Die Live-CD „Indische Klassik im Dialog mit Blues“
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Friday, December 27, 2013
Fighting caste discrimination
Caste is one of India’s most enduring institutions and still retains its hold on Indian society. For those not fortunate to be born in the higher echelons of the caste hierarchy, life can be difficult indeed. Despite government efforts, caste discrimination is still rife, and low-caste Indians have to bear the brunt of poverty, illiteracy and violence. Lenin Raghuvanshi is in the forefront of the fight against caste discrimination, to ensure a just and equal society.
Raghuvanshi is the founder of the People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), which fights for the rights of marginalized people in several North Indian states, especially in the area around Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.
Raghuvanshi was born in an upper caste family, which he describes as “feudal”. He got a bachelor’s degree in ayurveda, modern medicine and surgery from the State Ayurvedic College in Haridwar. But the social inequities that faced India made him take up the cause of bonded labourers. This is when he noticed that not a single bonded labourer came from the upper caste, and realised that the problem was essentially caste.
In 1996, Raghuvanshi founded PVCHR to fight the caste system. He works to ensure basic rights to vulnerable groups like children, women, Dalits, tribes and minorities. Raghuvanshi and his team works at the grassroots level in Varanasi and around 200 villages in Uttar Pradesh and five other states. PVCHR works to eliminate situations that give rise to the exploitation of vulnerable and marginalized groups, and to start a movement for a people-friendly movement (Jan Mitra Samaj) through an inter-institutional approach.
Raghuvanshi has his task cut out for him since the lot of Dalits and other oppressed minorities continues to be dismal. “In the past, if anyone from the lower caste breached the unwritten law of caste hierarchy, the person would be beaten up in public. Now the person will be shot dead and the village burnt down and the women raped. A bridegroom riding a horse during his wedding, an enterprising peasant digging a well on his land, if a boy falls in love with a girl – do you kill them? Yet, if they belong to the Dalit caste they are killed. We still say that there is rule of law in India,” he said in his acceptance speech while receiving the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights.
He is also concerned about the plight of women and children in this country. “India is still very much a patriarchal and caste-based society with gender discrimination. The destructive effects of gender discrimination, patriarchal oppression and the semi-feudal society so prevalent in 21st century India are manifest in our 55 million children, employed at times in subhuman conditions,” he says in a newspaper interview.
Raghuvanshi received the Gwangju Human Rights Award in 2007. He was made an Ashoka Fellow in 2001 and was presented the International Human Rights Prize of the City of Weimar (Germany) in 2010. Raghuvanshi once said to a newspaper that caste discrimination is so rife in Bundelkhand that a Dalit has to take off his chappal and hold it in his hand if a person belonging to the Thakur caste approaches. It’s not something that would make us proud.
Raghuvanshi is the founder of the People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), which fights for the rights of marginalized people in several North Indian states, especially in the area around Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.
Raghuvanshi was born in an upper caste family, which he describes as “feudal”. He got a bachelor’s degree in ayurveda, modern medicine and surgery from the State Ayurvedic College in Haridwar. But the social inequities that faced India made him take up the cause of bonded labourers. This is when he noticed that not a single bonded labourer came from the upper caste, and realised that the problem was essentially caste.
In 1996, Raghuvanshi founded PVCHR to fight the caste system. He works to ensure basic rights to vulnerable groups like children, women, Dalits, tribes and minorities. Raghuvanshi and his team works at the grassroots level in Varanasi and around 200 villages in Uttar Pradesh and five other states. PVCHR works to eliminate situations that give rise to the exploitation of vulnerable and marginalized groups, and to start a movement for a people-friendly movement (Jan Mitra Samaj) through an inter-institutional approach.
Raghuvanshi has his task cut out for him since the lot of Dalits and other oppressed minorities continues to be dismal. “In the past, if anyone from the lower caste breached the unwritten law of caste hierarchy, the person would be beaten up in public. Now the person will be shot dead and the village burnt down and the women raped. A bridegroom riding a horse during his wedding, an enterprising peasant digging a well on his land, if a boy falls in love with a girl – do you kill them? Yet, if they belong to the Dalit caste they are killed. We still say that there is rule of law in India,” he said in his acceptance speech while receiving the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights.
He is also concerned about the plight of women and children in this country. “India is still very much a patriarchal and caste-based society with gender discrimination. The destructive effects of gender discrimination, patriarchal oppression and the semi-feudal society so prevalent in 21st century India are manifest in our 55 million children, employed at times in subhuman conditions,” he says in a newspaper interview.
Raghuvanshi received the Gwangju Human Rights Award in 2007. He was made an Ashoka Fellow in 2001 and was presented the International Human Rights Prize of the City of Weimar (Germany) in 2010. Raghuvanshi once said to a newspaper that caste discrimination is so rife in Bundelkhand that a Dalit has to take off his chappal and hold it in his hand if a person belonging to the Thakur caste approaches. It’s not something that would make us proud.
How can you Help?
Caste approaches is not something that would make us proud
Contact details of the NGO/Institution
Name : Lenin Raghuvanshi
Email ID : lenin@pvchr.asia
Contact Number : 9935599333
Website : http://www.pvchr.asia
Address : PVCHR Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
NHRC issues notices to the Chief Secretary, UP and DMs, Muzaffarnagar & Shamli on allegations of children's death due to cold in relief camps
NHRC
issues notices to the Chief Secretary, UP and DMs, Muzaffarnagar &
Shamli on allegations of children's death due to cold in relief camps
Press Release
New Delhi, 26th December, 2013
The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports that at least 40 children died in UP riot relief camps due to extreme cold. It is also reported that there were not enough blankets for the inmates of these camps resulting in the death of infants and young children in Malakpur, Suniti, etc. in Shamli district and Loi, Joula, etc. in Muzaffarnagar district.
The Commission has observed that the contents of the press report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of infants and children and issued the notices to the Chief Secretary and District Magistrates of Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts, Uttar Pradesh calling for a report within four weeks.
Reportedly, the tents are set up with three sheets of tarpaulin that makes the walls and no cover for the entrance, therefore, some blankets are to be tied together to cover the entrance. Most of the dead children were below 5 years age.
Link of the complain: http://www.pvchr.net/2013/12/at-least-40-children-dead-as-up-riot.html
मुजफ्फरनगर के दंगा पीड़ितों के राहत शिविर का सच : कराहती मानवता
मुजफ्फरनगर के दंगा पीड़ितों के राहत शिविर का सच
: कराहती मानवता
23 दिसम्बर को दोपहर के समय मुजफ्फरनगर शाहपुर कैम्प
से दंगा पीडिता मैहरुनिसा का मुझे फोन आया, कि हमें कैम्प से जबरजस्ती हटा दिया
गया है, हमारे पास रहने का कोई ठिकाना नही है हम कंहा जायें ? खुदा के वास्ते आप
हमारी कुछ मदद कीजिये, हमें आपके मदद की जरूरत है | मैहरुनिसा रो रोकर बार-बार मदद
की गुहार लगा रही थी वह बार बार कह रही थी की इतनी ठंढ में मैं कंहा जाऊ ? इस समय
मैं इसी गावं के गोकुलपुर में एक मकान के बाहर बरामदे में अपने छोटे-छोटे बच्चों और
सास के साथ हूँ | मेरे जैसे कई परिवारों को मदद की जरूरत है जिनका कोई ठिकाना नही
है | मदरसे वालों ने हमारा टेंट अचानक ही उजाड़ दिया, हम गुहार लगाते रहे उन्होंने
हमारी एक नही सुनी | हमने इस घटना की सूचना तुरंत ईमेल और डाक द्वारा उत्तर प्रदेश
के मुख्यमंत्री माननीय श्री. अखिलेश यादव जी, राष्ट्रीय मानवाधिकार आयोग, और
केंद्र सरकार को दिया और उनसे अविलम्ब दंगा पीडितो की सहायता के लिए हस्तक्षेप की अपील
की |
हमारी चार सदस्यी टीम, जिसमें डा. लेनिन रघुवंशी
(निदेशक मानवाधिकार जननिगरानी समिति), मेरठ के सुप्रसिद्ध सामाजिक कार्यकर्ता मेजर
डा. हिमांशु सिंह, मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ता मोहम्मद ताज और मैं श्रुति नागवंशी
(संयोजिका वायस ऑफ़ पीपुल, उत्तर प्रदेश) 21 दिसम्बर 2013 को शाहपुर गाँव के
इस्लामिया मदरसे के खुले आसमान के नीचे अस्थाई रूप से बनाये गये कैम्प में मुजफ्फरनगर
के दंगा पीड़ित परिवारों से मिलने पहुचे | इनमें से कई परिवार कंही जा चुके थे | जो
रह गये, वे मुख्यतः दिहाड़ी, मजदूर ईट भट्ठा मजदूर रह गये थे | जिन्हें 23 दिसम्बर
को जबरिया उजाड़ दिया गया और कहा गया कि आप अपने घर लौट जायें | सवाल यह है यह
मजदूर कंहा जाये जिन गाँवो से इन परिवारों ने भागकर अपनी जान बचायी, वंहा दहशत से
वे जाना नही चाहते | वंहा उनके रहने का भी कोई ठिकाना नही रहा, जो कुछ था वह
अराजकतत्वो द्वारा छिन्न भिन्न कर दिया गया | लोगों ने बताया कि हमें सरकारी गाड़ी
में सर्वे कराने हमारे गाँव ले जाया गया था जब हमने अपने घरों की हालत देखी थी |
कुछ के घरों के छत भी उतार लिए गये हैं, उन्होंने कहाकि हमारा घर अब घर नही रहा | हम
वंहा जाकर क्या करेंगे, जंहा जान पर बन आयी हो |
एक पीड़ित ने स्वव्यथा कथा बताते हुए दर्द भरे
आवाज में कहाकि, 7 सितम्बर को मन्दौर की उस पंचायत ने हमारी जिन्दगी बदल दी इसके
पहले हम अपने गाँव में कई पुश्तों रह रहे थे, हम ठहरे मजदूर हमें जो कोई मजदूरी के
लिए बोलता या काम देता हम वही करके अपनी जिन्दगी गुजार रहे थे | लेकिन पंचायत में
क्या हुआ ? उसके बाद ही जाटो और मुसलमानों में झगड़ा हो गया, जिसमें दो जाट मारे
गये जिनकी लाशें गावं में आने के बाद कोहराम मच गया जाटो का समूह हमें अपने घरों
से भगाने पर आमादा हो गये | अगर हम जैसे तैसे भाग कर अपनी जान न बचाते तो मार दिए
जाते | वे लोग जो हमारे साथ इतने सालों से प्रेम से रहते आये थे वही हमें जान मारने
काट डालने की धमकी दे रहे थे | उनकी आँखों में आग उबल रहा था और हाथों में लाठी
डंडे, चापड़ या जो कुछ हथियार या औजार मिला वही लिए थे | हम कुछ समझ ही नही पा रहे
थे कि क्या और क्यों हो रहा है | बस हर कोई अपना अपने परिवार की जान किसी तरह बचाने
के लिए भाग रहा था | जिसका मुहँ जिस दिशा में उसी तरफ भाग रहा था | हमने कुछ देर
और की होती तो हमारी लाशें मिलतीं वंहा | हमें तो हर तरह से दर्द झेलना था हमारे
बच्चे हमारे सामने मारे जाते तो भी हम तडपते और हम मारे जाते, तो भी अपनी जान खोने
की तडप होती |
शाहपुरा इस्लामिया मदरसे के इस कैम्प में दंगा
प्रभावित अलग-अलग गावों सिसोली, हडौली, काकडे, सोरम, गोइला आदि के तीन सौ परिवार
रह रहे थे | अब भी वंहा बयालिस परिवार टेंटो में थे जो 23 दिसम्बर को खदेड़ दिए गये
| इन परिवारों में पांच गर्भवती महिलाये - अफसाना उम्र 19 W/o वाजिद , 2. परवीन
उम्र 30 W/o असलम, 3. शमसीदा उम्र 30 W/o आस मोहम्मद, 4. संजीदा उम्र 26 W/o
महबूब, 5. मोमिना उम्र 30 W/o दिलशाद थीं जिन्हें छ: से सात माह का गर्भ था |
काकडे गाँव की शहजाना (उम्र 30 पत्नी कामिल) जो
ईट भट्ठा मजदूर है वह जिस दिन गाँव से अपनी और अपने परिवार की जान बचाते हुए भागकर
कैम्प में आयी | उसी दिन उसे लडकी पैदा हुई, ऐसे में सास ने ही प्रसव कराया | आठ
दिन बाद बच्ची निमोनिया से पीड़ित होकर वह गुजर गयी | दवा ईलाज के लिये अपने पास से
हो सका किया, लेकिन बच्ची नही बची | शबाना
(उम्र 20 पत्नी नफीम) को कैम्प में आने के दो महीने बाद लडकी पैदा हुई, वह भी
निमोनिया से पीड़ित होकर एक हफ्ते बाद गुजर गयी | परवीन (उम्र 30 पत्नी असलम) ने
बताया कि, हम कलेजे पर पत्थर रखकर कैम्प में रह रहे हैं | जब हम किसी जरूरत का
सामान लेने के लिए आसपास के दुकानों में जाते हैं तो लोग बाग हमें देखकर बोलियां
बोलते हैं, की ये लोग कैम्प में कम्बल और राहत के सामानों के लालच में पड़े हैं
इनकी तो मौज है हम सुनकर भी अनसुना कर देते हैं | यंहा हम इनकी शरण में हैं क्या
कहें, खुदा किसी को ऐसे दिन ना दिखाए | रात में हमारे चूल्हे में कुत्ते के बच्चे
आकर सो जाते हैं और सुबह उसी चूल्हे में हम खाना पकाते है हमारा ईमान भी खराब हो
रहा है लेकिन खुदा सब देख रहा है वह हमें माफ़ करेंगें |
हडौली गाँव की मैहरुनिसा ने हमें बताया की दंगे
में मेरे पति सत्तार लापता थे मैं मेरी सत्तर वर्षीय बूढी सास शरीफन रह रहकर बेचैन
हो जाते कि उनका क्या हाल होगा ? कंहा होंगे ? सात दिन बाद खतौली में उनका पता चला
जब उनकी कहानी सुनकर हमारे पाँव तले जमीन खिसक गयी | जब शाम को मेरे पति जब फेरी
के कपड़े बेचकर घर आ रहे थे तो उन्हें तीन जाटो ने उन्हें मोटरसाईकिल से दौड़ा लिया
था, वे किसी तरह गिरते पड़ते अपनी जान बचाने के लिए भाग रहे थे | लेकिन डाक्टर साहब
के दुकान के पास उन जाटो ने मेरे पति को घेर लिया और उन्हें गिराकर उनकी गर्दन पर
हथियार से वार करने ही वाले थे कि डाक्टर साहब ने उन्हें रोकने की कोशिश की वे
मानने को तैयार नही थे | उन्होंने मारने का कारण भी पूछा, जवाब में उन्होंने कहाकि
बस ऐसे ही इसे मारना है | उनके बीच बचाव के बीच ही मेरे पति जान बचाकर भाग निकले |
वे डाक्टर साहब भी जाट थे, लेकिन उनकी वजह से ही मेरे पति की जान बच गयी | यदि वे न
होते तो शायद मेरे पति मार दिए जाते | हम उनके लाख-लाख शुक्रगुजार हैं कि उन्होंने
उन तीन जाटो को रोका जो मेरे पति को मरना चाहते थे | दहशत से उनकी तबियत बहुत खराब
हो गयी थी | अपने नाक की सोने की लौंग और कान का कुंडल बेचकर बहुत दिन ईलाज कराया |
अभी भी वे बहुत डरे सहमे हैं, तबियत हमेशा खराब ही रहती है | इसी से उन्हें मेरी
बहन ने अपने घर में शरण दिया है | मैं अपनी सास और बच्चों के साथ कैम्प में हूँ, आखिर
रिश्तेदारों पर बोझ तो नही बन सकते हैं |
सिसौली
गाँव की छोटी (उम्र 28 पत्नी इदरीश) जिसके तीन माह का बच्ची अक्शा का जन्म यहीं
कैम्प में हुआ, दंगे के समय उसका भाई यासीन सिसौली में ही था उसे तलवार से चोट आ
गयी थी, जिसका ईलाज शाहपुर में ही कराया | उस समय ईलाज की कोई व्यवस्था नही थी, इस
समय वह अपने घर चला गया है उसे कोई मुवावजा भी नही मिला | खातून (उम्र 35 पत्नी
नूरहसन) जिसका ढाई महीने का बच्चा है कई ऐसे छोटे बच्चे हैं जिनके देखभाल और ईलाज
की कोई सुविधा नही मिली | चौंकाने वाला तथ्य यह सामने आया कि सोरम, सिसौली, हडौली,
और गोइला गाँवो के दस पन्द्रह घरों के जो दंगे पीड़ित शाहपुर कैम्पों में रह रहे थे,
उन्हें प्रशासन ने दंगा पीड़ित नही माना | सिसौली और सोरम जंहा अपने खाप पंचायतो के
लिए जाना जाता है, विदित है कि वंही सिसौली प्रसिद्ध जाट किसान नेता का गाँव है |
महिलाओं ने बताया कि सोरम में उनके कपड़े उतारे लिए गये, उन पर गोलिया चली, तेजाब
फेंका गया, किसी तरह से वे जान बचाकर भागे, पुलिस ने भी उनकी पिटाई की | अभी एक
दिन पहले ही सोरम में मुस्लिम बच्चों की स्कूल से लौटते समय पिटाई की गयी | हडौली
में मस्जिद फूंक दी गयी, वंही दुल्हेरा के हकिमु की बेटी सलेहरा अभी भी गायब है |
हमने
देखाकि बारिश से कैम्प की मिट्टी गीली हो गयी थी कई जगह पानी भी इक्टठा था, कुछ
टेंटो की जमीन में बिछी पुआल भी पूरी तरह गीली थी | महिलाए और बच्चे हमें अपने
टेंटो में ले जाकर दुर्दशा दिखाकर अपना दर्द हमें बता रहे थे | उन्होंने बताया की
ठंढ में हम रात भर जागकर किसी तरह बिताते हैं, ठंढ के मारे नींद नही आती | ठंढ में
हमारे बच्चे ज्यादा बीमार हो जा रहे हैं | दंगे के कुछ दिन बाद एकाध बार दवा मिली
डाक्टर आये, फिर कोई नही आया | हमारे तन पर जो कुछ था, उसे बेचकर हम अपने बच्चों
का ईलाज कराते हैं | अभी भी कई छोटे बच्चे, नवजात बच्चे और उनकी माँऐ, गर्भवती
महिलाए जिन्हें आम तौर पर खास देखभाल की जरूरत होती है वे इस हाड़ कपा देने वाली
ठंढ में खुले कैम्पों में जरूरी सुविधाओं के अभावों में रहने को मजबूर हैं |
यूरोपियन यूनियन ने एक लाख पचास हजार यूरो
आक्सफेम संस्था के द्वारा मुजफ्फरनगर और शामली के दंगा पीडितो की सहायता के लिए देने की घोषणा की है |
वंही क्राई संस्था बच्चों की मौतों की खबरों को संजीदगी से लेकर सीधे मदद करने का
निर्णय लिया है | मुजफ्फरनगर और शामली के के कैम्पों में, (9804) नौ हजार आठ सौ
चार बच्चों की गिनती की गयी थी, जिनमें कई बच्चे मौत का शिकार हो चुके हैं | अभी
भी कई बच्चे और गर्भवती महिलाए थीं, जिन्हें देखभाल और चिकित्सीय सुविधाओ के आभाव
में जूझ रहे हैं जिन्हें मदद की जरूरत है | पिछले ही वर्ष दिसम्बर माह में निर्भया
के साथ बलात्कार की घटना पर जंहा देश भर में विरोध और भर्त्सना की गयी | वंही
मुजफ्फरनगर के दंगा पीड़ित महिलाओ के साथ 5 नवम्बर 2013 तक 13 बलात्कार की घटनाओं
पर नागर समाज की आश्चर्यजनक चुप्पी सवालिया निशान है |
मुजफ्फरनगर की साम्प्रदायिक हिंसा कथित छेडछाड की
घटना के बाद हत्या कर देने और बाद में छेड़छाड़ की बात न आने की कहानी जंहा एक तरफ
हिन्दू फांसीवादी ताकतों के साथ मुस्लिम साम्प्रदायिक ताकतों को रेखांकित करती है
| सुप्रसिद्ध अमेरिकन चिंतक एडमन बर्के के इस बात को सही सिद्ध करता है कि “ इस
देश में धर्म का कानून, जमीन का कानून, इज्जत का कानून सब मिलाकर एक साथ एक पुरुष
के कथित आध्यात्मिक कानून से जुड़ा है जो उसकी जाति है ” |
चूँकि वर्तमान में शासन के निर्देश पर प्रशासन
द्वारा जबरिया कैम्पों में रह रहे दंगा पीड़ितों से कैम्प खाली कराया जा रहा है,
जिनका घर-बार उजड़ चुका है और अपने गाँव में भी उनकी कोई पुश्तैनी सम्पति, ठौर
ठिकाना साथ ही एक नागरिक के हैसियत की बुनियादी सुविधाए और कल्याणकारी योजनाओं
(राशनकार्ड, मनरेगा-जाबकार्ड) से कोई सम्बधता नही है, ऐसे परिवार दर–दर की ठोकर
खाने को मजबूर हैं | दंगा प्रभावित गांवो से दंगे के कारण विस्थापित परिवारों की
पहचान कर उनकी खाद्य सुरक्षा, आजीविका, आवास, महिलाओं और बच्चों के लिए बुनियादी
स्वास्थ्य देखभाल सुविधाए, बच्चों की प्राथमिक और पूर्व प्राथमिक शिक्षा के लिए
विशेष कार्यक्रम चलाये जाने की जरूरत है | मनोवैज्ञानिक इस बात से सहमत होंगे कि
इन परिवारों को लगातार चिकित्सीय देखभाल की भी आवश्यकता है क्योंकि मावन मन मष्तिक
पर किसी भी हिंसक घटना का बहुत ही गहरा प्रभाव पड़ता है जिससे उनके अंदर विभिन्न
प्रकार की शारीरिक समस्याए पैदा हो जाते हैं जिससे उनकी कार्यक्षमता और दक्षता,
निर्णय लेने की क्षमता, आत्मविश्वास प्रभावित होता है, साथ ही ठंढ के मौसम में इस
क्षेत्र का तापमान काफी नीचे होता है जिसका प्रभाव बच्चों पर पड़ता है जब चिकित्सा
की विशेष जरूरत है |
ऐसे में जरूरत है कि विभिन्न राजनैतिक पार्टिया अपनी
–अपनी रोटियाँ सेंकने के और जनता को गुमराह करने व एक दुसरे पर दंगे की जिम्मेदारी
डालने के बजाय दंगा पीड़ितों के तन से गहरे मन के घावों को भरने के प्रयास में
मिलकर काम करें | पीड़ितों के इज्जत, आशा, मानवीय गरिमा को ध्यान में रखते हुए
अविलम्ब बिना किसी भेदभाव के नागरिक अधिकार संरक्षित करते हुए पुनर्वासित किये
जाने की लम्बे समय तक कार्यक्रम चलाना होगा, जिसमें मनोवैज्ञानिक एवं सामाजिक
सम्बल के पहल को महत्व देना होगा |
श्रुति नागवंशी (संयोजिका वायस ऑफ़ पीपुल,
उत्तर प्रदेश)
http://www.pvchr.net/2013/12/humanity-is-crying-at-muzaffarnagars.html
http://www.merinews.com/article/humanity-is-crying-at-muzaffarnagars-riot-relief-camps/15893331.shtml
http://www.pvchr.net/2013/12/humanity-is-crying-at-muzaffarnagars.html
http://www.merinews.com/article/humanity-is-crying-at-muzaffarnagars-riot-relief-camps/15893331.shtml
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Humanity is crying at Muzaffarnagar's riot relief camp
http://www.merinews.com/article/humanity-is-crying-at-muzaffarnagars-riot-relief-camps/15893331.shtml
On
21st December, 2013 I along with Shruti Nagvanshi(Convenor: Voice of People),
Major Dr. Himanshu(A famous social activist) and Taj Muhammad (PVCHR staff) visited
the camp in Islamic Madarsa at Shahpur of Muzzafarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, India
and found the condition of the camp is quite pathetic and the inhumane act with
the 42 families of survivors of communal riot. But in night of 22 December they
were forced by the Madarsas administration to vacate the place due to the
pressure of the administration. In the camp around 15 people from three
villages Sisauli, Shoram and Goyala were residing which is famous for the Khap
panchayat. It is noted that Sisauli village is resident of famous Jat leader.
So, district administration does not want to identify the 15 families of
survivors of above mentioned three villages as survivors of communal riot. These survivors belong to lower caste Muslim
and mostly working as labour in brick kiln factory. Now 5 pregnant women are
living, 3 new born child are dead due to cold and no-treatment. I was shocked
after listening their testimonies of pain, agony, apathy of administration and
in human treatment through organized violence. Women told their story of sexual
assault through making naked and verbal abuses in front of masses. A girl of
Dulehara is missing.
It
is noted that the first incident of gang-rape came to light in the aftermath of
the riots from the village of Fugana in Jogiya Kheda. Two fresh cases of rape
were registered in October. It was reported on 15 November 2013 that a total of
13 rape cases and sexual harassment were registered over the past two months of
rioting and the report named 111 people in the incidents but no arrests had
been made till then.
Before
our visit, National Human Rights Commission started spot visit of Muzzafarnagr
and Shamali relive camp. After our visit, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi
on 22 December 2013 lamented the "deplorable" conditions at the
relief camps housing hundreds of riot affected families of Muzaffarnagar and
adjoining areas, and asked the "young" chief minister of Uttar
Pradesh to improve the situation.
"Many
children have died in the camps. The situation is deplorable... There is a need
to mediate and improve life there," Rahul said as he made an unscheduled
visit to the relief camps and some of the violence-hit areas. The Congress
leader, who is seeking to revive the party's fortunes after its drubbing in the
recent Assembly elections, also targeted Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav over his
handling of the relief work. "There is a young chief minister. The state
government should improve the situation. The CM should look into it."
According
to different reliable sources, fresh battle lines are being drawn in Muzaffarnagar’s
rural areas as Muslims and Jats harden respective stances against the local
administration’s “inefficient and unfair action” in dealing with communal
violence in the past three months.
Three
panchayats — one Muslim and two Jat — took place on Friday though the
administration had banned these after Jats returning from a Mahapanchayat on
September 7 were attacked at various villages. On September 8, Jats killed over
50 Muslims in retaliation and the violence hasn’t stopped ever since.
On
Thursday night, a police party went to Kutba village to arrest those
responsible for the September 8 violence but the villagers fired at it,
damaging at least six police vehicles. Six Muslims had been killed in Kutba on
September 8.
Another
panchayat took place in Hussainpur, where three Muslim boys were killed on
Wednesday. It demanded the killers’ arrest and a `25 lakh compensation to the
families.
At
Mohammadpurraisingh village, where the third meeting was held, the panchayat
said it might convene a bigger panchayat on November 6.
Interestingly,
the meeting called all communities, including Muslims, to join the November 6
gathering.
Clashes
between two communities in Shamli and Muzaffarnagar, India began 27 August
2013. The original cause of the rioting is disputed, by partisan claims largely
concerning the affected communities. In this case, the cause of this rioting
alternates between a traffic accident and eve-teasing. According to the first
version, a minor traffic accident involving some youths and then spiralled out
of control when it eventually took on religious overtones. In the second
version, a girl from the Hindu Jat community was allegedly harassed in an
Eve-teasing incident by one Muslim youth in Kawal village. In retaliation,
Hindu relatives of the girl in question, Sachin Singh and Gaurav Singh, killed
the youth named Shahnawaz Qureshi. The two brothers were lynched by a Muslim
mob when they tried to escape. The police arrested eleven members of the girl's
family for the killing of the Muslim youth. According to some locals, the
police did not act against the killers of the Hindu brothers. According to
police records, Gaurav and Sachin picked a fight with Shahnawaz over a
motorcycle accident. While it has been widely reported that the fight was
sparked off when Shahnawaz harassed Gaurav and Sachin’s cousin sister, the FIR
in the murder makes no mention of sexual harassment or molestation.
NDTV
carried a contradictory report on the Kawwal village incident. The girl who was
allegedly harassed by Shahnawaz commented that she had not gone to Kalwal or
known anybody by name of Shahnawaz, but she indicated that harassment by Muslim
youth were common in Kawwal. There were no mentions of harassment in police
records on that particular day. Shahnawaz's father claims that the problem
started when their vehicles collided. In the FIR registered for Shahnawaz's
death, five people along with Sachin and Gaurav were named to be responsible
for his death. The reports mentions that the seven men entered Shahnawaz home,
took him out and killed him with swords and knives. Shahnawaz had later died on
the way to hospital. In the FIR registers for Sachin and Gaurav's death, 7
other men were reported to be responsible, with the root cause to be an
altercation between a person named as Mujassim and Gaurav after a bike
accident.
After
news of the killings spread, the members of both communities attacked each
other. The police took possession of the three dead bodies, and temporarily
brought the situation under control. The authorities also deployed Provincial
Armed Constabulary personnel in the village.
BJP
MLA Sangeet Som was arrested and received bail for alleged involvement in fake
video uploading case depicting Hindu youth brutally murdered by Muslim mob and
making provocative speeches.
After
visit of camp, I remembered the remark of Edmund Burke on India, “In that
Country the law of religion, the laws of the land, and the law of honour, are
all united and consolidated in one, and bind a man eternally to the rule of
what is called his caste.”
My
kind request to Government at provincial and central level for immediate
shelter under right to life with dignity guarantee under article 21 of the
constitution of India, and immediately ensure permanent pro-survivor
rehabilitation based on hope, honor and human dignity as a normal life through
ensure to recognize voice of voiceless survivor.
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Monday, December 23, 2013
Re: please take appropriate action to save the life of 42 families of Shahpur village of Muzaffar Nagar.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: PVCHR Communication <cfr.pvchr@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Dec 23, 2013 at 3:29 PM
Subject: Sub: Re: please take appropriate action to save the life of 42 families of Shahpur village of Muzaffar Nagar.
To: cmup@up.nic.in
Cc: "Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi" <lenin@pvchr.asia>
From: PVCHR Communication <cfr.pvchr@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Dec 23, 2013 at 3:29 PM
Subject: Sub: Re: please take appropriate action to save the life of 42 families of Shahpur village of Muzaffar Nagar.
To: cmup@up.nic.in
Cc: "Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi" <lenin@pvchr.asia>
23rd December, 2013
To,
Chief Minister
Government of Uttar Pradesh
Lucknow
Sub: Re: please take appropriate action to save the life of 42 families of Shahpur village of Muzaffar Nagar.
Dear Sir,
I want to bring in your kind attention towards the inhumane act with the 42 families of survivors of communal riot in Shahpur village of Muzaffar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh. These 42 families of survivors were in camp in the Islamic madarsa. But yesterday night they were forced by the Madarsas administration to vacate the place due to the pressure of the administration. In the camp around 15 people from three villages Sisauli, Shram and Goyala were residing which is famous for the khap panchayat. It is noted that Sisauli village is resident of famous jat leader. So, district administration does not want to identity the 15 families of survivors of above mentioned three villages as survivors of communal riot. These survivors belong to lower caste Muslim and mostly working as labour in brick kiln factory.
On 21st December, 2013 Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi, Shruti Nagvanshi, Major Dr. Himanshu and Taj Muhammad visited the camp and found the condition of the camp is quite pathetic now in the 5 pregnant women are living, 3 new born child are dead due to cold and no-treatment.
Therefore it is a kind request for immediate shelter under right to life with dignity guarantee under article 21 of the constitution of India, and immediately ensure permanent pro-survivor rehabilitation based on hope, honor and human dignity as a normal life through ensure to recognize voice of voiceless survivor.
Thanking You
Sincerely Yours
(Lenin Raghuvanshi)
Secretary General
PVCHR
Ground report from Muzaffarnagar: Cruel winter in camp of no hope
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: PVCHR Communication <cfr.pvchr@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Dec 20, 2013 at 12:36 PM
Subject: Ground report from Muzaffarnagar: Cruel winter in camp of no hope
To: covdnhrc <covdnhrc@nic.in>, jrlawnhrc <jrlawnhrc@hub.nic.in>
Cc: "Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi" <lenin@pvchr.asia>
To,
LOI (Muzaffarnagar): Life is cheap at the riot victims' camp here. In the past weeks, 11 children have died here; 74 pregnant women, 24 in advanced stages, battle malnutrition and skin disease; children amble barefoot in the cold, some not even in woollens; 85 girls have been married off as their parents thought it was the best way to save honour.
At the camp, 40km from Muzaffarnagar town, men uprooted leaving behind burnt homes, lost livelihoods, face a bleak future, especially those ineligible for the Rs 5-lakh UP government compensation. When Momina Khatoom, 34, from Phugana who had a miscarriage fleeing the rioters, asks: "Doesn't that make me eligible for compensation," nobody has answers. Nearly four months after riots struck this western UP district in August-September leaving at least 50 dead, the victims remain trapped between administrative lethargy and a cruel winter.
Camp inmates say last week's SC directive has nudged the district machinery to show some urgency. Still, for the 480 families — 3,600 men, women and children — it will be a long, bitter winter. They leave one wondering about the state of other camps across Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts.
Here's why the cold is a killer. This Jan 2, Muzaffarnagar recorded a biting 0.6 celsius. The Loi camp, roughly the size of half a football field, is pitched under the open sky next to a canal and sugarcane fields. The tents hardly keep out the chill. When the temperature dips, dewdrops leak through the canvas and fall on people sleeping below. "Cold and hungry, children cry all night," says Hanifa Begum.
Armaan,3, wears only a cotton shirt and clings to a puppy for warmth. Most sleep on the floor with a sheet or dry sugarcane leaves for a mattress. "Bonfires provide some respite. But the kids are soon cold and crying again," says Gulfam Saifi, a 29-year-old blacksmith from Kharar village. It isn't just the cold that makes the babies cry. "Many ill-nourished mothers find it hard to breastfeed," says Shahnaz. On Tuesday, the heavily pregnant were given a tin of Protinex each. Dr Anuj Rajvanshi, who keeps visiting the camp, warns: "This isn't a safe place for newborns."
It's no place for grown-ups either. Some women say they haven't had a proper bath in weeks due to lack of privacy. Before the riots, most men here worked as either daily-wagers or house helps for their Jat landlords. Others were blacksmiths, carpenters, masons, grocers. Those jobs are gone. Ever since he came to the camp, Umar Din Saifi has earned nothing. He had a thriving grocery and a carpenter's job at Kharar. On September 8, rioters burnt his house and looted his shop.
Most of those at the camp come from Phugana and Kharar. Munish Kumar Sharma, Burhana SDM, says of the 273 sheltered families from Phugana, 173 were eligible to receive Rs 5 lakh each. Despite receiving money, 125 such families continue to stay, he says. The amount was disbursed on the basis of a chulha (cooking oven) survey in homes — one chulha accounting for one claimant. But Abdul Jabbar, a former Loi pradhan, says, "Some got it only partially."
Camp inmates insist the government survey ignored genuine claimants. A second survey was conducted by a committee of 10 formed by the villagers, Sharma informs. Of the 75 names they suggested, 29 were valid. But many say several are still left out. District officials, including Sharma and tehsildar Satish Kumar Kushwaha, admit confusion over identifying "genuine" victims has stalled cheque disbursement.
Kharar riot victims are yet to receive relief. "We fled with our lives, but were not even counted among those eligible for compensation," says Umar Din. District officials say at least 135 Kharar families are at the Loi camp, none of them has received compensation. Sharma informs: "Some of them returned to Kharar but came back after the relief was announced."
Camp dwellers say they fear for their lives and would rather die at Loi, a Muslim-majority village. Mohammed Waqilu of Phugana says he returned home once. "Not a single door is left. Soon, they will even take the bricks away. It's impossible to return when rioters still roam free. They threaten us. In buses, they pull our beards, snatch our topis," he says.
Mohammad Akhtar, a 43-yearold mason from Kharar, has four sons and two daughters. "We won't return because we fear for our daughters' honour," he says. Tears well up in the eyes of Mohammad Shameem, 65,from the same village. "I saved 98 tolas of silver, 3.5 tolas of gold and Rs 55,063 for my daughter's wedding. I've lost everything," he says. He too hasn't received anything.
As sunlight fades, passageways between tents turn into open kitchens. The aroma of spice mingles with goat shit stink. Kids play with dogs. Men and children huddle around bonfires. "The fire is weak. It isn't easy to cook," Shafiqan complains. Tough rotis, sometimes eaten with pickle, form the staple food. On special days an NGO or Loi villagers bring vegetables or meat.
Since Tuesday, government teachers have started teaching kids. But no electricity means they can' study at night. In the dusk, Heena Saifi sits with three other children reading Hindi writer Siyaram Sharan Gupta's short story, Kaki. She is in Class VIII. As one talks to her, a man emerges from a tent and asks:"Should the government not give scholarship to the meritorious among them and put them in good schools?" It is a simple question. But who is answering?
Good Samaritans pitch in with help
On Tuesday, Father Abhishek Sahay of Believer's Church, Lucknow, brought cheer to the camp ferrying a truckload of 600 blankets and 50 quilts. Taranjit Singh, a Sikh from Rampur, came with Muslim friends and 100 quilts and 100 mattresses. "We spent Rs 5 lakh from the church's fund to buy these," Sahay said. "There's a huge need for woollens... We'll return with more," Singh added. Camp inmates said they're depending mostly on the village committee's help. The first doctor to fetch up was from Jamaat's Kerala unit, said ex-pradhan Abdul Jabbar. The camp had stickers — saying 'Muzaffarnagar Relief Works' — of controversial grouping of Muslim outfits Popular Front of India. The government gave away 310 blankets.
From: PVCHR Communication <cfr.pvchr@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Dec 20, 2013 at 12:36 PM
Subject: Ground report from Muzaffarnagar: Cruel winter in camp of no hope
To: covdnhrc <covdnhrc@nic.in>, jrlawnhrc <jrlawnhrc@hub.nic.in>
Cc: "Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi" <lenin@pvchr.asia>
To,
The Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission
New Delhi
Dear Sir,
I want to bring in your kind attention towards the news published in Times of India on 20th December, 2013 regarding Ground report from Muzaffarnagar: Cruel winter in camp of no hope http://timesofindia.
Therefore it is a request please take appropriate action at earliest.
Thanking You
Sincerely Yours
Lenin Raghuvanshi
Secretary General
Ground report from Muzaffarnagar: Cruel winter in camp of no hope
Avijit Ghosh & Rakhi Chakrabarty,TNN | Dec 20, 2013, 05.46 AM IST
Days after Akhilesh Yadav urged the media "to go and assess... at the ground level yourself", TOI visited a relief camp for the Muzaffarnagar riot-hit and found the conditions as wretched as before SC's rap to the UP govt for the dismal conditions
LOI (Muzaffarnagar): Life is cheap at the riot victims' camp here. In the past weeks, 11 children have died here; 74 pregnant women, 24 in advanced stages, battle malnutrition and skin disease; children amble barefoot in the cold, some not even in woollens; 85 girls have been married off as their parents thought it was the best way to save honour.
At the camp, 40km from Muzaffarnagar town, men uprooted leaving behind burnt homes, lost livelihoods, face a bleak future, especially those ineligible for the Rs 5-lakh UP government compensation. When Momina Khatoom, 34, from Phugana who had a miscarriage fleeing the rioters, asks: "Doesn't that make me eligible for compensation," nobody has answers. Nearly four months after riots struck this western UP district in August-September leaving at least 50 dead, the victims remain trapped between administrative lethargy and a cruel winter.
Camp inmates say last week's SC directive has nudged the district machinery to show some urgency. Still, for the 480 families — 3,600 men, women and children — it will be a long, bitter winter. They leave one wondering about the state of other camps across Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts.
Here's why the cold is a killer. This Jan 2, Muzaffarnagar recorded a biting 0.6 celsius. The Loi camp, roughly the size of half a football field, is pitched under the open sky next to a canal and sugarcane fields. The tents hardly keep out the chill. When the temperature dips, dewdrops leak through the canvas and fall on people sleeping below. "Cold and hungry, children cry all night," says Hanifa Begum.
Armaan,3, wears only a cotton shirt and clings to a puppy for warmth. Most sleep on the floor with a sheet or dry sugarcane leaves for a mattress. "Bonfires provide some respite. But the kids are soon cold and crying again," says Gulfam Saifi, a 29-year-old blacksmith from Kharar village. It isn't just the cold that makes the babies cry. "Many ill-nourished mothers find it hard to breastfeed," says Shahnaz. On Tuesday, the heavily pregnant were given a tin of Protinex each. Dr Anuj Rajvanshi, who keeps visiting the camp, warns: "This isn't a safe place for newborns."
It's no place for grown-ups either. Some women say they haven't had a proper bath in weeks due to lack of privacy. Before the riots, most men here worked as either daily-wagers or house helps for their Jat landlords. Others were blacksmiths, carpenters, masons, grocers. Those jobs are gone. Ever since he came to the camp, Umar Din Saifi has earned nothing. He had a thriving grocery and a carpenter's job at Kharar. On September 8, rioters burnt his house and looted his shop.
Most of those at the camp come from Phugana and Kharar. Munish Kumar Sharma, Burhana SDM, says of the 273 sheltered families from Phugana, 173 were eligible to receive Rs 5 lakh each. Despite receiving money, 125 such families continue to stay, he says. The amount was disbursed on the basis of a chulha (cooking oven) survey in homes — one chulha accounting for one claimant. But Abdul Jabbar, a former Loi pradhan, says, "Some got it only partially."
Camp inmates insist the government survey ignored genuine claimants. A second survey was conducted by a committee of 10 formed by the villagers, Sharma informs. Of the 75 names they suggested, 29 were valid. But many say several are still left out. District officials, including Sharma and tehsildar Satish Kumar Kushwaha, admit confusion over identifying "genuine" victims has stalled cheque disbursement.
Kharar riot victims are yet to receive relief. "We fled with our lives, but were not even counted among those eligible for compensation," says Umar Din. District officials say at least 135 Kharar families are at the Loi camp, none of them has received compensation. Sharma informs: "Some of them returned to Kharar but came back after the relief was announced."
Camp dwellers say they fear for their lives and would rather die at Loi, a Muslim-majority village. Mohammed Waqilu of Phugana says he returned home once. "Not a single door is left. Soon, they will even take the bricks away. It's impossible to return when rioters still roam free. They threaten us. In buses, they pull our beards, snatch our topis," he says.
Mohammad Akhtar, a 43-yearold mason from Kharar, has four sons and two daughters. "We won't return because we fear for our daughters' honour," he says. Tears well up in the eyes of Mohammad Shameem, 65,from the same village. "I saved 98 tolas of silver, 3.5 tolas of gold and Rs 55,063 for my daughter's wedding. I've lost everything," he says. He too hasn't received anything.
As sunlight fades, passageways between tents turn into open kitchens. The aroma of spice mingles with goat shit stink. Kids play with dogs. Men and children huddle around bonfires. "The fire is weak. It isn't easy to cook," Shafiqan complains. Tough rotis, sometimes eaten with pickle, form the staple food. On special days an NGO or Loi villagers bring vegetables or meat.
Since Tuesday, government teachers have started teaching kids. But no electricity means they can' study at night. In the dusk, Heena Saifi sits with three other children reading Hindi writer Siyaram Sharan Gupta's short story, Kaki. She is in Class VIII. As one talks to her, a man emerges from a tent and asks:"Should the government not give scholarship to the meritorious among them and put them in good schools?" It is a simple question. But who is answering?
Good Samaritans pitch in with help
On Tuesday, Father Abhishek Sahay of Believer's Church, Lucknow, brought cheer to the camp ferrying a truckload of 600 blankets and 50 quilts. Taranjit Singh, a Sikh from Rampur, came with Muslim friends and 100 quilts and 100 mattresses. "We spent Rs 5 lakh from the church's fund to buy these," Sahay said. "There's a huge need for woollens... We'll return with more," Singh added. Camp inmates said they're depending mostly on the village committee's help. The first doctor to fetch up was from Jamaat's Kerala unit, said ex-pradhan Abdul Jabbar. The camp had stickers — saying 'Muzaffarnagar Relief Works' — of controversial grouping of Muslim outfits Popular Front of India. The government gave away 310 blankets.
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
At least 40 children dead as UP riot relief camps brace for a long winter
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Pvchr <cfr.pvchr@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Dec 6, 2013 at 6:37 PM
Subject: At least 40 children dead as UP riot relief camps brace for a long winter
To: covdnhrc@nic.in
Cc: jrlawnhrc@hub.nic.in, Lenin Raghuvanshi <lenin@pvchr.asia>
From: Pvchr <cfr.pvchr@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Dec 6, 2013 at 6:37 PM
Subject: At least 40 children dead as UP riot relief camps brace for a long winter
To: covdnhrc@nic.in
Cc: jrlawnhrc@hub.nic.in, Lenin Raghuvanshi <lenin@pvchr.asia>
To,
Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission
New Delhi
Dear Sir,
I want to bring in your kind attention towards the news published in Indian Express on 5 December, 2013
At least 40 children dead as UP riot relief camps brace for a long winter
Three months after fleeing their homes following theMuzaffarnagar riots, the displaced families face a new crisis — the onset of winter. The cold has already claimed many lives, mostly children, according to organisers of the relief camps who put the figure at over 40. The district officials, however, denied any "irregular deaths".
On Wednesday, when The Indian Express visited the relief camp in Malakpur in Shamli district, 42-year-old Mehbooba was burying her four-year-old daughter Khushnooma. Sitting outside the tent — three sheets of tarpaulin that make up the walls and some blankets tied together to cover the entrance — Mehbooba pointed to holes in the sheets. "My daughter would shiver inside. I put my hand on the holes, because I had to use my dupatta to cover my other children. I have seven children and only four blankets. I have to use two blankets to cover the entrance," she said.
Mehbooba and her husband took Khushnooma to a private hospital on Tuesday evening, after four days of fever. "They said she had pneumonia... Now I have to bury my youngest child," she said.
In Suneti, another camp where 200-odd families take shelter under tarpaulin sheets, 38-year-old Irfan buried his four-year-old daughter Fatima in the early hours of Wednesday. "She had fever for the last four days. We managed to get a government ambulance yesterday, but by the time we reached the local hospital, she was dead," he said.
Murshida, who has been staying at the Malakpur camp since September-end, said she buried her infant son last month. "He would keep crying and shivering. I begged everyone for a quilt, but nobody had quilts then. He died barely 15 days after he was born," she said, brushing away her tears. Murshida said she only had her mother-in-law to help her during delivery. "There was no light, we only had one candle. I thought I would die that night," she recalled.
Therefore it is kind request please take appropriate action at earliest.
Thanking You
Sincerely Yours
Lenin Raghuvasnshi
Secretary General
PVCHR
Mo: 09935599333
Three months after fleeing their homes following theMuzaffarnagar riots, the displaced families face a new crisis — the onset of winter. The cold has already claimed many lives, mostly children, according to organisers of the relief camps who put the figure at over 40. The district officials, however, denied any "irregular deaths".
On Wednesday, when The Indian Express visited the relief camp in Malakpur in Shamli district,
42-year-old Mehbooba was burying her four-year-old daughter Khushnooma.
Sitting outside the tent — three sheets of tarpaulin that make up the walls and
some blankets tied together to cover the entrance — Mehbooba pointed
to holes in the sheets. "My daughter would shiver inside. I put my hand on the holes,
because I had to use my dupatta to cover my other children.
I have seven children and only four blankets. I have to use two blankets to
cover the entrance," she said.
Mehbooba and her husband took Khushnooma to a private hospital on
Tuesday evening, after four days of fever. "They said she had pneumonia...
Now I have to bury my youngest child," she said.
In Suneti, another camp where 200-odd families take shelter under tarpaulin sheets,
38-year-old Irfan buried his four-year-old daughter Fatima in the early hours
of Wednesday. "She had fever for the last four days. We managed to get a
government ambulance yesterday, but by the time we reached
the local hospital, she was dead," he said.
Murshida, who has been staying at the Malakpur camp since September-end,
said she buried her infant son last month. "He would keep crying and shivering.
I begged everyone for a quilt, but nobody had quilts then.
He died barely 15 days after he was born," she said, brushing away her tears.
Murshida said she only had her mother-in-law to help her during delivery.
"There was no light, we only had one candle. I thought I would die that night," she recalled.
International Migrants Day
Today is International Migrants Day. PVCHR
appeals to International community and Governments at different level to
support Mushar Community: a forced migrant community due to
exploitation and injustice based on caste system.Please read follows links:
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Project and CD: Indian classic in a dialogue with Blues
After careful editing, the Live CD “Indian classic in a dialogue with
Blues” is for sale since November 28th, 2013. The refund of 15 Euro is
donated directly, without withdrawal, to the scholarship for Dalit
students in Varanasi, India, which was founded by Dr. Lenin's
organization PVCHR (People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights). PVCHR
and DIG Remscheid are working together closely since 2002.
In November 2012, the Remscheid affilate of DIG e.V. had hosted a concert with the famous Maharaj-Trio from Varanasi, located in the gallery of the city of Remscheid. Among the thrilled spectators was Ulrich Spormann,
a Blues guitar player. In the themes and improvisations of the Indian
Raga he found surprisingly many accordance with western Blues and pop
music.
Spontaneously he suggested a concert of the Maharaj-Trio together with his Blues-duo “Dr. Mojo”(Ulrich Spormann and Klaus Stachuletz). The Indian guest agreed immediately, and also Mrs.Helma Ritscher, chief executor of the Remscheid DIG started to like the idea. She engaged into the preparations and plannings for the event with her well-known energy and commitment. Her special interest was to achieve sustainable effect through workshops at schools, and also to find a way to support education for Dalit children in India. Ulrich Spormann contributed the idea of professionally recording the concert and produce a CD with the music. Eventually, in June 2013 two workshops were held at two schools in Remscheid, and the concert was performed at the “Klosterkirche Lennep”. The project was funded by Global Engagement with money provided by the state chancellery of NRW.
The Live-CD “Indian classic in a dialogue with Blues”
The interplay of musicians coming from such different cultures, characterized by mutual inspiration and energy, is now lively presented on the Live-CD “Indian classic in a dialogue with Blues”.More than an hour of classical Blues songs from Robert Johnson and T Bone Walker, but also newer compositions from Peter Green, Wilson Blount and Ronnie Earl are developing to a kind of “world blues” in the ears of the listeners. The musical basis are the interpretations of “Dr. Mojo”, that are
already well known from several CDs and concerts. Whilst the Indian musicians are entering the stage individually from song to song, the guitar, Blues - harmonica and singing of the Blues duo blends together with the tabla, sita and sarod of the Maharaj family, which can also show off numerous concerts with Jazzstars like Herbie Hancock, John Handy and John McLaughlin.
The alternating improvisations, in which the German “Blueses” and the Indian “classics” are feeding each others musical lines are received by the auditorium with excitement.
Peak at the end of the concert: Students of the workshops enter the stage with their own instruments and play along the song “Hriday” with both bands – an unforgettable moment for all musicians and listeners and a testimony of intercultural education.
After careful editing, the Live CD “Indian classic in a dialogue with Blues” is for sale since November 28th, 2013. The refund of 15 Euro is donated directly, without withdrawal, to the scholarship for Dalit students in Varanasi, India, which was founded by Dr. Lenin's organization PVCHR (People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights). PVCHR and DIG Remscheid are
working together closely since 2002.
Im November 2012 hatte die Remscheider Zweiggesellschaft der DIG e.V. zum Konzert mit dem angesehenen Maharaj-Trio aus Varanasi in die Galerie der Stadt Remscheid eingeladen. Unter den begeisterten Zuhörern war auch der Bluesgitarrist Ulrich Spormann. Er fand in den Themen und Interpretationen der indischen Ragas unerwartet viel Verwandtschaft mit den Improvisationen in westlicher Blues- und Popmusik. Spontan schlug er dem „Maharaj -Trio“ ein gemeinsames Konzert mit seinem Remscheider „Bluesduo Dr. Mojo“ (Ulrich Spormann und Klaus Stachuletz) vor. Die indischen Gastmusiker waren sofort einverstanden, und auch Helma Ritscher, Vorsitzende der DIG e.V. Zweiggesellschaft Remscheid, fand Gefallen an der Idee. Sie engagierte sich mit bekannter Energie für die Planung und Vorbereitung des Projekts. Dabei ging es ihr besonders um nachhaltige Wirkung durch Workshops an deutschen Schulen und gleichzeitig um einen Weg, Bildung für Dalit-Kinder in Indien zu fördern. Ulrich Spormann steuerte hierzu die Idee bei, das Konzert professionell aufnehmen zu lassen und davon eine Musik-CD zu produzieren. Im Juni 2013 fanden dann Workshops an zwei Remscheider Gymnasien und ein Konzert auf der Remscheider Kulturbühne „Klosterkirche Lennep“ statt. Gefördert wurde das Projekt von Global Engagement aus Fördermitteln der Staatskanzlei NRW.
Das Zusammenspiel der Musiker aus so verschiedenen Kulturkreisen, voller gegenseitiger Inspiration und gemeinsamer Energie, wird nun lebendig präsentiert auf der Live-CD „Indische Klassik im Dialog mit Blues“. Über eine Stunde traditionelle Bluessongs von Robert Johnson und T-Bone Walker, aber auch neuere Kompositionen von Peter Greene, Wilson Blount und Ronnie Earl entwickeln sich vor den Ohren der Zuhörer zu einer Art „World-Blues“. Musikalische Basis sind die Interpretationen von „Dr. Mojo“, wie sie schon von mehreren CDs und vielen Konzerten bundesweit bekannt sind. Während die indischen Musiker einzeln von Song zu Song mit auf die Bühne kommen, ergibt sich eine zunehmende Verschmelzung von Gitarren, Blues-Mundharmonika und Gesang des Bluesduos mit Tabla, Sitar und Sarod der Maharaj Familie, die außer ihrer seit 15 Generationen lebendigen Musikertradition auch zahlreiche Konzerte mit Jazzgrößen wie Herbie Hancock, John Handy und John McLaughlin vorweisen kann. Die abwechselnden Improvisationen, bei denen sich deutsche „Blueser“ und indische „Klassiker“ gegenseitig die musikalischen Bälle zuspielen, werden vom Publikum mit begeistertem Applaus quittiert.
Höhepunkt am Ende des Konzerts: Schülerinnen und Schüler aus den Workshops kommen mit ihren Instrumenten auf die Bühne, um gemeinsam mit den beiden Bands das Stück „Hriday“ zu spielen – ein für alle Mitwirkenden und Zuhörer unvergessliches Erlebnis und gelebte interkulturelle Bildung.
Seit dem 28. November 2013, nach sorgfältiger Überarbeitung und
klanglicher Perfektionierung im Tonstudio, steht die Live-CD „Indische
Klassik im Dialog mit Blues“ zum Verkauf. Der Kaufpreis von 15,- EUR
wird ohne Abzug dem von Dr.Lenin Raghuvanshi und seiner Organisation
PVCHR (People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights) geschaffenen
Bildungs-Stipendium für Dalit-Schülerinnen und Schüler in Varanasi,
Indien gut geschrieben. PVCHR und DIG Remscheid arbeiten seit 2002 eng
zusammen.
Bestelladresse:
Helma Ritscher / DIG e.V. Zweiggesellschaft Remscheid
Tel.: 02191/70732– oder e-mail: h.ritscher(at)gmx.de
Tel.: 02191/70732– oder e-mail: h.ritscher(at)gmx.de
Die CD wird auch bei den Konzerten des Bluesduos Dr. Mojo verkauft, Termine und Kontakt siehe www.drmojo.de
Weitere Informationen im Internet:
www.digrs.de, pvchr.net, maharajtrio.wix.com/maharaj, holiwater.com
www.digrs.de, pvchr.net, maharajtrio.wix.com/maharaj, holiwater.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
-
https://www.scribd.com/document/733437019/PVCHR-works-in-IRCT-annual-report PVCHR works in IRCT annual report by pvchr.india9214 on S... -
In the annals of cultural confluence and societal upliftment, the third convention of the Sahastrabuddhe (Chitpawan Brahmin) Kool Sammelan, ... -
In a small courtroom in Varanasi, the heavy air was filled with anticipation. Paru Sonar, a name once synonymous with despair, was now on ...