South Asia Citizens Web

The New Yorker, August 4, 2008
Serving the Goddess: The dangerous life of a sacred sex worker
The devadasi system is centuries old, and the women once enjoyed lives of great privilege.
“Of course, there are times when there is pleasure,” Rani Bai said. “Who does not like to make love? A handsome young man, one who is gentle . . .”
She paused for a moment, looking out over the lake, smiling to herself. Then her face clouded over. “But mostly it is horrible. The farmers here, they are (…)

Press Release, October 10
Lahore: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has called upon the government to end the death penalty in the country, and place an immediate moratorium on executions until the punishment is abolished.
In a statement issued on World Day against the Death Penalty on Friday, the Commission said: The government of Pakistan should seriously consider moving towards the abolition of death penalty. While the government’s announcement in June to commute death sentences (…)

The last few days have seen the Delhi Police "returning fire" at the critics of the Jamia Nagar encounter. Pressured by the mounting skepticism about police claims, the Delhi Police have now responded with a new round of theories and stories, which nevertheless remain as riddled with holes, as their earlier version(s). Jamia Teachers’ Solidarity Group responds to the latest Police claims.
1) The police was caught by surprise. Or was it?
In its response to the questions being raised by (…)

The Economic and Political Weekly, Sept - October 2008 The Mapping of the Adivasi Social: Colonial Anthropology and Adivasis
The construction of textual knowledge about Indian communities in the colonial milieu resulted in an extensive literature on almost all communities that was not only used as a source of legal and general administration but also to establish colonial domination. In this process the adivasis of India were constructed apposite to civilised society, therefore a distinct (…)

Public Hearing on the Batla House fake encounter in Jamia Nagar, New Delhi. Organised by Jamia Teachers Solidarity Group