Secular Action Network
Newsletter of All India Secular Forum
Volume. 10 No.2 February 2015
C O N T E N T S
Editorial
1. CSSS Activities
2.Article
Gujarat Government violates the rights of
children
3. Report
Seminar on Secularism under siege: Revisiting
Indian Secular state
4. Campaigns
‘Queer Azadi March’ Protests against
forced reconversions
5. All Together Now
How Delhi’s Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah
began celebrating Basant Panchami
6. Syncretism
7. Matters of Faith
As conversion debate rages, Christ is part
of the Hindu Pantheon in one Madhya
Pradesh Village
8. Peace with Neighour
3rd Indo-Pak Calendar Launched in
Islamabad
9. Whither Secular Values
10. Interview
11. News
Romila Tahper on history and politics of
India
12. Resources
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From the Editor’s Desk
The major events disturbing the secular fabric have been the serial attacks on Churches in Delhi. Delhi is under Presidents rule, i.e. Modi Governement is ruling the state. The whole law and order vis a vis minorities seems to be reflected in these attacks. To put the wool in people’s eyes it was claimed that these are mere thefts, while the donation box has not been touched. Surely these were due to the bias against the minorities by this government with the aim to polatrize the electorate on the eve of elections. To rub salt in to the wounds of the community and democratic values, when the silent protest was being held by the community, it was attacked by the police, who beat up and arrested number of peaceful demonstrators! Something related to Sabka Saath!
The Martyrs day 30th January was celebrated at various people in the backdrop of the communal elements demanding statues for Godse. A bridge in Rajasthan was to be named after Godse’s name, which was stalled in right time. In city after city various citizens turned in good numbers to pay homage to the father of the nation and also reposing their faith and commitment to the values of democracy and secularism.
Tampering with school books is the old game at which, BJP ruled Governmnets are adept. In BJP ruled Gujarat, a series of books by Dinanath Batra have been introduced. These books are highly communal and totally negate the spirit of scientific temper and rational thought of our country. The history in these books is the one RSS propagates through its shakhas.
We are also carrying full text of the interview of Romila Thapar on the need to uphold secular values, which is a must read.
Ram Puniyani
(Editor)
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Ph. 022-26149668, 022-26135098
E-mail: csss@mtnl.net.in
Editor: Ram Puniyani, ram.puniyani@gmail.com, www.pluralindia.com
Advisory Board: L.S. Hardenia, Irfan Engineer, Dhirendra Panda, Mohammad Arif.
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Link
http://www.csss-isla.com/SAN-February-2015.pdf
