South Asia Citizens Web

We, the speakers of the Vienna 2014 International Conference “Freedom of Information Under Pressure. Control – Crisis – Culture” (comprised of international academics, media practitioners, librarians, experts of open culture and public space, activists, critical citizens, lawyers and policy makers), sign the following Declaration on Freedom of Information and Expression

Schools are for education, not indoctrination.
A school is not a place of prayer, it is an institution of learning.
Schools are not battle grounds for religions or politics.
Schools are not recruiting grounds for religions or politics.
No Saraswati Puja, No Namaaz, No Hosannas in School!

I had to go to Californiato learn that Michiko Shiota Gingery, who lives in the Central Parkarea of Glendale City, suffers “feelings of exclusion, discomfort and anger” because her local authority unveiled a memorial to the innocent Asian women turned into sex slaves by the Japanese Imperial Army. These “comfort women”, the Japanese military’s repulsive euphemism for the victims they turned upon with such sexual sadism, were gang-raped, used as prostitutes and often butchered by Japanese (…)

बनारस की मेल -मोहब्बत और गंगा - जमुनी संस्कृति खतरे में है। उस खतरे का सामना करने का साहस और सामर्थ्य देती नन्द किशोर नंदन जी की यह कविता पेशे खिदमत है

The world at large is rightly fearful of Taliban-like fanatics getting hold of Pakistan’s nuclear assets. The same analysts, however, have not paid heed to the possibility of a nuclear nightmare in Delhi should a right-wing Hindutva regime take charge next month. In my view, the adventurist quotient in the latter scenario is no less disturbing than the palpable terror of bigots taking over Pakistan.