Excelsior... Nation

Comics power for
social change

NEW DELHI, Oct 18: Move over archie, tintin, asterix, and the motley crew of superheroes who inhabit children’s minds. There is a new wave of comics promoting the use of cartoons and comics to transmit socially relevant messages....more

Daler—‘victim of
publicity stunts’?

NEW DELHI, Oct 18: Pop singer Daler Mehndi says publicity-hungry folks often drag him into controversies. He was surrounded by a storm of protests some months .......more

India to help restore
normalcy in Afghanistan,
says Jaswant

NEW DELHI, Oct 18: India will do its best to help restore normalcy in Afghanistan after the current conflict is over, . ......more

‘Security around disputed structure should be tightened’

CHENNAI, Oct 18: A day after the forced entry of VHP leaders into the make-shift temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya, Prime Minister Atal.......more

BJP, Rajnath must apologise for Ayodhya, Agra incidents: Mayawati

LUCKNOW, Oct 18: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) vice-president Mayawati today said the Bharatiya Janata Party and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister .........more

3 opposition MLAs
suspended for
manhandling minister

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Oct 18: In a rare and exemplary step, the Kerala Assembly today suspended three members of the Marxist-led....more

Comics power for social change

This is an initiative by NGOs to ‘draw’ out villagers to put pen to paper and use their artistic abilities to highlight issues or problems they feel strongly about.

The use of alternative media for social cartooning is the initiative of world comics, Finland who have been working with NGOs Charkha and Village Community Development Society (VCSS) in India to enable the marginalised sections of society be heard and seen.

Speaking to mediapersons here last evening Leif Packalen, Chairman of World Comics said, "I chose to use comics to highlight development issues because I felt they could be an effective as also a cost-effective way of communication. Comics attract people’s attention and can drive home the message you are trying to convey in a lively manner."

The organisations are holding an exhibition and seminar on ‘comics for change’ tomorrow at the India Habitat Centre to draw attention to the role cartoons and comics can play in the overall development process.

Packalen, who has worked in Africa for a decade, both as a bureaucrat and a social worker, was brought to India by S Martin of the VCDS to organise cartoon workshops in rural areas of Tamil Nadu where VCSS was working.

"We thought it would be a novel idea to introduce people to the potential of comics to express themselves," Mr Martin said. "So we decided to invite Mr Packalen, and his associates Katja and Matti, to help train people at these workshops."

VCDS has been hosting annual workshops in Tamil Nadu since 1997. Charkha, the brainchild of social activist Sanjoy Ghose, also tied-up with world comics to start workshops in Rajasthan and Jharkhand.

Mediapersons Sharad Sharma, who has been working with Charkha as a volunteer, helping to train grassroots activists and panchayat functionaries, said, "the social organisations working in various districts in the state send their representatives who are then trained at these workshops. On their return they train and involve the locals and encourage them to illustrate social evils and other concerns."

Mr Martin and Sharad mentioned that India had a rich and diverse tradition of visual communication and so people took to this method readily and eagerly.

"Women in India have been drawing Kollams and Rangolis since time immemorial and so they find the visual arts a convenient medium to express their problems and concerns as opposed to speaking out which not many are able to do given their timidness and the conservative social milieu."

Mr Packalen, however, stressed that to be effective the content and medium had to be local. "When the issues and themes are local done by locals their reach and acceptance is wider and deeper," he said.

Mr Tarun Bose, Resident Editor of Charkha said that in villages of Rajasthan and Jharkhand where workshops were held, women panchayat functionaries came out in large numbers.

"They were enthusiastic about their newfound skills and used them to telling effect. They made wall posters depicting social evils such as illiteracy, drinking, Sati, child marriage and so on forcing the authorities to act and react."

Charkha is now planning to take this innovative initiative to the north-east and Jammu and Kashmir to work with and involve people in these often neglected regions of the country. (UNI)

Daler—‘victim of publicity stunts’?

NEW DELHI, Oct 18: Pop singer Daler Mehndi says publicity-hungry folks often drag him into controversies.

He was surrounded by a storm of protests some months ago after a section of a community objected to his album "Nabi Buba Nabi", alleging it insulted their faith.

Daler’s "Ik Dana", which showed children wearing sacred Sikh symbols, had earlier angered a section of the Sikh community.

"There are people who often try to become the focus of media and public attention. For this, they associate themselves in one way or the other with big names," he today told reporters at the opening of music store neoplanet here.

The singer said he however immediately responded positively to the objections. "I don’t want any religious or social tension to occur because of my music, and that’s why I took positive moves to set at rest the controversies."

Protests had prompted Daler and music company umil to come out with a statement about their decision to change the words "Nabi, Ali and Madina" in the controversial album.

"Social harmony should be preserved at all costs. Recently, some anti-social elements attempted to create unrest in Punjab by defiling Guru Granth Sahib. I objected to those acts strongly."

But the singer however said his Ik Dana was unnecessarily driven into a controversy.

"You are a Sikh yourself, and you can see there is nothing objectionable in ‘Ik Dana’," he said while speaking to this UNI correspondent.

Daler, sometimes called "Dollar Mehndi" because of his money-spinning success in Punjabi pop, was however upbeat despite the recent controversies, saying his new album would hit the market in a couple of months and that his DM company was doing remarkable business in the music world.

"Mika’s Gabru is receiving a terrific market response," Daler said in respect of the DM company’s new album that he claimed gave a good break to a "dull phase" in the music industry.

At the moment, he said, there was no good film or non-film music. "It’s regretting that even classical singers are trying to attempt ‘fusion music’ only to end up with ‘confusion’.

"The music is losing orginality. But I make a point to stick to either pop or folk or classical. All my numbers testify to this principle," the singer claimed. (UNI)

India to help restore normalcy in Afghanistan, says Jaswant

NEW DELHI, Oct 18: India will do its best to help restore normalcy in Afghanistan after the current conflict is over, External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh has said.

"Reasonable living conditions must be restored so that Afghan people can lead a normal life. We look forward to a lasting peace in the region," he said while addressing the first Tej Bahadur Sapru Lecture here last evening.

Mr Singh said India has already offered to send one million tonnes of wheat and woollen blankets for Afghan refugees settled on the Pakistan border. A similar request has been made to iran for refugees settled along the Afghan-Iran border.

The September 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington has injected a sense of vulnerability all over the world, Mr Singh said. Mankind has known causes of earlier conflicts — whether they were territorial or ideological. But the new phenomenon of global terrorism accepts none of these.

"Terrorism is an ideology by itself. It seeks to conquer minds of the masses by terror. It replaces a sense of order which is essential for civil societies. Liberty and free thought are adversaries of terrorism."

Mr Singh said the September 11 terror strikes have redefined the geopolitics in post-cold war era. Besides, they have inflicted social, political and economic trauma for on United States, the most powerful nation. At the same time, terrorism itself has changed dramatically.

"What is evident now is that we are witnessing globalisation of terrorism, resulting in global anarchy. Terrorism is challenging the very concept of power, the instruments and hierarchy of power in orderly societies."

The minister said changes in Afghanistan and Pakistan in the past three years or so were symptomatic of the dangers facing the world today. But terrorism cannot be equated with Islam. "Terrorism is a religion in itself which does not recognise any other religion."

Mr Singh said India does not recognise the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. It recognises the Northern Alliance Government of Burhanuddin Rabbani which still has a seat in the United Nations.

Adding a word of caution for the Central Asian countries, Mr Singh said 20 per cent of global energy resources are located there. "The global community cannot afford social and political anarchy in these nations." (UNI)

‘Security around disputed structure should be tightened’

CHENNAI, Oct 18: A day after the forced entry of VHP leaders into the make-shift temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today said security arrangement around the complex appeared to be slack and there was a need to further tighten it.

Vajpayee told newsmen here it appeared that security in the disputed area was slack and said no such "mishaps" should occur.

"It appears that security arrangement was slack. It has to be further tightened," he said.

He made these comments when asked about yesterday’s incident of entry of VHP activists, including its senior leader Ashok Singhal, in the prohibited sanctum-sanctorum of the make-shift temple.

There was no VHP volunteer inside the temple now, he said before leaving for new delhi after attending BJP president Jana Krishnamurthy’s son’s marriage here.

Asked about India’s relationship with Pakistan after the developments in Afghanisthan, he said talks were going on with Pakistan. However, there was "no proposal to have formal talks", he said.

Referring to US Secretary of State Colin Powell’s visit to India, Vajpayee said talks were held in a free and fair manner.

About complaints of deterioration in law and order situation in Tamil Nadu after AIADMK came to power, Vajpayee said he had received such complaints. "Action must be taken".

The Prime Minister left by a special IAF aircraft accompanied by Union Home Minister L K Advani. He was seen off at the airport by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, Governor C Rangarajan and senior officials of the armed forces. (PTI)

BJP, Rajnath must apologise for Ayodhya, Agra incidents: Mayawati

LUCKNOW, Oct 18: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) vice-president Mayawati today said the Bharatiya Janata Party and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Rajnath Singh should apologise to the people for BJP-sponsored vandalism in Ayodhya and Agra and take action against the guilty.

"The UP Chief Minister and the BJP leaders should seek apology from the countrymen on the Agra and Ayodhya incidents and book the guilty persons if they have any morals left," she said at a press conference here.

Claiming that BJP was trying to create communal disturbances after September 11 terrorist attacks, she said her party would agitate if the Government did not act against those involved in the incidents.

"Vandalism by the youth wing of the BJP in the historical Taj Mahal during their national convention in Agra on October 14 was an act like that of Taliban who ruined the Bamiyan Buddhas," she said.

Forceful entry of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leaders to the disputed and restricted area of Ayodhya yesterday also proves that the BJP and its supported organisations were going for "terrorist" like action to create communal tension in the country, she claimed.

Holding the party leadership responsible for the incidents, she said almost all the senior BJP leaders, including some Union Ministers, were in Agra while the Chief Minister was present in Faizabad yesterday, when the incidents occured.

She welcomed the Supreme Court order for a probe into the Agra episode.

Claiming that the BJP, which had lost its popularity and failed to address the problems of the people was now trying to divert the attention of the masses by inciting communal disturbances, Ms Maywati said their only motive was to create fear among the minorities.

The BJP had masterminded the two incidents to gain "political mileage" in the forthcoming Assembly polls in the state, she said.

She also warned the BJP leaders against making controversial statements to demoralise the minorities and spark communal disturbances.

Stating that BSP was against terrorism, the party vice-president said, "we won’t allow anyone to play with people’s sentiments or incite clashes among communities and castes."

About the Centre’s committment to flush out terrorists from the Kashmir Valley, she said, "the intrusion of Pakistan in Kargil shows that they could not protect the country’s intergal part so how could they flush out terrorism?" she asked. (UNI)

3 opposition MLAs suspended for manhandling minister

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Oct 18: In a rare and exemplary step, the Kerala Assembly today suspended three members of the Marxist-led opposition for manhandling Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar and for disobeying a ruling of the Speaker, besides plunging the house into disorder in protest against the chair’s refusal to allow the leader of the opposition to speak.

The house earlier witnessed unruly scenes with the opposition members rushing menacingly towards the speaker’s podium and climbing onto the table of the legislature officials, culminating in manhandling of Mr Ganesh Kumar who was replying to a calling attention motion.

A free-for-all ensued for two minutes when a few members exchanged blows and about 20 others belonging to both the opposition and treasury benches pushed each other aside. The situation was brought under control after the watch and ward staff formed a human wall separating the opposition and ruling front members. Speaker Vakkom Purushothaman then adjourned the house.

Marxist members M V Jayarajan and Raju Abraham and CPI member P S Supal were suspended for the remaining 33 days of the current session conclulding on December seven.

The house adopted a motion, moved by leader of the house and Chief Minister A K Antony, suspending the three when the house reassembled after three hours of adjournment during which the speaker held discussion with the leaders of legislature groups of both the ruling and opposition parties.

The opposition boycotted the day’s proceedings immediately after the motion was passed by voice vote protesting against the "unilateral decision" of the speaker and the leader of the house to suspend the three members.

In his motion, Mr Antony said the three members disobeyed the speaker, went on rampage, disrupted the proceedeings of the house and misbehaved with the women staff of the legislature. They climbed onto the table and shouted at the top of their voice, threatening the speaker. They manhandled Mr Ganesh Kumar. All these acts constituted indiscipline and those who committed it deserved exemplary punishment. The suspension of the three members was for the entire current session of the house.

The trouble began during zero hour when the speaker refused to consider the adjournment motion given notice of by Dr Thomas Isaac on the "Maithri housing scheme" for the weaker sections of the society. On the Speaker’s refusal, leader of the opposition V S Achuthanandan stood up and tried to make a statement, which was disallowed by the speaker.

The speaker then called congress member n sakthan nadar to move his call attention motion. CPI(M) Legislature Party leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and M V Jayarajan peeved by the denial of permission to the opposition leader led others to the well of the house, shouting slogans against the Speaker.

Mr Ganesh Kumar, who started giving reply to the call attention motion, sat down on seeing Mr Jayarajan, Mr Supal and Mr Raju Abraham advancing menacingly towards him. Seeing this, Mr R Balakrishna Pillai, father of Mr Ganesh Kumar, and a few other ruling front members, formed a ring around the minister. At this juncture, Mr Ganesh Kumar was manhandled by the three opposition members. In the melee, a button in his shirt came off.

Following this, about 20 members of both the sides came to blows at the well of the house. Senior members immediately intervened to pacify the agitated members even as the watch and ward staff created a human wall separating the treasury and opposition benches. The speaker then adjoruned the house and left for his chamber.

Mr Ganesh Kumar later told newspersons that one member pulled him by his hand, while another caught hold of his shirt and the third assaulted him.

He said he was not a party to the issue over which the house witnessed pandemonium.

Mr Achuthanandan told newspersons that the suspension was part of a conspiracy hatched by the speaker and the Chief Minister in the wake of the opposition allegation levelled against Mr Antony on the floor of the house during the past two days with regard to the Rs 1,800-crore Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)- funded Kerala water supply scheme.

It was strange that the members were suspended without providing them an opportunity to be heard.

Mr Achuthanandan denied that Mr Ganesh Kumar was manhandled. (UNI)