Contribution of India and Indians to the world body of knowledge is immeasurable. Vedic period in Indiaâs long history represents a highpoint in human knowledge at all times. Philosophers, thinkers, writers, leaders and historians the world over have acknowledged this unique contribution of India cutting across race, region and religion. Indiaâs claim for leadership in the field of knowledge has been unchallenged and remains intact even now. Chinese and Egyptian are the only two other civilisations that can claim as much antiquity as that of Indiaâs. But when Egyptians were busy building pyramids and Chinese the gunpowder, Indiaâs ancient rishis were composing Puranas, Epics, Vedas and Upanishads that remains unequalled even now. The pearls of wisdom that is engraved in each of these works of art are known to the whole world and there is no need to highlight it again.
In this twenty first century, which has been designated as the Century of Knowledge, Indians continue to maintain the lead. IT (Information Technology) is there in all Indians and it is almost impossible to flourish in IT without Indians. The contribution of Indians in the growth of global players like IBM, Intel, Microsoft etc., etc., has been acknowledged by their respective owners at various world forums. We would not have been doing so many things with the computers but for the existence of a country called India and a race of people from there. Despite poverty and difficulty, Indians have always cherished and nourished their thirst for knowledge. The current contribution in the field of IT has been possible only because of this uniqueness of our culture. It is time the rest of the world acknowledged this in a formal manner.
Knowledge management is an emerging field in all industries. Now each and every company is interested in documenting and retaining the knowledge it has accumulated by way of experience. Many companies are also interested in patenting their knowledge accumulated over years. Development and retention of specialised knowledge was always there in all industries by means of retaining the key human resources. But the tremendous demand for qualified personnel has upset all the calculations of major employers. The need for retaining company knowledge irrespective of the personnel has assumed supreme importance. All the major companies in the world, especially in IT field, have a Knowledge Manager in their organisational hierarchy. It is only in the best traditions of cultural gratitude that the post is re-designated as âVeda Managerâ as a tribute to the contributions of India and Indians to knowledge (Veda).
I call upon all Indians the world over, especially those who are controlling the reigns of economic and social power, to make this happen. Indian companies like Infosys, Wipro and Satyem must take the initiative in re-designating their own Knowledge Managers. Indian employees of major companies like Microsoft, Intel, IBM etc., must inform their management collectively about this reasonable and legitimate demand of ours. We have contributed much more than our remuneration and we shall continue to do so thanks to our inherent thirst for knowledge. But this is a simple request that can change the way the world look at India and Indians. A âVeda Managerâ in each and every major company in the world is the best tribute to the cradle of human knowledge ie. Bharat.
Indiaâs expedition to Moon, Chandrayaan, will become a reality by 2007 and most probably it will be an unmanned mission. The next logical step in the same direction will be our manned mission to the moon. Americans christened their spacemen as Astronauts and Russians tagged them as Cosmonauts. I wonder what China calls their spacemen. But when it comes to India, can we think of anything better than Ramanauts? Apparently it might look like an attempt to saffronise (which is now a bad word in India) the whole issue. But it is definitely not that. The word we choose is very important because it will directly relate to our national ethos. The name should reflect the trait of adventurism we had in our blood thousands of years ago, but sadly missing in the last few centuries. All foreign masters have taken advantage of this major shortfall in our mental make-up to break our national unity and rule over us. This is an opportunity to redeem our pride.
Chandrayaan in the twenty first century is equivalent to crossing the sea in treta yuga (before 5000BC). Our ancient seers revered nature and considered everything in it as manifestations of the Almighty. To make ordinary mortals understand and respect this noble concept, all major forces of nature were considered as Gods. In this regard, Sea was also considered as one of our Gods and crossing it came to be considered as a sin. There were no compelling reasons to cross the sea because India and Indians have never been interested in conquering foreign lands or in harvesting souls. But we have always ruled over the minds of people by our power of knowledge and wisdom. I am reminded of the words of Hu Shih (1891-1962), a Chinese philosopher diplomat, who said âIndia conquered and dominated China culturally for two thousand years without ever having to send a single soldier across her borderâ.
But all this logic changed when a kingâs wife was kidnapped by a demon. An ideal king who is also an ideal human being had to show the world how to be virtuous and do oneâs duties in trying times. Whatever obstacles that comes in the way will have to be crossed and she has to be rescued at any cost. For those Indians who are denigrating Ramayan as a mythological story, the question remains as to why Lord Ram took all these troubles to cross the sea when he could have transmigrated to Lanka and saved Sita. Instead, what he attempted was a heroic project of immense proportions at that age, the remains of which are being swept clean by the Sethusamudram ship canal project now. If Lord Ramâs adventurous trip to Lanka was to demonstrate to us the inevitable victory of righteousness, Chandrayaan is meant for harnessing unknown frontiers for our common benefit. Both are for the benefit of common man in India.
In short, it is in the best interests of all Indians that we immortalise the Lordâs heroic attempt by naming our own astronaut as Ramanaut. Let the first Indian to walk on the moon be a Ramanaut. That is the best way to show the world our eternal preference for adventure for the sake of upholding righteousness. Chadrayaan will show the world that Indians too can reach the moon and by naming them as Ramanauts we shall signal the world our reverence for national heroes who had the guts to do the impossible when morality was at stake.
What do you intend to say by starting threads for mails distributed through a private mailing list? What do you expect in these threads? Let's hear from you first.
Youe website is beautiful, informative and excellent.
Power of Yoga and Meditations
Article by M.P. Bhattathiri, Retired Chief Technical Examiner , Govt. of Kerala, it may be published in your website and magazine after editing if necessary.
The American justice Dept. have recently approved the power of yoga and meditation vide a recent judgement in the American court."Man Who Slapped Wife Sentenced to Yoga, It's Anger Management, Says Judge."
First there was house arrest. Now there's yoga. A judge ordered a man convicted of slapping his wife to take a yoga class as part of his one-year probation. "It's part of anger management," County Criminal Court at Law Judge Larry Standley said of the ancient Hindu philosophy of exercise and well-being. "For people who are into it, it really calms them down.
" Standley, a former prosecutor, said the case of James Lee Cross was unique. Cross, a 53-year-old car salesman from Tomball, explained that his wife was struggling with a substance abuse problem and that he struck her on New Year's Eve during an argument about her drinking. "He was trying to get a hold of her because she has a problem," Standley said after the court hearing. "I thought this would help him realize that he only has control over himself." The sentence came as a surprise to Cross, who was told to enroll in a class and report back to Standley on his progress. "I'm not very familiar with it," Cross said of yoga. "From what I understand, it may help in a couple ways, not only as far as mentally settling, but maybe a little weight loss." Darla Magee, an instructor at Yoga Body Houston in River Oaks, said she would recommend that Cross take a basic yoga class emphasizing breathing and including a variety of postures -- forward bends, back bends and twists. "Yoga can help us to get rid of many emotional issues we might have," she said. "It's a spiritual cleanse."
Prosecutor Lincoln Goodwin agreed to a sentence of probation without jail time because Cross had no significant criminal history http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/m...politan/2365341 Yoga which is one of the greatest Indian co tribution to the world has got vast potential in all fields. In Tihar jail India Yoga is experimented among the inamtes and found successful. Their criminal mentality is changed. This study aimed at investigating the effect of Vipassana Meditation (VM) on Quality of Life (QOL), Subjective Well-Being (SWB), and Criminal Propensity (CP) among inmates of Tihar Jail, Delhi. To this effect the following hypotheses were formulated.
1. There will be a significant positive effect of VM on the QOL of inmates of Tihar jail.
2. VM will have a positive and significant effect on SWB of inmates.
3. Criminal propensity (CP) of inmates will decrease significantly after attending the VM course.
4. There will be significant difference in SWB and CP of experimental (Vipassana) group and control (non-Vipassana) group.
5. Male and female inmates will differ significantly in SWB and CP, as a result of VM.
In the famous "Time" magazine the importance meditation and yoga, an ancient Indian system, is high-lighted that the ancient mind- and spirit-enhancing art is becoming increasingly popular and gaining medical legitimacy.
It is a multi billion dollar business in US. In many Universities it is accepted as subject and included in the Syllabus. In the latest famous book "Inspire! What Great Leaders Do" written by Mr.Lance Secretan recently published by John Wiley and sons, the benefit of meditation is elaborately described for good corporate governance.
By practising transcendental meditation, or TM, many people have got relief from back pain, neck pain, depression. The mind calms and quiets, . What thoughts you have during meditation become clearer, more focused. Anger, anxiety and worries give way to a peace.
In the world exhorbitant medical expeneses one can definitely make use of meditation. Maharshi Mahesh Yogi and Sri Ravi Sankar are poplarising this. The Iyengar Yoga institute in US is famous.
In Bhagavad Gita Lord Krishna has inspired Arjuna to rise from his depression by preaching Gita in the battlefield and to rise from the depression to do his duties.
In Holy Gita we can see, being hidden by the cosmic overview of any institution beset with myriad problems, not the least of which is its lack of moral probity, there is a groundswell of educated people seeking answers to deeply personal but universally asked questions. Chie Executives taking lessons from yoga, meditation and learning how to deal with human resources equations in an enlightened manner. Individuals from every walk of life can get ideas of how to be better human beings, more balanced and less stressed out.
Medical studies continue to show regular meditation working magic in reducing blood pressure and stress-related illnesses, including heart disease. Brain images show that regular meditation helps calm the most active sensory-assaulted parts of the brain.
The ancient Hindu sage Patanjali who had mastered the secrets of the human mind has written a book "Yogasutra".In this book we can see how super powers can be achieved by meditation. It has both cosmic relevance and cosmic resonance. In spite of its universal appeal, for most people total control of mind remains an elusive goal and daunting task. From time immemorial, there have been many attempts throughout the world to unlock the mysteries of the mind and to achieve total control over it through a variety of techniques. One of the most powerful of these techniques is meditation. Many spiritual leaders, sages, saints, and holy people such asSri. Buddha, Sri Ramakrishna, Madam Sarada Devi, and Swami Vivekananda have practised this.
One of the ways to control physiological reactions to psychological stimuli is meditation, Yoga, Zen Buddhism etc. The scientists take Transcendental Meditation  as the uniform technique, and base their observations on the study of the subjects engaged in this form of meditation. In summing up the results the scientists have come to conclusion that the effect of meditation is a "wakeful, hypo-metabolic state".
They have found that:
1) Yogis could slow both heart rate and rate of respiration,
2) Yogis could slow the rate of metabolism as confirmed by decreased oxygen consumption and carbon-di-oxide output.
3) Electro-Encephalo-Gram (EEG - recording of brain activity) in Yogis showed changes of calmness in the form of "alpha rhythm" during both eyes closed and eyes open recordings.
4) Th ir skin resistance to electric stimulation was increased (indicating increased tolerance to external stimuli).
Our usual 'defence-alarm' reaction to emotional and physical stress is in the form of "fright, flight, and fight" mediated through over-secretion of certain neuro-transmitters and neuro-modulators, namely adrenaline and dopamine by way of stimulation of sympathetic nervous system. Under the influence of these chemicals and hormones, we reflexively become panicky or aggressive, our blood pressure rises. Thus stress and anxiety is the end result if we allow our natural age-old sympathetic reactions to act and to come to surface. We try to run away, become fearful, or fight the situation. But today these 'defence-alarm' reactions have no place in our lives. Rather, they should be replaced by more calm and serene reactions of equanimity and fearlessness. The need is to just 'face the brute, and it will go away'. Such desirable reactions of non-aggression and peaceful attitude are generated by Y ga and meditation.
EEG Studies on Yogis and The Zen Meditations:
Yogis practising Raja-Yoga claim that during the state of samadhi they are oblivious to the internal and external stimuli, and they enjoy a calm ecstasy during that state. A study was undertaken to record the electrical activity of their brain during this state by means of a regular and useful test known as electroencephalography EEG. Physiological and experimental studies have demonstrated that the basis of conscious state of brain, among other things, is due to activation of "reticular system" in the brain-stem in response to internal and external stimuli. These stimuli bring about various changes during sleeping and wakeful states of the organism and these can be studied by EEG.
The study was carried out on four subjects during the state of concentration and meditation. Effects of external stimuli, like a loud gong, strong light, thermal simulation, and vibrations were studied. The results were compiled and analyzed. It was observed that two Yogis could keep their hands immersed in extremely cold water for about 50 minutes (raised pain threshold). During state of meditation, all of them showed persistent "alpha activity" in their EEG with increased amplitude wave pattern, both during 'eyes closed' and 'eyes open' recording. It was observed that these alpha activities could not be blocked by various sensory stimuli during meditation. It was also observed that those, who had well-marked "alpha activity" in their resting EEG showed greater aptitude and zeal for maintaining the practice of Yoga. Similar observations and results were obtained when EEGs were recorded in persons adept in Zen Meditative technique. Can we say that only those persons who exhibit such recording of "alpha wave rhythm" in their EEG are fit for Yoga? and be designated as right candidates for meditation and Yoga practices? (Such experiments are indeed very few and the number of yogis examined is also very small. Therefore, scientifically and statistic lly these observations have only a tentative importance. Further research is definitely called for, albeit it will have its own limitations.)
Let me bow to Indian Maharishi Patanjali with folded hands who helped in removing the impurities of the mind through his writings on Yoga, impurities of speech through his writings on grammer, and impurities of body through his writings on Ayurveda.
It is said that in the unknown period of Lord Jesus Christ , He was under meditation.
Ref. Yoga magazines
Newyork times
Time magazine
I am wishing for as much advice as possible on culturally acceptable clothing. Within a months time my feet will touch the soil of India. This will be our very first trip. Gratefully so, we have been invited to attend a wedding in Agra India. I can hardly contain my excitement!
I could not wait to buy a sari/saree, yet I probably should have rather than purchasing one online which is what I did. I have been reading and absorbing any and all material wishing to be appropriate in all respects during our month long stay. I have become aware it is quite common for brides to choose the color red as their wedding dress, which I believe represents fertility. I felt my online sari choice which appeared to be a version of red (leaning more toward a maroonish-rust color) would be perfect. I should have realized the computer can alter the appearance of color according to many different computer settings. The sari is incredibly beautiful⦠but is far more red than I was anticipating. The body of the true sari in my possession is done in a deep red with fine overall gold thread work which I suppose gave the appearance of the maroonish-rust color on my computer. The pallu is even more elaborate with quite a bit more gold work shaping vines and flowers in bloom. The uncut and yet to be made blouse piece is a very deep sheer red, which Iâll have made once in India.
Here is my question:
In Uttar Pradesh/Agra⦠is it culturally acceptable for wedding party members to wear red?
My heart will sink to learn this perhaps is unacceptable, but above all I wish for a true account of what is acceptable.
Thank you kindly in advance.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->In Uttar Pradesh/Agra⦠is it culturally acceptable for wedding party members to wear red?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yes, it is.
It will much cheaper to buy in Agra.
Couple of old tradional markets are good for quick shopping e.g Kinari Bazar, Raja Ki Mandi etc.
<!--QuoteBegin-Mudy+Sep 29 2005, 11:25 AM-->QUOTE(Mudy @ Sep 29 2005, 11:25 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->In Uttar Pradesh/Agra⦠is it culturally acceptable for wedding party members to wear red?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yes, it is.
It will much cheaper to buy in Agra.
Couple of old tradional markets are good for quick shopping e.g Kinari Bazar, Raja Ki Mandi etc.
[right][snapback]38907[/snapback][/right]
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
What a relief! Thank you Mudy. Can I ask you another? How is a smoking woman either native to India or tourtist looked upon? And does it still remain a custom where out of respect a woman must walk behind the man? This makes me smile and certainly will make my husband of 25 years smile greatly! <!--emo&  --><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->What a relief! Thank you Mudy. Can I ask you another? How is a smoking woman either native to India or tourtist looked upon? And does it still remain a custom where out of respect a woman must walk behind the man? This makes me smile and certainly will make my husband of 25 years smile greatly!<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Woman walking behind is Muslim custom; India is Hindu majority nation and Hindu woman walk in front. <!--emo&  --><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo--> There is no restriction in India. Indian women are cultured and free.
Legally one can't smoke in air-conditioned facilities.
Smoking woman, I don't know. Some people may be bothered by second hand smoke.
Let us know your experience after your visit.
Dear Admins of this forum,
I want to know about Indian Traditional Art (in particular painting). Every form of art is revived Dance, drama, music etc., but what happened to Indian Painting? In isoated pockets we see Tanjaore painting selling for few rupees.
The contemporary indian painters seems to be the so called "secular, progressive" scum bag breed.
courtesy the below article in Pioneer.
The Art Mafia by Priyadarsi Dutta
I dont have enough material to start a discussion on that. So, i am posting it in this thread.
bengurion.
Would anybody have the english translation of the Swadesh song - Yeh jo desh hai tera?
Thanks.
Was emailed to me. Anyone know more about this movie Water by Deepa Mehta?
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Film Water by Deepa Mehta Must Be Protested;
A recently produced film Water, by Deepa Mehta, an Indian born living in Canada, is derogatory and a disgrace to India. I am certain that this film would not be allowed to be released in India, but is about to be released elsewhere. The film defames India and wrongly refers Hinduism and Hindu scriptures. Indians must protest release of this film, otherwise they soon would be back to slavery as they had been in the past to Christianity and Islam.
Five years ago, the production of Water was stopped in Banaras by Government of India with some protests from the local community. Mehta has completed the film recently in Shri Lanka (filming similar ghats and sceneries as in Bananas), in pursuit of name and fame as it is always possible by showing something anti-social.
Initially, I thought the film may have some reference to Child Widows in India, but after seeing its premiered on October 2nd at the American Natural History Museum in Washington DC, it was shocking that the whole film is nothing but a bleak and vivid story of widows in India including a child widow. The film shows ongoing of this tradition, which for sure had stopped. It also wrongfully refers to Hindu scriptures for it.
A character in the film tells a widow that the Hindu scriptures have provided three (3) alternatives, namely,
(1) renounce the world,
(2) become Sati, or
(3) marry the younger brother of died husband.
It refers Manushmriti as stating that. I read Manushmriti (and I suggest everyone who reads this article verify it too), it does not mention any such alternatives. Apart from this, none of other Hindu scriptures state such alternatives. Specially, the Sati, which started only during that period when certain Hindu Kings of Rajasthan were killed by the Islamic barbarians, the widowed queens sacrificed their lives with the Kings rather been captured by Islamic hands.
The event in which Water was premiered was a literary and film festival called SALTAF organized by NetSAP. NetSAP is an organization of young confused DESI, who in the hand of anti-Hindu elements organized many anti-Hindu activities.
The festival presented two other films and panel discussion of some Hindu Muslim writers. A documentary, Fire Dancer produced by Vishnu Mathur of Canada showed the Kathak dance of India as evolved from Gypsy dance, similar to many others, such as Belly and Flamenco.
When I questioned Mr. Mathur about the documentation of his depiction, he did not know any thing of Indian classical dances and the Bharata Natya Shashtra.
Back to Water, the film shows India 1938 and makes reference to Manushmriti as Hindu Holy Scripture. The film starts with an eight year old girl getting widowed and dragged to a Widhwa Ashram (widow center). The center is run by a crooked lady, who exploits the widows and runs the center as a brothel. The story culminates with the old lady sending the eight year old to a wealthy man for sex. The fainted girl is rescued by another widow of the center. This lady rushes the girl to a meeting held in honor of Mahatma Gandhi, shouting that Gandhi should rescue the child, but it goes unnoticed. The film ends with the girl thrown in to the moving train in which Gandhi is leaving.
After the screening of the film, during the Q&A session, I spoke to Deepa Mehta, that the film was both anti-Hinduism anti-Indian. I said that the statements made in the film were wrong. I also said that Sati happened only after the invasions of India, therefore nothing to do with Hindu scriptures.
There were about a thousand people in the audience, none of whom supported me. Mehta was rather given a heroic cheers and standing ovation for her disgusting production.
Since the film makes inaccurate and derogatory statements about the Hindu scriptures hurting feelings of all Indians, it must be protested and prevented from being released in theaters.
-xxxxx
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Anybody heard of him ??
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/11/prweb309791.htm
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->As Professor Emeritus in East Asian Studies, a linguist, anthropologist and Hindu priest, Anoop Chandola is uniquely qualified to write of Hindu life, including mythology, legends, and rituals.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Meditate on This: Buddhist Tradition Thickens Parts of the Brain
LiveScience Staff
LiveScience.com Fri Nov 11,12:00 PM ET
Meditation alters brain patterns in ways that are likely permanent, scientists have known. But a new study shows key parts of the brain actually get thicker through the practice.
Brain imaging of regular working folks who meditate regularly revealed increased thickness in cortical regions related to sensory, auditory and visual perception, as well as internal perception -- the automatic monitoring of heart rate or breathing, for example.
The study also indicates that regular meditation may slow age-related thinning of the frontal cortex.
"What is most fascinating to me is the suggestion that meditation practice can change anyone's gray matter," said study team member Jeremy Gray, an assistant professor of psychology at Yale. "The study participants were people with jobs and families. They just meditated on average 40 minutes each day, you don't have to be a monk."
The research was led by Sara Lazar, assistant in psychology at Massachusetts General Hospital. It is detailed in the November issue of the journal NeuroReport.
The study involved a small number of people, just 20. All had extensive training in Buddhist Insight meditation. But the researchers say the results are significant.
Most of the brain regions identified to be changed through meditation were found in the right hemisphere, which is essential for sustaining attention. And attention is the focus of the meditation.
Other forms of yoga and meditation likely have a similar impact on brain structure, the researchers speculate, but each tradition probably has a slightly different pattern of cortical thickening based on the specific mental exercises involved.
* Chronic Pain Shrinks People's Brains
* Bigger Brains Make Smarter People
* Making Bigger Brains
Just "look around" and see what Hindus have created and allowed to happen to their great Dharma. Our sacred Hindu/Sanskrit terms and the principles and practices involved are being given away by Hindus and pilfered by non-Hindus.
Simply do a search on "yoga," for example. Did you know that "yoga" means simply Hatha Yoga and that Hatha Yoga is non-religious and non-Hindu? Did you know that "yoga" is a secular exercise routine for money and taught by "certified yoga teachers?" Did you also know that a "Guru" is any expert in any field? Did you know that a "Mantra" is any repetitive chant for success? Did you know that numerous Hindus and Hindu groups sanction the above?
Concerned Hindus are welcome to visit our www.classicalyoga.org site for information about these unethical trends.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Aishwarya Rai refuses to endorse Ganga in America <!--emo&:cool--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/specool.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='specool.gif' /><!--endemo-->
By IndiaFM
Wednesday, 11 January , 2006, 15:55
She has a long list of endorsements to her credit. But this time Aishwarya Rai refused a brand endorsement.
<b>The product in question is Ganga mineral water, which she was asked to endorse in America. She declined the offer because she felt that it would be wrong to portray that the Ganga has come to America. She would have hurt the feelings of many Indians</b>.
Her representatives believe that she has a certain image and the products she is associated with are chosen carefully. It is not a matter of money, but responsibility towards her fans.
In spite of enjoying international success, here is one actress who hasnât forgotten her roots.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
http://www.friesian.com/century.htm
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->The number zero, conceived in India, was introduced into Western mathematics by the mathematician al-Khuwârizmî (c.780-850). The Arabs still call this system "Indian" (Hindî) numbers, while Europeans, etc., call it "Arabic" numerals. The number zero answers the question of cardinal numbers, "How many?" rather than the question of ordinal numbers, "Which one?" Mathematical questions are usually about cardinals rather than ordinals.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
http://www.friesian.com/hist-1.htm#islam
Nearly the entire corpus of Plato and Aristotle and of the physicians Hippocrates and Galen was translated by a single Christian Arab, H.unayn ibn Ish.âq (or Johannitius in Latin, d.876). Much original work that was then done in astronomy, mathematics, and medicine is still commemorated in words from Arabic like algebra, zenith, azimuth, or alcohol. The word algorithm, describing what a computer program does, is actually the name of al-Khuwârizmî (c.780-850), whose books introduced algebra and also passed on from India the method of decimal counting with the number zero. What we call Arabic numerals are still called "Indian" (Hindî) numerals in Arabic. Most of the named stars in the sky still have Arabic names, e.g. Betelgeuse, from Baytuljawzâ', "the house of the Twins [Gemini]."
India's 'girl deficit' deepest among educated
By Scott Baldauf, Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor Fri Jan 13, 3:00 AM ET
NEW DELHI - Banned by Indian law for more than a decade, the practice of prenatal selection and selective abortion remains a common practice in India, claiming up to half a million female children each year, according to a recent study by the British medical journal, The Lancet.
ADVERTISEMENT
click here
The use of ultrasound equipment to determine the sex of an unborn child - introduced to India in 1979 - has now spread to every district in the country. The study found it played a crucial role in thetermination of an estimated 10 million female fetuses in the two decades leading up to 1998, and 5 million since 1994, the year the practice was banned. Few doctors in regular clinics offer the service openly, but activists estimate that sex-selection is a $100 million business in India, largely through mobile sex-selection clinics that can drive into almost any village or neighborhood.
The practice is common among all religious groups - Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Muslims, and Christians - but appears to be most common among educated women, a fact that befuddles public health officials and women's rights activists alike.
"More educated women have more access to technology, they are more privileged, and most educated families have the least number of children," says Sabu George, a researcher with the Center for Women's Development Studies in New Delhi, who did not participate in the study. "This is not just India. Everywhere in the world, smaller families come at the expense of girls."
Like China, India has encouraged smaller families through a mixture of financial incentives and campaigns calling for two children at most. Faced with such pressure, many families, rich and poor alike, are turning to prenatal selection to ensure that they receive a son. It's a problem with many potential causes - from social traditions to the economic burden of dowries - but one that could have strong social repercussions for generations to come.
The Lancet survey, conducted by Prabhat Jha of St. Michael's Hospital at the University of Toronto and Rajesh Kumar of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Research in Chandigarh, India, looked at government data collected from a 1998 sample of Indian families in all the districts of the country. From this data, they concluded that 1 out of every 25 female fetuses is aborted, roughly 500,000 per year.
Many doctors, including the Indian Medical Association, dispute the findings of the report, saying that the number of female feticides is closer to 250,000 per year. They note that the data sample used by The Lancet study precedes a 2001 Supreme Court decision outlawing the use of ultrasounds to check for girls. But activists note that the law is largely unenforced.
"If there were half a million feticides a year," S.C. Gulati of the Delhi Institute of Economic Growth told the Indian news channel IBN, "the sex ratio would have been very skewed indeed."
Yet the sex ratio is skewed. According to the official Indian Census of 2001, there were 927 girl babies for every 1,000 boy babies, nationwide. The problem is worst in the northwestern states of Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, and Gujarat, where the ratio is less than 900 girls for every 1,000 boys.
Against common expectations, female feticide is not a crime of India's backward masses. Instead, it is most common among India's elite, who can afford multiple trips to an ultrasound clinic, and the hushed-up abortion of an unwanted girl. In the prosperous farming district of Kurukshetra, for instance, there are only 770 girl babies for every 1,000 boys. In the high-rent Southwest neighborhoods of New Delhi, the number of girl babies is 845 per 1,000 boys.
Some activists say it is wrong to blame Indian society for the incidents of female feticide. The main cause for the "girl deficit," they say, is the arrival of ultrasound technology, and the entrepreneurial spirit of Indian doctors.
"This is not a cultural thing," says Donna Fernandez, director of Vimochana, a women's rights group based in Bangalore. "This is much more of an economic and political issue. It has got a lot to do with the globalization of technology. It's about the commodification of choices."
Cultures don't change overnight, of course, so it's no wonder that activists are focusing attention on regulating the technology that makes feticide possible, the ultrasound. By law, the government can regulate - but not deny - the use of prenatal diagnostic techniques for the purposes of detecting birth defects, but not gender itself. Activists say that while most doctor's offices and clinics have signboards saying that they cannot disclose the gender of a child, it is rare to see a doctor prosecuted if he does so.
Karuna Bishnoi, spokeswoman for
UNICEF in Delhi, says it shouldn't come as a surprise that educated women are among the most likely to use prenatal sex determination.
"I personally believe this as a failure of society, not a failure of women," says Ms. Bishnoi. "Women who choose this technique may be victims of discrimination themselves, and they may not be the decisionmakers. Nobody can deny that the status of women is very low in India. There is no quick fix to this."
The cultural practice of giving a dowry to the groom's family puts a tremendous financial burden on a bride's family. The cost of not paying a larger dowry can be even higher. In the high-tech city of Bangalore, activists report that it is still common for women to be burned alive by husbands who expected a larger dowry.
While most of India's religions condemn discrimination against women, there are a few temples in the state of Punjab that promise to help bring fewer women into existence. At the Bir Baba Mandir in Amritsar, couples eat flatbread and onions to ensure a boy child.
As a researcher for 20 years on female feticide, conducting field research in the highly educated state of Tamil Nadu, Sabu George says he has some qualms about The Lancet study. In particular, he feels that taking the figures from one year and projecting them backward 20 years just doesn't square with the facts on the ground.
But while he believes The Lancet study may have exaggerated the number of female abortions in the past 20 years, it also might underestimate the exponential growth of female feticide into the futures.
"This is a much larger problem in the future," he says. "Without strong pressure by civil society groups, we'll be seeing 1 million female feticides every year within five years time, definitely."
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->In the high-tech city of Bangalore, activists report that it is still common for women to be burned alive by husbands who expected a larger dowry.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Can she provide some statistics?
Some Indians (esp. lefty one's) have a bad habit of airing their dirty laundry in front of everyone. Problems need to be solved internally, don't give the White man more propaganda information.
<!--QuoteBegin-Mudy+Jan 15 2006, 08:51 AM-->QUOTE(Mudy @ Jan 15 2006, 08:51 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->In the high-tech city of Bangalore, activists report that it is still common for women to be burned alive by husbands who expected a larger dowry.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Can she provide some statistics?
[right][snapback]44875[/snapback][/right]
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Hello,
1. Recently has there been a debate / discussion abt secularism in Delhi at IIC or place like that ? Participatants seem to be Sahabuddin, Togadia and few more .. if somebidy has link for that , pls post ..
Thanks
2. Also can the admins enable the "alt" text for all the images of the forum , atleast for the post option...
|
