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And now the bad news! |
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ACHIEVER |
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| Changing face of agriculture |
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By Afsana Bhat |
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Dr Anwar Alam is a man on a mission. As Vice-Chancellor of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology-Kashmir (SKUAST-K), he has contributed immensely to the growth and development of the varsity and is all set to ensure that farmers use the latest technology available. Dr Alam, who was born in Allahabad on July 5, 1945, has 324 publications to his credit. His illustrious 43-year career included three years as Chief Technical Adviser, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). He received a doctorate in 1972 from the University of Illinois, US, and a DSc (Honoris Causa) in 1999 from Chander Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur. In this interview to 'The Herald of India', he talks about the university, its research projects and his role as vice-chancellor.
Q. When did you join SKUAST-K? What are the changes you see in the varsity now?
When I joined the university in 2003, there were only three faculties -- Agriculture, Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry and Postgraduate Studies. There are three more now: Fishery, Forestry and Horticulture. Two faculties in the pipeline are Sericulture and Agriculture Engineering.
Every faculty member performs three functions: Teaching, research and extension education. There are 42 subject divisions. SKUAST, which was established in 1982, is involved in developing human resource for agriculture and allied fields, undertaking research to increase agriculture production and impact the livelihood of rural people, extension education and transferring of technologies to farmers. Sadly, the university's infrastructure growth was hampered for a while due to the tumultuous political situation in the state. In September 1999, SKUAST-J (for Jammu division) was established. The parent university then came to be renamed as SKUAST-K with its jurisdiction restricted to the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh.
Q. What are the courses offered by the University?
We run seven undergraduate programmes (four-year courses, except veterinary that is for five years), 29 postgraduate programmes and 18 PhD programmes. Above 400 students enroll at the university every year. So far, the university has produced 2,250 professionals.
Q. Tell us something about the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry?
Inspired by former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, I doubled the department's intake capacity. I knew that there was great scope for employment in this sector. Although Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry offers good jobs, students want to study more. They are keen to join postgraduate courses. The faculty also undertakes regular research activities. We successfully introduced poultry breed 'Vanraja' in the state. The birds weigh about 3-4 kg in 18 months, compared to traditional ones that weigh only 1.5 kg. Another superior breed 'Gramapriya' has helped supplement farmers' income.
The university has set up a hatchery to promote these birds. Our poultry house breeds about 60,000 chicks every year.
Q. Could you give us an overview of research conducted by SKUAST-K?
The university has 20 research units, covering almost all districts. Major research projects are externally funded. Our researchers mainly focus on increasing crop production at lesser costs. We are trying to bring about food and nutrition self-sufficiency.
So far, we have released 60 improved varieties of crops, including hybrids, 30 of them in the last five years. Five varieties of rice, eight of maize, five of wheat and two of barley have been released. We have developed more than 100 agro-techniques that increase production and reduce cost. Production of seeds and planting material, developed by the university, is funded by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). We sell university seeds under the brand name of 'Shalimar Beej'.
Q. What is the scope of saffron and Kalla Zera in the Valley?
Saffron and Kalla Zera are two important cash crops. Last year, saffron cost Rs 300 per gram, which I thought was expensive, but it made the farmers happy. Saffron yield is low. Even 1-2 kg per hectare is considered good. Iran produces over 5 kg per hectare. The traditional method followed here is outdated and not rational. As saffron is grown on slopes, it requires sprinklers or drip irrigation.
Kalla Zera is still in a semi-domesticated stage. To date, I have not come across a good crop. People are slowly beginning to identify causes for this. If the bulbs are 2-3 grams in size, it bears good crop, but if it is too small, the farmers have to wait another year. This causes great losses.
Q. How is SKUAST-K working for the revival of these two cash crops?
SKUAST-K conducted trial production of saffron on 13 kanals of land at Konibal-Pampore. The university is planning to acquire more land at Konibal in order to set up a Saffron Research Lab. A Kalla Zera Research Station will be established at Gurez. We carried out sprinkle irrigation at Konibal-Pampore and found the results to be satisfactory. We are asking the government to provide the same facilities to farmers in the state.
Q. Do the university's Kisan Melas benefit farmers?
The melas are organized by the Directorate of Extension Education. We organize 'Ghostees', where farmers interact with scientists. Agriculture Minister G A Mir took great interest in past melas.
Q. Tell us something about the Mushroom Research and Training Unit set up by the university?
When I joined the University, I was invited to a lab where I found our employees working, as there were no facilities for the same in the varsity. I asked them what the requirements to set up a lab were and requested them to train people in mushroom farming.
Later, the Mushroom Research and Training unit was set up. Hundreds of bottles are produced every year and villages like Kunchipora in Tangmarg and Kanuer in Chadoora have taken to mushroom farming. |
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| Passion for social service |
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By Afsana Bhat |
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Seventy-five-year old academician and social activist Dr Amarjit Singh considers working for the empowerment of women and rural children his passion in life.
Born and brought up at Ajmer in Rajasthan, Dr Singh completed a postgraduate degree in Education from the United States and was employed as an instructor in 1968. He completed his doctoral studies in 1971 and was promoted as professor. After 30 years of service, he opted for premature retirement in 1997.
Dr Singh was also an international basketball referee and served on the selection committee of Athletics for two successive Olympics. He prefers to call himself a 'world wanderer'. Dr Singh shares with The Herald of India his vision for rural children and what life means to him.
Q. Why did you opt for premature retirement?
A: I want to do things according to my perspective. The day I sought retirement, I became active in social service and community help.
India attracted me to the field of social work. Although my career was priority initially, the call of the unknown made me consider giving myself up for the cause of others.
We are planning to start a primary school in Malsisar, Rajasthan; one where children would be taught several languages right from the first standard. This will enable them to compete with urban institutions. I want to live to see the first graduate of my institution competing at the international level.
Poor families find it hard to afford their day-to-day needs. Thus, they send their children to work. For such families, education will be free. The child will not be admitted, unless the parents commit to attend school themselves.
Q. What will be the blueprint of the institution?
A: A strong foundation is the bottom line. A primary school teacher in our institution will be paid handsomely. Counseling would be provided as per the aptitude and caliber of the child. Those students who are not up to the standard would be put in vocational streams, so that they become productive members of the society. Sports would be part of the curriculum.
Work is in progress. We'll hopefully start the institution next session. We will initially have to start on a rented accommodation, but will soon build our own campus. The sarpanch of the area has said he would procure 30 acres of land for the project. I am concentrating on the curriculum now, so that graduates are able to compete with the West.
Distance learning is another vital part of education. When students reach their caliber, they can be set free from face-to-face teaching. Distance education is becoming easy with video conferencing available all over the world. Our institution will have all these facilities.
Q. Do academic institutions in India have independence?
A: There is no academic independence in India. It is regimentation. True academic institutions should have freedom; both for students and academicians. Professors who do research shouldn't teach lessons, as every student isn't research-minded.
Q. How do you view empowerment of rural women in India?
A: Seventy-five per cent of the Indian population lives in villages. Financial empowerment of women is important, as it gives them identity and self-realization. If they are financially stable, quotas won't be necessary. I believe that at some time, the number of female achievers will outnumber men.
Availability of micro-finance to women is a great option to alleviate rural poverty. Constant guidance, skill training and availability of soft interest loans will help in their empowerment.
Q. With a passion for sports, why did you not opt for sports as a career?
A: I was sent to Greece to attend the first international Olympic Academy and I represented India when it was inaugurated. I was an avid sportsperson, but failed to enhance my career, as I couldn't think out of the box.
In South Asia, people think that a good sportsperson can't be good at academics, whereas it is just the opposite. I have worked as a hockey and basketball coach in the US. Now, I choose to work for the empowerment of women and rural children. This passion guides my life. |
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| Woman of steel |
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By Deepu Joy |
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THE film Ghajini, which told the story of a heroine fighting human trafficking, became an instant hit in Bollywood. Dr. Sunitha Krishnan is more heroic than the film character. This woman of steel, though diminutive, is keeper of the eternal flame of hope for more than 1,000 children in Hyderabad.
As co-founder of Prajwala (eternal flame), she heads the NGO that runs 17 transitional schools and three shelters -- two for children (Astha Nivas) and one for women (Asha Niketan) in Andhra Pradesh for "abused children and former victims of commercial sexual exploitation." Sunitha has her hands full. But she says she cannot rest when she knows that each day many girls are trafficked all over India.
Tryst with Social Work
Sunitha was one of the student leaders who initiated 'Sadbhavana' (Goodwill), a student association, to take up community work with the Dalit community outside of Bangalore, when she was just 19 years old. One day, returning alone from a meeting with the Dalit community, Sunitha was attacked by high-caste youth who opposed her work. Unable to come to terms with this situation, one of Sunitha's classmates, who was supposed to have escorted her home, committed suicide. A shattered Sunitha was blamed by others, including her near and dear ones, and branded her a troublemaker. But Sunitha decided to work with the most oppressed, stigmatized and exploited class of society.
After obtaining a degree in environmental sciences, Sunitha shifted to social work for her Ph.D. While most of the students were taking safe and traditional subjects for their fieldwork, Sunitha ventured into the life of the sex workers, a taboo subject. Her radical views and work estranged her from her parents as well.
The Trafficking Network
"Each minute counts. Sometimes, we get information about minor girls, some as young as three, and by the time we marshal the manpower and police protection to mount a rescue operation, it would be too late to prevent the child from being sold into the flesh trade," says Sunitha, speaking in a mix of fluent Malayalam and English.
The only time her cheerful countenance falls is when she recalls rescue operations that could not save a child, from the clutches of the flesh trade. Even numerous assaults, some of which have left permanent scars (her hearing on the right is partially impaired and her left arm cannot be straightened) have not deterred her from risky rescue operations. Rather, it has only steeled her resolve to carry her crusade against human trafficking. "I have never let obstacles of any kind stop me from helping people from less privileged strata of society; something I used to do as a school student. In those days, I used to teach children in my neighbourhood. But, in my teens, when I was living with my parents Raju Krishnan and Nalini Krishnan in Bangalore, my attention turned towards women who were sexually exploited," recalls Sunitha.
She decided to live amongst the "sexually exploited" and gradually gained their confidence. "It was an uphill task as they were very hostile initially. But eventually I was allowed into their secretive but painful lives of constant abuse and fear. In 1991, I managed to rescue a mentally-impaired 12-year-old who was being molested by men in broad daylight. That gained me respect in the eyes of those tough but vulnerable women. But I still lacked focus."
Her radical protests against the 1996 Miss World pageant in Bangalore led to a two-month term in prison. In the meantime, a chance acquaintance with Brother Varghese Theknath made her move to Hyderabad where she met Brother Jose Vetticatil, who was then Director of Boys' Town.
"Jose was my mentor, friend and guide and we joined hands to help women in Mehboob-ki-Mehendi, a red light area in Hyderabad," she says.
Prajwala born
However, it was in 1996 that the seeds of Prajwala was first sown in a small building in Mehoob ki Mehendi. "Following a court order, the police evicted the women in the red light area and hundreds of women were thrown out in the streets. Many took their own lives. Their only dream was to see their children escape their fate. That was how I set up the first school with five children in an empty brothel provided by their mothers," narrates Sunitha. Soon, desperate mothers began to make a beeline for the school. They also began to inform Sunitha about minors in the red light area and that motivated Sunitha to launch her rescue missions.
Many of the children were HIV positive and each had horror stories to relate. But the children amazed Sunitha with their resilience. Many of them made their way back to school and went on to become teachers themselves. The children are educated up to class seven by the teachers in Astha Nivas, and then they are enrolled in regular schools, a task that is also difficult.
"Our aim is to get the children into mainstream life. Unfortunately, the recognition our work has brought us has sometimes stood in the way of the children getting admission in schools. The school authorities know that children from Prajwala are survivors of human trafficking, some of them might be HIV positive... and so some school authorities insist on tests and try to keep these children out on one pretext or the other," explains Sunitha.
But Sunitha has always challenged the odds, be it financial, physical, emotional or spiritual, and won. With the help of Brother Jose, they went on to start a centre to train the older women in printing, carpentry, masonry etc. and today 'Prajwala Enterprises' is a Rs. 1-crore small industry that employs mostly "survivors." Although Brother Jose passed away, Sunitha has continued the work they began together.
Finance and space have always been a problem for Prajwala. "At one point, I had to sell my personal belongings to pay the salary of our staff. But I managed to pull along. Many of the awards have helped but lack of funds is a perennial problem," admits Sunitha.
The latest was when Prajwala was requested to vacate the building where they were running three schools. "I was at my wits' end trying to raise the money when a stranger I met at the airport gave me a cheque for Rs. 35 lakhs! He turned out to be M.H. Dalmia, the owner of Dalmia Cements. Philanthropists like him have kept Prajwala ticking. We managed to buy a plot and now the goal is to raise enough money for a building to house all the survivors," says Sunitha.
"But I have failed to groom a second tier of leadership for the organisation and that is my aim now..." adds Sunitha. One is sure that this woman of steel will achieve that too. With personal experience in many raids, Sunitha has realized that without a meaningful state policy, no amount of social work and activism at the micro level is enough to be helpful.
Sunitha has a blueprint for citizen-state collaboration in dealing with the widespread trafficking of children, a problem that is largely hidden. Although laws, activists, and organizations are already devoted to this issue, the overall approach has been too piecemeal and reactive to make much of a dent in the systemic problems that permit trafficking to thrive.
Sunitha is married to film maker Rajesh Touch River who has also made several films for Prajwala. One of the films, 'Anamika,' is now a part of the curricula of the Andhra Pradesh Police Academy and the National Police Academy, says Sunitha. For her efforts to stop human trafficking, Sunitha has won awards like the Stree Shakti Puraskar, Perdita Huston Human Rights Award, World of Children Award, Vanita Woman of the Year 2009, National Award for Child Welfare and CNN-IBN Real Hero Award.
But, the real award, Sunitha says, is when a child she rescues goes on to light the flame of hope in other children. (Courtesy: www.indiancurrents.org) |
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| Full of prabha |
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By Prabha Yesudas |
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THIS is not about the maestro of music about whom everybody has written. This is about the man who made my life music.
The life of Yesudas is a song whose music/tune was composed by God Himself. Our three children and I are the tunes in that song.
Dasettan often tells me that I am his second wife.
For Dasettan, music is his first wife. Children and I come after that. Like him, we also love his first wife. That is our family secret.
I entered Dasettan's life at the age of 18.
I had seen him earlier also.
Like many of my class-mates, I also loved the young singer, because I loved music.
I still remember a line in the advertisement for the film 'Kayamkulam Kochunni' released in July 1966. "Kayamkulam Kochunni -- the film you have been waiting for! Famous singer Yesudas acts in a singing role with the king of acting -- Satyan!"
I and my sister Sasi went to see the film 'Kayamkulam Kochunni' with brother Thomaskutty.
When I saw a lean and thin young man with a silken cap and a thin moustache singing "Suruma, Nalla Suruma" and dancing shyly, I felt like laughing. I wished I could meet him.
Around that time, Yesudas had a concert at Thiruvananthapuram.
I went to see the programme along with my family. Some from the audience would send slips to the stage requisitioning songs of their choice. The singer would sing some of those songs. It was very interesting.
Our relative Babychayan also had accompanied us to the programme. He made the requisition slip in an interesting way. He wrote the song's title on the white portion of a five-rupee currency note and sent it to the stage. When he saw the costly slip, the singer smiled and sang: "pancha varna thatha pole konchi vanna penne". After the chorus, he himself altered the lyric and sang "the sight of the five-rupee note has broken my heart, girl", from the original line "your sweet words have broken my heart, girl". It revealed the singer's sense of humour. This intensified my love.
It was through songs that our love grew. We met each other at many family functions.
I still remember the first time he called me on phone. It was not the same musical voice everyone has heard over All India Radio. He had a distinct Kochi accent when he spoke.
"Prabha, I have come to Kanakakunnu palace for a friend's wedding. I just thought of calling you." We had a casual conversation.
Before I hung up the phone, he asked: "There is a concert at the Senate Hall. Will you come, Prabha?"
I noticed that during the three or four times he called me on the phone, he repeated the line, "I just called". Every time I heard these words, my mind told me, "Prabha, the call is not just casual".
The next day I had an exam. Yet, I could not resist the invitation for the concert. My whole family went to the Senate Hall to attend the concert.
In between two songs, there was an announcement from the singer, "The next song is "Prana Sakhi" (Sweetheart). Everyone was waiting for the film song "Prana Sakhi jnan verum oru" (Sweet heart, I am just a...) but Dasettan sang a new song, "Prana Sakhi, Nee evide, Nee evide" (Sweetheart, where are you, where are you?).
He himself had composed and set the tune for the song. It was not sung for any film. Then, for whom was the song?
Did the singer see me that day? I am not sure.
We start liking some songs we hear repeatedly. Similarly, we slowly fell in love with each other.
I was born in Modayil Valiaveettil family at Mallapally. My father was Kurien Abraham and mother Ammini. We lived in Thiruvananthapuram. I was the youngest daughter. Ours was an orthodox Christian family. We were also brought up in that manner. Even when we loved each other, we had taken one decision. Our marriage should not hurt the two families.
Our betrothal was in October 1969. Through the exchange of rings, what I received was a rare jewel, several crores valuable than any jewel -- Yesudas.
It was immediately after the betrothal that Dasettan got a rare recognition -- Among those who attended Yesudas' concert at Shanmukhananda Hall in Bombay was Guru Chembai Vaidya Natha Bhagavathar. The Guru honoured Yesudas with a shawl, blessed and gifted by Shankaracharya. I felt the Guru was blessing and installing his successor on his throne. I never felt so proud as I felt, when I heard this.
Wasn't this rare blessing a wedding gift of God for us?
One of those days, we went to Kanyakumari along with our family members.
We were all sitting on the seashore. "Das, please sing a song". Somebody requested. Everybody joined him in the chorus.
The song that Dasettan sang that evening at the sangam of seas still echoes in my ears "Indu lekhe, Indu lekhe, Indra sadassile Nirtha lole".
In the film song, it was P Susheela who hummed "aha...aha" for this Vayalar song. Here I had to do that.
I also sang along with Dasettan:
"Nava graha veethiyiloode,
Oru Nakshatra nagarathiloode
Nandanavanathil kathirmandapathil
Nava vadhu ayi nee vannu
Aarude nava vadhu ayi nee vannu?
When he reached this part of the song, I wondered, why Dasettan chose that particular song?
Wasn't Dasettan singing about me in the presence of the mighty oceans?
I was a very shy person. I had difficulty in interacting with people. But Dasettan was very famous those days. People mobbed him wherever he went. I was like a silent cat that kept aloof from the crowd.
It was really Dasettan who changed and transformed me.
When I complete 40 years of my life in his shade, every moment, I thank God for the blessings.
Dasettan gets angry quickly. And he cools down even more quickly. He approaches every issue with great sincerity. For that very reason he turns emotional very quickly.
I remember an incident. The celebration of the 50th anniversary of Malayalam film songs was on at Thiruvananthapuram. When he sang Vayalar's famous song "Manushyan Mathangale Srishtichu" (Man made religions), his voice cracked. His eyes moistened. Dasettan stopped singing. With tears in his eyes, he spoke about the rivalry among religions. The audience supported him by standing up and clapping for minutes together.
It is an old story. I and Jayamma, Dasettan's sister, and mother were living together in Madras. We all had a craze for movies. But he did not like us going for movies alone. When he left for recording and other work, mother used to take us to movies. Mother knew that if she waited for her son to take us for movies, it would never happen. He would often promise to take us to movies, but because of recordings and other busy schedule, he could not. Sometimes when he was at home, he would have headache or chest pain when it was time for movies. And when the show time was over, his illness would have disappeared.
Dasettan was very protective. He was very particular that he should be with us in everything we do. Jayamma was very beautiful. That must have also given him tension.
Our life was always very busy. By the time he returned home, after musical concerts, the night would have fallen and children would have gone to sleep. He won't remember they had to go to school the next day. He would wake them up and would allow them to sleep only after he had some interaction with them.
When I mentioned children, I remember one thing. We had our first child after 7 years of our marriage. This worried him a lot.
I was pregnant then. He was singing the song "Malarkodi pole" at a concert. There is one line in the song:
"Kalam ariyathe jnan achen ayi,
Katha ariyathe nee pratichaya ayi"
When he sang those lines, I noticed his eyes welling up. He looked at my face in the audience. Then only I realized that I was also crying.
Every time I hear that song, the faces of my children come to my mind.
Like this, I have a thousand songs in my mind. Among them I like "Aayirum padasorangal", more because the first film we saw together was "Nadhi".
There is one song I like a lot --- "Prema Sarvasame". Despite my request, he never sings that song at any concert. That is another naughtiness of Dasettan.
When we heard classical songs on radio, my friends teased me, "Why are they singing "Than enna, thoran enna" (musical sounds). Those days, I used to think that what they said was correct.
Such a person like me came across Dasettan and music became the breath of my life. Lastly, I also began learning classical music. I also learned to play the Veena.
Dasettan never insisted that any of his children should become a singer. Vinod, Vijay and Vishal used to sing. Dasettan's decision was that they should come into the world of music, only if they were really talented.
Vijay was always fond of music. He would always be singing even when he was doing something. He would learn by heart his lessons in the form of songs. Once his schoolteacher scolded him for that. Dasettan did not like it. If he wanted to live his life like that, let him go that way. This was his decision. Dasettan shifted him from that school.
I wanted one of my sons to become a doctor because that was my ambition and that was why I took science group for my undergraduate studies. But my life began to follow music that everybody likes. Several Universities have recognised his music with doctorate degrees.
That is another blessing from God.
Usually, wives can tell a lot about their husbands like their job, likes and dislikes, eating habits, faith, nature -- many things which she alone knows.
In this regard too, I am lucky. Everybody in the world knows about my husband. Like me, everybody loves and respects him.
The voice that the world wants to listen to is mine too. Isn't that my luck, my life's blessing?
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Prepared by Vinod Nair (Courtesy: Malayala Manorama, Sunday Supplement, January 10, 2010)
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Translated from the original in Malayalam by Elizebath Philip. The article was published on the occasion of Yesudas' 70th birthday on January 10
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| Prisoner No. 100 |
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By Afsana Bhat |
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ZAMROODA HABIB, patron of Muslim Khawatein Markaz, began her mission with a fight against dowry. She later joined the ranks of separatist politics in the Valley and even went to jail several times. Outspoken Habib, a staunch feminist, feels women are not getting due recognition for their contribution to Kashmir's resistance movement. She feels men interfere more than needed in women's issues. Habib is also the author of 'Qaidi Number 100.' Following is the text of the interview she granted to The Herald of India:
Q. Tell us about your early life -- family and childhood?
I was born in Mohallah Mehmaan, in south Kashmir's Anantnag district. As a child, I was very calm. Any tiff between my parents made me uneasy. Neither did I fight with my siblings nor was I demanding. However, I was popular in school and was even elected the school president. In college, I bagged the best student award and also participated in debates and dramas. I also participated in inter-college and inter-university badminton competitions. After completing my schooling from Rani Bagh, Anantnag, I finished my graduation from Women's Degree College, Anantnag, followed by a post-graduation degree in education from University of Kashmir. I wanted to study further at Aligarh Muslim University, but it never materialized.
Q. Tell us about Women Welfare Organization (WWO)?
After the first dowry death took place in the district in 1987, I started the Women Welfare Organization (WWO). After the dowry death, I shot off a letter to my teachers and other women officials, calling for a meeting. The response was overwhelming. Women from all walks of life joined in the fight against dowry. Within a week, the organization had 250 members. The organization's last meeting was held at my home in 2001. By then, the fizz had slowly started going out of WWO. I contacted some older members to restart the organization. Their response was encouraging, but there was something amiss. Moreover, WWO was not a registered organization. Before I could register it, political instability arose in the Valley and life was thrown out of gear.
Q. When political instability broke out in Kashmir, why did you switch over to Muslim Khawatein Markaz (MKM)?
Muslim Khawatein Markaz didn't emerge all of a sudden. The situation around us affected one and all. Everyone joined in. It came into being in February–March 1990. It had an initial membership of 1,500 in Anantnag district. A few women from Srinagar also joined in. I call Kashmiri women the 'Ocean of Sacrifice.' Most of those that had earlier never been outside their hometowns now hunt jails across India in search of their missing children.
Women have been badly humiliated in Kashmir; from Kunan-Poshpora to Shopian. The media victimizes them further. They suffer enormously, but their sacrifices go unnoticed, as this is a male-dominated land. Although WWO and MMK are different organizations, women representation is the common thread that ties them.
Q. Was it easy for you to be involved in separatist politics?
In March 1990, I was arrested for the first time. Crackdowns were frequent those days and in one such operation, the entire Anantnag town was cordoned off and I was arrested, along with a few men. As I was being bundled off into a vehicle, I wasn't scared, as I knew I would be released soon. I was let off in the evening. I was arrested several times later -- in 1993, 1998 and so on, but for short intervals only.
Q. Recently, MKM split? Why?
When I was arrested in 2003, the Hurriyat Conference had split into two factions. I asked my organization not to merge with any other group. I wanted to see whether we could sustain ourselves independently.
Unfortunately, there was a lot of interference from men in the group, resulting in its split. I wanted MKM to be exclusively for women, but it didn't stay that way. Two days ahead of my release, most of my colleagues joined one of the factions of Hurriyat Conference. I was arrested and jailed for five years. I am a founder member of the United Hurriyat Conference. I often ask people to leave issues concerning women to women only.
Q. What was the response of the society and family after your release?
I was harassed from the moment I was released. I received threatening calls on my cell phone and couldn't trace them, as I didn't know how to do so. My adopted son, Dawood, has now taught me to use the facility. Someone also sent a letter from Srinagar to the judge hearing my case, asking not to release me. My brother had come to receive me on the day of my release. He stopped his vehicle at a place away from Tihar Jail, to avoid the media. When I reached the car, he looked at me and said, "Look at the sky and stars and breathe in the fresh and free air."
I required counseling, but got none, as there is no such service here. Apart from mental problems, people released from jails face several health problems as well.
Q. Why did you adopt Dawood?
Dawood is my nephew and I adopted him last year. Everyone longs to get married and have a family. So did I. But no one wants to marry a woman like me. Outspokenness and boldness are hurdles. Men who return from jail get decent marriage proposals. But women like me have no takers. My family is educated and modern. They never insist that I get married. It was my personal decision to be involved in the 'resistance' movement.
Q. About your book 'Qaidi Number 100'. What made you write it?
I am an educationist by nature. The moment I entered Tihar Jail, it felt like I had left the world. I was put in Barrack Number 4, Ward 8, after being rigorously interrogated for 10 days. Initially, I found it very difficult to fit in. However, I soon learnt the tactics needed for survival. I penned down my thoughts and compiled it into a book. It will soon be translated into English and Hindi.
Q. Why did you start Association of Families of Kashmiri Prisoners?
MKM had almost become defunct by the time of my release. In prison, I saw how prisoners' rights are violated and how their families suffer. This made me establish the Association of Families of Kashmiri Prisoners (AFKP) in April 2009.
Q. Have you shifted focus from MKM to AFKP?
No. I continue to work for both organizations. I have spent a precious part of my life in jail. The plight of prisoners is a concern and equally important to me.
Q. Do you have any regrets?
The masses take a lot of time to recognize the contributions of genuine people. We couldn't make our movement indigenous, not even our thinking. Although this is not a regret, I wish more could have been done about it.
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Photo by Amin War |
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| With love from Romania |
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By A.J. Philip |
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I FIRST read about Mircea Eliade when last year my friend Santosh Kr Singh of Punjab University presented me a research journal which had biographical details of the Romanian scholar. His was a captivating story. Eliade came from Romania to do research under an eminent Indian philosopher, fell madly in love with his young, beautiful daughter and wrote a sensational novel woven around their passionate love. It took years for his lady love to know that the barely disguised fictional account of their love was a runaway success in Romania. I wanted to write a piece on Eliade in 'The Tribune' but circumstances forced me to leave Chandigarh and return to New Delhi.
Eliade came back to my life when I had a long chat with Mihaela Gligor, who has been writing regularly for The Herald of India from Cluj-Napoca in Romania, when we travelled together to Serampore from Kolkata. When I told her that I had read about Eliade in a journal Santosh had given to me, she mentioned that she happened to be the founder and Chief Editor of the journal. Mihaela was extremely reticent to the point of uttering only monosyllables. But then she is a doer, more than a talker.
Mihaela has already accomplished much in her life, a Ph.D on Eliade, starting an international academic journal where the likes of Noam Chomsky and Amartya Sen are contributors, visiting India several times on post-doctoral fellowships, translating Prof Sen's The Argumentative Indian and, now, setting up a Tagore Center at Cluj Napocea. She is confident that the Tagore Centre she has in mind will be an institution of excellence where debates and seminars on India and Indian culture will be as regular as publishing books and journals on Tagore. All this she manages while holding an academic job at the Romanian Academy. The only thing she regrets is having to return from India every time she visits the country. Such is her love for India, its people and its culture. Following is the text of the interview Mihaela Gligor granted to The Herald of India:
Question: How did you become interested in India?
Answer: I never even dreamt that I would be able to visit India. For a very long time India had been a far-away land, something like a beautiful fairy-tale. But then life offers unthought-of surprises and leads to great places. I first learnt about India at school and it fascinated me. During summer vacations, when I stayed with my grandfather, he used to tell me stories about distant places, about Gods and travelers. He was a simple man but wise enough to put me in the quest for knowledge. Many of his stories were about India. They were just stories; the real "encounter" came later, when I read Mircea Eliade's book, 'Maitreyi' or 'Bengali Night' as it is popularly known in India.
Q: When you read 'Maitreyi', what was the impression you gained about India?
A: Well, India appeared to me a very exotic place. I was charmed not only by the description of India (nay Calcutta), but also by the story itself. Eliade tells a beautiful love story, between a European and an Indian girl. They broke all the rules of Indian society. I learnt a lot about Calcutta from this book. When I came here first, I had the opportunity to see the house at Ripon street where Eliade (and his main character, Allan) stayed during that time. I also had the pleasure of meeting Maitreyi Devi's family members and seeing the house where much of the action took place. The novel is almost autobiographical. The characters were real and so were the feelings. Reading 'Maitreyi', I fell in love with India.
Q: When did you visit India first? Did the India you saw conform to the India in your mind?
A: I came for the first time in 2007, to participate in the International Seminar on History of Religions, organised by JNU, and dedicated to Mircea Eliade. It provided a forum for scholars to exchange views, on such diverse subjects as history of religions, Indian nationalism and European inter-war politics. In short, it was an inspired and inspiring seminar.
I came to India with an open heart and mind, wishing to enjoy every second here and nourishing big plans in my mind. India touched me from the very first day. It is a world completely different from ours, a strange universe, just like a fairy-tale. All that hustle and bustle, all the colours that attract one's eyes, the perfume of India... all this one can read in a library. But it is only by being here that one realises that everything is different from what was thought before. I guess any foreigner who visited India has her own image of India. My India is a wonderful land. It surpassed all my expectations. What I like most are its people -- very straightforward and open-minded, very warm and welcoming. The emotional side of the Indian mind is very different from ours. We, somehow, have the tendency to complicate everything, but for Indians things seem simpler. One only has to open one's heart to be able to receive what life could offer any moment. The people of India are amazing. As former Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam (whom I had the honor to meet last year in Delhi) used to say, the real power of India stays in its people. Indians, no matter their education, their religious background, or the caste to which they belong are very modest and always ready to help you. I was indeed impressed by the Taj Mahal, the Fatehpur Sikri, Vishwa Bharati, the Victoria Memorial and my City of Joy Kolkata but what found a place in my heart are the people of India.
Q: What do you find great about India?
A: India is great because here I can be myself. I can dream here and I can make my dreams true. India gave me so much. I love the feeling I have when I am in India. I feel like I belong here; like I was here all the time. I feel free to do whatever I want and think. Kolkata is now my second home. I have so many friends here, more than I have in Romania and I think this means something.
Q: How did your interest in Tagore originate?
A: Through Mircea Eliade, of course. While staying in India on a scholarship, Eliade had the opportunity to meet Rabindranath Tagore several times. A brief description of these encounters also appeared in his novel. He also published several articles about his Indian life in Romanian periodicals, a couple of them about Tagore. I was impressed by his personality. I've read Gitanjali and I knew that I want to learn more about him and his works. So I applied for an ICCR scholarship. This year I came to Kolkata for six months to study Tagore. I have learnt many things about Tagore but I want to learn more. I have started an "Indian Library Collection" at Cluj-Napoca, my native town, a major University Center in Romania. Our Collection is only at the beginning stage but we have already translated one of Tagore's most important philosophy works, 'Sadhna', and also Maitreyi Devi's 'Mongpute Rabindranath'. Working in the area of philosophy, our intention is to introduce Tagore's philosophy to Romania.
Q: How did you start the International Journal on Humanistic Ideology?
A: It is a biannual scholarly journal devoted to the study of Humanities, the nature and origin of humanistic ideas. It encourages interdisciplinary approaches. I started this Journal last year and until a couple of months ago I was struggling to publish it. I had financial problems; I supported the first three issues with my salary. It was difficult to bring it out. After the last issue appeared, a big Romanian Foundation -- Fundatia Dinu Patriciu -- took the Journal under its patronage and all my financial problems have been solved. I am very grateful to them. From now on, I will make it much better. The Journal is already indexed in many international scholarly data bases.
Q: Eminent scholars like Noam Chomsky and Amartya Sen write for you. How do you manage all this while doing your regular job at the Academy?
A: Well, in a way it is part of my job. I work as a scientific researcher in the field of Philosophy at Romanian Academy. My job is to read and write, to participate in seminars and conferences, to publish books and things like that. So, editing such a Journal is part of the job. Only that I am not paid for it. But that is fine. Being in the company of Noam Chomsky or Amartya Sen is priceless to me.
Q: We understand that you are planning to set up a Tagore Center in your city. What is the progress so far?
A: I want to establish a Tagore Center in Cluj-Napoca, an institution which, hopefully, will bring together two far-away cultures, yet very similar, nourishing the hope of drawing from each other the most noble elements of life. Through this Center, I want to promote true Indian culture. You know, there are many Indian "things" in Romania, but all of them show something which is not so Indian at all. Romanians know about India, especially from Bollywood movies, and I don't think those are representative of Indian culture. I like Indian films, too, but for somebody who doesn't know much about real India, it is very easy to mix things, to think that those movies tell the truth. My Tagore Center will present the real Indian values. And for that I have the support of many people from Jadavpur University, Kolkata -- people who work on Tagore. This time I came to India to participate in the Tagore Festival, organized by the ICCR and Tagore Center, Kolkata, and being here I've learnt not only about the poet and his works, but also about managing such an institution. As regards the financial support, I have to thank the Alchemist Group, New Delhi, which has promised to help. I also get support from Mr. BK Poddar, the Honorary Consul of Romania in Kolkata.
As soon as I get back home, I will start working on this Center. Our Indian Library Collection will go forward, as a part of this Center. We intend to publish important books of and about Tagore, and also about Indian culture, history and identity, and we do this by presenting, for the first time in Romania Amartya Sen's book, The Argumentative Indian.
Q: Why did you choose The Argumentative Indian for translation? Do you think the Romanians would be interested in this kind of a book which does not deal with the passionate love of a European for a Bengali girl?
A: I just love this book. The book explains so well the whole Indian argumentative tradition and the essays on Tagore or Satyajit Ray are such a great introduction to the real Indian culture. I am sure the Romanian readers will appreciate this book. A true bestseller doesn't have to deal with a passionate love affair. A bestseller should be a book from which you learn something about a culture and you gain for yourself a certain kind of knowledge. I did this reading The Argumentative Indian and I am sure that the Romanian readers, too, will benefit from it. I could meet Professor Amartya Sen a few days ago in Kolkata and we talked about this translation.
Q: When you write for The Herald of India, it evokes a very good response from its readers. What could be the secret of this? Is it because you even overlook all the blemishes of India?
A: I don't know exactly. Maybe, the secret is that I am writing with my heart! I am making everything very personal. Each time I write, I put a part of me there. I am not writing about something which is outside of me, but about things that are inside of me; things that happened to me. I think when you write with your heart, those who read can feel that. The secret is to be yourself and, I told you, in India and regarding India, I am myself. I just love my India.
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Caption: Mihaela Gligor with Prof Amartya Sen - Photo by A.J. Philip |
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