[Reader-list] Amaranth Yatra

[S. Jabbar]

Sorry, you need to add the source after the quote.  Who are you quoting?
Anyway I don¹t understand the point of this.  Are you saying that only Hindu
lands were confiscated in the execution of the Naya Kashmir manifesto? That
is simply not true.


On 7/1/08 2:24 PM, "Pawan Durani" <pawan.durani at gmail.com> wrote:

> ".........................In the blue-print of 'New Kashmir', the land reforms
> were envisaged as a key to freeing the peasantry from the thraldom of
> feudalism acting as an obstacle in their onward march to freedom from
> exploitation and abject poverty. Designed to create a support-base in the
> Muslim peasantry of Kashmir, the National Conference leadership slyly
> presented the Hindus as the only section possessing enormous landed property,
> which was many leagues away from truth. In the province of Kashmir, if there
> were some Hindu landlords, there were equally Muslim landlords who were more
> ruthless in their treatment of the Muslim tenants, ever tightening their noose
> on them only to reduce them to abysmal depths of want and deprivation. The
> Muslim cruelty heaped on the Muslim tenants was never highlighted by the
> National Conference leaders, who stoutly opposed the Kisan Sabha organised by
> Late Pandit Prem Nath Bazaz under the leadership of Abdul Salam Yatu.3 Reasons
> for this might have been political, but the fact remains that the Radical
> Humanists working under the overall guidance and leadership of Shree Bazaz
> were the first to focus on the problems confronting the Muslim peasantry of
> Kashmir. The Muslim leadership of the National Conference aroused hatred
> against the Kashmirian Hindus, who, as per them, were the oppressors of the
> Muslims. It never focussed on the extraordinary precedent set by Pandit Jia
> Lal Tamiri,4 a top freedom fighter known for his proverbial honesty and Pandit
> Durga Prashad Dhar,5 a central minister, who had given their ancestral lands
> to their tenants much before land reforms were enacted and implemented in the
> State. Have the Muslims of Kashmir to offer such a unique example standing
> comparison to the one set by two bright sons of the Kashmirian Hindu
> community......................."
>  
> 
> 
>  
> On 7/1/08, S. Jabbar <sonia.jabbar at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Come on, Pawan, the Land to the Tiller movement was not directed against the
>> Pandits only.  It affected, equally, rich Muslim landlords, many of whom
>> were so-called Pirs.  This gave fillip to the bakras who were then strongly
>> supported by wealthy Muslims. Thus the class divide between the shers & the
>> bakras.
>> 
>> 
>> On 7/1/08 10:17 AM, "Pawan Durani" <pawan.durani at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> > Shuddha ,
>> 
>> I hope you have an idea of how land belonging to Kashmiri Hindus
>>> > were handed
>> over to muslims in Kashmir under the garb of land reforms .
>> 
>> I
>>> > know that is very convenient for you to ignore ...
>> 
>> Pawan
>> 
>> 
>> On 6/30/08,
>>> > Shuddhabrata Sengupta <shuddha at sarai.net> wrote:
>>> >
>>> >  Dear Pawan,
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > That
>>> > is your opinion, not a substantiated fact. As far as I have seen,
>>> > there has
>>> > not been a single statement made against Hindu pligrims by anyone
>>> > in the
>>> > leadership or the constituency of the movement against land transfer
>>> > in
>>> > Kashmir. And until such a statement is made, we cannot say that it arises>
>>> > out of a 'resentment towards hindu pligrims'. People across the spectrum
>>> of
>>> >
>>> > political opinion in Kashmir have taken pains to point out that they
>>> welcome
>>> >
>>> > pilgrims. And the question of the acquisition of land has nothing to do
>>> with
>>> >
>>> > pilgrims. There is a long history of arbitrary acquisition and occupation
>>> of
>>> >
>>> > land, including orchards, schools, meadows, pastures, grazing comons and
>>> >
>>> > private homes in Kashmir, especially by the Armed Forces and
>>> paramilitaries,
>>> >
>>> > it is possible that the movement we see crystallizes the pent up feeling
>>> of
>>> >
>>> > anger against this long history of land acquisition.
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > An audit of the
>>> > impact of land acquisition on the ecology and social fabric
>>> > of Kashmir (on
>>> > both sides of the line of control) is still pending.
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > best
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > Shuddha
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >  On 30-Jun-08, at 9:24 PM, Pawan Durani wrote:
>>> >
>>> >  Dear
>>> > Shuddha ,
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > While I may trust your belief in ecological fallout , i
>>> > completely disagree
>>> > with your understanding that the issue is not about the
>>> > resentment towards
>>> > hindu pligrims.
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > It is all about that , non
>>> > tolerance towards so called hindus or what they
>>> > love to
>>> > call...."Kufr".
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > Pawan
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > On 6/30/08, Shuddhabrata
>>> > Sengupta <shuddha at sarai.net> wrote:
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Dear Pawan,
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Just because a
>>> > terrain does not have trees, or that the altitude it is
>>>> >> located in happens
>>> > to be above the treeline, does not mean that it is not
>>>> >> ecologically
>>> > sensitive.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Often, it is precisely terrain of this nature, such as for
>>> > instance is at
>>>> >> the vicinity of the mouth of the Gomukh glacier above
>>> > Gangotri,(again above
>>>> >> the treeline) that is extremely fragile and needs
>>> > very careful nurturing.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> I know for a fact that the ecosystem of the
>>> > Gomukh glacial region is very
>>>> >> badly threatened because of the completely
>>> > haphazard way in which access to
>>>> >> this region (and the logistics of
>>> > pilgrimage and tourism) has been managed.
>>>> >> I can very easily see that
>>> > something similar can happen in the case of
>>>> >> Amarnath.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> I would urge
>>> > you not to make the discussion of this question into a
>>>> >> 'Hindu' question. It
>>> > is not one, it is about the way in which State managed,
>>>> >> so called, 'Temple
>>> > Development Boards', enter into schemes to grab land, and
>>>> >> about the
>>> > ecological consequences of their land-grabbing propensities.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> You
>>> > might recall that some months back you tried to pose the question of
>>>> >> the
>>> > building of a shipping canal between India and Sri Lanka as a matter of
>>>> >>
>>> > hurting Hindu sentiments. I endorsed your opposition to the so called
>>>> >>
>>> > 'Sethu-Samudram Shipping Channel' scheme, because to me it represented a
>>>> >>
>>> > threat to a fragile marine ecosystem, not on the basis of its alleged
>>> > injury
>>>> >> to Hindu sentiments. I also pointed out to you and to others on the
>>> > list
>>>> >> that the protectors of Hindutva, while proposing a Panama Canal
>>> > style
>>>> >> waterway cutting through the apex of the Deccan peninsula as an
>>> > alternative
>>>> >> to the 'Sethu-Samudram' plan were  also proposing what was
>>> > certainly a
>>>> >> blueprint for an ecological disaster.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Opposition to
>>> > the proposed (and now rescinded) land grab proposal by the
>>>> >> SASB in the
>>> > Amarnath case does not automatically translate into partisanship
>>>> >> across the
>>> > Hindu-Muslim question in Kashmir. Those who translate it as such,
>>>> >> whether
>>> > they are Hindu, or Muslim, are needlessly confusing a
>>>> >> straightforward
>>> > matter by bringing their own secterian biases to bear on the
>>>> >> issue. No one
>>> > should be misled by such attempts at confusion.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> best
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>> > Shuddha
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >>  On 30-Jun-08, at 4:44 PM, Pawan Durani wrote:
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>> > Hello Shuddha ,
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Lemme just inform everyone that , the land may have
>>> > belonged to Forest
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Department , but there is no single tree over
>>> > there.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Even when you reach Amarntah , there are no trees over there ,
>>> > becuase of
>>>> >>
>>>> >> high altitude.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> I visited the site, Baltal , two
>>> > years back.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Unfortunately the issue is not about ecology ..... the
>>> > way it has been
>>>> >>
>>>> >> treated is a pure indicator that anything related to
>>> > Hindus is not
>>>> >> tolerable
>>>> >>
>>>> >> in Kashmir, and proves once again that it is
>>> > not "freedom" but Islamic
>>>> >>
>>>> >> fanaticism which rules the shot in
>>> > Kashmir.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Pawan
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> On 6/30/08, Shuddhabrata Sengupta
>>> > <shuddha at sarai.net> wrote:
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Dear Sonia, Dear Rashneek, dear
>>> > all,
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Thank you, Sonia and Rashneek for the debate on the Amarnath
>>> > Yatra
>>>> >>
>>>> >> issue. The question of temple boards and their closeness to
>>> > power,
>>>> >>
>>>> >> and their lust for acquiring forest lands is not unique to
>>> > Kashmir.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> It also happens, as you will see below, (see the report -
>>> > Sabarimala:
>>>> >>
>>>> >> The Faith in Spate, by K.A. Shaji) in distant Kerala. The
>>> > ruling left
>>>> >>
>>>> >> front government in Kerala is as involved in this game as
>>> > anyone
>>>> >>
>>>> >> else, because 'Temple Boards' are gold-mines and no state
>>> > government
>>>> >>
>>>> >> wants to close an operation that earns them the gold that can
>>> > be
>>>> >>
>>>> >> mined in these gold mines. I am appending below a report on the
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>> > question of the Sabarimala Temple boards desire for even more
>>>> >>
>>>> >> reserved
>>> > forest land. The story is remarkably resonant of the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Amarnath issue. A
>>> > local, highly culturally specific, syncretic
>>>> >>
>>>> >> pilgrimage turning into the
>>> > road-show of a revivalist 'Hinduism',
>>>> >>
>>>> >> with lucrative revenue
>>> > spin-offs.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> I live in an area in Delhi where I have witnessed every
>>> > year, for the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> past few years - 'Chalo Amarnath Chalo' (Let's go to
>>> > Amarnath)
>>>> >>
>>>> >> posters and banners being put up by local RSS functionaries.
>>> > And
>>>> >>
>>>> >> there are active fundraising drives which culminate in a cavalcade
>>> > of
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Tata Sumos with the local 'Youth' blaring 'bhajans' from their
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>> > booming auto-sound systems taking off to go do 'darshan' of the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> melting
>>> > lingam. I don't think they (the Sumo Pilgrims of my
>>>> >>
>>>> >> neighbourhood)
>>> > really care whether or not the forests of Kashmir go
>>>> >>
>>>> >> up in
>>> > smoke.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> I also know that the Sabarimala pilgrimage has been twisted
>>> > out of
>>>> >>
>>>> >> shape in a similar way, both by Hindutva enthusiasts, and
>>> > by
>>>> >>
>>>> >> construction contractors close to the ruling Left Front.
>>> > Fragile
>>>> >>
>>>> >> forests can barely sustain the burden of so much sudden
>>> > faith.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Incidentally, revivalist Hindus are by no means alone in
>>> > their
>>>> >>
>>>> >> disregard for the local heritage and environment. The ruling
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>> > dispensation in Saudi Arabia has effectively turned the pilgrimage
>>>> >>
>>>> >> sites
>>> > of Mecca and Medina into an air-conditioned cultural wasteland.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> it has
>>> > systematically destroyed shrines that were considered holy by
>>>> >>
>>>> >> millions
>>> > of Muslim pilgrims, especially from South Asia, and
>>>> >>
>>>> >> completely
>>> > transformed the intricate urban fabric of Mecca and
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Medina. There is a
>>> > long history of protest, including in India, by
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Muslims against the way
>>> > in which the Saudi Government, in cohorts
>>>> >>
>>>> >> with the Wahabi establishment
>>> > has wrecked the topography of Mecca and
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Medina. Similarly, the Israeli
>>> > state's policy of expansion, through
>>>> >>
>>>> >> settlements, and building high
>>> > security segregated roads that cut
>>>> >>
>>>> >> through the west bank of the Jordan
>>> > river are often camouflaged under
>>>> >>
>>>> >> an appeal to scriptural sanction for
>>> > 'Greater' or 'Eretz' Israel.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> There is a great deal of money to be made
>>> > in pilgrimage, and it
>>>> >>
>>>> >> affords everybody an opportunity to make some
>>> > quick transformations
>>>> >>
>>>> >> of the landscape in the name of 'infrastructure
>>> > development'  and
>>>> >>
>>>> >> 'settlement' , both of which are euphemisms for
>>> > speculation in real
>>>> >>
>>>> >> estate.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> I am also appending a detailed
>>> > report on the environmental impact of
>>>> >>
>>>> >> what was proposed by the erstwhile
>>> > governor Gen (Retd) Sinha of Jammu
>>>> >>
>>>> >> and Kashmir for the Amarnath Yatra by
>>> > Gautam Navlakha that appeared
>>>> >>
>>>> >> recently in the website of a journal
>>> > called Kashmir Affairs. Finally,
>>>> >>
>>>> >> it is not my case that the acquisition
>>> > of land for the Amarnath Board
>>>> >>
>>>> >> (SASB) is wrong, and the acquisition of
>>> > land for the so-called
>>>> >>
>>>> >> 'Mughal Road', which has been pointed out by
>>> > Aditya Raj Kaul, in a
>>>> >>
>>>> >> recent post is wrong. Both are equally disastrous
>>> > from the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> environmental point of view. And the silence of political
>>> > formations
>>>> >>
>>>> >> (of all persuasions) on the environmental impact of the
>>> > revived
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Mughal Road and their recent discovery of environmentalism (in
>>> > the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> case of the Amarnath land transfer issue) does make their
>>> > commitment
>>>> >>
>>>> >> to environmentalism somewhat suspect. The PDP's stance
>>> > is
>>>> >>
>>>> >> particularly hypocritical, as the original decision has been
>>> > ratified
>>>> >>
>>>> >> by its own minister, (for Forest) in the (Indian Held) J&K
>>> > state
>>>> >>
>>>> >> government. Still, even if the commitment of all the protagonists
>>> > is
>>>> >>
>>>> >> suspect, I must say that I have rarely seen a popular movement
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>> > reverse a state-driven decision on an 'environmental' issue, and the
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>> > recent success of the agitation in Kashmir (whatever be the motives
>>>> >>
>>>> >> that
>>> > impelled it) which has resulted in a reversal of the Land
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Transfer issue
>>> > is something to be grateful for.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> These are issues that need to be
>>> > seen quite separately from secterian
>>>> >>
>>>> >> concerns. I hope this debate can
>>> > help us see them in that way.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> best
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Shuddha
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>> > -------------------
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> 1. Sabarimala: The Faith in Spate
>>>> >>
>>>> >> by K A
>>> > Shaji
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> http://www.boloji.com/society/115.htm
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Legend has it
>>> > that when Lord Ayyappa set out to seek solitude, he
>>>> >>
>>>> >> settled upon
>>> > Sabarimala. Its sylvan surroundings and undulating
>>>> >>
>>>> >> terrain had made it
>>> > an ideal retreat for the bachelor god. The
>>>> >>
>>>> >> pristine monsoon forests had
>>> > wrapped like an ornament around his
>>>> >>
>>>> >> hermitage at the top of the hill.
>>> > The Lord believed to have called
>>>> >>
>>>> >> the area with tranquil atmosphere as
>>> > his poonkavanam (sacred forest).
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> A shrine inside the forest and a
>>> > deity who chose the calm ambience of
>>>> >>
>>>> >> hills and valleys has few parallels
>>> > in the country and outside. But
>>>> >>
>>>> >> now, it seems, all of the glories of
>>> > Sabarimala were a thing of the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> past. When mythology meets present-day
>>> > reality, Sabarimala is no more
>>>> >>
>>>> >> a chosen abode of the hermit God. During
>>> > January-February each year,
>>>> >>
>>>> >> more than 50 million devotees, as claimed by
>>> > the temple authorities,
>>>> >>
>>>> >> are thronging this forest temple for annual
>>> > pilgrimage, putting the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> fragile ecology of the region under severe
>>> > stress. Now, the holy hill
>>>> >>
>>>> >> is a synonym of increasing inflow of
>>> > pilgrims, inadequate
>>>> >>
>>>> >> infrastructure, a devastated environment and a
>>> > hapless wildlife.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> While the entire hill and the adjacent river Pampa,
>>> > the third largest
>>>> >>
>>>> >> river in Kerala, are stinking due to sewage pollution
>>> > and
>>>> >>
>>>> >> accumulation of garbage, the situation is not much different in
>>> > the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> administrative and spiritual circles of the hill shrine. First,
>>> > it
>>>> >>
>>>> >> was a controversy involving Kannada film actress Jayamala and a
>>> > group
>>>> >>
>>>> >> of orthodox Hindus, who questioned her claim of touching the idol
>>> > of
>>>> >>
>>>> >> the bachelor god defying the barricades meant for preventing
>>> > sexually
>>>> >>
>>>> >> active women from entering the hill shrine. Then one of the
>>> > highly
>>>> >>
>>>> >> revered traditional priests of the temple was robbed of a
>>> > large
>>>> >>
>>>> >> amount of money and gold ornaments during his visit to the house
>>> > of a
>>>> >>
>>>> >> woman engaged in flesh trade by a mafia gang. And now, it is the
>>> > turn
>>>> >>
>>>> >> of aged father of a senior priest to allege that his son is
>>> > under
>>>> >>
>>>> >> influence of a powerful Ezhava community leader with shadowy
>>> > nature
>>>> >>
>>>> >> and the leader's followers are using his son to pocket the
>>> > temple
>>>> >>
>>>> >> money. In the meantime, the Left Front Government has disbanded
>>> > the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> existing administrative body of the temple citing corruption at
>>> > high
>>>> >>
>>>> >> level and is preparing to enact a legislation to keep the
>>> > corrupt
>>>> >>
>>>> >> community leaders out of the administrative body
>>> > forever.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> On monetary grounds, the temple is the third largest in the
>>> > country,
>>>> >>
>>>> >> standing very close to Tirupathi and Guruvayur. The
>>> > cash-strapped
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Kerala Government, despite its leftist moorings, is
>>> > depending very
>>>> >>
>>>> >> much on the income from the temple to meet salary needs
>>> > of its
>>>> >>
>>>> >> employees. In order to increase the revenue, the successive
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>> > governments and the so-called proponents of development are
>>>> >>
>>>> >> vociferous
>>> > of implementing multi-crore construction plans in
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Sabarimala clearing
>>> > forests and building a concrete jungle in its
>>>> >>
>>>> >> place. But nobody in the
>>> > spiritual and administrative levels of the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> temple as well as the
>>> > government establishment are apprehensive of
>>>> >>
>>>> >> the increasing level of
>>> > pollution and the extreme level of
>>>> >>
>>>> >> deforestation. Their focus is
>>> > entangled only in the growing number of
>>>> >>
>>>> >> controversies and the
>>> > commissions to be available after the beginning
>>>> >>
>>>> >> of the construction
>>> > work.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Located about 467 metres above sea level, the Sabarimala temple
>>> > is
>>>> >>
>>>> >> surrounded by 18 hills and situated inside Periyar Tiger Reserve,
>>> > one
>>>> >>
>>>> >> of the few safe havens for tigers in the country. According to
>>> > bird
>>>> >>
>>>> >> watcher B.Sethumadhavan, as many as 2000 species of flowering
>>> > plants,
>>>> >>
>>>> >> endemic and medicinal, have been identified among the region's
>>> > flora.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> `` About 63 species of mammals, some of them endangered like
>>> > tigers,
>>>> >>
>>>> >> elephants and lion tailed macaque live here. So far, 223 species
>>> > of
>>>> >>
>>>> >> birds and 45 species of reptiles including King Cobra have been
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>> > identified in this area,'' he said. The ever- expanding number of
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>> > pilgrims and mindless construction works are posing severe threat to
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>> > their very survival. Devotees of a Lord, who believed to have loved
>>>> >>
>>>> >> the
>>> > flora and fauna and their safekeeping, are now on a rampage in
>>>> >>
>>>> >> the name
>>> > of development forcing the wildlife to move out of their
>>>> >>
>>>> >> traditional
>>> > habitat.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> As per legends, the vehicle of Lord Ayyappa is tiger.
>>> > But,
>>>> >>
>>>> >> astonishingly, neither the tiger nor the surrounding
>>> > evergreen
>>>> >>
>>>> >> forests do not come in the list of priorities before the
>>> > |Travancore
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Devaswam Board, which administers the shrine. ``There was an
>>> > increase
>>>> >>
>>>> >> of 35 per cent in revenue while comparing with last year during
>>> > the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> November-December period. In the number of visitors, the increase
>>> > is
>>>> >>
>>>> >> of 19 per cent. These figures show the need for immediate
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>> > developmental works in Sabarimala. But there are agencies like Forest
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>> > Department which cry for tigers and forests,'' alleges G.Raman Nair,
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>> > outgoing president of the board.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> However, environmentalists and
>>> > forest officials are countering the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> allegation. ``The development works
>>> > so far at Pampa have made it
>>>> >>
>>>> >> impossible a soul-filling holy dip in river
>>> > Pampa. At least, two
>>>> >>
>>>> >> scientific studies conducted by Government's own
>>> > agencies had found
>>>> >>
>>>> >> that landslips and tremors would take place at the
>>> > holy hillock any
>>>> >>
>>>> >> time largely because of the extensive concrete flooring
>>> > at the temple
>>>> >>
>>>> >> premises. The devaswam is only interested in money making.
>>> > It has no
>>>> >>
>>>> >> concern for the impending dangers for both nature and
>>> > devotees,''
>>>> >>
>>>> >> pointed out Sumesh Mangalassery, a member of the
>>> > environmental group
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Kabani.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> According to Sumesh, a panel of
>>> > Kerala Legislature on environment led
>>>> >>
>>>> >> by RSP leader A V Thamarakshan had
>>> > submitted 32 proposals to the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Devaswam Board to protect Sabarimala
>>> > around five years back. But none
>>>> >>
>>>> >> of them were acceptable to the board.
>>> > Even the suggestions of Kerala
>>>> >>
>>>> >> State Pollution Control Board to minimise
>>> > the pollution of river
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Pampa were paid scant regard by the board. A
>>> > visit by Tehelka to
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Sabarimala found that river Pampa continues to
>>> > remain the main victim
>>>> >>
>>>> >> of the callous attitude of the authorities. It
>>> > gets choked in the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> temple area as solid waste including human excreta;
>>> > plastic bags,
>>>> >>
>>>> >> empty water bottles and coconut husks block the free flow
>>> > of water.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> About 35 million people took a holy dip in the river between
>>> > November
>>>> >>
>>>> >> and January, which is the major source of drinking water for
>>> > three
>>>> >>
>>>> >> districts.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> According to a study by the pollution control
>>> > board, the total
>>>> >>
>>>> >> coliform count recorded at the river portion close to
>>> > Sabarimala is
>>>> >>
>>>> >> about 1,14,000 per 100 millilitres (ML) during the peak
>>> > of
>>>> >>
>>>> >> pilgrimage. Just before the pilgrimage season, it is merely 380
>>> > per
>>>> >>
>>>> >> 100 ml- well below the permissible limits of 500 per 100 ml.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>> > According to local people, the overflow of human faeces from sceptic
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>> > tanks around the temple stands the major reason of the pollution of
>>>> >>
>>>> >> the
>>> > river. ``More than 3,000 temporary toilets are functioning close
>>>> >>
>>>> >> to the
>>> > temple in addition to about 600 permanent toilets. The
>>>> >>
>>>> >> capacity of the
>>> > sewerage treatment plant is very limited,'' pointed
>>>> >>
>>>> >> out K.Anirudhan of
>>> > Sabarimala Samrakshana Samithy.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Most of the experts, who had
>>> > conducted studies on the pollution and
>>>> >>
>>>> >> environmental problems prevailing
>>> > in Sabarimala, point to the need of
>>>> >>
>>>> >> regulating the ever- increasing
>>> > number of pilgrims. ``Sabarimala is
>>>> >>
>>>> >> bursting at the seams with millions
>>> > of devotees now. Thirty or forty
>>>> >>
>>>> >> years ago, only around 50,000 pilgrims
>>> > visited the temple. Today, the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> number is fifty million and is rising at
>>> > the rate of 20 per cent
>>>> >>
>>>> >> every year. The ever-swelling flow resulted in a
>>> > major mishap on
>>>> >>
>>>> >> January 14, 1999, when 100 pilgrims died in a stampede
>>> > at the site.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Indications are that Sabarimala is a disaster waiting to be
>>> > happen,''
>>>> >>
>>>> >> warns noted Kerala based environmentalist P K Uthaman.
>>> > According to
>>>> >>
>>>> >> him, almost two thousand tonnes of human waste are
>>> > deposited in crude
>>>> >>
>>>> >> earth pits and outside in Sabarimala every year.
>>> > These wastes are
>>>> >>
>>>> >> finding their way into not only the river Pampa but
>>> > also to river
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Periyar by underground as well as over ground rivulets,
>>> > posing a
>>>> >>
>>>> >> threat great health hazard for the pilgrims as well as those
>>> > living
>>>> >>
>>>> >> downstream.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> In addition, the lack of post pilgrimage
>>> > cleaning drives often result
>>>> >>
>>>> >> in unabated flow of hazardous waste into
>>> > the rivers. The temple area
>>>> >>
>>>> >> has already been converted into a concrete
>>> > jungle where guesthouses
>>>> >>
>>>> >> and other structures are constructed
>>> > haphazardly all around. They are
>>>> >>
>>>> >> meant for temple officials, priests,
>>> > VVIPs and police personnel.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> According to M.Gopal, a pilgrim from
>>> > Bangalore who visited Sabarimala
>>>> >>
>>>> >> this year, human excreta and plastic
>>> > waste were found strewn just
>>>> >>
>>>> >> outside the Sannidhanam (the main building
>>> > of the temple). As per
>>>> >>
>>>> >> data available from forest department, over 2.5
>>> > lakh empty plastic
>>>> >>
>>>> >> bottles of packaged water were collected from inside
>>> > the tiger
>>>> >>
>>>> >> reserve. The number of tetra packs collected would come around
>>> > 4.5
>>>> >>
>>>> >> lakh. The temple complex of the hermit, who believed in
>>> > renunciation
>>>> >>
>>>> >> of earthly attractions, is now filled with commercial shops
>>> > selling
>>>> >>
>>>> >> products ranging from gold ornaments to dress materials. All
>>> > these
>>>> >>
>>>> >> shops were constructed by clearing forests.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> ``The total
>>> > time available for darsan as of now is a total of 1431
>>>> >>
>>>> >> hours, i.e.
>>> > 515160 seconds. If a darsan goes on one at a time basis
>>>> >>
>>>> >> and a devotee
>>> > gets a second, the total strength of the pilgrims can
>>>> >>
>>>> >> only be 5,15, 160
>>> > per year. If ten people could somehow cluster
>>>> >>
>>>> >> together per second for
>>> > darsan, the maximum number would be
>>>> >>
>>>> >> 51,51,600,'' points out a document
>>> > prepared by |School of Social
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Sciences at Mahatma Gandhi University on
>>> > behalf of Kerla Forest
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Department. The document also questions the
>>> > claims of the board that
>>>> >>
>>>> >> over 50 million people visit the temple
>>> > annually. But anyway, the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> number of pilgrims' visting Sabarimala is many
>>> > times more than its
>>>> >>
>>>> >> capacity.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> ``The authorities must find out
>>> > some mechanism to regulate the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> alarming increase in the number of
>>> > pilgrims. Sabarimala is not only
>>>> >>
>>>> >> an environmental but also a social
>>> > disaster,'' opined Dr.Rajan
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Gurukkal of School of Social Sciences. Now a
>>> > day, the uncontrolled
>>>> >>
>>>> >> flow of pilgrims from various entry points is
>>> > resulting in people
>>>> >>
>>>> >> swarming all around the protected sanctuary leading
>>> > to man ­animal
>>>> >>
>>>> >> conflicts. Recently, an elephant trampled upon one
>>> > pilgrim. Then it
>>>> >>
>>>> >> was found that the pilgrims were sleeping in the
>>> > corridor used by the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> elephants for going to the river to drink water at
>>> > the night. A large
>>>> >>
>>>> >> number of such corridors were already disrupted due
>>> > to the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> construction works undertaken in the recent past.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>> > According to Sedumadhavan, the authorities are even paying scant
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>> > attention on the safety of pilgrims. As many as 12,000 litres of
>>>> >>
>>>> >> diesel
>>> > are being stored just above the sannidhanam without any
>>>> >>
>>>> >> storage licence
>>> > or safety parameters. They are also keeping a large
>>>> >>
>>>> >> number of crackers
>>> > near the sanctum sanctoram without any safety
>>>> >>
>>>> >> concern. The only solution
>>> > on the part of Trvancore Devaswom Board
>>>> >>
>>>> >> for all problems plaguing
>>> > Sabarimala is denudation of nearby forests
>>>> >>
>>>> >> and setting up new amenities.
>>> > According to Rajan Gurukkal, such an
>>>> >>
>>>> >> attempt would be disastrous as all
>>> > the existing problems of
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Sabarimala can be viwed as the after effect of
>>> > deforestation.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> The devaswam board has already ruined about 55.09 ha
>>> > of forestland in
>>>> >>
>>>> >> the name of sabarimala development. In the opinion
>>> > of
>>>> >>
>>>> >> environmentalists, they demand more forests to cut and smuggle
>>> > out
>>>> >>
>>>> >> precious trees and construction of further concrete strctures
>>> > with
>>>> >>
>>>> >> ulterior motives. Maintaining the sanctity of the shrine and
>>> > the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> precious eco-system never appeared a priority before them. So
>>> > far,
>>>> >>
>>>> >> the devaswam board was constituted once in five years by
>>> > nomination
>>>> >>
>>>> >> of people with no administrative acumen at the behest of
>>> > successive
>>>> >>
>>>> >> governments.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Rajan Gurukkal and his team at School
>>> > of Social Sciences have
>>>> >>
>>>> >> prepared a long-term action plan for saving
>>> > Sabarimala from the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> sequence of disasters in the offing. But the lobbies
>>> > of corrupt and
>>>> >>
>>>> >> communal elements are not allowing the devaswam to look
>>> > into them.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Even the small step of Left Government in disbanding the
>>> > existing
>>>> >>
>>>> >> devaswam committee is being interpreted as an attempt by
>>> > atheists to
>>>> >>
>>>> >> interfere in Hindu religious matters. The move by left
>>> > government to
>>>> >>
>>>> >> appoint experts in place of politicians at the board also
>>> > facing
>>>> >>
>>>> >> opposition from Sangh Parivar organisations, who claim as
>>> > custodians
>>>> >>
>>>> >> of Hindu places of worship.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> The board and its
>>> > corrupt administrators were not able to get their
>>>> >>
>>>> >> hand on the forest so
>>> > far due to stringent central acts and Supreme
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Court rulings. But even
>>> > the outgoing members are repeating their old
>>>> >>
>>>> >> slogan of `no development
>>> > in Sabarimala would be possible without
>>>> >>
>>>> >> deforestation.' Unless the
>>> > authorities change their attitude from a
>>>> >>
>>>> >> revenue-centred approach to a
>>> > pilgrim centred aprach, there is not
>>>> >>
>>>> >> much hope. But they still repeat
>>> > that development (read
>>>> >>
>>>> >> deforestation) could not be stopped for the sake
>>> > of a few birds and
>>>> >>
>>>> >> animals. ``The board had neither faith in
>>> > environmental protection
>>>> >>
>>>> >> nor in religious sanctity,'' opines Rajan
>>> > Gurukkal.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Decongestion of base town Pampa by increasing facilities at
>>> > a
>>>> >>
>>>> >> relatively distant town of Nilakkal, demolition of unauthorised
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>> > concrete structures at Sannidhanam and Pampa, cleaning of the river,
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>> > better waste disposal facilities and provisions of basic facilities
>>>> >>
>>>> >> for
>>> > pilgrims without affecting ecology are the urgent needs of
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Sabarimala.
>>> > The tigers and elephants must be protected.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> If there is no mechanism
>>> > to check the number of pilgrims, that would
>>>> >>
>>>> >> increase to two to three
>>> > crores within years. Moderate elements among
>>>> >>
>>>> >> the Hindu community are
>>> > favouring a statutory body for Sabarimala in
>>>> >>
>>>> >> line with
>>> > Tirumala-Thirupathy Devasthanam and Amarnath temple. Such a
>>>> >>
>>>> >> body
>>> > consisting of experts from different fields can change the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> course of
>>> > priorities of the forest temple.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> -----------
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> 2. Amarnath
>>> > Yatra: The Pilgrimage to Eco Disaster
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Gautam Navlakha
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>> > http://www.kashmiraffairs.org/gautam_amarnath%20yatra.html
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Should one
>>> > question the propriety of promoting pilgrimage in a
>>>> >>
>>>> >> ecologically fragile
>>> > area or wink at it in the name of devotees right
>>>> >>
>>>> >> to free movement and
>>> > worship? This question comes to mind when
>>>> >>
>>>> >> looking at Amarnath Yatra
>>> > especially the phenomenal increase in the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> number of pilgrims. This
>>> > increase is not of few hundred or few
>>>> >>
>>>> >> thousand but runs into hundreds of
>>> > thousands. There has been a
>>>> >>
>>>> >> doubling of the period for pilgrimage from
>>> > one month to two this year
>>>> >>
>>>> >> as well as forty times increase in number of
>>> > pilgrims, from 12,000 in
>>>> >>
>>>> >> 1989 to 450,000 in 2005 (this year it is set to
>>> > cross 500,000) are
>>>> >>
>>>> >> cause for concern. In fact the actual period is
>>> > longer because a
>>>> >>
>>>> >> fortnight before the official yatra is reserved for
>>> > army men and
>>>> >>
>>>> >> their families to visit the Amarnath cave through
>>> > ecologically more
>>>> >>
>>>> >> vulnerable Baltal route. Moreover, in order to provide
>>> > security for
>>>> >>
>>>> >> pilgrims who come out in large number, the paramilitary
>>> > forces have
>>>> >>
>>>> >> to be deployed in large number. The current deployment will
>>> > be in
>>>> >>
>>>> >> excess of 20,000 for the entire period. Their presence and
>>> > stay
>>>> >>
>>>> >> cannot but affect the rise in pollution levels. Inclement weather
>>> > too
>>>> >>
>>>> >> is an issue because rains in the plain means snow in the
>>> > higher
>>>> >>
>>>> >> reaches. This results in crowding at the camps, straining
>>> > services
>>>> >>
>>>> >> including disposal of waste. But worse things can happen as in
>>> > 1996
>>>> >>
>>>> >> when unexpected heavy snowfall resulted in death of 243 pilgrims
>>> > and
>>>> >>
>>>> >> injuries to hundred more due to avalanche.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> The State
>>> > Pollution Control Board (SPCB), recently in a 37 page
>>>> >>
>>>> >> report warns that
>>> > generation of waste by pilgrims, absence of waste
>>>> >>
>>>> >> disposal sites, open
>>> > dumping of garbage, air pollution, sewage
>>>> >>
>>>> >> generated by hotels, yatri
>>> > camps and local residential areas makes
>>>> >>
>>>> >> its way into Lidder river. The
>>> > SPCB warned that waste generated by
>>>> >>
>>>> >> pilgrims more than the local average
>>> > and primarily contains plastics,
>>>> >>
>>>> >> polythene and leftover food packets all
>>> > along the route. According to
>>>> >>
>>>> >> their calculation 55,000 kgs of plastic
>>> > waste is generated every day
>>>> >>
>>>> >> during the pilgrimage. Besides, thousands
>>> > of open toilets erected
>>>> >>
>>>> >> along the banks of Lidder river ensures that
>>> > effluents enter the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> river. Thousands of vehicles ply up and down the
>>> > mountains around
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Pahalgam all the way up to Chandanwari spewing carbon
>>> > monoxide. The
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), which came into
>>> > existence on
>>>> >>
>>>> >> February 21, 2001, has been dismissive of such claims. They
>>> > assert
>>>> >>
>>>> >> that 230 pre-fabricated toilets being raised in Nunwan base camp
>>> > and
>>>> >>
>>>> >> human waste disposal off in leach pits with micro-organism
>>> > technology
>>>> >>
>>>> >> using Bokaslin powder and other chemicals would take care of
>>> > the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> problem. However, the issue is more than the supposedly
>>> > effective
>>>> >>
>>>> >> modern methods to manage waste. The sheer presence of large
>>> > mass of
>>>> >>
>>>> >> people is a cause for concern. Department of Science and
>>> > technology
>>>> >>
>>>> >> through its principal investigator on glaciology has argued
>>> > that "the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> ecology, the environment and health of the glacier can be
>>> > under
>>>> >>
>>>> >> severe threat in case the Baltal route to the Holy Cave was
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>> > frequented by thousands of pilgrims". And pointed out that "depletion
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>> > and degradation (of glaciers) are the result of human breath, refuse
>>>> >>
>>>> >> and
>>> > land erosion". (The Tribune July 5, 2005).
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> It is disconcerting to
>>> > note that opening of Baltal route for pilgrims
>>>> >>
>>>> >> on foot and those using
>>> > helicopters has crossed several thousand
>>>> >>
>>>> >> every day. Apart from the
>>> > Department of Science and Technology of J&K
>>>> >>
>>>> >> government even the Nitish
>>> > Sengupta committee, which was constituted
>>>> >>
>>>> >> to look into the deaths of 243
>>> > pilgrims in 1996 due to the snowstorm,
>>>> >>
>>>> >> had recommended that number of
>>> > yatris be restricted to 5000 per day
>>>> >>
>>>> >> for a period of one month and the
>>> > total number of pilgrims be capped
>>>> >>
>>>> >> at1.5 lakhs. According to them Baltal
>>> > route should allow 1500
>>>> >>
>>>> >> pilgrims and Pahalgam 3500 per day. However, the
>>> > General JR Mukherjee
>>>> >>
>>>> >> committee, which looked into the cause of death of
>>> > 35 people, due to
>>>> >>
>>>> >> cross fire, during the 2000 yatra, focussed on
>>> > security arrangement
>>>> >>
>>>> >> and wanted the duration of the yatra to increase as
>>> > security scenario
>>>> >>
>>>> >> improved. But neither report looked at the
>>> > environmental impact of
>>>> >>
>>>> >> the yatra. Thus when the SASB invokes the
>>> > recommendations of the two
>>>> >>
>>>> >> committees what it does is to use it
>>> > selectively and link the number
>>>> >>
>>>> >> of pilgrims to the issue of managing
>>> > security for them. In this sense
>>>> >>
>>>> >> they underplay the question whether the
>>> > eco-system can bear heavy
>>>> >>
>>>> >> influx of pilgrims. This emphasis on
>>> > encouraging larger number of
>>>> >>
>>>> >> pilgrims shows its impact on the
>>> > environment in unexpected ways. Such
>>>> >>
>>>> >> as the SASB contemplating "air
>>> > conditioning" to preserve the shiva
>>>> >>
>>>> >> lingam from melting. The recent
>>> > controversy over the pilgrims
>>>> >>
>>>> >> alleging that the SASB has been
>>> > constructing the "snow lingam" is now
>>>> >>
>>>> >> being passed off as due to change
>>> > in the course of the water channels
>>>> >>
>>>> >> after last year's earthquake and
>>> > global warming. Without ruling this
>>>> >>
>>>> >> out human contribution to this
>>> > phenomenon cannot be ignored when
>>>> >>
>>>> >> glaciers are rapidly receding. As a
>>> > matter of fact yatra was never
>>>> >>
>>>> >> undertaken in June precisely because
>>> > formation of shiva lingam does
>>>> >>
>>>> >> not always take place then. Incidentally
>>> > the local people speak of
>>>> >>
>>>> >> "human" intervention in restoring what is a
>>> > natural phenomenon, as
>>>> >>
>>>> >> something that has happened in the past too. This
>>> > apart large number
>>>> >>
>>>> >> of pilgrims means that going gets tough as one draws
>>> > close to the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> cave with traffic jam being the order of the day. At times
>>> > pilgrims
>>>> >>
>>>> >> have to wait for hours for their turn. Increase in dust in
>>> > atmosphere
>>>> >>
>>>> >> too is caused by crowds of people as well as helicopter
>>> > service. The
>>>> >>
>>>> >> dust raised is visible from long distance away. All this
>>> > also means
>>>> >>
>>>> >> that individual pilgrims, that is other than VIPs, are
>>> > disallowed
>>>> >>
>>>> >> from spending more than seconds inside the cave. Above all
>>> > carbon
>>>> >>
>>>> >> dioxide levels shoot up warming the area all around.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> It
>>> > cannot be that the SASB is unaware of the environmental concerns.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> If it
>>> > receives short shrift it is because the yatra has come to
>>>> >>
>>>> >> symbolise
>>> > Indian government's determination to promote its claim in
>>>> >>
>>>> >> J&K. That
>>> > pilgrimage is being heralded as victory against a movement
>>>> >>
>>>> >> demanding
>>> > azadi from India is available in the news portal of Indian
>>>> >>
>>>> >> government,
>>> > Press Information Bureau. It says that "yearning for
>>>> >>
>>>> >> moksha (salvation)
>>> > can move the devotees to the challenging heights
>>>> >>
>>>> >> of Kashmir and will be
>>> > a fitting gesture of solidarity with our
>>>> >>
>>>> >> valiant soldiers who have been
>>> > fighting the enemy to defend our
>>>> >>
>>>> >> borders".
>>> > (pib.nic.in/feature/feo799/f1507992.html 
>>> <http://pib.nic.in/feature/feo799/f1507992.html> ). Thus what is
>>>> >>
>>>> >> otherwise merely
>>> > a religious pilgrimage of the Hindus has been
>>>> >>
>>>> >> elevated to represent a
>>> > patriotic enterprise. Besides, the SASB is
>>>> >>
>>>> >> headed by the Governor and
>>> > his principal secretary is the CEO of the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> SASB. Thus the Government of
>>> > India is clearly in charge of organising
>>>> >>
>>>> >> the yatra. And it is the SASB
>>> > which has been pushing for larger and
>>>> >>
>>>> >> larger numbers of pilgrims and
>>> > challenging the right of the state
>>>> >>
>>>> >> government from interfering in anyway
>>> > with the schedule announced by
>>>> >>
>>>> >> the SASB.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> It is true that not
>>> > everyone who goes to Amarnath accepts this
>>>> >>
>>>> >> association of religion with
>>> > patriotism. But the fact of the matter
>>>> >>
>>>> >> is that official perception of
>>> > pilgrimage as patriotic duty has
>>>> >>
>>>> >> allowed the communal fascist elements
>>> > to join in organising their
>>>> >>
>>>> >> supporters. Little wonder that frequency of
>>> > conflict between section
>>>> >>
>>>> >> of such 'pilgrims' and local population due to
>>> > their obnoxious
>>>> >>
>>>> >> behaviour has shown an increase. What is equally
>>> > disconcerting is
>>>> >>
>>>> >> that the SASB presided over by the Governor has also
>>> > been engaged in
>>>> >>
>>>> >> controversial transactions. The CEO of SASB is the
>>> > principal
>>>> >>
>>>> >> secretary to the Governor. Present CEO's wife, in her capacity
>>> > of
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Principal secretary forest department granted permission to SASB
>>> > on
>>>> >>
>>>> >> May 29, 2005 to use forest land. But this provision was not in
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>> > accordance with the provision of J&K Forest Conservation Act 1997
>>>> >>
>>>> >> and,
>>> > therefore, the state government withdrew the order. However,
>>>> >>
>>>> >> thanks to a
>>> > stay order by a division bench of the J&K High Court the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> withdrawal of
>>> > permission to occupy forest land, was suspended. Any
>>>> >>
>>>> >> visitor to Pahalgam
>>> > can observe how this forest land is being cleared
>>>> >>
>>>> >> to setup camps for the
>>> > yatris. In fact now the SASB has asked the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> state government to give them
>>> > land in the radius of 5kms of the cave.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> This arouses local passions
>>> > precisely because Indian security forces
>>>> >>
>>>> >> and other entities have
>>> > transferred large tracts of land to house
>>>> >>
>>>> >> camps for security force
>>> > personnel, or for central projects, as well
>>>> >>
>>>> >> as for schools which are run
>>> > by army among others. Even a pro-Indian
>>>> >>
>>>> >> National Conference party has
>>> > protested such transfers of land since
>>>> >>
>>>> >> 1989. Not very far from the camp
>>> > for the pilgrims in Pahalgam, in
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Lidru (opposite Kulan village) what
>>> > locals describe as one of the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> finest meadows, spread over 550 kanals
>>> > (one kanal=one eighth of acre)
>>>> >>
>>>> >> in area, has been given to the army to
>>> > run a school! Local population
>>>> >>
>>>> >> feels helpless at being unable to stop
>>> > this. Therefore, when SASB
>>>> >>
>>>> >> wants large tract of land transferred to it
>>> > under the claim of
>>>> >>
>>>> >> providing accommodation for lakhs of pilgrims it must
>>> > be weighed
>>>> >>
>>>> >> against this local concern. Were the numbers of pilgrims to
>>> > be
>>>> >>
>>>> >> brought down the pressing need for transferring large areas to
>>> > SASB
>>>> >>
>>>> >> or for providing carpet security and thus deployment of force, can
>>> > be
>>>> >>
>>>> >> brought down.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> This apart the SASB has also been involved in
>>> > other controversial
>>>> >>
>>>> >> acts. One such was the recent attempt by the SASB to
>>> > bring down the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> involvement of local people in the yatra. When on June 5,
>>> > 2006 the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> local pro-India Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) claimed that
>>> > SASB was
>>>> >>
>>>> >> ignoring livelihood of locals, the SASB countered by claiming
>>> > that
>>>> >>
>>>> >> such criticism would generate controversy and thus
>>> > "jeopardise"
>>>> >>
>>>> >> tourism in Kashmir. Quite apart from the fact that
>>> > promotion of
>>>> >>
>>>> >> pilgrimage for commerce flies in the face of proclaimed
>>> > concern for
>>>> >>
>>>> >> people's faith PDP pointed out that if local porters and
>>> > ponywallahs
>>>> >>
>>>> >> can strike work at Vaishnodevi Shrine against the
>>> > (mis)management of
>>>> >>
>>>> >> the Shri Vaishnodevi Shrine Board (SVDSB) and seek
>>> > support from local
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Congress leaders then what is wrong if local people
>>> > from Pahalgam and
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Kangan areas seek their help to protest against the
>>> > practises of SASB
>>>> >>
>>>> >> which discriminate against them. In fact the Pithoo
>>> > Workers Union at
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Katra have protested the suspension of six of their
>>> > leaders, alleged
>>>> >>
>>>> >> manhandling by SVDSB officials and demanded recall of
>>> > its additional
>>>> >>
>>>> >> CEO. Neither the Governor as head of SVDSB nor the Board
>>> > issued any
>>>> >>
>>>> >> statement chastising the Congress party!
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Arguably,
>>> > when yatra was halted between 1991-96 due to threat of
>>>> >>
>>>> >> section of the
>>> > militants it played into the hands of the extreme
>>>> >>
>>>> >> right wing elements in
>>> > Indian society who have since then become an
>>>> >>
>>>> >> integral part of mobilising
>>> > large numbers of pilgrims. Thus a form of
>>>> >>
>>>> >> competitive communalism came
>>> > into play. Thus when section of the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> militants represented earlier by
>>> > Harkatul Ansar and now Lashkar-e-
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Taiyyaba or Jaish-e-Mohammed threaten
>>> > to disrupt the pilgrimage it
>>>> >>
>>>> >> only gets the backs up of the devout Hindus
>>> > opens them to vitriol of
>>>> >>
>>>> >> the rabidly anti-Muslim Vishwa Hindu Parishad
>>> > (VHP), Shiv Sena etc.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> and accentuates the communal divide. However, it
>>> > is equally important
>>>> >>
>>>> >> to note the actual fact that more people have died
>>> > in yatra due to
>>>> >>
>>>> >> inclement weather and cross fire than at the hands of
>>> > the militants.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Besides, the main indigenous militant organisation Hizbul
>>> > Mujahideen
>>>> >>
>>>> >> has always supported the yatra and has consistently
>>> > demonstrated its
>>>> >>
>>>> >> opposition towards those who have tried to disrupt the
>>> > yatra.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Moreover, prior to constituting SASB the state government,
>>> > local
>>>> >>
>>>> >> people and social activists provided aid and assistance to
>>> > the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> pilgrims. However, threat of environmental damage has become a
>>> > matter
>>>> >>
>>>> >> of utmost concern because the central government under the cover
>>> > of
>>>> >>
>>>> >> SASB remains unrelenting in its pursuit of ever larger numbers
>>> > to
>>>> >>
>>>> >> come for pilgrimage.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> In a way the Amarnath yatra illustrates
>>> > the way in which the Indian
>>>> >>
>>>> >> government injects communalism in our body
>>> > politic. And also
>>>> >>
>>>> >> represents how secularism in India has been perverted
>>> > to mean state
>>>> >>
>>>> >> patronage of religion/s. This patronage is not equitably
>>> > distributed
>>>> >>
>>>> >> since Hindus outnumber others by more than eight times.
>>> > Which is to
>>>> >>
>>>> >> say that between un-equals equality ends up promoting Hindu
>>> > religious
>>>> >>
>>>> >> practises. In Amarnath yatra, in fact, the India government
>>> > even
>>>> >>
>>>> >> discarded its pretended neutrality by publicising the yatra as
>>> > a
>>>> >>
>>>> >> patriotic duty! Consequently, the likelihood of Amarnath
>>> > pilgrimage
>>>> >>
>>>> >> getting mired in controversy, over environmental damage
>>> > and
>>>> >>
>>>> >> eventually feeding into further alienation of people because they
>>> > can
>>>> >>
>>>> >> do little to save damage to their lived environment, has
>>> > increased.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Trouble is the Indian government cares little for people and
>>> > prefers
>>>> >>
>>>> >> to pander to the extreme rightwing by projecting the yatra as
>>> > a
>>>> >>
>>>> >> patriotic enterprise to boost the morale of the Indian
>>> > paramilitary
>>>> >>
>>>> >> forces. The very same force which the local population
>>> > regards as
>>>> >>
>>>> >> symbol of their oppression. Thus a bigger mess is in the
>>> > making right
>>>> >>
>>>> >> before our own eyes.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> ---------------
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>> > Shuddhabrata Sengupta
>>>> >>
>>>> >> The Sarai Programme at CSDS
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Raqs Media
>>> > Collective
>>>> >>
>>>> >> shuddha at sarai.net
>>>> >>
>>>> >> www.sarai.net <http://www.sarai.net> 
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>> > www.raqsmediacollective.net <http://www.raqsmediacollective.net> 
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>> > _________________________________________
>>>> >>
>>>> >> reader-list: an open
>>> > discussion list on media and the city.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Critiques & Collaborations
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>> > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>> > subscribe in the subject header.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>    ...
>>>> >>
>>>> >> [Message clipped]
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > Shuddhabrata Sengupta
>>> >
>>> > The Sarai Programme at CSDS
>>> >
>>> > Raqs Media
>>> > Collective
>>> >
>>> > shuddha at sarai.net
>>> >
>>> > www.sarai.net <http://www.sarai.net> 
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > www.raqsmediacollective.net <http://www.raqsmediacollective.net> 
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>> _________________________________________
>> re
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