and Traders . "Congress Ka Hath Aam Adami Ke Sath"
Salogan vision is clear that the price rise of essential commodoties
have upset the poor and the common man .
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Alert from US: Pat-down search on flight...http://
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Dalit houses torched in Hisar, polio-str...http://
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Cellphone records bring ‘UP suitcase thi...http://
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Putting 26/11 behind, the new Oberoi is ...http://
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Edits & Columns
Courting trauma...http://www.indianexpress.com/news/courting-trauma/
609696/
Party favours...http://www.indianexpress.com/news/party-favours/
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At silly point..http://www.indianexpress.com/news/at-silly-point/
609691/
A steady hand...http://www.indianexpress.com/news/a-steady-hand/
609093/
The next innings...http://www.indianexpress.com/news/the-next-innings/
609092/
Turn the page...http://www.indianexpress.com/news/step-by-step/608633/
Step by step...http://www.indianexpress.com/news/step-by-step/608633/
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/bjp-maha-rally-in-the-capital-over-price-rise/609447/0
A Tweet Goes A Long Way: A Dirty Game of Cricket and Politics
April 21, 2010 5:15 p.m. EST
Topics: sports, politics, lobbying
Yamini Kaul - AHN News Contributor
Mumbai, India (AHN) - A tiny little tweet, written by the mighty man
of Indian cricket, Lalit Modi, commissioner of the Indian Premier
League, on April 12 proved to be his undoing. After having a fairly
robust run for the first two seasons of the IPL, which set the cash
registers ringing for everyone associated with it, the IPL seems to
have run into rough ground in its third season.
Although for now the confirmed casualty is the celebrated diplomat and
minister of state for external affairs, Shashi Tharoor, it doesn’t
seem long before the IPL commissioner himself will go down the same
road.
However, before that, a little recollection of what actually led the
matters to come to a head.
It all began with a twitter remark by Modi announcing details of the
stakeholders in the Kochi team, a new IPL franchise, which had been
sold on March 21. The details contained the name of Sunanda Pushkar, a
Dubai-based businesswoman and close associate of Tharoor.
After fingers began to be pointed at Tharoor regarding his links with
the Kochi team, he put up a brave face during television appearances
and print interviews. By way of his innocence, he told NDTV,
“Rendezvous (the owners of Kochi team) includes a number of people,
including many I have never met, and Sunanda Pushkar, whom I know
well.”
This defensive stand did not go down well with Tharoor’s own party,
the Congress, which is part of the ruling coalition in India. His own
party colleagues as well as the main opposition, the Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) and other political parties did not believe whatever he
said to claim his innocence. The matter was put in abeyance since
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was in New York, meeting President
Barack Obama.
On his return, Singh met Tharoor twice on Sunday. Although Tharoor did
his best to explain his situation to both the PM as well as the
Congress president Sonia Gandhi, he, ultimately, had to put in his
papers. As a result, he became the first casualty of this strange war
between Indian politics and the cricketing world. The latter being the
case with BCCI President Sharad Pawar and Modi, who until about a
month ago were considered to be the best of friends in the context of
the cash cow that the IPL had turned out to be. This friendship failed
the first test itself and Pawar took no time in turning his back on
Modi when one of the owners of the Kochi team accused Modi of offering
him 50 million U.S. dollars to sell his team.
Another Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi, also found
himself embroiled in the controversy when allegations flew thick and
high that Lalit Modi, acting at the behest of Narendra Modi, wanted an
IPL franchise for Ahmedabad, the capital of Gujarat, instead of Kochi.
The Gujarat government, however, was quick to deny these allegations
as "baseless."
For now, Lalit Modi, who also reached Mumbai on Tuesday, appears to be
on the offensive although the BCCI is hellbent to kick him out of
office. The IPL’s governing council is also not too happy with Modi’s
habit of courting controversy off and on. It is believed that the
issue will not only be discussed but decided at the BCCI working
committee meeting on April 26. That could mean only one thing; that
Modi will be shown the door. However, what remains to be seen is
whether this will happen smoothly or if another drama is in the
offing.
Copyright © 2003 - 2010 AHN - All rights reserved.
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Page last updated at 06:17 GMT, Friday, 23 April 2010 07:17 UK
India IPL chief Lalit Modi probed over corruption
IPL boss Lalit Modi is under pressure
Investigators have questioned the chief of the Indian Premier League
(IPL) over allegations of corruption linked to the lucrative cricket
tournament.
Reports say tax and foreign exchange officials interrogated Lalit Modi
for hours - he denies any wrongdoing.
Separately, government investigations continued into the teams,
sponsors, broadcasters and event managers associated with the event.
The IPL features some of the world's top cricketers.
Tax officials have already searched the offices of IPL teams Kolkata
Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, Deccan Chargers in Delhi, Kings XI
in Chandigarh and the yet unnamed team owned by Sahara.
Correspondents say the allegations of sleaze, illegal betting,
favouritism and money laundering have gripped the nation in recent
days.
The BBC's Soutik Biswas in Delhi says this is the worst crisis in
Indian cricket since the match-fixing scandal involving senior
national players in 2000.
Cricket board conflict
Separately Mr Modi has also questioned the right of the Board of
Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) - which also runs the IPL- to
convene a meeting on Monday where, according to reports, a number of a
members may ask him to step down.
But there have been questions about the impartiality of the board.
India's Sports Minister MS Gill said there was a question of conflict
of interest for certain people who have interests in both the BCCI and
the IPL: one selector is a brand ambassador for an IPL team, while
another board member owns an IPL team.
"You can't be regulator, controller, owner of the team you are
creating," Mr Gill said.
He said the government was giving tax concessions to the IPL and
providing security for the matches.
"You have to charge from people benefiting commercially," he said.
The allegations were sparked off by a row between the IPL
commissioner, Lalit Modi, and a government minister, Shashi Tharoor,
over the ownership of a new IPL franchise.
Mr Tharoor was forced to resign after Mr Modi revealed that a close
female friend of the minister was one of the stakeholders of the team
for Kochi Mr Tharoor helped to set up.
Mr Tharoor denies any wrongdoing.
The IPL has become a multi-billion dollar industry, which attracts
some of India's wealthiest businessmen and women.
SEE ALSO
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Video: Income Tax officials visit broadcasters' offices NDTV.com
Watch Video
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IPL under radar, it’s time BCCI answers to India: Gill
TNN, Apr 23, 2010, 02.56am IST
Tags:BCCI|Rajya Sabha|IPL mess
NEW DELHI: As the Opposition in Rajya Sabha demanded clearing the IPL
mess — ranging from use of cheergirls and drinking in stadiums to tax
exemption to BCCI — the government on Thursday said it was watching
the scene "very carefully" and it was time BCCI was made "accountable"
to the country.
"IPL is under the radar, we are watching very carefully. Its affairs
are being looked into with great detail," sports and youth affairs
minister M S Gill said in the Upper House while replying to a debate
on the working of his ministry.
Putting BCCI in the line of fire by charging it with taking over
"everything" to do with cricket after it got rich in the last 10-15
years, Gill said it was time the Board "answers to India". Referring
to members’ concern over the issue of giving tax exemptions to BCCI —
one of the richest sports bodies in the world — the minister
questioned the issue, saying there should be no let-off for anybody.
He also said BCCI could not be a regulator as also owner of the Indian
team as there was a conflict of interest. Pressed by members to clear
government’s stand over IPL, Gill said finance minister Pranab
Mukherjee has already assured Parliament that his ministry would "get
to the bottom of every angle and every aspect" of IPL.
Former cricket board chief moves court on IPL franchise norms
23 Apr 2010, 0055 hrs IST,IANS
Topics:Lalit Modi Sharad Pawar Indian Premier League Cricket in India
Supreme Court Commissioner Shashank Manohar Board of Control for
Cricket in India
NEW DELHI: The former president of the Board of Control for Cricket in
India (BCCI), A.C. Muthiah, Friday moved the Supreme Court challenging
the
norms that permit office bearers to hold franchises for Indian Premier
League (IPL).
The noted Chennai-based industrialist has challenged the decision of
the single-judge bench of the Madras High Court that had earlier
dismissed his plea.
Muthiah, as also IPL commissioner Lalit Modi, have also challenged the
legality of the April 26 meeting of the governing council of the IPL
cricketing extravaganza, saying there was conflict of interest over
the person who has convened it.
The court's intervention has been specifically sought in the wake of
India Cements Ltd, which is led by BCCI secretary N. Srinivasan, being
allowed to own the franchise for the Chennai IPL team.
"Srinivasan is an interested party and I will file a case against him
for conflict of interest. He is a secretary and a holder of franchise.
He has no right to call for a meeting," Muthiah had said Thursday.
"I think to a large extent, the members of BCCI have consciously
allowed themselves to be exploited by certain groups by amending the
byelaws of the society. BCCI must ensure all those who have some stake
or interest either directly or indirectly should be kept away."
The president of the cricket board, however, has said both the charges
were untenable and that the meeting of the governing council, called
amid nationwide tax probe on the Indian Premier League (IPL) and its
franchises, will go ahead as scheduled.
"Under the board constitution, the secretary is the convenor of all
meetings. Even today I don't convene a meeting, being the board
president," BCCI president Shashank Manohar said at the board's
headquarters in Mumbai Thursday.
Maintaining that then BCCI president and Agriculture Minister Sharad
Pawar had given an okay to India Cements to bid for IPL, Manohar
slammed the IPL commissioner Modi for not declaring to the governing
council that his own relatives were part owners of IPL teams.
"It is not that Srinivasan is bidding. It is India Cements company
which is bidding and it is a public limited company," Manohar told
reporters with the India Cements vice chairman and managing director
by his side.
"It is most unfair to say Srinivasan was a declared bidder. If Modi
and his other relatives had a share in any of the franchises, he ought
to have declared it at the meeting," the BCCI chief maintained.
Other stories in this section
Shashank Manohar all set to become interim chief
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/Shashank-Manohar-all-set-to-become-interim-chief/articleshow/5846941.cms
'Indian mathematics loved numbers'
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/Indian-mathematics-loved-numbers/articleshow/5846533.cms
A Hussain work at Rs 1,000!
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/A-Hussain-work-at-Rs-1000/articleshow/5846473.cms
Mrs Praful Patel, Venugopal Dhoot flew with Modi
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/Mrs-Praful-Patel-Venugopal-Dhoot-flew-with-Modi/articleshow/5846480.cms
Payment legal, says WSG boss
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/Payment-legal-says-WSG-boss/articleshow/5846466.cms
Mr Modi had a run-in with the home ministry during the second edition
of the IPL last year. Mr Chidambaram had asked the IPL commissioner to
either
postpone the tournament or hold it in two parts because IPL 2009
coincided with the general elections, making it difficult for the
police to provide adequate security.
“We could have done it in two parts if they (IPL officers) had only
reflected on the concerns of the local police and not tried to
pressurise the state chief ministers,” Mr Chidambaram had told a
private TV channel last year during the controversy.
He had also stated in the same interview that there were no “ego
clashes” with Mr Modi, as had been suggested. “Where is the ego. I am
too small a person to be compared to Mr Modi. The point is that they
did not try to understand the compulsions and concerns of the police
force.”
But, instead of postponing the event or agreeing to the government’s
suggestion to hold the tournament in two parts, Mr Modi shifted the
IPL to South Africa. There were no immediate repercussions for Mr
Modi, but it may have left him short of goodwill in the UPA
dispensation.
P Chidambaram pads up to head IPL probe
23 Apr 2010, 0700 hrs IST,Rohini Singh,ET Bureau
Topics:IPL Twenty20 Shashi Tharoor P Chidambaram Income Tax
NEW DELHI: Home minister P Chidambaram has a new challenge on his
hands besides the onerous responsibilities of tackling the
depredations of the
Naxalites and the urban terrorism of jehadis.
The prime minister has asked his trusted lieutenant to spearhead the
probe into the popular but seemingly scandal-ridden Indian Premier
League, or IPL.
The Twenty20 tournament, the third edition of which will conclude on
Sunday, has been dogged by allegations of money laundering, unclear
ownership and sweetheart deals. More ominously, the shadow of match-
fixing, a constant blight of Indian cricket since the mid-1990s, is
looming over the IPL.
A report by the I-T department, which was accessed by ET reporters,
referred to “outcome-fixing” in the first two IPLs. There have been no
reports from the authorities on any such activity in the current one
though.
Top sources in the government told ET that the move indicates the
Centre’s determination to reform the IPL since Mr Chidambaram, a hard
taskmaster with a famously no-nonsense attitude, is widely regarded as
one of the best ministers in the UPA government.
Mr Chidambaram was part of the core group comprising finance minister
Pranab Mukherjee and defence minister AK Anthony that took the final
call to ask Shashi Tharoor, the erstwhile junior minister for external
affairs, to resign.
These sources also said the home minister will work in close co-
ordination with the finance ministry. Investigating agencies like the
income-tax department and the Enforcement Directorate, which are part
of the finance ministry, and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) have been
asked to delve deeper into the IPL saga.
These agencies will pass on information to the home minister. A text
message to the home minister did not elicit a response.
A spokesperson for the ministry said he wasn’t aware of any such
development. Mr Chidambaram’s earlier stint as finance minister in the
first UPA government will obviously come in handy for this assignment,
said the same sources. A large part of the investigations deal with
complicated shareholding structures of some of the IPL franchisees
that have led the tax authorities to suspect money laundering.
Mr Modi had a run-in with the home ministry during the second edition
of the IPL last year. Mr Chidambaram had asked the IPL commissioner to
either
postpone the tournament or hold it in two parts because IPL 2009
coincided with the general elections, making it difficult for the
police to provide adequate security.
“We could have done it in two parts if they (IPL officers) had only
reflected on the concerns of the local police and not tried to
pressurise the state chief ministers,” Mr Chidambaram had told a
private TV channel last year during the controversy.
He had also stated in the same interview that there were no “ego
clashes” with Mr Modi, as had been suggested. “Where is the ego. I am
too small a person to be compared to Mr Modi. The point is that they
did not try to understand the compulsions and concerns of the police
force.”
But, instead of postponing the event or agreeing to the government’s
suggestion to hold the tournament in two parts, Mr Modi shifted the
IPL to South Africa. There were no immediate repercussions for Mr
Modi, but it may have left him short of goodwill in the UPA
dispensation.
P Chidambaram pads up to head IPL probe
Readers Opinions
Som, Bangalore, says: This Minister seems to be doing all jobs except
the job of a Home Minister.
[23 Apr, 2010 1149hrs IST]
Lost Identity, India, says: Does PC have time to look into this? Our
Naxalite and other challenges are not enough for our dear PC? I guess
Dr has put in PC only to cover up all the big bosses who are involved
and are at the risk of being exposed.
[23 Apr, 2010 0956hrs IST]
arijit, howrah, says: Is the Naxalite problem over in India? Has the
26/11 terrorists and their Pakistani state handlers been brought to
justice yet? Is the Telengana issue sorted out? Is the Indian economy
doing fantastically well and firmly out of the downturns of 2008-09?
The questions come to mind because it seems from the Govt's action
that the important ministers like the Home and Finance have nothing
more important to do than find out scams in IPL!! It seems too obvious
that the govt is trying to pull down one individual by throwing the
entire law and investigating powers it has to bring on eindividual on
his knees. And, all these happened because the individual chose to
take up a issue with one minister in foreign affairs!! This is
entirely a fiasco and the govt is simply trying to protect some of its
partymen and coalition partners by nailing one man.
[23 Apr, 2010 0850hrs IST]
ABC, USA, says: Everything is fine. But I really wonder why do they
share the parliament with such people as Mohammad Azharuddin. He has
been given ticket by congress just for the sake of winnining the
minority votes. But they think he deserves the post as MP then why not
Modi and anybody else....
[23 Apr, 2010 0658hrs IST]
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Google receives requests from IPL for removing content
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Payment legal, says WSG boss
23 Apr 2010, 0153 hrs IST,M Padmakshan,ET Bureau
Topics:IPL Income Tax MSM WSG Venu Nair facilitation fee
MUMBAI: The head of the South Asian business of World Sport Group
(WSG), Venu Nair, has told I-T officials that the “facilitation fee”
of Rs 425
crore was part of an agreement between WSG, which owns the telecasting
rights for IPL, and MSM, the broadcaster of the games.
But tax was not paid in India on the same as the company’s lawyers had
said no such tax was payable, Mr Nair is believed to have told the
taxman.
The Rs 425-crore fee was part of the $1.63 billion MSM had agreed to
pay for the telecasting rights of IPL for nine years. This contract,
which was agreed upon after scrapping an earlier agreement that
stipulated a payment of $918 million, was signed just before the start
of IPL-2 in 2009.
It contained a provision for allocating $80 million as a “facilitation
fee” to a Mauritius-based firm owned by WSG.
According to media reports, Lalit Modi, the embattled IPL commissioner
who is trying to fight off a growing clamour for his ouster, had
negotiated the deal and most of the office-bearers of the BCCI were
not in the know of the “facilitation fee”.
Also Read
→ I-T to probe money laundering via hawala & underworld
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/I-T-to-probe-money-laundering-via-hawala--underworld/articleshow/5846361.cms
→ RoC too digs in, finds disclosures well short of mark'
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/RoC-too-digs-in-finds-disclosures-well-short-of-mark/articleshow/5846393.cms
The conversation between Mr Nair and the revenue authorities was
described to ET by income-tax officials who spoke on condition of
anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case. Attempts to reach Mr
Nair on his cellphone proved unsuccessful.
These officials said the entire transaction, including the
facilitation fee, was well documented. Mr Modi has given a copy of the
agreement to the authorities. An I-T source said, “All transactions
are clearly recorded in the documents furnished to us.”
It also appears increasingly likely that despite the media frenzy over
the facilitation fee, the end-result might boil down to a humdrum
dispute over the rather arcane subject of withholding tax. Similar to
tax deduction at source for individuals, Indian residents making
overseas payments have to ‘withhold’ tax before sending the money
offshore.
Sources in the I-T arm that deals with cross-border transactions said
they would send a notice for not paying tax in India on account of the
fee sent to the Mauritius entity. They are also studying the
transaction in detail to determine whether the notice is to be sent to
MSM or WSG for not withholding tax before transferring money to an
overseas destination.
Not withholding tax is an offence under Section 201 of the I-T Act
that can attract interest and in some cases a monetary penalty.
Payment legal, says WSG boss
23 Apr 2010, 0153 hrs IST,M Padmakshan,ET Bureau
Topics:IPL Income Tax MSM WSG Venu Nair facilitation fee
In a statement, WSG expressed its “surprise and disappointment” at the
turn of events. “WSG expresses its surprise and disappointment that
private
media transactions negotiated directly between WSG and other highly-
regarded companies that are primarily for the undisputed benefit of
the BCCI, IPL and its franchise owners, and ultimately for the sport
of cricket in India, should be brought into disrepute in relation to
current matters being reported in the media that are totally and
unequivocally unrelated to WSG and its business dealings with any
other parties. WSG will co-operate fully with any authorities should
they have any queries.”
The premises of WSG and MSM were searched by the I-T sleuths on
Wednesday as part of the ongoing investigation into the financial
affairs of the India Premier League.
Of the $80 million paid by MSM to WSG, a part payment of $26 million
had been transferred from DBS, a Singapore-based bank, to the
Mauritius company associated with WSG in 2009. The issue of whether
tax is required to be withheld from such payments made to overseas
entities came to the fore last year when Korean company Samsung
Electronics moved the Karnataka High Court.
The court, in a controversial decision, held that since the taxpayer
is not an expert in determining whether a particular income is taxable
in India, he is required to withhold tax from all payments made to
overseas entities. But other high courts have taken a different view.
The matter is pending before the Supreme Court.
RoC too digs in, finds disclosures well short of mark'
23 Apr 2010, 0111 hrs IST,Souvik Sanyal & Dheeraj Tiwari,ET Bureau
Topics:IPL RIL franchisees Registrar of Companies RCB
NEW DELHI: The Registrar of companies (RoC) have found several
shortcomings in the regulatory disclosures made by the Indian Premier
League (IPL)
franchisees.
Latest information regarding equity structure and details on latest
filings such as annual returns and special resolutions have not been
given to the department, said an official with the corporate affairs
ministry.
“The ministry will take any action only after it has the full
details,” he said, requesting anonymity.
The list of franchisees includes Reliance Industries (RIL)-owned
Mumbai Indians and Vijay Mallya-owned Royal Challengers Bangalore
(RCB).
The RoCs have been authorised to get all relevant details from the
franchisee owners to fast track the due diligence process.
“We would be looking for agreements with the IPL, management structure
and details of remuneration given to directors and employees,
including any sweat equity,” the official said.
Notices are being sent to the franchisees asking them to immediately
place on record key documents on their existing management structure
and any changes made to their equity base since incorporation.
As per the Companies Act, firms are required to furnish before the RoC
details of changes in management, annual returns and financial
statements, apart from any key decision taken in their meetings
regarding the firm’s structure and activities.
The ministry of corporate affairs, which has till now maintained that
its inquiry would include analysing information it had in its access,
is likely to cull out information from the franchisee owners.
Minister for corporate affairs Salman Khurshid on Wednesday said that
MCA was scrutinising records of the franchisees. “We cannot just shut
our eyes (to IPL controversy)... We are doing our own due diligence,”
he said.
I-T to probe money laundering via hawala & underworld
23 Apr 2010, 0053 hrs IST,Deepshikha Sikarwar,ET Bureau
Topics:Lalit Modi IPL underworld Rendezvous Income Tax hawala money
laundering
NEW DELHI: The income-tax department will extend its probe to all
those associated with the Indian Premier League cricket tournament,
including
players, after stumbling upon evidence of money laundering via tax
havens and involvement of underworld dons, said a senior official.
The agency will seek information from other IPL service providers and
players too, aiming to recover lost tax revenue, the person said.
Tax officials have information on fund transfers by those involved in
IPL to overseas bank accounts through recognised banking channels.
There were also informal transactions such as cash paid to a local
agent resulting in a corresponding credit in an overseas account,
known as hawala.
Those non-banking transfers were aimed at evading taxes and some of it
was also illicit money. Some of these funds were brought back as
legitimate from tax havens and have found their way into IPL, the
official said. This process of converting ill-gotten money into
legitimate one is known as money laundering, or round tripping, as
bureaucrats call it.
Rendezvous Sports World, the controversial company that won the bid
for the Kochi team, was probably a conduit to launder money through
overseas transactions, said the official. The department’s doubts
arose since some investors in Rendezvous did not have enough net worth
to become stakeholders. They were probably a front for wealthy
individuals.
The income-tax department that prepared a dossier on Modi last year
believes that he indirectly owns stakes in some franchisees through
his relatives or friends. It had also found fund transfers to accounts
in tax havens by companies or persons who got business contracts in
the IPL. Those account holders are alleged to be Modi’s associates.
Lalit Modi and Rendezvous did not respond to queries sent by ET.
Modi had awarded live feeds of Australia-India series to a Delhi-based
back office company which is illegal, the official said. The company
is also suspected to be having links with the underworld.
Grant of theatre rights of IPL to a Dubai-based company for an amount
that constitutes 12% of the tournament’s revenues may be a case of
laundering that is being investigated by the department. There are
other alleged violations too. A case has been registered against
Jaipur IPL Cricket Pvt Ltd that owns Rajasthan Royals.
3 comments on this story. Read them and post your own.
Readers Opinions Write to Editor
I-T to probe money laundering via hawala & underworld
Rajeev, Mangalore, says: ET you're superb. I have become your regular
reader now. Since politicians from all parties are involved the chance
is that all dirty things will go under carpet. No matter what happens
fight against these, on behalf of poor voiceless Indian public/voters.
Thank you.
[23 Apr, 2010 1045hrs IST]
k.j.prasad, hyderabad, says: The entire investigation, and after
unearthing the crime and criminals will ultimately become a victim of
political vested interest.The government's honesty is always
suspected.
[23 Apr, 2010 0953hrs IST]
football, kolkata, says: What about football?--every year big Calcutta
clubs spend huge amount of money in recruiting foreign players ---the
money spent is much more than their membership subscription---sports
control boards of so many PSU get huge amount of money every year----
how is the money spent?
[23 Apr, 2010 0629hrs IST]
Google receives requests from IPL for removing content
22 Apr 2010, 1700 hrs IST,PTI
Topics:Lalit Modi Google Indian Premier League BCCI Shashi Tharoor
NEW DELHI: Internet major Google has said it has received four content
censorship requests this month from the Indian Premier League, the
administrative body of the Twenty20 cricket tournament.
A total of five complaints were received in 2010 about certain
websites carrying "illegal retransmission of the authorised feed,
copyrighted content for which IPL is the owner", according to Google.
Out of the five, four complaints were made this month while one was
made in March.
Interestingly, Google recently signed an agreement with IPL, wherein
rights for live web coverage of matches have been given to YouTube,
part of the internet major.
Google on Tuesday had named India at the third place among a list of
nations from which it received maximum requests for censoring
information.
The list, which was based on requests for removal of information made
to Google between July 1 and December 31, 2009.
The complaints from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI),
which owns IPL, have been listed on the website 'chillingeffects.org',
a project run by the US-based Berkman Center for Internet and Society,
that tracks online restrictions on speech.
"Whenever we do remove content, we display a message for our users
that X number of results have been removed to comply with local law
and we also report those removals to chillingeffects.org," Google said
in a blog post on Monday.
Last year, the BCCI had registered three complaints related to IPL,
with Google.
The cash-rich IPL is now mired in controversy following allegations by
IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi that Union Minister of State for External
Affairs Shashi Tharoor influenced the auction of an IPL franchise.
Tharoor has since resigned saying he didn't want to be an
embarrassment to the government, although he claimed doing no wrong.
Google said that it got maximum requests to censor information from
Brazil (291), followed by Germany (188) and India (142).
Removal requests ask for removal of content from Google search results
or from another Google product, including YouTube, Google had said in
a statement.
"For Brazil and India, requests for content removal are high relative
to other countries in part because of the popularity of our social
networking website, orkut. The majority of the Brazilian and Indian
requests for removal of content from orkut relate to alleged
impersonation or defamation," the statement noted.
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Praful Patel's daughter pulled out scheduled AI flight for IPL
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JPC probe into IPL controversy not ruled out
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P Chidambaram set to spearhead probe into IPL mess
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The issue is about Modi... I've nothing to do with IPL: Sharad Pawar
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Infotech/Internet/The-issue-is-about-Modi-Ive-nothing-to-do-with-IPL-Sharad-Pawar/articleshow/5846490.cms
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The issue is about Modi... I've nothing to do with IPL: Sharad Pawar
23 Apr 2010, 0205 hrs IST,Girish Kuber,ET Bureau
Topics:Agriculture Lalit Modi Praful Patel IPL Sharad Pawar
He’s battled many controversies, ill health and the vagaries of Indian
politics and emerged a survivor. Former BCCI president and ICC
president-elect Sharad Pawar is yet again in the middle of a raging
IPL storm, which is threatening to blow the cover off Indian politics
and cricket.
In an interview to ET’s Girish Kuber, the agriculture minister stoutly
defends himself, son-in-law Sadanand Sule and NCP colleague Praful
Patel, while smartly staying clear of IPL commissioner Lalit Modi,
who’s widely considered to be his protégé.
You appear to be in the eye of a storm since the IPL controversy broke
out...
In the past few years, a perception has been created as if I’m Indian
cricket, thanks to the media. Actually, the issue is all about Lalit
Modi and his actions, but the media focus is on me. If that’s the
case, so be it. But let me put it on record—forget IPL, I’m not even a
member of the BCCI.
But you were Modi’s mentor...
I have never been his supporter or detractor. I deal with many people
in many areas. To say everyone is my baby or I’m their mentor is
nothing short of ridiculous. As far as Mr Modi is concerned, it
happened like this: see, if I go to watch a match and he (Modi) is
around, he naturally comes to see me and sits next to me. And so the
camera catches both of us... the same clippings are played over and
over again, and this helps create an impression that he is close to
me. The same thing happened after this controversy broke (out). I had
gone to watch a match in Delhi where Arun (Jaitley) and Mr Modi were
there. Isn’t it natural if both come and sit next to me? Does it (in)
anyway mean that I’m close to Mr Jaitley or Mr Modi?
Media is always in need of some kind of boxing bag. Currently, it’s
me.
Hasn’t your position vis-à-vis Modi changed after you had a meeting
with Pranab Mukherjee and P Chidambaram on Wednesday?
Believe me, it’s absurd. The meeting was about the commodity markets
and exchanges. None of us uttered even an ‘I’ of the IPL. You can
check with the two of them. But the electronic media—which
unfortunately is seen setting the agenda for the print media too—went
to town, saying I was summoned and a few of you bought that argument
and wrote that I changed sides and no longer support Mr Modi.
So the question about your alleged support to Mr Modi remains?
My support is for the game and creating infrastructure. An impression
has been created as if I don’t do anything but cricket. It’s the least
of my priorities. I’m in no way associated with the IPL. As per the
rules, once you become the BCCI president and retire, you can’t
continue even as a member. I’m not involved in the day-to-day
operations of the BCCI either. So, to say I was Mr Modi’s supporter
has been hugely unfair to me. I reiterate that I never was his
supporter or an opponent.
Now it emerges that your daughter’s in-laws too have some sort of IPL
connection.
Is it a crime to form a company in this country or what? Many of you
may not even know that BR Sule (his daughter Supriya’s father-in-law)
was a person of such eminence that late Indira Gandhi had made him a
Planning Commission member. He is an MIT engineer and had worked as a
director of M&M for 30-32 years. Is there anything wrong if, after
retirement, he forms a company and later sells it to Sony? It is
perfectly legitimate to form a company. Besides, he has three sons.
One of them happens to be my son-in-law, so you say all sorts of
things about him. One channel (not ET NOW or Times NOW) went to the
extent of saying ‘late BR Sule’. Let me clarify that he is very much
alive. He suffered brain hemorrhage a few years back and was in coma
for a few months. But now he has recovered.
What can one say about this kind of journalism?
Praful Patel too seems to have got his hands sullied in the IPL.
What wrong has he done? Sharing information—which is in no way
classified—is not a sin. A fellow minister asks for an info for
setting up an IPL venture in his home state and Praful asks his
daughter—who is an IPL employee—to get this information which he, in
turn, forwards to the minister. You call it a crime? This is as simple
as that.
So what will be your stand on Monday? (The BCCI will meet to discuss
the IPL issue on April 26.)
I’m not even going to attend the meet. Shashank Manohar is a capable
person. He has given efficient leadership to the BCCI. So now—if you
believe—I have no role to play in the BCCI and IPL.
Shashank Manohar all set to become interim chief
23 Apr 2010, 0848 hrs IST,TNN
NEW DELHI: Even as Punjab cricket chief I S Bindra mounted a massive
effort to save his ally IPL chief Lalit Modi, the T-20 tourney’s
governing
council seems set to instal BCCI president Shashank Manohar as interim
head till a full-time replacement for Modi can be chosen.
Discussions among BCCI leaders saw them debate options to deal with
Modi’s rebellion , but unless the Twenty-20 cricket whiz quits, the
Board looks set on his ouster. “We are waiting for IPL-3 to get over.
After midnight of April 25 our self-imposed restraint will go,” said a
source.
Bindra did meet some BCCI members to argue that it would not be simple
to get rid of Modi and that legal options to scuttle or at least put
the April 26 meeting on hold were being explored, but the Board’s
assessment is that it is within its rights and has the numbers to sack
the IPL commissioner.
Sources said that Modi had launched a last-ditch battle as he saw an
empire that he had helped create slipping from his grasp with his
powerful mentor NCP boss Sharad Pawar withdrawing support. With NCP
itself facing some heat in the investigations into IPL, the party
leadership had snapped links with its long-time ally.
The BCCI faction looking to unseat Modi is still hoping that Pawar
will prevail over Modi to hand in his resignation before the governing
council meeting and chose to downplay the latest controversy over an
IPL email being routed from MoS civil aviation Praful Patel’s office
to former MoS for external affairs Shashi Tharoor.
Gearing up for the governing council meeting, BCCI bosses feel
Bindra’s arguments that a two-third majority would allude the
prochangers were not going to work out. Calculations that cricket
administrators like Cricket Association of Bengal head Jagmohan
Dalmiya would support Modi would not work out, they said. “Modi has
managed to rub everyone the wrong way,” said a source.
Modi’s penchant to ride roughshod over the governing council in the
past was working against him now. “Whenever a deal was signed, details
were rarely provided. As soon as the governing council met, Bindra
would begin to loudly congratulate Modi and virtually bully any
dissenters,” said a member of the council. Complaints about what was
seen to be a lack of transparency fell on deaf ears.
The view in the Board is that with IPL-3 at an end, there is no
pressing hurry to appoint a full-time replacement for Modi
immediately. Once its moves to get rid of Modi succeed, the governing
council is expected to take a number of measures to indicate that it
was ready to bring in more accountability in the functioning of IPL.
The Board’s own inquiries have revealed that funds had travelled
through two or three entities before flowing into some of the
franchises. Yet, stakes once alloted to investors were perfectly legal
and could be sold in an aboveboard manner for cheque. “It was a way of
turning black or unaccountable funds into white,” said a minister.
cogitoergosum
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-6.html
Return to Emergency-era tactics by UPA: BJP
TNN, Apr 24, 2010, 01.35am IST
Tags:UPA|BJP|Phone tapping
NEW DELHI: The wiretap technology in the centre of a brewing political
storm appears to be the easiest way to tap conversations as agencies
do not need permission since they “survey” certain areas.
The reports about the tapping predictably kicked up a storm of
protests from politicians that promises to disrupt Parliament next
week as it was suggested that UPA government succumbed to temptation
and listened to conversations of political leaders. The implications
of actions like tapping Karat’s conversations in the run-up to the
India-US nuclear deal are obvious.
BJP plans to bring this issue to Parliament on Monday, said Rajya
Sabha deputy leader S S Ahluwalia while party spokesperson Nirmala
Sitharaman said she was not surprised or shocked by the Congress-led
UPA’s “return” to Emergency-day tactics.
Government sources denied phones of politicians were being tapped, but
said NTRO did try out surveillance. It was suggested that some of
these activities were overseen by the national security advisor or
cabinet secretariat — where the external intelligence agency Research
and Analysis Wing is administratively housed. While there could be an
allusion to former national security advisor M K Narayanan’s role, the
NSA does report to the prime minister.
Karat, whose phone was tapped in 2008 when the Opposition moved a no-
confidence motion, was not surprised either. “UPA government is
resorting to tapping of phones of political leaders that is illegal
and intolerable. Government has to own up responsibility and take
action against those responsible. Further safeguards should be put in
place against such misuse by security agencies,” Karat said.
CPI leader D Raja said India was a democracy and not a "military-
state" where personal freedoms were barred. Nitish Kumar, who was also
reportedly targetted, condemned the tapping and demanded to know who
was responsible.
Amar Singh, former SP leader said, “Only I was able to prove that my
phone was tapped, and it led to a court decision... These people who
are said to have been tapped are not criminals but part of our ruling
elite. If the reports are true, it is lethal and dangerous invasion of
privacy.”
Abhishek Singhvi, Congress spokesman, took a more measured view. “It
is for the government to respond with complete facts. There’s no point
jumping to instant conclusions on the first day of the report. It’s
entirely possible that during legitimate national security
surveillance, untargeted conversations may have been picked up
inadvertently,
not by design.”
According to existing guidelines, only the Union home secretary at the
central level and secretary in charge of home department, at the state
level, can issue directions for interception. In emergencies, joint
secretaries can authorize tapping.
Nitish shouldn't be worried about phone-tapping: Lalu
PTI, Apr 24, 2010, 12.58pm IST
Tags:Lalu Prasad|Phone tapping
PATNA: RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Saturday said Bihar chief minister
Nitish Kumar should not be much worried about tapping of his phone if
he did not done anything wrong.
The RJD leader said he spoke to the chief minister this morning and
advised him not to be worried.
"Normally, people are worried about a matter in case of wrongdoing,"
Prasad remarked, adding he was not bothered at all if his phones were
tapped as "I have nothing to hide".
"All these phone tappings charges are aimed at gaining cheap
popularity," he added.
After a news magazine reported that phones of some political leaders
including Kumar had been tapped, he yesterday said tapping of his
phone was "illegal and undemocratic".
Tharoor looking forward to thorough inquiry into IPL scandal
PTI, Apr 24, 2010, 09.59am IST
Tags:IPL|Shashi Tharoor
Shashi Tharror tweets on IPL row Watch Video
NEW DELHI: Shashi Tharoor today said he was looking forward to a
"thorough inquiry" into the IPL imbroglio, which cost him his position
as Minister of State for External Affairs.
"Looking forward to thorough inquiry into the IPL. If my resignation
leads to real reform, it will be worthwhile. Our cricket shld (should)
be clean," he said on his twitter page early this morning.
"It's been a rough week......." he tweeted and once again thanked his
supporters. "Overwhelmed by the support I've been
receiving.........Thank u (you) all."
'The Congress is on the back foot'
TOI Crest, Apr 24, 2010, 10.37am IST
Tags:Congress|Arun Jaitley|Sitaram Yechury
The big story from the budget session is the revival of a seemingly
united Opposition. Significantly, it’s been 20 years since the BJP,
the Left, and the Mandal parties came together to oppose the Congress.
TOI-Crest speaks to two senior leaders, the BJP’s Arun Jaitley and the
CPM’s Sitaram Yechury, to see how they analyse the situation from
their political perspectives.
ON THE RETURN OF THE OPPOSITION
Arun Jaitley |
It’s because of the Congress party’s behaviour towards those who were
its allies till now, like the Left and the Mandal parties. If you add
the government’s failure on issues that I call Opposition unifiers,
like price rise, you’ve created a situation for the entire Opposition
to come together. There are two or three Opposition unifiers in every
session of Parliament. All you need is a couple of more sessions like
the present one and the Opposition is back in business.
Sitaram Yechury |
The Congress has taken the 2009 election results to mean a big victory
for the party, although it won only 207 seats. This is by no means a
majority. Yet, the government is going ahead unilaterally with
antipeople policies like hiking petrol and diesel prices. The sheer
audacity of the government has forced us to speak up.
ON THE IMPACT ON THE GOVERNMENT OF A RESURGENT OPPOSITION
AJ |
From a position of arrogance, the UPA is down to a slender majority in
the Lok Sabha and is in a minority in the Rajya Sabha. Unfortunately ,
the Congress still hasn’t realised that the road ahead can only be
through consensus, not arrogance.
SY |
Normally, the first year of a government is the honeymoon year. But
this government is already calculating numbers in the Lok Sabha.
Obviously, the Congress is on the back foot.
ON THE POLITICAL GAINS FOR THE OPPOSITION
AJ |
I can see a revival of anti-Congressism . The BJP is the natural
beneficiary of that mood. I find that the government, because of its
sheer arrogance, is sending a lot of catches into our hands. Our
strategy is not to fritter away any one of those.
SY |
We remain opposed to the BJP’s communal agenda. What we are seeking is
the creation of a political alternative of non-Congress , non-BJP
parties. We want to go beyond an electoral formation to put together a
front with an alternative set of policies. Unwittingly, this
government is helping us in this process.
ON LONG-TERM PROSPECTS FOR A UNITED OPPOSITION FRONT
AJ |
At the moment, the coordination among the Opposition parties is
limited to Parliament. I don’t see anything happening between the BJP
and the Left outside Parliament. But it’s too early to comment. I
can’t read the end of a process that has just started.
SY |
There has been no coordination with the BJP from our side.
Objectively, the situation is throwing up possibilities where the BJP
finds itself in agreement with us on many issues. We are interacting
only with the non-UPA , non-NDA parties.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/The-Congress-is-on-the-back-foot-/articleshow/5851878.cms
Cricket's all about gambling & girls: Sunanda says on Facebook
TNN, Apr 21, 2010, 01.19am IST
Tags:Shashi Tharoor|Sunanda Pushkar
MUMBAI: If Shashi Tharoor can tweet, can Sunanda Pushkar be far
behind? The former Union minister’s close friend has an account on
Facebook, the social networking site.
Anybody can add her as a friend, but don’t be certain she will accept.
On April 15 at 6.18 pm, she has posted, "I am very sorry to all... I
am getting thousands of friend requests daily... But I can consider
only bussiness (sic) relations... and detailed information one who
have... ! So please ... !"
TOI is not sure if the account has been created by Sunanda. However,
the information about her seems fairly genuine — Location: New Delhi;
relationship status: Widowed; here (in Facebook) for: Friends. She
also states that she did her schooling from Jammu and is employed by
Dubai Holdings, where she holds a position of senior management
consultant.
Sunanda seems quite active on FB. Hinting at her withdrawal from Kochi
for next year’s IPL, at 11.40 pm on Monday she posted: "Right now I am
not interested to this bussiness and its already cross the limit, I
mean everything is wrong.... !" Ten minutes before that, it was, "What
is the reality in between Cricket and Bussiness... The right think is
only interested in money (gambling) and GIRLS.... ! So any one have
questions..."Earlier in the day, Sunanda wrote, "Its not Just Drama.
The real war on under world terror with Cricket, Be cool some ones
head will rolled on the street. Its just started .... Who will win!"
Other posts of April 15 refer to the flurry of friend requests she had
recently received. The first post reads: "Guys.. ! My days are very
busy.. ! So please excuse me and wait few more days to get replied.
Thank you for your great friendship consideration ... !" A few hours
later: "Very Busy days, I’m very sorry to all, I cant update
everything on time .. Please wait few days............. !"
Sunanda Pushkar: Shashi Tharoor's 'external affair'
TNN, Apr 14, 2010, 12.19am IST
Tags:IPL|Shashi Tharoor
Tharoor's future wife stakeholder in IPL KochiNEW DELHI: Heads turned
when minister of state for external affairs Shashi Tharoor walked in
with an attractive woman in a red sari at fellow Congress minister
Jitin Prasada’s wedding two months ago.
The woman in red, it turned out, was Sunanda Pushkar, who now finds
herself in the midst of the raging controversy over the IPL Kochi
franchise. According to Lalit Modi, she was gifted a stake worth Rs 70
crore in Rendezvous Sports World, one of the owners of the Kochi
franchise.
Sources say that when Pushkar is not attending functions on Tharoor's
arm, she works as director (sales) at Tecom, a Dubai-based real estate
company, lives on Sheikh Zayed Road and holds a Canadian passport.
Earlier, she also ran a spa in Dubai — which probably accounts for
persistent, and mistaken, media reports that she is a beautician —
worked in an advertising firm, was employed in a travel agency and
tried her hand at event management.
The capital's cocktail circuit is abuzz with rumours that she is
Tharoor's romantic interest and the two will marry once he is formally
divorced from his second wife, Christa Giles, a Canadian citizen who
worked along with Tharoor.
The minister and his aides have declined to comment on what they term
a ‘‘deeply personal matter’’. She has teenage son.
But she had modest beginnings. Daughter of a retired Army officer from
Bomai in Sopore, Sunanda went to Baramulla Army school.
She graduated from a Jammu college in 1991 after her family migrated
from the Valley in 1990. She studied at Presentation Convent and later
worked as a receptionist at the ITDC-run Centaur Lakeview in Srinagar.
That’s where she met her first husband.
Abdul Rahman, who takes care of the four-acre paddy field and orchards
of Lt-Col (retd) Pushkar Nath Dass, Sunanda’s father, at Bomai, told
TOI, ‘‘Sunanda was a promising girl. She used to take a public bus to
Baramulla 10km away to attend college.’’
Lt-Col Dass let loose a torrent of expletives when mediapersons landed
in front of his house in Jammu. When they refused to budge, someone
from the house hurled stones at the reporters.
Sunanda Pushkar: Shashi Tharoor's 'external affair'
bsian mumbai 23 Apr, 2010 06:06 PM
It is nausiating. The IPL has got to an all time low. Lalit Modi has
taken the entire nation for a ride.Criket is no more a game. It is
only betting and politics. It is dirty. Sashi Taroor would have been
happy earlier. It is a matter of pot calling kettle black. All are
wretchedJagadish oman 23 Apr, 2010 03:33 PM
Before you accuse some one (whether Sashi or sunanda), why shouldn't
we wait to get to the bottom of the story rather than speculating /
guessing and making derogatory remarks. Why don't you guyes go after
those politicians who have suspected to have made billions, including
Mayawati, Lalu, Praful etGovind Mumbai 23 Apr, 2010 11:41 AM
If a Diplomat (IFS) should not have a foreign spouse, how can a
Minister who is the boss of the Diplomat have one. In this case it
appears to be more multiple external affairs. India's national
security is definitely challenged by this type of external affairs of
the Ministers.Mangai Erode 21 Apr, 2010 02:41 PMTo expose the personal
matter of VIP like Shashi Tharoor is waste of time.Bhat Germany 18
Apr, 2010 09:43 PM
Once you are a minister all such "External Affairs"koshy secunderabad
18 Apr, 2010 08:35 PM
shashi tharoor is in the wrong place .. he sure is not fit for nor
acquianted with the nuances of politicsVenkat US 18 Apr, 2010 01:32 AM
Going by the comments here, its is clear that Tharoor knows how to use
spin machines. He is a public figure and a minister - his private
affairs are National Security issues. What if his wife is on CIA's
payroll? What if a foreign country uses his lovers to influence
India's foreign policy?Joseph Kerala 17 Apr, 2010 04:26 PM
Envy and malice are a sickness that has no cure.Joseph Kerala 17 Apr,
2010 04:26 PM
Envy and malice are a sickness that has no cure.Sameer Phale Nagpur 17
Apr, 2010 03:22 PM
I always believed that TOI has no substance. It is his personal life
and we have no right to poke into his personal life. Media including
TOI should concentrate on the matters related to constructive
development of India and region.kay Chennai 17 Apr, 2010 12:28 AM
Sashi Tharoor has done many mistakes. His looks, previous position in
UN and riches have bailed him out of trouble on previous occasions. He
clearly does not have anything in common with the vast Indian
population, whom he has called "cattle class"Ganapathy Kochi 16 Apr,
2010 09:51 PM
More sleazier than the story is Times of India's headline. Once a
prestigious newspaper in the country, Times was my companion every
morn for more than 25 years in Delhi. I am deeply saddened by the
levels to which it has stooped. I still believe it is never too
late....pick up the threads.Jay New york 16 Apr, 2010 08:15 PM
Hi is a big womanizer hiding under the cover of politics.Sreedhar G
Bangalore 16 Apr, 2010 05:47 PM
For a political greenhorn, Tharoor has excelled in the field of sex,
lucre and lies which have been the preserve of the old politicians;
but Tharoor has been more brilliant than the normal politician -
congress/bjp/sp or whatever! His international experience in being put
to good use!tk Kolkata 16 Apr, 2010 04:27 PM
Why are you interested in someone's personal life? This paper has gone
to dogs. I am TOI reader from last 25 years. I think I have lost
patience now, the standard of journalism has gone down drastically. I
have to try something elseMustafa Iran 16 Apr, 2010 03:46 PM
when will we stop in poking our bloody noses in others private
affairs ?bhat Germany 18 Apr, 2010 09:46 PM
It is not his private affair. He is minister. Let him resign and have
any number of affairs and be blessed with VD. No problem.stalin London
16 Apr, 2010 02:28 PM
Sasi Tharoor was yet again proved that he is liability and
embarassment to congress party in particular and people of India in
general. No wonder he was not elected as U.N. secratary general.sajjan
raj mehta bangalore 16 Apr, 2010 09:05 AM
leaders having responsible positio ns and representing India should
behave sensibly and religiously so that indian culture is
safeguarded..No one is above the law and law is equal for allKaliyug
USA 16 Apr, 2010 07:36 AM
A retired army officer and his staff hurling stones at reporters, this
is no OLQ. When his daughter is running round Tharoor then many
questions have to be answered, what about her previous lives with
other men? Tharoor is enjoying the media digging into his UN of female
companions and wives.ranvir india 15 Apr, 2010 05:02 PM
So now he will have third wife. When will be the fourth one?John
Mumbai 15 Apr, 2010 11:24 PM
He is a Hindu and he cannot have 4 wivesmanoj.s.nair kerala,india 15
Apr, 2010 04:24 PM
INDIANS MUST CHANGE THE WAY THEY THINK,CORRECT ACCOUNTING AND
RECORDING OF PERSONAL DETAILS WILL NEVER MAKE THESE KINDS OF
ALLEGATIONS AND EXPLANATIONS.ONE MUST BE TRUE TO THEMSELF.bala mumbai
23 Apr, 2010 06:48 PM
in public life you hve to be careful. Privately do anything but once
in public life have itegrity which unfortunately in india is the
reverseirfan kashmir 15 Apr, 2010 02:36 PM
she should be thankfull to mr jagmohan (gov of kashmir in 1990) who
took kashmiri pandits out of velly.whacky mumbai 15 Apr, 2010 08:18 AM
whole thing is disgusting , a man of integrity has not only fallen in
the eyes of nation but also in his own !Menon Brisbane 16 Apr, 2010
03:35 PM
So true...one should never be a politician in India...every man and
his dog will have a say....for years Tharoor worked in UN and the
International arena...no problems....was even nominated as possible UN
General sect...came to India and became a Politician..all hell breaks
loose....Interestingchandra australia 17 Apr, 2010 07:49 PM
I agree. Whether a man, even if he is a minister, has third wife or
tenth wife is his business. No one can prove he misused his
office.jitu orissa 15 Apr, 2010 01:30 AM
from a political leader like mr. tharoor, this kind of activities can
not be expectedjitu orissa 15 Apr, 2010 01:28 AM
shasi tharoor should obey indian cultureDharfari Gurgaon 14 Apr, 2010
08:55 PM
Mr Tharoor, we believe you...Lalit Modi has only dealt with the scum
of Indian politics...he is frightened by decency...and integrity...let
him lay down the lists of owners and proxy owners of Rajasthan Royals
and the Gujarat team he is keen to promote...manohar Kerala 14 Apr,
2010 08:55 PM
Are you(Times Of India) paaparazis or news reportersarati kolkata 14
Apr, 2010 08:01 PM
In which capacity did sunanda meet Assam CM alongwith mr tharoor?RM
Mumbai 14 Apr, 2010 06:37 PM
There is no issue of Sunanda's credibility but that of Mr. Tharoor-
the cattle class animal.kavita bhopal 14 Apr, 2010 06:26 PM
Frst of all,free equity (called sweat equity) can be given to
personnel under Companies Act.IIndly, we shouldn't be bothered even if
Mr. Tharoor gifted d stake to his "friend"Aslam Trivandrum 14 Apr,
2010 05:56 PM
I am blaming Congress for giving seat to such a hipocrites. Why he is
not intersted to improve the life of poor people in kerala, he is
going to provide cricket feast for hungry people.?Gibson Dubai 14 Apr,
2010 05:47 PM
Not Only Mr. Tharoor, almost all politicians , business people may
have illegal affairs. If any body wants to throw stones at Mr.
Tharoor , why you are thinking that Lalit modi don't have any affairs?
He also have arrairs. This is not the problem of any affairs, some are
playing Lobby politics.Amrita Delhi 14 Apr, 2010 05:36 PM
I've read what Ms Pushkar had to say. I cannot help thinking that
public figures are also entitled to some privacy. I find the title of
this article crude irrespective of what Mr Tharoor may or may not have
done to help her. Can't the media behave with some maturity and
dignity?devbrata mumbai 14 Apr, 2010 05:34 PM
it is really strange that a lower middle class woman can deal 70 crore
cash in a single deal. Imagine her total investment in India alone. I
hope the matter need investgated in details and see the real source of
incomehandsome india 14 Apr, 2010 03:59 PM
Wow, I would have given not 70 but 700 cr stake to the beautiful
bombdr.rizvi oman 14 Apr, 2010 03:55 PM
this is really a serious matter,related to a minister must be handle
with care...no one have right to play with countries reputationslumdog
mumbai 14 Apr, 2010 03:49 PM
A lower middle class lady being gifted with 70 cr for so called
marketing but a minister caught doing the job of marketing ... How
funny !! Even fools wont believe the story.Puroorva Montreal 14 Apr,
2010 02:16 PM
The discussion should be about whether nation's sensitive info and
details are compromised or safe because of position he holds. He has
personal life but he should not fall into women working for other
nations behind cover.rpsingh Mumbai 14 Apr, 2010 01:48 PM
In the name of personal , new wanna be modern hypocrite Indians are
advocating for Indian society with no rules and guidelines.Such
hypocrites are born to be ruled by britishers and mughals and only due
to such people our country was ruled in past. Save India from such
copy cat inferior people.NARAYAN surat 14 Apr, 2010 01:06 PM
INFACT THERE IS A MATTER OF PERSONAL LIFE OF MR.THAROOR N SUNANDA BUT
THEY MUST GENTALLY CLARIYY THE MATTER OF INVESTING IN IPL TO SAVE
REPUTATION OF THE NATION AND THEIR INTRESTANILP Pathanamthittta 14
Apr, 2010 12:51 PM
A CBI enquiry should be conducted with all the money transactions of
Mr Tharoor and Sunanda as well as Mr Modi . It is as simple as that .
And let all the skeletons in the cupboard out .khaleel Dubai 14 Apr,
2010 12:19 PM
Sasi Taroor is dynamic and people had lot of expectation.But he failed
to study indian politics by behaving immature.Now it is not personal
relationship people are bothered .but the crores of Rs revolving thro-
extra-marital relationship. Taroor is now a making of Amersing in
south politics-Ritika Mumbai 14 Apr, 2010 11:18 AM
do u think you might want to get your grammar and reporting skills
right before writing a story? 'she has teenage son' ????Subash
Bangalore 14 Apr, 2010 10:51 AM
Horrendous. How do you manage to cook up so much? It only shows the
perversion. Who has a problem if the two don't marry? And why should
he explain all his relationships?janney Bengaluru 14 Apr, 2010 10:41
AM
Shashi is a writer and American trained. He wanted to teach, preach
and practice American style of sexology in Indian politics by
writings..raj India 14 Apr, 2010 10:23 AM
What to say my dear friends....??sanjoyojha ukhra 14 Apr, 2010 09:02
AM
media has a bussiness of reporting things they think will bring readr-
viewership, and politician-celebrities has a bussiness of furthering
their bussiness. its a cozy relationship , every one gets their
"dues"AP Mumbai 14 Apr, 2010 08:56 AM
Guess reporters do not have any other work than sladering people for
their personal affairs. So what if he is a Minister? In light of this
story, all important stories get less coverage. How low can the media
play? They seem to have lost their focus.YD Australia 14 Apr, 2010
08:20 AM
"a Canadian citizen who worked along with Tharoor. "Tabu Bhalukpong 14
Apr, 2010 08:18 AM
Sunanda Pushkar, whoever she may be, should not be dragged into
controversy, just because she is related to the External Minister, Mr.
Shashi Tarror.Receiving free stakes from the Kochi ILP should be
regarded as business deals. And Mr. Minister, if involved, has the
right to do so.Rignt?PM Brisie,oz 14 Apr, 2010 08:17 AM
Mr. Minister, u r a disgrace to the society, country and to ur party.
We r glad that u never made to the UN highest office, that saved us
Indians.ssen Gurgaon 14 Apr, 2010 02:33 PM
How did you know Mr Tharoor is a disgrace? do you think what these
media scribes report are all genuine. Ask the media first how much
money they are getting from that crook Modi.sandeep Delhi 14 Apr, 2010
05:41 PM
tharoor and sunanda are widely known to more than close friends. he
himself accepted helping form kochi team(using his MoS status), and
his girlfriend gets a free gift of 70 cr in the return..this is called
corruption..Modi might be a crook , but Mr.tharoor is sure a loser to
do it so openly.Rajat India 14 Apr, 2010 08:16 AM
Very imaginative Headline.nikki mumbai 14 Apr, 2010 10:33 PM
Agreed! Probably the best part of this article :PSiva USA 14 Apr, 2010
08:13 AM
We expect some quality news from Times, please dont publish some
foolish news like this. Please understand, there are some educated
people also read this news paper.Radhakrishna Bangalore 14 Apr, 2010
01:09 PM
'Please understand, there are some educated people also read this news
paper.'sveta Delhi 14 Apr, 2010 07:03 AM
Gosh! What a Pushkar Mela! Matter's out of hand when there is an
entire army of frauds out there.Piyal India 14 Apr, 2010 07:00 AM
Tharoor should resign. Why on earth his girlfriend is the lucky person
to get crores of free stacks when he was involved in these dealings?
This is conflict of interest which is mild way of saying "its
corruption"sveta Delhi 14 Apr, 2010 06:59 AM
Tharoor's Setup: External affairs to make people forget all about his
solo internal affair. Chidambaram The Home Minister: Concentrates on
internal affairs so the internal might not become external and create
an infernal.arunsolomon Bangalore 14 Apr, 2010 06:32 AM
So much of coverage on something of a private affair which may not
interest all the readers. I think the scribes think its important to
cover all that they think will thrill the readers. Strange are the way
of the nosy parkerschandra australia 17 Apr, 2010 08:00 PM
it appears that you need a specially crafted newspapaper for yourself.
Good idea to start one yourself. TOI is good enough for the rest of
us.VIJAY USA 14 Apr, 2010 05:07 AM
IT WILL BE APPROPRIATE FOR SHASHI TAROOR AND SUNANDA TO DECLARE HER
EARNINGS DURING THE LAST FIVE YEARS TO JUSTIFY HER TALENT AND GIFT/
INCOME(FREE) OF RS 70 CRORES FROM KOCH FRANCHSEE.Simon USA 14 Apr,
2010 04:07 AM
Indian media reporters are worth getting stoned at them.Ankit delhi 14
Apr, 2010 11:58 AM
i second that :)Rotha Argentina 14 Apr, 2010 06:10 PM
Fully Agree !Prabhu Portugal 15 Apr, 2010 06:57 PM
just stones? Indian media, specially electronic media deserves much
more than that.Geeta India 14 Apr, 2010 03:54 AM
This all false info. She never went to Convent school. She studied
outside Kashmir since her Dad was posted outside kashmir. She did her
12 grade in Kothibagh, I was her friend then. Then she did graduation
from Women's college MA rd.vishnu mumbai 14 Apr, 2010 10:28 AM
what acurasy reporting from indian media. recived good treatSamuel
Bahrain 14 Apr, 2010 11:34 AM
Geeta, why dont you make a press statement with any media other than
TOI and this could be easily cleared out.BM Australia 14 Apr, 2010
03:31 AM
No country in the world will allow its ministers having personal
relationship with people who have foreign nationality. But in India
everything, which compromises state security, is allowed.Jaime Pune 14
Apr, 2010 09:58 AM
Why should India follow the world? Does it not have it's own problems?
And personal relationships (whether with Indians or foreigners) are
strictly "personal"Ravi pune 14 Apr, 2010 01:29 PM
i think .. u havent read the article properly.. she is an INDIAN ARMY
officers daughter. so how can she be foreigner ? jus bcoz she acquired
a Canadian passport bcoz of nosey peopleV.K.Das Mumbai 15 Apr, 2010
05:34 PM
I totally agree with you. An Indian Army Officer's daughter is totally
Indian.Even Shashi Tharoor is an NRI. Please, let's not become another
MUSLIM country with crazy regulations.We have enough idiocy among
politicians.Let's not bring that into a man/woman matter.goddy india
14 Apr, 2010 03:29 PM
what about carla bruni forgot...Jane Delhi 14 Apr, 2010 11:35 AM
She is a kashmiri girl who has taken a canadian citizenship just like
you are now desperately trying for an australian.JO US 14 Apr, 2010
05:37 PM
i like that reply...Abhishek Moon 14 Apr, 2010 05:11 PM
Rubbish...why are you assuming someone you dont know is trying to kick
his/her Indian passport? Maybe you are contacting an immigration agent
trying to get you somewhere in the West? Anyone who is not an Indian
citizen is a foreigner.Jit India 14 Apr, 2010 07:22 PM
Do you require passport on "Moon"MANOJ.S.NAIR kerala 15 Apr, 2010
04:18 PM
ANYONE CAN FOOL POOR INDIANS BY SAYING ANYTHING, IF IT IS CASE OF
SONIA, THEN SHE IS AN INDIAN, IF IT IS SUNANDA----THEN ALSO INDIAN,
EVERY BODY IN THE WHOLE WORLD ARE INDIANS----THAT IS WHAT THERE
PHILOSOPHY SAYS,VASUDAIVAKUTUMBAKOM.Ambrish Pune 14 Apr, 2010 05:08 PM
Never mind ... if people of foreign nationality are influenced by
India/Indians ... some of them even take up Indian nationality ...
what's wrong if they are nice and think well of the country.Harish USA
15 Apr, 2010 11:46 AM
Kashmiri lady who is Canadian can buy property/corporation in Kerala
but a Keralite "kanya"Shashi Arya-warta 14 Apr, 2010 02:44 AM
Such openely lecherous person should have no place in Indian
CabinetKunnu Delhi 14 Apr, 2010 02:21 AM
Sunandas father looks very dissapointed in her daughter. Maybe he nows
exactly what her profession is.Vivek London 14 Apr, 2010 02:01 AM
Shashi Tharoor proves that sometimes most educated are the most
foolish as well.....
Sunanda Pushkar hires lawyer in Dubai, may file damages
PTI, Apr 16, 2010, 12.24pm IST
Tags:Dubai|Shashi Tharoor|Sunanda Pushkar
DUBAI: Sunanda Pushkar, the woman at the centre of a ownership
controversy surrounding the Kochi IPL franchise, is considering filing
for damages and has hired a Dubai-based lawyer for the purpose.
It has been alleged that Pushkar got free equity worth 70 crore rupees
in the the Kochi franchise with the help of close friend Shashi
Tharoor, who is Minister of State for External Affairs.
Ashish Mehta, the lawyer, said Pushkar has asked for his legal
assistance.
"I write to confirm that Ms Sunanda Pushkar has engaged my
professional services," Mehta said in a written statement lat night.
He said his client's image had been tarnished, and they would
"seriously consider filing for damages".
Mehta insisted media has misrepresented her client and that facts
needed to be put straight. According to him the reports that Pushkar
was a beautician, spa owner or a socialite are untrue.
"Ms Pushkar has 20 years of hard core work experience." Sources say
Pushkar made her fortune as an executive of a state-owned company in
Dubai and has never been in the spa business.
"All this spa business is untrue. She has been an entrepreneur and
businesswomen for long and that has brought her wealth," an ex-
colleague of hers told PTI on the condition of anonymity.
BJP reacts to Sunanda Pushkar's decision
18 Apr 2010, 8:10pm IST| Duration: 02:04
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Media just turned me into a 'slut' in IPL row: Sunanda Pushkar
PTI, Apr 23, 2010, 05.35pm IST
Tags:Cricket|IPL|Shashi Tharoor|tharoor|Sunanda Pushkar
NEW DELHI: Sunanda Pushkar, who was at the centre of the IPL Kochi
controversy that led to Shashi Tharoor's exit from government, says
the media just turned her into a 'slut', some kind of 'brainless eye
candy'.
Dubbing as a "medieval witch hunt" the media scrutiny on her after the
controversy raged, Sunanda said, "I have always been proud that I have
made it alone — on my own terms — in a man's world.
And here, in one minute, without bothering to find out any facts the
media just turned me into a slut, into some kind of brainless eye
candy! I don't know why people find it so hard to understand this."
The 48-year old marketing professional said she met Tharoor two years
back but had developed "closeness" in the past five months only.
"We are certainly close now, but that closeness only developed less
than five months ago. I am very proud to know him because, most of
all, he is a good and honest man," Sunanda said in an interview to
Tehelka magazine. She met Tharoor two years ago through a common
friend.
Sunanda came into public spotlight when IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi
tweeted revealing her stake in IPL Kochi and questioned the merit on
which she was given sweat equity worth Rs 70 crore in the new
franchisee.
Modi had also alleged that Tharoor had asked him not to reveal the
names of the team franchisee.
While the controversy led to Tharoor's exit as Minister of State for
External Affairs, Sunanda, who is based in Dubai, returned her sweat
equity.
Claiming that Tharoor has been "hounded out, for now - ironically -
for not being dirty enough", Sunanda suggested that he was comparable
to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi and said these three
men gave hope to millions of Indians across the world that even clean
men can join politics.
Denying that she was a proxy for Tharoor, she said "Can't I make my
own money? He has not been corrupt for so many years — for which I am
proud to be his friend — why would he be corrupt now? Just look around
you in India and see the corruption — in government, in industry, in
every crevice of public life and they call this corruption!".
Media just turned me into a 'slut' in IPL row: Sunanda Pushkar
Santhosh Canada 24 Apr, 2010 03:55 AM
Guys! Tharoor is an erstwhile diplomat who is educated, smart
celebrity and no wonder a person like Sunanda, who is also beautiful
and successful start an association with him. Its not anyone's problem
and if anybody think so you need a retrospection whether it is a 'Sour
Grape' situation.Anita US 24 Apr, 2010 03:36 AM
Indian media has no ethics. Most journalists except a handful are just
tabloid reporters who will sensationalize any situation for increased
readership. This is not the first time they have victimized a
respectable woman.vijay vizag,india 24 Apr, 2010 02:39 AM
you are what you said you are.....and it is obvious that a guy from
trivandrum will support Mr.Tharoor......be it lalit modi or some other
individual....they all are corrupt...so dont be biasedArjun Nagpur 24
Apr, 2010 02:26 AM
I am so sorry Sunanda that the media went after a "devi"Shanu Kanpur
24 Apr, 2010 04:07 AM
No One can make a woman a SLUT unless she is one. The very fact that
she is using such a language ("SLUT"pkg us 24 Apr, 2010 02:04 AM
"I have always been proud that I have made it alone  on my own
terms  in a man's world."The Sun NY 24 Apr, 2010 01:34 AM
Corruption is soon going to take down this nation...good for the
west....Girish USA 24 Apr, 2010 01:21 AM
Indian media has always find to make it big when they see can't do
much damage to themselves. But they have no spine to do any thing
socially constructive (such as bringing the culprits of IPL saga to
justice) when they meet their match or even more powerful ones. Case
is different for western mediaHemant goa 24 Apr, 2010 01:19 AM
who cares what u r?????Sharad New jersey 24 Apr, 2010 01:18 AM
Hmm....People like Tharoor joined politics thats fine. But why he
joined Congress Party ?? Congress which has 60 years of corruption
history, all poor are dying, doing suicide, people are not getting
electricity and for IPL matches they have to show off by providing
electricity there by load-sheddindr jp sharjah 24 Apr, 2010 01:10 AM
we must consider Ms.SunandaAnand Bangalore 24 Apr, 2010 01:06 AM
She needs to ask herself whether she would have got this sweat equity
of Rs 70 crore for so called event planning. sumair london 24 Apr,
2010 12:54 AM
jay ho fraud premier league kye.....you indian get sucess but why you
have to be croupt and behave like a third world country ...oh sry you
are a third world country lago rahoNajath Manzil Ahmed
Nadapuram,Kerala 24 Apr, 2010 12:29 AM
Sunanda,Jay USA 24 Apr, 2010 12:14 AM
Guilty by association !!!!k USA 23 Apr, 2010 11:43 PM
Hey Sunanda, I have house to renovate. Do you want to sl??? with me ?
bystander india 24 Apr, 2010 03:54 AM
she has got more money than your total family wealth added since
500BC.. so shut up and renovate your dingy house. LOSER!!gabloo wash
dc 23 Apr, 2010 11:31 PM
Tharoor is just an idiot supported by a witch out with an agendaRanjit
Thiruvananthapuram 23 Apr, 2010 11:52 PM
And what are you? Some unknown worm doing some minimum wage job to
earn his bread, toiling like a slave from 9-5? Tharoor is a known
person on this planet and to criticize him hiding behind a computer is
pathetic and only a shameless loser can do that. First become equal to
him and then criticize.Arjun Nagpur 24 Apr, 2010 02:22 AM
Equal to Tharoor ? For that I will have to sleep around with beautiful
women around the world and then pocket 70 crores. How can I be equal
to him. I am a normal person making 30 thousand rupees out of which
pay 10 thousand as tax.NG Amsterdam 24 Apr, 2010 04:00 AM
good reply to an idiot gabroo!Raktech INDIA 24 Apr, 2010 01:20 AM
U Mr.kerala, tell me one thng, If Mr Tharoor is a known fellow in the
planet or universe, who has gvn him the right 2 njoy sweet equity
through sweet heart??????Santhosh Kollam 24 Apr, 2010 01:14 AM
Rajit,this is stupidest thing ever heard.Tharoor was a minister of
state and if he went wrong, which he obviously did, every citizen of
the country has the right to say that, you don't have to be a known or
"equal"R bangalore 24 Apr, 2010 01:08 AM
Ranjit, you seem to know a lot about Taroor, lets hear. What do you
mean by "become equal"Bharatiya USA 24 Apr, 2010 01:01 AM
Why taking things personal? The whole world knows Tharoor is a
arrogant corrupt idoit. He did not do anything for Kerala. I proud of
a guy who is doing some minimum wage to earn his bread, toiling like a
slave from 9-5, but still morally high and honest. Come out of Kerala
and see world.Subir Calcutta 24 Apr, 2010 01:22 AM
Are you sure you are not one?. if you are one, then your comment cant
be taken seriously.Ram Canada 23 Apr, 2010 11:28 PM
Sunanda, you must not have put in much sweat if you, so quickly,
returned the shares(70 cores). So far as Tharoor being honest, his
resignation proves his honesty. I have not heard or read of any one
calling you a Slut, but yourself.KAZIM SPAIN 24 Apr, 2010 03:23 AM
HAHAHAH WELL WELL WELL GUYS LETS WAIT AND WATCH THE JUDGMENT DAY IS
VERY CLOSE FOR BOTH OF THEM, ACTUALLY I RECOMMEND FOR PROBE ON ALL
BCCI BOARD MEMBERS AND THIER WEALTH NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED AND ALL
CONFISCATED MONEY NEED TO INVEST IN IT SECTOR FOR RESEARCH AND
DEVOLOPMENT. ALL PRAY IF ITS POSSIAnil Delhi 24 Apr, 2010 02:45 AM
Tharoor's resignation wud have made the difference had he not tried to
pretend there was nothign wrong.. if anythign hsi resgination has
proven he was guiltyShahiLal Blr 24 Apr, 2010 02:26 AM
Yes... no one else called or thot of her like that... except
herself... Look at what a 48 year old worn out woman thinks of
herself..'slut' ..'buetiful'..Partha Bangalore 24 Apr, 2010 01:46 AM
@Ram--U sud have watchd some news channels how they gave introduction
abt sunanda...saying she got everything for free in her
life...starting from her cosmetic surgery to sweat equity....:)Suman
Chandigarh 24 Apr, 2010 01:21 AM
You lost the plot.Please refer your modern English dictionary and then
speak.You are only making a fool of yourself.And you dont understand
her perspective nor can comprehend English.A resignation does not
prove guilt, in your imagination maybe, but logically no.Reasons can
be several.Virender, Hyderabad Hyderabad 23 Apr, 2010 11:27 PM
Hi, well i guess we hv a right to point on anyone only when we know
facts. So, i believe they may be guilty, but yet to b convicted. But
surely, in today's world no one would support anyone for charity.
Thankssam usa 23 Apr, 2010 11:19 PM
sleep to sucessZamir Dubai 23 Apr, 2010 11:18 PMWe admire you Ms.
Sunanda, for forgoing a huge hard earned stake for the person you
love, concidentally the person happened to be an honest Minister.
Tharoor will soon be back more powerful than ever, and modi who is the
reason for his outster is already in the slide to ditches.Raj delhi 23
Apr, 2010 11:11 PM
These ladies who come to India after getting sexually liberated have
ruined the culture of this country. The bollywood is full of such
whores who do anything for money. It is saddening that the youth of
today blindly follow these whores as their role models....Prof. Ramesh
Manghirmalani g 23 Apr, 2010 11:10 PM
Sunanda Pushkar is a 'slut'. what is wrong being called a
sluthttp://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/photo/5722476.cms
mukej Chandighar 23 Apr, 2010 11:02 PM
the best to her
R.SETHURAMAN Bangalore 23 Apr, 2010 10:58 PM
The lady protests too much .Both Tharoor and this lady two overrated
individuals. What all th is lady has stated appears to be what she
thinks of herself.
Emotional outburst is no substitute for Truth. She has no answer and
so covers up with vehemence.Both Tharoor and this lady have not come
clean.Rajesh UK 23 Apr, 2010 10:53 PM
Of course u r a slutsensible indian mumbai 23 Apr, 2010 10:50 PM
First of all Mr Tharoor is an idiot No 1 as explained by his immature
behaviour at ministerial level. No wonder he did not get elected as UN
Sec Gen. Ms Sunanda, do not show your fake concern for him as for sure
you definitely had hidden agenda of garnering sweat equity using his
proximitykushik delhi 23 Apr, 2010 11:26 PM
u sound as if UN gen sec position is like a school prefect job..Romesh
NY 23 Apr, 2010 10:46 PMThe media sometimes promotes "brainless
sensationalism "Ravi Hyd 23 Apr, 2010 10:42 PM
how come she be true? on what basis she got such a hefty stake in a
team?Surat Delhi 23 Apr, 2010 10:34 PM
Twice devorced, one husband did suicide, living among sheikhs and into
realty business, and you still say we should take you as mother
terresa. BS, how many beds and how many mens, it would be one hell of
a permutation and combination to solve. Wee for Thuroor, he wasted his
life for a SLUT.Christopher Goa 23 Apr, 2010 09:58 PM
Well our Media is also going thru a phase where one can create enough
revenue by projecting anything thats bad in anything they need as
breaking News. When it comes to a Lady making money its a talk of the
town. Here is a simple example of two people being mixed up and
exposed for nothing.Deepak California 23 Apr, 2010 09:58 PM
Don't you know that Sunanda studied atVinay Malavalli Minneapolis 23
Apr, 2010 09:58 PM
If what Sunanda says is true then we indians are making a big mistake
by embarrassing a non corrupt and promosing leader. If it is not true
we will be very disappointed. In either case media has a big
responsibility of giving the public right facts instead of presenting
thier views and opinions.G.Sriniwasan Sydney,Australia 23 Apr, 2010
09:54 PM
Marketing Professional,Blah,Blah,Blah.Which businessman will commit to
payRS70Cr as sweat equity and what are your credentials?Why blame the
Media?If the lady was genuine,she should have faced the media and
cleared all the misgivings.The entire issue STINKS.PeriodRaaj Naik
Gandhinagar 23 Apr, 2010 09:50 PM
The 48-year old marketing professional said she met Tharoor two years
back but had developed "closeness"Ravi Shankr USA 23 Apr, 2010 09:48
PM
Ms. Sunanda stop acting so naive. Simple question, why someone will
offer you 70 crore share just like that ? Everyone knows what it takes
to be as successful as you in the man's world.Jeslyn Canada 23 Apr,
2010 10:36 PMExactly what does it take, Mr Ravi Shankar. As if a woman
cannot be successful in a man's world without resorting to what you
are suggesting!! Grow up...the world is progressing...you'll be left
behind!!!Roshni Mumbai 23 Apr, 2010 11:09 PM
Absolutely pathetic. Which world do you live in? Have all women, who
are successful in today's world, slept their way up? Have you heard of
Indira Nooyi, Anu Aga, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Simone Tata, Lalita Gupte
and many others?. Don't judge people just on the basis of their
gender...arkantos india 23 Apr, 2010 09:47 PM
Behind every disgraced man, there is atleast one woman.CleverDick
Internet 23 Apr, 2010 09:44 PM
she has a perfect choice of words! ha ha ha ha!Jugal Bandhu New Delhi
23 Apr, 2010 09:35 PM
The Corrupts who did not even spare their own daughters and wives for
living by corruption could not have missed the opprtunity to exploit
Sunnada Pusher who is otherwise used to such exploited!It is no using
shedding crockedile teras now!siddharth biswal Rourkela 23 Apr, 2010
09:34 PM
Too late to make these admissions.Tharoor had an ethicalHemant Surat
23 Apr, 2010 09:32 PM
Kudos to the Lady!!! Rightly said.. Media needs to stop all yellow
journalism and place the news more as NEWs and not as VIEWS. Media has
got to mature and learn using some discretion while bringing things to
public, whom they mistakenly think are stupid and immature.Hemant USA
23 Apr, 2010 09:22 PM
Sunanda is sooooooo hurt. She is such a nice lady.... she gave up Rs
70 Crore sweat equity..... because? **scratching my head** Oh! because
Shashi Tharoor is a good and honest man ;) Yeah right! And by the way
she is not a 'brainless eye candy'. She is 'eye candy' with a good
scheming brain.jigna India 23 Apr, 2010 10:07 PM
So apt. I like and agree your views. Ha Ha Ha Mr. phoney Gandhi is
honest my foot. What good does it serve if PM is honest not helping
India in anyway, just working on Sonia's conditions not India's
conditions. So stop stooping yourself you woman. Height of
greed.Strategist India 23 Apr, 2010 09:19 PM
Bravo! Sunanda, you just did it yourself...nobody else could have
described you better.BTW, Mr. Tharoor still needs to prove himself. So
far, all we have heard are the words coming out of his BIG mouth.
Politics is quite different from a comfy job at UN. I hope he must
have realized this by now...Jay indore 23 Apr, 2010 09:18 PM
If this is not corruption then what is this - some kind of divine
charity - What sweat did you put besides the obvious one? Wanted to
get 70 crores sweetly but it the sweet turned sour. Perhaps Tharoor
thought India mein sab kuch possible hai? and why not, if it can be
done then why noAasheesh Kumar NOIDA 23 Apr, 2010 09:17 PM
Hilarious to read Pushkar's comment defending "Honest"Boopathy NY 23
Apr, 2010 09:10 PM
Do not justify that Mr. Tharoor was not corrupt in this episode. Fact
of the matter is that he is and what separates him from other
politicians is this - others seem to have mastered in covering their
tracks but this guy seems egoistic and clueless in this regard.vikku
mumbai 23 Apr, 2010 08:51 PM
man's world? u should know that ths is not the man's world. media has
falsely showing it as a man's world, when all rights are given to
women and all responsibilities are on man's shoulders. this is man's
world is as true as you are a slut.waseem california 23 Apr, 2010
08:45 PM
Please stop asking for attention lady....even if what u say is correct
I suggested u maintain dignity and let events take a proper
outcome.Sreejith Shanghai 23 Apr, 2010 08:40 PM
THAROOR HAD A CLEAN IMAGE, BUT SOME VESTED INTEREST MADE HIM SCAPE
GOAT, WE INDIANS ARE SURE HE WILL COME BACK SOON WITH A BANG.Bene
Gesserit arakkis 23 Apr, 2010 11:16 PM
Just Don't support he is a Mallu. He is the most sophisticated fool i
have ever seen. Tharoor should have given the 'slut' a jizz equity
instead he wanted to give her a sweat equity!Vivek Malaysia 23 Apr,
2010 08:39 PM
You are right Sunanda. But the whole game was carefully planned to
dislodge the Kochi spanner from the wheel. You are just a collateral
victim to discredit Tharoor. That sweat equity was a master move that
unfortunately killed the golden goose.patriot USA 23 Apr, 2010 08:30
PM
If you are in public eye, you better be careful in protecting your
profile... Tharoor is divorced twice and you had 2 husbands... just
tells you about your personality... there are many tiger woods in the
world, but lost his brand with sex scandals, 'coz he was a public
figuregurukanth Manipal 23 Apr, 2010 08:12 PM
Yeah, whats wrong if they have made u into a slut...thats what u
r..gurukanth Manipal 23 Apr, 2010 08:12 PM
Yeah, whats wrong if they have made u into a slut...thats what u
r..Sankar World 23 Apr, 2010 08:06 PM
This is not unexpected. When you are exposed you use the race/religion/
gender card. Lady, pls dont try to justify corruption on a
"relative"darthvader Chicago 23 Apr, 2010 08:00 PM
who says she's eye candy...man...does she have some wrong
ideas....lolgautam usa 23 Apr, 2010 08:15 PMSunanda's claims are an
eye wash and nobody will buy it.Why Tharoor request Modi not to
disclose names of franchisee owners.Shashi needs to find out more
about Sunanda and her Dubai connection.She might be pawn in big game
and not his real girl friend.darthvader Chicago 23 Apr, 2010 08:00 PM
who says she's eye candy...man...does she have some wrong
ideas....lolKazim spain 23 Apr, 2010 07:50 PM
Why did Md. Sonia and Mr. Singh asked Mr. T for the clearence, there
is something fishy which has been cooked reveal it in public, so we as
public can openly support, dont worry now SRK is also corrupted man
its money game and all involved, this is the last chance for u to
prove ur Mr. T's innocenseDr.Anil NYC 23 Apr, 2010 07:49 PM
Three cheers to Media on IPL mess display - so many, and all around. I
believe Media and Sunanda too, with caution. She is right when she
says she made it alone in man's world - on her terms. Does she know
meanings of good and honest? Re-examine herself, Tharoor, her terms
and IPL gamblers.Balu Vaithinathan Chennai 23 Apr, 2010 07:49 PM
Playing the feminist card does not change the fact that the sweat
equity was illegal under the Companies Act.Kazim Spain 23 Apr, 2010
07:47 PM
I personally truely believe you Sunanda, but how can u give your hand
to Mr. T to hold it in public, if you are not genuinely close to each
other as leaving partners, but hey if u both are in a relation its
cool, why the media is jealous, whats gone wrong why Mr. T has to give
up his position, whyPrasanth Middle East 23 Apr, 2010 07:43 PM
tharoor not being currupt all these years.. r u joking.. jst go back
nd see wht he had done to make his present wife sit next to him n UN
office.. nd jst google nd see wht the hell of a protest it made.. if
he can do tht to his ex-girlfriend / wife.. he can do anythng to make
his present frind comfyKieron UK 23 Apr, 2010 07:40 PM
Sunanda - If what you are saying is true (and I would like to believe
so) why did you return the sweat equity? The inference is that the
accusations were true.Deb USA 23 Apr, 2010 07:40 PM
I think Sunanda is right. When all other corrupt ministers can easily
escape, Tharoor was made a scapegoat. The prime minister even if
honest can not act due political compulsion. I think nobody can fight
against corruption in India; forget about cleaning the system. It is
sad, sad and sad.Shekhar India 23 Apr, 2010 07:39 PM
well, she sure looks like one :)Gautam De NJ, USA 23 Apr, 2010 07:36
PM
If she is so honest, why did she resigned her equity in Kochi team?
What makes her think that we will not believe media, who has to sell
truth to survive - much longer than her, than her self-proclamation of
'satitwa'? She has brainNarayan Mumbai 23 Apr, 2010 07:31 PM
Media is always on witch hunt of celebs personal lives. Rather than
concentrating on the issues, they get neck deep with lot of
assumptions and perceptions of their lives.uthamanarayanan coimbatore
23 Apr, 2010 07:30 PM
Oh, he is comparable to Dr.singh,Rahul Gandhi --nice indeed given a
certificate equating him to these personalities ,one of sterling
qualities another is from a good lineage . What would have happened to
the classified documents of Govt if Tharoor continued as Minister and
husband of this one?Pawan Seth Jhansi 23 Apr, 2010 07:22 PM
Great Sunanda. You are so very right. It is our bad luck and fate that
we are incapable of throwing up honest Indians like Shashi Tharoor
into positions of influence, so that we could have a better future.Col
A Gautam Noida 23 Apr, 2010 07:21 PM
Sunanda, u r a daughter of an army officer, so be careful when making
comments about country in general. U have been wronged becoz u sided
with a simpleton, smart idiot(politically) but feel pride that its u
who brought the muck out.RelaxLallu US 23 Apr, 2010 07:20 PM
you are really a useless S**t doing massage of Arabs in Dubaisoumya
Texas 23 Apr, 2010 07:15 PM
Tharoor is not corroupt, joke of the century. How come he spent Rupees
3 crores in 3 months for his luxary living in delhi. When people dont
get food to eat this guy can enjoy on Government's money. Sashi
Tharoor is not a clean man. In his past and see, he has been sacked at
various placesGirish Mamtani Nigeria 23 Apr, 2010 07:13 PM
Not one person can claim to be honest and corrupt free. Absolutely
correct Sunanda ! Wholly empathise with you. Indian Media, mostly, is
only for sensationalism, should be chastised and can only say 'Even
God does not propose to judge a man until the end of his day...media
does it for an eyeball'.Amit Mumbai 23 Apr, 2010 07:12 PM
As if she wasn't already one.Indranil New Delhi 23 Apr, 2010 07:11 PM
I totally agree, lady! Right said about (1) hounded out for not being
dirty enough, (2) Honorable PM, MMS, Rahul and young brigade
(including Dr Tharoor) from all parties (except louts like Varun
Gandhi, of course) being the hope of millions, and corruption reigning
in every sphere of this country!sen del 23 Apr, 2010 07:10 PM
why is she degrading tharoor by comparing him to a pea brained rahul?
the last time i checked rahul was busy playing the caste card. so i
rate him below mayawati. below becoz his family name made him wherever
he is now in the indian political scene. We are seeing too many frauds
during UPA.Anon india 23 Apr, 2010 07:08 PM
What the hell does she mean ? Does it mean that all other man in
politics other than these three are crappy people. we know the
cleanness of her who had been apparently running a spa in dubai,
suddenly turned into a marketing wizard capable of earning several
crores worth of sweat equity over nightSAS United States 23 Apr, 2010
07:06 PM
I totally agree with Sunanda Pushkar. Give hell to those corrupt
officials and media personnels who thrive on publicity. I really wish
Government to probe into all corruption and see who comes out
clean.Sankar Gurusamy Salt Lake City , Utah USA 23 Apr, 2010 07:01 PM
This women says getting 70 crore for nothing is not a corruption. And
tharoor facilitated that. Just because he worked in UN, he can do
anything in india. HeBalram Pandey NIGERIA(W.A) 23 Apr, 2010 06:53 PM
Sunanda,s comments on financial mess up appear to be in favour of
ousted Tharoor but it is natural a frien dwill take the side of her
friend to cover up burning issue. Why such incidents happen in govt.
sectors when politicans are involved so deeply and tarnish image of
clean and clear politics?Pavan US 23 Apr, 2010 06:43 PM
So getting close yo a married man dosent make you a slut ....no you
were getting paid ...that makes you a W not an SDark Clouds Timbaktu
23 Apr, 2010 06:42 PM
This is price that people who are or seek power or public service have
to pay. Because Media today is like a 'Brothel' - you get paid news
and Media owners are the pimpsshankar visakhapatnam 23 Apr, 2010 06:32
PM
I think Sunanda like to be a slut, thats why she herself declared
slut. She made me horny for a second by her statement. Please keep
giving more, like you have festish for bats, balls, wickets etc
etc.shankar visakhapatnam 23 Apr, 2010 06:31 PM
I think Sunanda like to be a slut, thats why she herself declared
slut. She made me horny for a second by her statement. Please keep
giving more, like you have festish for bats, balls, wickets etc
etc.mudita Kolkata 23 Apr, 2010 06:26 PM
@ Sunanda, Can you write a little bit about your academic
qualificationajay Delhi 23 Apr, 2010 06:24 PM
'brainless eye candy'. brainless, yes but eye candy? No way. I dont
want to be rude but whats your age Sunanda.Rahul Hyderabad 23 Apr,
2010 06:23 PM
I didnt see any media mentioning her as a slut.Ravi Australia.. 23
Apr, 2010 06:20 PM
Sunanda Pushkar - now will say this happens only in India....Why don't
you openly accept like the way people do it in west, if you have the
guts to.John Dubai 23 Apr, 2010 06:17 PM
well said sunanda! I support you fully.Arun Brisbane 23 Apr, 2010
06:17 PM
KHISYANI BILLI KHAMBA NOCHEMohit India 23 Apr, 2010 06:14 PM
Well from her history and how she rose to high posts in no time also
indicate that she is a slut.. She says that she has a lot of
experience and still she and Rendezvous sports failed to acquire
sufficient information and/or abide by "Company Laws"Rakesh Delhi 23
Apr, 2010 06:13 PM
I think so that she is right. Media in todays time in order to
sensationalize the news have started crossing limits. Both Shashi
Tharoor and Lalit modi have made India proud. But our system tends to
bring down the ones who are going up on a fast track.Tariq mumbai 23
Apr, 2010 06:10 PM
She is right, and Tharoor undoubtedly is a man to be respected. Must
hear him out , any spoeeches that he makes, prime ministerial material
really, not many will agree, but see his credentials. Its Modi's
credentials to be investigated, to save cricket in India.Santhosh
Toronto 23 Apr, 2010 06:03 PM
She is true. We should appreciate the fact that she is a courageous
women.amit nyoida 23 Apr, 2010 05:54 PM
Ha Ha Ha.......what a load of crap......
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Sunanda lawyer's client list includes Zardari, Salman
Bharati Dubey, TNN, Apr 20, 2010, 02.04am IST
MUMBAI: Dubai-based Indian lawyer Ashish Mehta, who has been
representing Sunanda Pushkar in the IPL Kochi imbroglio, has had an
enviable list of clients, including Indian celebrities, members of the
Dubai ruling family and Benazir Bhutto, the former prime minister of
Pakistan who was assassinated in 2007.
The 44-year-old Mehta was also a close friend of Bhutto. He told TOI,
"She was a close friend of mine and her family is still known to me."
After Bhutto's death, Mehta continues to be in touch with Pakisani
President Asif Zardari and his son Bilawal. He had stopped an Indian
producer from making a documentary on Bhutto.
The Delhi-born Mehta has known Pushkar socially for almost a decade.
"I lost touch with her for some time, but reconnected with her last
year when she was working for Tecom, an investment firm, as a sales
manager. Recently, on April 15, after she returned from India to
Dubai, she began consulting me on the Kochi case," said Mehta.
When asked if someone had suggested his name to her or if she had ever
mentioned former minister of state Shashi Tharoor's name, Mehta said,
"She never mentioned his name. I got to know about their connection
through the media."
On whether Pushkar offered to give up her sweat equity to save
Tharoor's ministership, Mehta said, "I don't think that was the
intent. The accusations and allegations against her left her
heartbroken and she is totally disappointed. So she decided to give it
up, despite the efforts she made for the Kochi consortium."
But why would one give up a stake of Rs 70 crore? Mehta said, "There
was no investment involved. This was her professional assignment and
instead of paying her a salary they decided to give her a stake.
Sunanda is very passionate about cricket and wanted Kerala to have its
own team and that is probably why she got the consortium together."
Pushkar's late husband was a Keralite and she has an 18-year-old son
from him.
Mehta said, "Sunanda has been in Dubai since April 15 and is taking it
easy now."
Mehta, who has practised for 20 years in Dubai, said he is the only
licensed, independent Indian lawyer there; the others practise for
firms. He also has licences to practise in India, the UK, Singapore
and other countries of the UAE. Mehta has had celebrities seek his
advice time and again. "I have represented DJ Aqeel in a drugs case
and Mukesh Kochhar in the cricket betting scandal involving West
Indian player Marlon Samuel. Even Salman Khan's family consulted me in
the black buck case." Many Indian celebrities who invest in property
in Dubai also consult Mehta.
Mehta, who specializes in various types of law, is also a member of
the legal cell of the Indian Welfare Committee, Dubai.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/iplarticleshow/5833853.cms?prtpage=1