[Goanet-News] Goa news for May 7, 2008
Goa News from Google News and Goanet.org Visit http://www.goanet.org/newslinks.php for the full stories. *** Bollywood director plans Scarlett Keeling film - guardian.co.uk [14 hours ago] A Bollywood director is planning to make a film about Scarlett Keeling, the British teenager who was raped and killed on a beach in Goa. ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/2-0&fd=R&url=http://film.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,2278098,00.html&cid=1153641208&ei=--kgSLnRFaDurQOz1d3aDQ&usg=AFrqEzcgPamF1H0OupJJ1cg0AX8-heeEqA *** Orissa police reach Goa to take custody of Raja Acharya - Hindu [12 hours ago] Acharya was arrested in Panaji on Monday in a joint operation by the Orissa and Goa police. Mahapatra said that Raja has been on the run since the murder of ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/0-0&fd=R&url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200805061653.htm&cid=1156264557&ei=--kgSLnRFaDurQOz1d3aDQ&usg=AFrqEzd-Tu9zqTsVKvMC5-d5SPhHG-Ou0g *** Moral Decline In Goa - Navhind Times [1 hour ago] It is even more unfortunate that this is happening in Goa, a state that not only has 84 per cent literacy, but also has high indices of €Ë"morality€„¢ and ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/7-0&fd=R&url=http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=050710&cid=1156730447&ei=--kgSLnRFaDurQOz1d3aDQ&usg=AFrqEzc6tQ0SpzxlZkSjHWtNvz2Tu7t9Zw *** Direct flights to Goa resume next week - GulfNews [2 hours ago] By Sunita Menon, Staff Reporter Dubai: Expatriate Goans yesterday rejoiced on the resumption of direct flights to the western Indian state of Goa. ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/6-0&fd=R&url=http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/Travel_and_Tourism/10211334.html&cid=1156725424&ei=--kgSLnRFaDurQOz1d3aDQ&usg=AFrqEzco8CxoJVdNhH4mYD885jYJZTzbmg *** Sesa Goa moves to increase third party mining - Hindu Business Line [May 5, 2008] Kolkata, May 5 Sesa Goa has stepped up efforts to expand and add iron ore prospecting and miningleases as also increase third party mining opportunities. ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/5-0&fd=R&url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/05/06/stories/2008050651140200.htm&cid=1156377365&ei=--kgSLnRFaDurQOz1d3aDQ&usg=AFrqEzcLkuB7TUK-JqMjHOK78MI_FiGe5A *** Transfer Scarlette case to CBI: Goa - Hindu [3 hours ago] PANAJI: The Goa government on Tuesday issued a notification seeking transfer to the Central Bureau of Investigation the case of Scarlette Keeling, ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/3-0&fd=R&url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/07/stories/2008050755401300.htm&cid=1156716446&ei=--kgSLnRFaDurQOz1d3aDQ&usg=AFrqEzc3sguHNfdHbhNV27haS_8cvOKD2g *** IIMM Goa branch celebrations - Navhind Times [1 hour ago] Mr GB Palankar, chairman, IIMM Goa branch andchief manager of Goa Shipyard Ltd, inaugurated the celebrations. Mr Palankar spoke at length and said that ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/9-0&fd=R&url=http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=05074&cid=0&ei=--kgSLnRFaDurQOz1d3aDQ&usg=AFrqEzffXFzzmITPPsQmUuxUGFTh583Wng *** Students deserting rural schools in South Goa - Navhind Times [1 hour ago] by RAMNATH PAI RAIKAR Principal CorrespondentPANAJI €" The migration of students from rural schools in some South Goa talukas to schools in Margao has... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/8-0&fd=R&url=http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=050738&cid=0&ei=--kgSLnRFaDurQOz1d3aDQ&usg=AFrqEzez-AVxfJPo0zeQrnLIPpeVQmVYQA *** Indian Airlines to restart UAE-Goa service - Hindu [16 hours ago] Dubai (PTI): Indian Airlines has decided to resume its direct flight between UAE and Goa from next week, four months after it stopped the services between ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/4-0&fd=R&url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/006200805061222.htm&cid=1156545268&ei=--kgSLnRFaDurQOz1d3aDQ&usg=AFrqEzffXkKnNYFwEyGBAWcBUS82sMUG_Q *** High court may decide fate of three Goa SEZs - Economic Times [7 minutes ago] NEW DELHI: The fate of the three notified special economic zones (SEZs) in Goa Ciplas Meditab, Rahejas IT/ITES project and Peninsulas pharmaceutical unit ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/1-0&fd=R&url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Infrastructure/High_court_may_decide_fate_of_three_Goa_SEZs/articleshow/3017109.cms&cid=0&ei=--kgSLnRFaDurQOz1d3aDQ&usg=AFrqEzfDlRlz78KMG0ybo52Uf4s6Dj1wnA Compiled by Goanet News Service http://www.goanet.org/newslinks.php
[Goanet-News] BrieFNcounters: History, a cafe, understanding village Goa, Romi Konkani, green fingers ... and a boy and his numbers
A few moving images from Goa, which seek to depict diverse faces of this region. Some bringing in some good news too (it's not all doom and gloom). A big thank you to George Pinto and Agnelo for making this venture possible. Feel free to share these videos, which, as usual, are copylefted. FN Understanding history, looking at Goa's art 06:09 The Xavier Centre of Historical Research, whose founder-director was Dr Teotonio R de Souza in the 1970s, is now looking to grow and expand. Meet current director, Jesuit priest Dr Delio de Mendonca sj, who introduces us to the campus and elaborates on their dreams and plans that hopefully will come true one day. http://xaviercentregoa.notlong.com Cafe Prakash? Why? 10:19 Voices from Goa tell you why Cafe Prakash, a tiny restaurant in Goa, now has pretension of being the 'unofficial press club of Goa'. Listen to Prakash Sakhalkar (after whom the restaurant is named), Ralino Sequeira, campaigner Soter D'Souza, writer Nagueshbab Karmali, Manoj Joshi, meet the staff, and hear homeopath Sushrut Martins, current manager 'Babu' Kaplesh Sakhalkar, Miguel Braganza, and Gomantak Times deputy news editor Ashley do Rosario. In English and Konkani. http://cafeprakash.notlong.com Leroy Veloso, the village life, and studying Goa 05:05 In a noisy cafe, Leroy of Moira (Goa) talks about what it means to understand a village in Goa. He talks about the past and present of Moira, and what makes it special ... and the traditional clans (vangors) of the village. http://villagegoa.notlong.com Romi Konkani, the case for it... (Tomazinho Cardozo) 05:08 Former Goa Speaker, dramatist and writer Tomazinho Cardozo makes a case of why Romi (Roman-script) Konkani needs recognition and acceptance in in today's Goa. http://romikonkani.notlong.com Nicholas Sequeira's garden in Saligao, Goa 10:43 A five-year-in-a-row prizewinning horticulturist tells of his success in keeping his garden green and colourful, and how this could offer new opportunities to others willing to work with the soil in Goa. http://agardeningoa.notlong.com Aren and Maths ... 03:43 A four-and-half year old from Goa talks about Math, numbers and other issues from life. http://arenandmath.notlong.com -- Frederick FN Noronha * Independent Journalist http://fn.goa-india.org * Phone +91-832-2409490
[Goanet-News] Conversions as a political tool (Ram Puniyani)
Conversion: a political weapon Ram Puniyani [EMAIL PROTECTED] One has been hearing a lot about the conversion activities of Christian missionaries. That there is a threat to Hindu nation due to Adivasis converting to a 'foreign religion' is becoming part of social common sense. The real face of the conversion came to fore when after the attack on nuns in Alibaug (March 2008) was followed by a massive conversion to Hinduism, Shuddhi ritual (April 27, 2008) in nearby Mumbai. The person involved in both these has been the same. In the attack on the Adivasis, the followers of Sadguru Narendra Maharaj of Ramanandcharya Peeth were involved and in the elaborate Shuddhi ritual the Guru himself led the conversion. Talking on the occasion he said the Hindus are being reduced to a pitiable minority because of the activities of Christian missionaries. He also came down heavily on the central Government for not pushing through the anti conversion bill and criticized the Maharashtra Governm ent for passing the anti Superstition bill, according to him both these steps are anti Hindu. His claim that Hindus are being reduced to minority is a stuff of make believe world as demographically India's Hindu population is fairly stable. The anti conversion bills which many state Governments have passed/are passing are totally against several articles of our constitution. Our constitution encourages the promotion of rational thought, in pursuance of which Maharashtra Government has done the laudable job of passing anti superstition bill. Those opposing this bill surely want the persistence of blind faith in society, it is this which strengthens their social and political clout and Guru is forthright as far as that is concerned. The same Guru's followers are adept to violence off and on. In Alibaug the people had assembled to hear a lecture on AIDS awareness when his followers assaulted the nuns. How does one understand the rising incidence of violence in Adivasi areas? One recalls just around the Christmas time in 2007, massive violence was unleashed in Kandhmal and Phulbani districts of Orissa. In most of the Adivasi areas Dangs, Gujarat, Jhabua Madhya Pradesh, areas of Orissa, there has been a recurrent violence. It is these areas which have seen the conversion of Adivasis into Hindu fold. One must clarify that Adivasis are Animists, neither Christians nor Hindus. While some conversions to Christianity have been occurring they are not new as Christianity has been here from centuries. These conversions are due to many reasons, missionaries work in the area of education and health in particular. In recent times the overall population of Christians has been declining marginally (1991-2.60%, 1981-2.44%, 1991-2.34, 2001-2.30%) Part of the conversion surly is due to some groups amongst Christian missionaries wh o do believe in aggressive proselytization. The Adivasi areas have invited the wrath of RSS combine from last two decades in particular since Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, an RSS affiliate intensified its activities in Adivasi areas. In these areas there is a vicious anti Christian propaganda leading to violence. Since this takes place in remote places the culprits can get away easily, more so with the complicity of communalized state apparatus. In these areas various Godmen with RSS affiliation, direct or indirect, have been either been setting up their Ashrams or extending their influence, Aseemanand; Dangs and Lakhhanand in Orissa, Asaram bapu in Jhabua refion MP, and Narendra Maharaj in Maharashtra. Usually violence and intimidation is accompanied by cultural cooption. This latter has been done by holding huge Hindu Sangams and Shabri kumbhs. Dilip Singh Judeo, has been doing conversions in Adivasi areas of Madhya Pradesh. Sanskritzation is also operative in these conversions to Hinduism. The process has been called Ghar Vapsi or Shuddhikaran (purification) on the premise that Adivasis are Hindus. This is unmindful of the fact that Advasis are primarily animists and do not fall in the category of religion as a social phenomenon, as applicable to Hindus, Muslims, Christians etc. Adivasis are the most deprived lot of the society and have been targeted more for political reasons than for their own welfare. As during the early 1920s, Shuddhi movement (Hindu Communalism) was unleashed in parallel to Tanzim (Muslim communalism), now again the Shuddhi is back. Ghar Vapasi word has been cleverly coined. While browbeating Christian missionaries for conversions, the same term for its own activities will bring in disrepute. So this term, Ghar vapasi; returning home! The propaganda behind this says that Adivasis are essentially those Hindus who ran away to forests to escape the conversions by Muslims kings. In forests they kept living for long because of which they kept sliding down on the scale of social hierarchy. This concoction serves two purposes. One it feeds into the misconception that Islam spread by sword and also makes the Ad
