South Asia Citizens Web

...sources who were close to Karkare have said there was indeed a threat perception at that time and the former ATS chief was disturbed over allegations against his family after the Malegaon probe was made public. However, they said “Karkare was not scared” and that “he was very practical and took adequate measures to ensure his family was safe”. According to sources, Karkare had raised the wall around his house just a week before his death and also brought home a dog. “The wall was raised (…)

On December 6/7/8, 2010, Communalism Combat, Sahmat and Social Scientist organised a three day symposium in Delhi on ’Faith & Fact: Democracy After the Ayodhya Verdict’. The deliberations, over 3 days, between academics (historians and archaeologists), jurists and lawyers, activists and journalists were invigorating and challenging.

AIDWA is deeply concerned about certain provisions in the draft. It is unfortunate that “false and malicious complaints” of sexual harassment have been made punishable in the proposed law. This is totally against the Vishaka Judgment which had clearly stated that no action should be taken against a woman for making a complaint. The entire civil law to deal with cases of sexual harassment was meant to be enacted to provide a conducive atmosphere in which women victims could make a complaint, because women employees are usually extremely hesitant to lodge a complaint for fear of reprisal.

A tribute to the life and work of Leslie Gunawardana, the Sri Lankan historian, who oversaw a paradigm shift in ancient history of Sri Lanka. For me Leslie Gunawardana was one of the truly creative historians of Sri Lanka and I feel different kind of sadness to think there are very few of his calibre re­maining.

The practice of employing contract workers by IIT Kanpur started increasing at the expense of direct regular employees during the past two decades and presently the figure of the contingent workforce is estimated to be around 2,500. For its normal functioning, the Institute relies upon these contract workers not only for temporary construction works but also for perennial works such as messing (food preparation, serving and cleaning of kitchen and dishes), civil maintenance, electrical maintenance, horticulture, sanitation and sewer cleaning.