[Reader-list] Shahidul Alam detained by Indian Border Security Force

Rahul Asthana rahul_capri at yahoo.com
Fri Jun 19 21:39:47 IST 2009 

Dear Anupam,
Your question is a straw man.I am not drawing any analogy between nation and home.My question to Shuddha is based upon his statement about artificial borders etc.

Thanks
Rahul

--- On Fri, 6/19/09, anupam chakravartty <c.anupam at gmail.com> wrote:

> From: anupam chakravartty <c.anupam at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Shahidul Alam detained by Indian Border Security Force
> To: "sarai list" <reader-list at sarai.net>
> Date: Friday, June 19, 2009, 9:16 PM
> Dear Rahul,
> 
> 
> 
> I am sorry that I am addressing the question that you have
> raised
> specifically for Shuddha to reply. However, I would like to
> add something. I
> guess for many of the readers in this list, perceiving your
> nation, as your
> home is one thing, being an understanding as well as an
> empathetic neighbour
> is another. May be these two things are connected but I
> feel that the moment
> one goes gung-ho about their home, their land and their
> resources, it
> reminds me of this pot-bellied uncle next door, who would
> scream the moment
> my football would enter his compound. I feel I don’t want
> my nation to
> behave like that pot-bellied neighbour of mine. I say this
> because our
> members have been drawing this analogy of home and the
> question that you
> have posed here: “Do you think that people should be
> allowed unrestricted
> entry to other peoples homes at all times?”
> 
> 
> 
> If I use this analogy, then this is what it looks like:
> 
> 
> 
>    1. If India is so touchy about
> unrestricted entry of her neighbours, in
>    this context, Bangladesh, she should have
> been like how neighbours are,
>    boundaries drawn but certain limited
> contact should have been made possible
>    like what she had with her other
> neighbour. Why are our fences so porous
>    with Bangladesh?
>    2. It has been sixty years since we have
> living in this neighbourhood,
>    count the number of times like feudal
> landlords we have waged wars with each
>    other? If we care so much about our
> homes, why do we have people acting
>    swinishly about which religion they
> belong to and other such things?
> 
> 
> Thanks anupam
> 
> On 6/19/09, Rahul Asthana <rahul_capri at yahoo.com>
> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Dear Sonia,
> > Do you agree with this -
> > "I think the detention of any human being on the
> grounds that he is
> > crossing an artificial, ephemeral, man-made border is
> an affront to
> > our common humanity."
> > Dear Shuddha,
> > Do you think that homes should be locked? Do you think
> that people should
> > be allowed unrestricted entry to other peoples homes
> at all times?
> > You have a very interesting idea.Lets explore the
> polemics around it.
> >
> > Thanks
> > Rahul
> >
> > --- On Fri, 6/19/09, S. Jabbar <sonia.jabbar at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > > From: S. Jabbar <sonia.jabbar at gmail.com>
> > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Shahidul Alam detained
> by Indian Border
> > Security Force
> > > To: "A.K. Malik" <akmalik45 at yahoo.com>,
> "Shuddhabrata Sengupta" <
> > shuddha at sarai.net>
> > > Cc: "Sarai" <reader-list at sarai.net>
> > > Date: Friday, June 19, 2009, 8:57 AM
> > > Exactly what the English think about
> > > the Poles, the Germans about the Turks,
> > > the Americans about the Mexicans, and the
> Australians,
> > > Americans, French,
> > > Germans, Italians, Spaniards, Canadians, Poles,
> Mexicans,
> > > and Turks think
> > > about Indians.
> > >
> > >
> > > > From: "A.K. Malik" <akmalik45 at yahoo.com>
> > > > Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:13:30 -0700 (PDT)
> > > > To: Shuddhabrata Sengupta <shuddha at sarai.net>
> > > > Cc: Sarai List <reader-list at sarai.net>
> > > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Shahidul Alam
> detained by
> > > Indian Border Security
> > > > Force
> > > >
> > > >
> > > Hi,
> > >     Views are very noble,
> interesting and
> > > appreciable from humane point
> > > > of view. But when you lose your
> identity,home, job
> > > because someone crosses
> > > > over illegally to your country, things
> become
> > > different. Global brotherhood is
> > > > easy to talk about, but difficult to
> implement
> > > especially in the current
> > > > environs.Imagine most Bangladeshis, Africans
> coming
> > > over freely to our country
> > > > to make our life more pleasant by doing
> menial jobs
> > > and terrorist walking over
> > > > freely from Pakistan...!!!!!!!
> > > Regards,
> > >
> > > (A.K.MALIK)
> > >
> > >
> > > --- On Fri, 6/19/09,
> > > > Shuddhabrata Sengupta <shuddha at sarai.net>
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > > From: Shuddhabrata
> > > > Sengupta <shuddha at sarai.net>
> > > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Shahidul Alam
> > > > detained by Indian Border Security Force
> > > > To: "sarai list"
> > > > <reader-list at sarai.net>
> > > > Date: Friday, June 19, 2009, 3:11 AM
> > > > Dear All,
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I think the detention of any human being on
> the
> > > grounds
> > > > that he is
> > > >
> > > > crossing an artificial, ephemeral, man-made
> border is
> > > an
> > > > affront to
> > > > our
> > > > common humanity. Borders come and go, and
> people will
> > > > move across
> > > > them,
> > > > and have always moved across them,
> regardless of the
> > > > controls
> > > > that seek
> > > > to restrict movement. Otherwise we would
> all
> > > > be
> > > > uncivilised, uncouth,
> > > > provincial barbarians.
> > > >
> > > >   Shahidul Alam happens to be
> a very respected
> > > >
> > > > photographer, but his
> > > > detention by an Indian border patrol would
> have been
> > > > just
> > > > as horrible
> > > > if he were an honest, hard working peasant,
> > > > agricultural
> > > > worker,
> > > > factory worker, cook, student, plumber or
> > > > sex-worker from
> > > > Bangladesh
> > > > who happened to have got caught while being
> > > > on the 'wrong'
> > > > side of
> > > > the insane labyrinth that is called the
> > > > India-Bangladesh
> > > > border .
> > > >
> > > > The city of Delhi, where I live, is
> sustained
> > > > by the hard
> > > > labour of
> > > > many Bangladeshis who work as domestic help,
> as
> > > > informal
> > > > factory
> > > > workers, as people in the formal as well as
> informal
> > > >
> > > > hospitality
> > > > industry, as white collar workers. Not all
> of them are
> > > in
> > > >
> > > > Delhi
> > > > 'Legally' but the city would be poorer
> without them,
> > > as
> > > > would
> > > > many
> > > > cities all over the world. Imagine Rome,
> London, New
> > > York,
> > > >
> > > > Melbourne,
> > > > Warsaw or New Delhi without the cheerful,
> ironic,
> > > gentle
> > > >
> > > > Bangladeshi
> > > > who cleans homes, sells flowers, works as a
> doctor,
> > > drives
> > > > a
> > > > taxi,
> > > > makes love, cooks meals, writes poems,
> builds houses,
> > > turns
> > > >
> > > > lathes
> > > > and sings songs.  The free movement of
> people is a
> > > > precondition
> > > > of a
> > > > free world, and the free movement of
> Bangladeshi
> > > people,
> > > > many of
> > > >
> > > > whom, who with their immense energy, good
> humour and
> > > gentle
> > > > irony
> > > >
> > > > sustain a more humane fabric of everyday
> life is what
> > > makes
> > > > life
> > > > worth
> > > > living in many parts of the world. They show
> you the
> > > > way in
> > > > strange
> > > > cities. They sing you a snatch of song.
> Sometimes
> > > > they give
> > > > you an
> > > > unasked for discount on the bill at the end
> of a big
> > > > meal when
> > > > you are
> > > > hungry.
> > > >
> > > > All those who oppose the free movement of
> people,
> > > whether
> > > > the
> > > > people
> > > > are identified, or choose to identify
> themselves as
> > > >
> > > > Bangladeshis,
> > > > Poles, Croats, Palestinians, Israelis,
> Pakistanis,
> > > > Indians,
> > > > Iraqis,
> > > > Iranians, Afghans, Somalis or Congolese are
> inhuman,
> > > >
> > > > inhospitable and
> > > > enemies of our shared humanity.
> > > >
> > > > On another note,  I
> > > > have said this before, but I will
> > > > say it again. I
> > > > find the detention of
> > > > Pragya Bharti under preventive
> > > > detention laws
> > > > as reprehensible as that
> > > > of Binayak Sen or those (many
> > > > young people)
> > > > who are accused of being
> > > > SIMI or Indian Mujahideen
> > > > frontmen, or of
> > > > being Maoists, or opposed to
> > > > circumstances of that prevail
> > > > Kashmir or
> > > > in the North Eastern states of
> > > > India.
> > > >
> > > > Preventive detention, under any
> circumstances, is an
> > > insult
> > > > to
> > > >
> > > > liberty and should be opposed, no matter who
> is being
> > > > detained,
> > > >
> > > > whether it is Varun Gandhi, Binayak Sen,
> Pragya Bharti
> > > or
> > > > anyone else.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > regards
> > > >
> > > > Shuddha
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On 17-Jun-09, at 12:35 PM, Rajendra Bhat
> > > > Uppinangadi
> > > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Dear All, one issue that is concerning
> me is,
> > > are
> > > > men
> > > > and women in
> > > > > media
> > > > > above laws.? If they are doing any
> project,
> > > > they can
> > > > violate laws
> > > > > of the
> > > > > land.? Is media responsible to
> > > > citizens of the nation
> > > > in which they
> > > > > are
> > > > > operating.? Or they are
> > > > responsible only to media
> > > > barons and the share
> > > > > holders of the media
> > > > corporate to share the "profits"
> > > > of such
> > > > > projects.? As
> > > > > the humans
> > > > work in different walks of life, do they
> > > > become above
> > > > > laws if
> > > > > they
> > > > are say, politicians, judicial appointees
> and
> > > > executives, or
> > > > > are
> > > > they
> > > > > appointed to serve the citizens in best
> possible
> > > > interests of the
> > > >
> > > > > citizens.?
> > > > >
> > > > >   Now, as to current
> matter ubder
> > > > discussion, it is
> > > > to be noted
> > > > > that if the
> > > > > border force do their duties sincerely,
> no
> > > > under age
> > > > married girls
> > > > > can come
> > > > > in to India and work as dance bar
> > > > girls, sex workers
> > > > in as far as
> > > > > south
> > > > > India, particularly in
> > > > Chennai, Bangalore, and
> > > > Hyderabad. It is
> > > > > true that
> > > > > they have
> > > > practically no opportunities to earn a
> > > > living in their
> > > > > bangaldesh,
> > > > >
> > > > but the sad issue is many of these married
> girls are
> > > > in southern
> > > > >
> > > > India,,
> > > > > recently Bangalore police with Chennai
> counter
> > > parts
> > > > ripped
> > > > open
> > > > > the network
> > > > > of this illegal trade of human traffick
> and sex
> > > > trade.
> > > > Local news
> > > > > network
> > > > > channel 9 and Udaya TV and also
> Suvarna
> > > > tv covered the
> > > > issue
> > > > > comprehensively. Even with recession
> and lesser
> > > >
> > > > salaries, the
> > > > > stressed minds
> > > > > are seeking extra carnal pleasures ?
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > As to this man of media, why he has not
> taken
> > > > necessary
> > > > >
> > > > authorisation for
> > > > > the project work.? Is he under cover
> operative
> > > for any
> > > >
> > > > group.? If Dr.
> > > > > Binayak Sen can be held captive in
> detention for
> > > the
> > > > good
> > > > work he
> > > > > has had on
> > > > > record, is not above laws, which
> ofcourse is
> > > > obnxious,
> > > > are men in
> > > > > media
> > > > > above laws.?
> > > > >
> > > > >   Amusingly, the
> > > > fate of Prajna Thakur
> > > > and 12 others who are under
> > > > > detention
> > > > > for
> > > > months now without any shred of proof has
> no
> > > > defenders of human
> > > > >
> > > > rights
> > > > > talking or them.! None is concerned
> about these
> > > > detentions of
> > > > Prajna
> > > > > Thakur.? Perceptions of a few seem to
> be taking
> > > over
> > > > the rights
> > > > and
> > > > > wrongs
> > > > > in society, when it comes to human
> rights of the
> > > >
> > > > humans.?
> > > > >
> > > > >   Regards,
> > > > >
> > > > >    Rajen.
> > > > >
> > > > > On Wed, Jun 17, 2009 at
> > > > 11:16 AM, anupam
> > > > chakravartty
> > > > > <c.anupam at gmail.com>wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > >>
> > > > Photographer Shahidul Alam spends 6hrs in
> BSF
> > > > custody:
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > http://bdnews24.com/details.php?id=87461&cid=2
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Bangladeshi-photographer-held--
> > > >
> > > > >>
> > > > crossing--Indo-Bangla-border/477648
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Two versions of the same story.
> > > > However, if as per
> > > > the BSF
> > > > >> officials are
> > > > >> claiming that Alam
> > > > crossed over in the Dhubri
> > > > sector, which is
> > > > >> also my home
> > > > >>
> > > > district, the Brahmaputra river is itself
> the
> > > > border. during the
> > > > >>
> > > > floods
> > > > >> immigrant bangladeshis in
> connivance of BSF
> > > and
> > > > BDR enter India
> > > > on
> > > > >> boats
> > > > >> carrying pineapples from across the
> border.
> > > the no
> > > >
> > > > man's land
> > > > >> mentioned in
> > > > >> both of the reports is actually
> river
> > > >
> > > > brahmaputra.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> thanks anupam
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > >> On 6/17/09, Santhosh Kumar
> > > > <santhosh.kanipayur at gmail.com>
> > > > wrote:
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>> it is hard to believe that
> > > > you will
> > > > believe....
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>> On Wed, Jun 17, 2009 at 9:53
> AM, Pawan
> > > >
> > > > Durani
> > > > >>> <pawan.durani at gmail.com
> > > > >>>> wrote:
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>>> Hard to
> > > > believe .....
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>> On Tue, Jun 16, 2009 at
> 7:55 PM,
> > > Shun-Ling
> > > > Chen
> > > >
> > > > >>>> <schen at law.harvard.edu
> > > > >>>>> wrote:
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>>>
> > > > >>>
> > > > http://unheardvoice.net/blog/2009/06/16/shahidul-alam-detained-by-
> > > >
> > > > >>>
> > > > indian
> > > > >>>>>
> -border-security-force/
> > > > >>>>>
> > > > >>>>> Dr Shahidul Alam,
> > > > well-known
> > > > photographer, and founder Drik, was
> > > > >>>>> detained by Indian
> > > > Border Security
> > > > Forces while working on the
> > > > >>>>> Bangladesh side of the
> > > > border on his
> > > > Brahmaputra project. He
> > > > >>>>> called
> > > > >> me
> > > > >>>>> at
> > > > 18:21 pm to tell me that the guards
> > > > had asked him to come over,
> > > > >> and
> > > >
> > > > >>>>> then detained him at
> Sahapara 21
> > > IPP,
> > > > across the border from
> > > > >>>>>
> > > > Rowmari.
> > > > >>>>> His two colleagues are
> on the
> > > > Bangladeshi side of the
> > > > border, and
> > > > >> can't
> > > > >>>>> get to him.
> > > > >>>>>
> > > > >>>>> Please contact Home
> > > > and Foreign
> > > > Ministry officials requesting that
> > > > >> they
> > > > >>>>> do all
> > > > possible to get him released
> > > > immediately. It is worth
> > > > >> mentioning
> > > >
> > > > >>>>> that the Indian BSF
> have detained
> > > and
> > > > killed many innocent
> > > > >>
> > > > Bangladeshis
> > > > >>>>> in recent years, in the
> border
> > > areas.
> > > > >>>>>
> > > > >>>>>
> > > > http://www.mediahelpingmedia.org/content/view/387/1/
> > > > >>>>> News - South
> > > > Asia
> > > > >>>>> By David Brewer
> > > > >>>>> Tuesday, 16 June 2009
> > > > >>>>>
> > > > >>>>>
> > > > Reports from Bangladesh say that
> > > > Shahidul Alam, the photo
> > > > >>>>>
> > > > journalist,
> > > > >>>>> blogger and founder of
> the Drik
> > > > picture network has
> > > > been
> > > > >>>>> detained by
> > > > >>>>> Indian border security
> forces
> > > while
> > > >
> > > > working on the Bangladesh
> > > > >>>>> side of
> > > > >>>>> the border.
> > > > >>>>>
> > > >
> > > > >>>>> In a message to this
> site from
> > > Dhaka,
> > > > Alam's partner says he was
> > > > >>>
> > > > working
> > > > >>>>> on a multimedia project
> about
> > > the
> > > > Brahmaputra with two
> > > > colleagues
> > > > >> when
> > > > >>>>> border guards took him
> awa
> > > > >>>>>
> > > > >>>>> There
> > > > are now fears for Alam's safety
> > > > and supporters are
> > > > >>>>> calling on
> > > > >>
> > > > the
> > > > >>>>> international community
> to push
> > > for
> > > > his release.
> > > > >>>>>
> > > > >>>>>
> > > > The last message from Shahidul Alam
> > > > came through at !8:21 on
> > > > >>>>>
> > > > Tuesday
> > > > >> 16
> > > > >>>>> June when he called
> home to say
> > > that
> > > > border security
> > > > guards had
> > > > >>>>> asked
> > > > >>>>> him to come over to the
> Indian
> > > side of
> > > >
> > > > the border where they
> > > > >>>>> detained
> > > > >>>>> him at Sahapara 21
> IPP,
> > > > across the
> > > > border from Rowmari.
> > > > >>>>>
> > > > >>>>> His two colleagues are
> on
> > > > the
> > > > Bangladeshi side of the border, and
> > > > >> can't
> > > > >>>>> get to him.
> > > >
> > > > >>>>>
> > > > >>>>> At the time Alam was
> working on
> > > the
> > > > Bangladesh end of the
> > > > river
> > > > >>>>> Brahmaputra project. He
> had
> > > travelled
> > > > to Kurigram with two
> > > > Drik
> > > > >>>>> colleagues to take
> photos, video
> > > and
> > > > stills.
> > > > >>>>>
> > > > >>>>>
> > > > Contact has been made with a number of
> > > > local and international
> > > > >>>>>
> > > > media
> > > > >>>>> organisations and
> government
> > > > officials, including the Indian
> > > > High
> > > > >>>>> Commission.
> > > > >>>>>
> > > > _________________________________________
> > > >
> > > > >>>>> 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.
> > > > >>>>> To unsubscribe:
> > > > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-
> > > > >>>>> list
> > > > >>>>> List
> > > > archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/>
> > > > >>>>
> > > > _________________________________________
> > > > >>>> reader-list: an open
> > > > discussion list on
> > > > media and the city.
> > > > >>>> Critiques &
> Collaborations
> > > >
> > > > >>>> To subscribe: send an email
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> > > > >>>> List archive:
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> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>
> > > > _________________________________________
> > > > >>> 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.
> > > > >>> To unsubscribe:
> > > > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
> > > > >>> List archive:
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> > > > >>
> > > > _________________________________________
> > > > >> 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.
> > > > >> To unsubscribe:
> > > > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
> > > > >> List archive:
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> > > > >>
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > --
> > > >
> > > > > Rajen.
> > > > >
> _________________________________________
> > > > > 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
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> > > > >
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> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > _________________________________________
> > > > reader-list: an open discussion
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