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CPI-M candidate Pema Ram’s wife sweeping the floor in front of their hut. Photo: Jupinderjit Singh

— Tribune photo

Mundwana (Rajasthan), December 12
Look at the picture at right. It’s a mud house with a thatched roof. The lady of the house is just one among millions in the country who collect dry grass to cook food — if they can manage it — and trek long distances for drinking water.

Chanda Devi’s chores are set to change: she should now be able to enjoy what has been a luxury so far — a mobile phone, a proper chair to sit on and a comfortable bed to sleep in. And, may be, a fridge too.

She deserves the change.

Totally marginalised — and having to somehow educate her two school-going children — she was the foot soldier who worked day and night to ensure that her husband won the elections in Rajasthan to become an MLA.

Forty-year-old Comrade Pema Ram of the CPI-M is a rare entrant among the 200 chosen representatives of the public in the 13th Vidhan Sabha of the state. Over 60 of these are listed crorepatis and most are nothing less than lakhpatis.

CPM is delighted that Pema Ram has emerged as the true embodiment of the party’s mantra: of producing leaders from among the truly underpriviledged.

“Yes, I belong to the below-poverty line category. There is no material comfort in my house. I and my family never felt the need for it, though. I may be poor and I am used to sleeping on hungry stomach, but the blood in my veins is strong enough to take on those who oppress the poor. Public cause has been the driving force all my life,” a proud Pema told The Tribune.

Pema's victory from Dhaund constituency where he defeated Parsram Modria, working president of the state Congress, has been a landmark for the Communists: three legislators in the House. Since 1964, when CPI took root in the state, there has never been more than one.

Senior CPI leader Asa Ram has been the lone Communist MLA so far. This time, he set a record by being elected for the fourth time running from Dantaramgara defeating Narayan Singh, a formidable candidate from the Congress.

Pawan Duggal is the other young CPI leader who has won. He suffered police torture for leading an agitation for water in Ganganagar belt of the state. He got in by over 21,000 votes from Annopgarh-Gharsana.

“Ek se Anek was our election slogan. We have proved it. We predicted we would have more MLAs this time,’’ CPI state secretary Basudev said.

“The CPI is the only party in the state which has improved its tally threefold. Neither the Congress nor the BJP can boast of such an achievement,” he chuckled.

The party is now confident it can field candidates for three Lok Sabha seats in the parliamentary elections next year — from Bikaner, Sikar and Ganganagar.

Source: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20081213/main8.htm

Origional work: Jupinderjit Singh

The recent terrorist assaults in Mumbai have demonstrated more than ever that unless the United States reverses course on Pakistan, it will begin losing the war in Afghanistan, claims Brahma Chellaney, a professor of strategic studies at the New Delhi-based Center for Policy Research.

The author of the book "Asian Juggernaut: The Rise of China, India and Japan," goes on further to say that this " shift holds the key to the successful outcome of both the war in Afghanistan and the wider international fight against transnational terror."

First, if the US does not insist on getting to the bottom of who sponsored and executed the attacks in India's commercial and cultural capital, the Mumbai attacks will probably be repeated in the West. After all, India has served as a laboratory for transnational terrorists, who try out new techniques against Indian targets before seeking to replicate them in other pluralistic states.

Novel strikes first carried out against Indian targets and then perpetrated in the West include attacks on symbols of state authority, the midair bombing of a commercial jetliner, and coordinated strikes on a city transportation system.

By carrying out a series of simultaneous murderous rampages after innovatively arriving by sea, the Mumbai attackers have set up a model for use against other jihadist targets. The manner in which the world was riveted as a band of 10 young terrorists - nearly all from Punjab Province in Pakistan - held India hostage for three days is something jihadists would love to replicate elsewhere.

Second, let's be clear: The scourge of Pakistani terrorism emanates not so much from the Islamist mullahs as from generals who reared the forces of jihad and fathered the Taliban and Al Qaeda-linked groups such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba, the group reportedly behind the Mumbai attacks.

"For too long, Washington has allowed politically expedient considerations to override its long-term interests. The US must actively encourage the elected leaders in Pakistan to gain full control over all of their country's national-security apparatus, including the nuclear establishment and ISI. And to forestall a military coup in response to such action, Washington should warn the generals of serious action, including possible indictment in The Hague," the Christian Science Monitor quotes Chellaney as saying in his article.

"Since the economic viability of Pakistan depends on continued US aid as well as on US support for multilateral institutional lending, Washington has the necessary leverage. Further aid should be linked to definitive measures by Pakistan to sever institutional support to extremism. Only when the institutional support for terrorism is irrevocably cut off will the sanctuaries for training, command, control, and supply begin to wither away," he concludes.

SOURCE: http://in.news.yahoo.com/139/20081212/808/tnl-us-needs-to-stop-pampering-pak-if-it.html

Sorry, you started a thread about India and post 3 links which were no where in reltion to your trip or some reff. to your research.

I deleted those links as such activity comes under our posting policy.

Hey thanks for the great idea been planning to visit in India and currently looking for a place to stay and where to visit... Actually i just got back home from my work and travel in Australia.I stayed there for four months and had a great time. Whilst I was in Australia my parents took care of of my cats, but they never had pets at home so it was a big task for them. They emailed me on one day about that they found a website with a 'Foro de gato' on it. Everyone who has experience with cats or just wants to talk about it, can leave comments on this special forum.My parents are really grateful for it, because they didn't know anything about how to treat cats and found some tips on it that were really useful!
Sorry cant help talking about my pets, anyways as i said i really enjoy my stay in Australia it was more than a work but a pleasure too...So now im planning for another trip but for pleasure only not for work. i plan to bring my family in Bali... so anymore suggestions? how about accomodations in India like hotels? i would love to here more i want to here answers from people who has experience there so the info would be reliable... again thank you in advance!

I wanted to havee sometthing in Jan. but seems snowfall is little late this year and I think Solang Valley may not be ready by January 2009.

I could not see anything special in this fort excpet few travelers who stop roadside and climb stairs with family to visit temple. Poor upkeep !!

If India and Indians are looking towards US or UD, this is one of the greatest political gamble which may be necessary for India today. Because PAKISTAN was and is being supported by USA and not with moral support but big money is also being provided to PAKISTAN from USA.

Pakistan was never and will never be controlled by US and both parties know this and I think even India knows that it has limited time games left...so they are playing it.

Bottom line is that terror has won and terror will won on this planet- you know why ? because are ready to die, even for a wrong cause but they are ready to die and we can not tollerate bodybags.

India should raise it's head which I think no one dares in Delhi. But someday, some force will awaken and this whole drama will either be started or be getting closer to THE END.

We should respect treditions which comes with centuries of human existence in remote mountains. I know many treditions and customs which may give a jolting shock to we civilized brains but what I have gathered from my years of wandering in mountains is that we should respect local treditions.

I am sorry - I love mountains and somtimes do not mind to live on mountains towns an cities. Have trekked and climbed in himalayas but loves to do camping in remote jungles, meadows and even on glaciers.

Dear Jagnandan,

Seems you forgot to upload images- you can upload 800x600 images.

Do let us all know about your experience too.

Welcome !

Noel

Coming from Canada every year- I love many places and destinations in India. Every state, region has it's own color and taste.

Himalayas: Needs no introduction, mountain states of Garhwal, Kumaon, HImachal Pradesh, Sikkim are fine bit if you want something offbeat and deep inside...try Lahaul , Spiti, Ladakh regions.

Punjab: Lesser known villages and I like traveling, drivving in South Punjab.

There are many places in North which I like: Jim Corbett, Nainital, Rajasthan in winters and then lof of travel and rive in July/August in Maharashtra.

Being a widely travel soul- I prefer remote beaches whenever I want to visit coastal area and do not like crowded regions of Goa.

This is always better to avoid MP when it is politically hot. You never know when trains and buses stops and you may find yourself stranded.

I agree that Indian society has changed and still this change is coming up day by day. There are lot of addv. on TV about family planning and how ONE PILL can handle chances of pregnancy. Although teenagers are using these products too but I feel that this is subjective/ individual choice but what I want to say is positive factor of awareness.

Still, India faces lot of health and pregnancy related issues and I am sure if more and more people are using condoms- we will be well handling not only STD but unwanted pregnancies and abortions too.

Us backtracks on his stand and India is once again projected like a untouchable.  Purpose of visit of Ms Rice to Delhi was declared as SHOW OF SOLIDARITY but now whole world knows that she came to warn India about possible attack on Pakistan.

She assured- God knows to whom that Pakistan will help India which seems to be a joke. This is strange and now challenging what India would do to keep it's self respect, leave alone terror handling.

This is tredition and way people live or used to live in this vast country. Himachal Pradesh still has polygamy in practice and there is no tredition like arranged marriage which is so common in india. Boy and girl fall in love and they ran away from home.This is not abduction but eloping to some place...and this decision is declared to girls family by boys family and later on they agrees to it.

This ritual/tredition is still alive in Kinaur in tribal Himachal Pradesh.

Mumabi is cooing down and very soon life will come to normal. One can travel to Mumbai but if you are boarding a plain ...reach airport minimum 3 hrs before flight time. There will be frisking, dog sniffing and God know what else, to prevent another terror attack which some people say will come via sky.

I do not think that it should be a taboo...it is good that people are getting aware of STD issues and I do not feel bad or concerned that more and more people are coming forward to use condoms.

I do not think that anyone should advocate moral policing- it is entriely upto a individual how he/she handles and takes care of his/her sexuality but this is a good sign that people are using, asking for condoms without a hitch !

Things have started cooling down in India and I along with my friends are of the view that India and Indians wil soon forget because Congress has done excellent job by gainging time and reducing impact. Now, Ms RICE has gone back and most we educated people know that USA did not send her for any SOLIDARITY because it was no where to be seen rather she came to tell India pros and cons of war with Pakistan. She cam to make sure that US interests is maitained and now we feel that USA also do not want to fight with any terror because it now understands that a little further it went- it can make a polarised situation with most of the countries will take this or that side.

Whole world knows what Pakistan is and is doing...but only USA and BRITAIN do not know ..because they do not want to know. Because terror is solid election, funds and ruling funda. Terror is the word which will be used effectively in coming elections in India. No attack will come to any airport unless this so called red alert is going on. Whole world knows that very soon this whole exercise is going to be stopped...and this is that time when India will bleed again.

Element of surprize is with terror loving people but we Indians will continue to die because we can not do anything to Pakistan. We were shocked when Hon. PM demands/ summons ISI chief to India which Pakistan agrees too but later on...slapped !

What India should do ?

1. It should look and search for some self respect and if it is not been found anywhere- visit homes to Major Unikrishnan and wife of Hemant Karkare. I am sure it is there.

2.It can find self respect in USA who can demand sole live captured terrorist because they had killed their 6 civilians. This shows value of life..of a US citizen and an Indian. India lost more than 150 but it is not equal to US 6. They know very well-who killed, how planed but they are not hitting there...because they do not want to HIT there.

Pliticians knows that crowd showing unity can be desprsed with ease because it is very easy for them to divide and rule. They know this will not be the scene tomorrow that whole mumbai will be coming back to GOI.
What I think is..
1. India should either attack PAK or there should be military rule OR military+ civil rule in India, we can manufacture the module.

2. We can advocate that CONGRESS should be punshied- but BJP is worse than CONGRESS. What should a voter do ?

3. This is high time when we should have THIRD FRONT in politics. A party which could havee some idals...some young blood, some thinkers, visionaries.

Hope this will reach to the core !
 

With sex, gayness and lesbianism coming out of the closet, condoms seem to be no longer a taboo in our so-called conservative society. Backed by a strong campaign for use of condoms not only for family planning but for the safe sex too (remember the condom ring-tone advertisement), the sale of this product has increased manifold in the recent past. And what is heartening is that it’s not only the people from the higher strata of the society who are using the product for safe sex. The figures collected by the State AIDS Control Society (SACS) of higher sale of relatively cheaper brands of condoms from vending machines and also the increased distribution of free condoms by various NGOs under centrally sponsored schemes by National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) indicate that the efforts of the government for promoting both safe sex and family planning seem to be percolating to the poor sections of the society too. Over 20,000 condoms, manufactured by Hindustan Latex Limited priced at Rs 5-15 for a pack of three of different brands, were sold in less than four months between August and November from 22 vending machines. However, as many as 4,96,500 condoms were distributed free of cost through the organisation in a period of eight months as compared to 4,32,700 in 2007-08. “In the feedback, we found most people did not hesitate to pick condom. The change in risk behaviour, they said, could bring down the incidence of various sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV,” he further said. Surveillance studies done by the SACS showed that the highest mode of transmission up to 15 per cent in the city was through the unsafe sex. With over 548 persons tested positive, at least thousands more were unaware of their status. To bring down the prevalence rate, SACS would push to triple condoms’ sale this year, he added. While female condoms are not yet popular as a pack of three condoms costs about Rs 100 as compared to male condoms that are available even free, officials of the SACS said the price clearly was a hindrance in the way of its wider acceptability. “We have sent request to NACO to subsidise their rates.”

BY Anuja Jaiswal in: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20081202/cth1.htm#12