South Asia Citizens Web

Most people who’ve seen the [google] ad have been moved to tears or at least choked up, despite their best intentions. But beyond the fantasy fairytale ending of ‘reunion’ lurks the reality, like a wicked witch keeping lovers apart. And that reality is the wretched visa regime that makes it next to impossible for Indians and Pakistanis to visit each other’s countries.

On the occassion of International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, November 29, 2013, we are commemorating Sunila Abeysekera, a tireless defender of human rights in Sri Lanka. Sunila is remembered as a mother, activist, writer, critic, feminist, and singer with a wonderful sense of humor. Listen to Sunila sing in this short slide show we’ve put together to commemorate her life.

Far-left ’splittist’ sects like Comrade Bala’s proliferated in the 70s – and a genuine desire for change was corrupted

a video recording from a press conference addressed by civil society activists following an exposé by gulail.com on illegal surveillance in Gujarat under the Modi govt.

Among the heaviest investors in “Project Modi”, however, are the Hindu ideologues of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Having been banned twice since Independence, its leaders fear another ban, and worse, the prospect of being jailed. Recent developments have intensified such fears. Hindu extremist groups have been found to be involved in the terrorist attacks on the Mecca Mosque in Hyderabad, at Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti’s shrine at Ajmer (also known as Ajmer Sharif), and on the Samjhauta Express. Several RSS members (since disowned) have been arrested for their involvement in these terror plots. The heat of the investigations threatens to singe some top RSS functionaries.