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India at '60: We take pride in that defining moment in 1950 when, despite a recognition of the enormous challenges of knitting together a 'nation' out of a staggering diversity of communities, ethnicities, languages and disparities, we decided to take the bold political step by pledging India to be a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic. What remains today of this pledge? Smitu Kothari comments on the state of our democracy and says that we are entering a phase of intensive predatory capitalism.

In another article P Sainath talks about how sixty years on, rural India is a shambles. The most severe agrarian crisis since the eve of the Green Revolution rages on, but does not hold elite or media interest for long. It is not as if there is no resistance, no voices raised. Good things too have happened. Like the NREGA. But the larger direction is overwhelming. And it is one that races towards catastrophe, disaster having already been achieved.

The National Convention on Forest Rights attended by organizations and representatives from 10 states and addressed by a spectrum of political and progressive leaders, reiterated the determination of forest communities to fight against the government's systematic effort to undermine and crush democracy in forest areas. The Campaign for Survival and Dignity has condemned the assault on communities and their resources through the forcible seizure of their lands and resources by corporate capital, government entities and the security forces and called for democratic forest management.

Read on ... the stand taken by the representatives of people's movements on the Indo-US nuke deal.

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Has Indian Democracy Failed? We take pride in that defining moment in 1950 when, despite a recognition of the enormous challenges of knitting together a 'nation' out of a staggering diversity of communities, ethnicities, languages and disparities, we decided to take the bold political step by pledging India to be a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic. What remains today of this pledge? Smitu Kothari, HARDNEWS, August 2007

The decade of our discontent:  Sixty years on, rural India is a shambles. The most severe agrarian crisis since the eve of the Green Revolution rages on. Rural India is a funny place. In 60 years we haven't managed - except in three States - to push through any serious land reforms or tenancy reforms. But we can clear a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in six months. In the sixth decade of our independence, structural and other inequalities deepen, and rural India is in big trouble. P.Sainath, Hindu, August 09, 2007

The Robot Corporation: Far from spawning mere skilled professionals, education must give us wise, sensitive citizens. Only then will democracy become valid. What does the ascendancy of the IITs mean, however, for democracy in India? Given that economic growth is so eagerly sought, too few questions have been posed about the direction of Indian education, and, with it, of Indian society. With the rush to profitability in the global market, something precious is in danger of being lost: the human individual, on whose capacity for critical and imaginative freedom the very survival of democracy in India depends. Martha Nussbaum, Outlook, August 20, 2007

Why We Are Against India-US Nuclear Deal: Much has been said and written about the India-US Nuclear Deal; beginning with the statement issued by many eminent nuclear scientists soon after the talks on the deal began between India and US governments. Public fora and People's organisations such as Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace called it 'anti-Sovereignty'. Today when it is seen as an issue of conflict between the UPA and its Left front allies, we as representatives of people's movements must re-iterate our stand, which is that the deal is not just anti-democratic but against peace, and against environmentally sustainable energy generation and self-reliant economic development. Sandeep Pandey, Aruna Roy & Medha Patkar, Countercurrents.org, August 24, 2007

No More Sabotage:  Forest communities give call against anti-democratic, anti-people moves to dilute Forest Rights Act, undermine Constitutional protections and seize the resources of the people. The National Convention on Forest Rights, attended by organisations and representatives from ten States and addressed by a spectrum of political and progressive leaders, reiterated the determination of forest communities to fight against the government's systematic effort to undermine and crush democracy in forest areas. Campaign for Survival and Dignity, August 21, 2007

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|New Publications from CED|
An Economics for Well-Being
by Rajni Bakshi [pp 126, Rs.180]
This book focuses on the kinds of economic structures that could truly revitalize and enrich people at all levels of society.  The thinking in the 'New Economics' stream is an important aspect of the global quest for systems that are socially just and ecologically sound.  The hope is that this backgrounder will help to inform and enliven the process of making breakthroughs in our systems of production, technology, exchange of goods and, above all, the meaning and uses of wealth.

Fascism & Communalism: Considerations
by Sandeep Pendse [pp 167, Rs. 240]
This book examines the question in some detail essentially for the general, non-specialist reader.  It dwells on the specificity of the Gujarat Carnage as well as the characteristics of the Sangh Parivar. It also explores the essential distinguishing traits of fascism - as a generic movement. It then seeks to compare the classic fascist organizations and the Sangh Parivar.

Development Governance
by Meena Dhodade[pp 28, Rs.40]
The study attempts to examine these aspects of Panchayati Raj - whether the Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayats really function as agencies for the upliftment of the depressed classes or whether they serve as a vehicle for the realisation of genuine self-governance.

Write to CED for copies.
Special discounts available for members.

|New Video Capsules at CED|
Toilets: too many...yet no relief [TAMIL, 33 min 13 sec, PAL-VCD] A lot has been written about the achievements of tsunami rehabilitation and reconstruction work. In the interview V Ganapathi [Retd, Special Correspondent, The Hindu] brings to the forefront the gruesome situation of people living in temporary shelters with lack of basic sanitation, water and other basic amenities.  He also comments on the state of affairs in permanent shelters.  He calls for "collective action" with a "missionary zeal" to bring the sanitation conditions in the country (beginning with tsunami affected areas) to the highest standards. This, he says, will safeguard human health and the environment and give our children a better future.

CDs available at CED

|CED's Monthly Compilations|
Just to remind you of Docposts (DPs) - our monthly outputs: Legal Rights | Critical Concerns | Habitat | Disasters

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