Violence against women

Violence against women is a crucial area where much importance is needed worldwide. There are Several Commissions and Conventions were set up by the UNO to discuss and to find solutions to the violence against women in the world. Through different ways the women are exploited and thus deprived of their due rights. Sometimes by sexually, politically, economically, socially, etc. Gender based violence and discrimination against women are the key areas of CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) and also UNFPA(United Nations Population Fund). Like this, UNIFEM(United Nations Development Fund for Women) is also working on this ground. For more click the link below-

http://www.unifem.org/gender_issues/violence_against_women/

Human Rights in India

Like all other countries of the world, India too is facing problems of human rights violation. Rights are violated in every hour, in fact in every minute and in different ways. Sometimes children are the victims, sometimes women, indigenous groups, refugees, religious and etnic minorities, etc. In India National Human Rights Commission has been playing a crucial role for those who are deprived and exploited. Several human rights activists have also contributed in this respect. Yet cases of violation of human rights are regular and perennial in India. For more on this follow the link below-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_in_India

Human Rights of Women

Rights are part and parcel of any individual and it is right which helps in development of individuals in all spheres of life. Since the Universal Declaration on Human Rights in 1948 it has been playing a phenomenal role in uplifting human beings. Amongst all, women are most frequently deprived of their dues and privileges. Despite the fact that women constitutes half of the total world population, yet they are more often exploited by their male counterparts. In this context the steps taken by UNO are significant. For more on this click the following link-

http://www.unfpa.org/rights/women.htm

Multiculturalism and India

India is a country where people of different communities, tribes, religions, linguistic groups, castes reside and it is best suitable place for terms like multiculturalism. It is the need of a country lik India which have a population comprised of diversed culture. Yet it has unity in real terms. Here is a link which will tell us a fantastic story on multiculturalism by Barnita Bagchi-

http://www.countercurrents.org/comm-bagchi290903.htm

Multiculturalism by Shashi Tharoor

The following link will take you to the video about multiculturalism by Shashi Tharoor-

http://www.temasekreview.com/2009/11/18/multiculturalism-in-india/

On Secularism

Click the following link for secularism in India-

http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/Essay/secularism.html

Secularism and India

Religion is a very sensitive issue for everyone since it is deeply rooted in everyone's heart and emotion. Its not possible to separate religion from mankind. Religion often helps in binding various religious communities together and sometimes it turns violent and kills the harmony among different religious groups. At this juncture it is pertinent to talk about the importance of secularism. Secularism can reduce the gap between different groups. It can also be added in this context that Indian model of secularism is quite different from the western model which reiterates the complete separation of religion from politics or state. In India it is not easy to make any separation between these two as Mahatma Gandhi too kept these two together. The term 'Secularism' was not originally added to the preamble to the constitution of India, but later through 42nd amendment of the constitution in 1976 the term was added. The following link will provide more facts on secularism in India-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secularism_in_India

Environmental Issues and India

India being a large democracy is facing environental related problems like other countries of the world. In India water pollution is comparatively higher than others which include deforestation, soil, air, etc. The following link will provide the key aspects of environmental issues in India-


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_issues_in_India

List of Environmental Issues

Here is a link below which will provide the list of various environmental issues-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_environmental_issues

Environmental Degradation and The Future

The last and the present century have witnessed a great detarioration of environment and its adverse effects on mankind. Exploitation of the nature was and is at a very high rate and mankind now very conscious about the rapid change of climate, global warming, etc. Though there were significant efforts, yet it seems it is too late for mankind to even repent of their misdeeds which were performed ony to multiply their wants, needs and comfort. Now we are talking about sustainable development, Earth Summit, Kyoto Protocol, World Environment day, etc. because our future of our next generation is at stake. Gandhi once said that mankind will repent because of industrialisation, modern civilzation. Now Mahatma Gandhi's warning seems to be true in the present scenario. Now there is continuous threat to ecosystem, wildlife as a result of mankind's exploitation of nature. Now we are very much conscious about bio-diversity conservation. We are organizing workshops, seminars, writing thesis, doing research and getting our degrees. This will add another problem to the list already contains a never ending series of problems. Its time to act truely and positively on practical grounds. Mere shouting sloguns won't help us from degrading the environment.

By Sasanka Dhaval Saikia

Ethno Tourism: The Way towards Preserving Identities of Ethnic Communities of North East India

Tourism is a sector which generally plays a vital role in economic growth of a region and hence a country. India is not the exceptional in this regard. The crucial aspect of tourism particularly in case of India’s North East, is that it can play a pivotal role in preserving identities of ethnic communities. It is imperative in this context to lay emphasis on the usefulness of ethno-tourism or sometimes called as community based tourism, as far as the identities of some ethnic communities of this region is concerned. Those groups with the help of tourism can preserve their identities undistorted and keep themselves away from being assimilated to a larger and common identity. As culturally, geographically or by virtue of habitat those communities are having a different way of life in comparison to the other culturally hegemonic groups of this region, it has become crucial for those to construct the base of their distinct cultural milieu. Ethno-tourism will contribute immensely in this respect. One interesting aspect of ethno-tourism is that sometimes it helps communities that are on the verge of extinct to reconstruct their identities. They will not only keep their identities intact but will have the opportunity to become economically sound also. Thus their survival will be ensured with the help of tourism.

Key words: Ethno-tourism, Ethnic Identity, North East India

By Sasanka Dhaval Saikia

Identity Politics

Identity politics has occupied a major portion of political science research in the contemporary world particularly in the last quarter of the last century and at the present times too. The link below will help to know more about it-

http://www.egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/24742/1/UNIT-17.pdf

Tribal Autonomy: Politics of Exclusion & Inclusion

A marvellous writing by G. Amarjit Sharma on Tribal Autonomy: Politics of Exclusion and Inclusion. Click the link below for the article-

http://www.manipurresearchforum.org/tribal_autonomy_arch5.htm

Democratic Exclusion

The following link will help in understanding Charles Taylor'sview on Democratic Exclusion -

http://www.eurozine.com/articles/2002-02-21-taylor-en.html

Identity Politics and social exclusion

Here is a link below which will help in understanding identity politics and social exclusion in India's NE. Whether it is language or ethnicity, relative deprivation or exclusion politics, India's NE part has always witnessed movements as a result of those. Somewhere it is Bodos or Nagas, Mizos or other tribal groups have been in a state of struggle sometimes for their identities or democratic exclusion and for their development. Struggling and dissenting groups like ULFA, NSCN, BLT, NDFB, KNLF, TNV, etc. have asserted their demands rather by an extremist way.

Click the link below for more on this-

http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewArticle.asp?id=53809

Relevance of Gandhi in Modern Times

Watch the link below for relevance of Gandhian Philosophy in modern times-

http://www.boloji.com/opinion/0632.htm

Relevance of Gandhian Philosophy in Contemporary World

A frequent question regarding the relevance of Gandhiji's views and philosophy is asked by the world in the recent times. Basically Mahatma's non-violence and truth have been successful in influencing the modern gobalized world. Increasing numbers of different types of violence have forced the people to think in the way Gandhi did in his lifetime. Even after more than 60 years of the demise of the great, people still find his philosophy as a requirement of the modern times.

For more click the link below-
http://www.mkgandhi-sarvodaya.org/Essays/essay1.htm

Gandhiji and Ecology

Click the link below for Gandhi and ecology

http://www.krepublishers.com/02-Journals/JHE/JHE-29-0-000-10-Web/JHE-29-3-000-10-Abst-PDF/JHE-29-3-151-10-2065-Moolakkattu-J-S/JHE-29-3-151-10-2065-Moolakkattu-J-S-Tt.pdf

Gandhi on Environment

Gandhi has always talked about the importance of nature and environment. He had always emphasized on the nature and its benefits. He was in favour of the preservation of environment since it is crucial for mankind.

For more click the link below-
http://www.mkgandhi.org/environment/environment.htm

Globalization and Cultural Identity

For details about globalization and cultural identity click the link below-

http://politybooks.com/global/pdf/GTReader2eTomlinson.pdf

Globalization and Cultural Identity 1

Ita a known fact that globalization has adversely affected the distinctness or identity of the indigenous and tribal communities of every nation including India, to be very specific North East India. It has enormously contributed to the fast changing cultural taste of the people. In this respect the role of government is crucial.

For more click the link below-
http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/hdr04_chapter_5.pdf

Impact of Globalization on Socio-Cultural Identities of Tribal Communities of North East India

Nowadays very often the issues related to Globalization have occupied the discussions between scholars, theorists, researchers, etc. Globalization though it has its impact on economy of a country particularly, yet it has parallel and equal affect on socio-cultural aspects of any group worldwide. The significantly alarming fact regarding the socio-cultural identity of basically the third world countries is the main area of concern for the stakeholders in the last and present century. The most striking and disturbing impact of globalization has been on the socio-cultural identities of basically the ethnic and indigenous tribal communities of the world, particularly India, a country rich in culture and tradition. It has been a threat to all those tribal communities of North Eastern part of India to be very specific, as it carries with it a significant characteristic and that is cultural sameness or universalism. It plays a negative role in annihilation of cultural identities and extinction of their richness in indigenous knowledge by its cultural hegemony and a powerful weapon of language i.e. English. It even contributes to a drastic change in the social structure including art, culture, literature, folklores, and dance forms of those groups by incorporating global trends sponsored by Western states. The revolutionary change in communication technology has undoubtedly brought the people together under one single umbrella, yet at the same time it causes fears about loss of cultural identity of those groups. At some stages it undermines the very foundation of the existence and livelihood of those groups.

By Sasanka Dhaval Saikia
For more click the following link-
http://wiki.indianfolklore.org/images/2/2a/Ifl_22.pdf

Books on Globalization 1

Another link for books on globalization. Click this link-

http://www.google.co.in/search?q=books+on+globalization&hl=en&tbs=bks:1&ei=9XbRTJ-REouavAOd07yMDA&start=10&sa=N

Books on Globalization

Here is a link for books on Globalization. Click the link below-

http://www.google.co.in/search?hl=en&q=books%20on%20globalization&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbo=u&tbs=bks:1&source=og&sa=N&tab=wp

Globalization

Somebody is really true when he says 'Globalization is a old wine in a new bottle'. Globalization has become a must for every nation of the world. No single country is successful in keeping itself away from the global market or village. Watch the link for more about the most happening phenomenon of the last and the present century-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globalization

Review of Jagdish Bhagwati's 'In Defense of Globalization'

Watch the link for a review of Bhagwati's book 'In Defense of Globalization'-

http://www.complete-review.com/reviews/economic/bhagwj.htm

Globalization: Views of Jagdish Bhagwati

Watch out the following link for the views of an economist known as Jagdish Bhagwati.

http://economistsview.typepad.com/economistsview/2006/09/jagdish_bhagwat.html