That Sounds Unusual

By Suanshu Khurana

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A 60-year-old pradhan from Garhwal sings with a chorus of villagers about goddesses bathing in the Ganga; a 12-year-old tribal girl sings an old temple song on the blue mountains of the Nilgiris; a 30-year-old housewife from Mizoram chants a gospel hymn. Amit Heri, the jazz guitarist who lapped up some praise for his compositions in the movie Morning Raga, is trying an unusual fusion in his new album Jhula: A World Music Yatra (Music Today). The 38-year-old brings together little-known folk music from remote parts of the country and layers it with jazz and Carnatic music.

“I have tried to capture the rawness of different folk sounds and blend it with my own modern interpretation of it,” says Heri, who travelled to villages near the Himalayas, the border hamlets of Kerala and the Northeast and the tribal heart of Central India for the nine-track album. Some of the folk melodies are part of the vast oral tradition of the country. He has contemporised them with a liberal use of the guitar, drums and the keyboard, and sometimes even stylised it with his trademark Carnatic style. “Not many people have heard these songs before. I have tried to make them relevant and find them a place in mainstream world music,” says Heri, who graduated from the Berklee College of Music and has performed at international festivals like the Berlin Jazz Festival, London Jazz Festival and the Rome World Music Festival

Heri admits he does not comprehend all the languages and dialects in his album, but that was never a big problem. “I could grasp the tune and the people would translate the gist of the song for me,” says Heri.

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The Dark Age of Forced Conversions

There is nothing in black and white when it comes to conversion

Oswald Pereira in Delhi

The concerted attacks against Christians in Orissa and sporadic incidents of violence against the minority community in other parts of the country ought to be condemned by all civilised Indians. The assaults against Christians are tantamount to violation of the Indian Constitution and the country's democratic norms built so painstakingly despite the diversity and apparent contradictions in our polity. It is sad that a country that boasts of a rich and diverse heritage and a history of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence is developing pockmarks of fanatical intolerance.
While it is right for the civil society to condemn the planned assaults against Christians, it would be wrong to ignore the history of persecution and forced conversions perpetrated by fanatical European missionaries hundreds of years ago in India. However, it is foolish to justify the current assault against Christians as a backlash of the murder and mayhem committed by European invaders and their cohorts (read missionaries) in the name of religious conversions and the lure of a new kingdom of heaven offered to 'pagans'.
Besides, historical facts like the 'Holy Inquisition' against the Hindus in Goa by the Portuguese Catholic Church that began in 1560 and lasted for more than 250 years cannot be glossed over. Historian Alfredo De Mello had condemned, and rightly so, the perpetrators of the Goan Inquisition. He said that they were "nefarious, fiendish, lustful, corrupt religious orders which pounced on Goa for the purpose of destroying paganism and introducing the true religion of Christ."
There is historical evidence to prove that some sections of European Christians who invaded India plundered the country, indulged in organised violence against men, women and children, and forced people to convert to Christianity. Some Muslim invaders too left a similar trail of death and destruction while forcing Islam upon the sections of indigenous people. While proselytising by certain Muslim dominant forces ended a long, long time ago, evangelisation by over-zealous Christian missionaries did continue partially. There might be subtle inducements in some isolated cases. But there is no evidence to prove that this is a universal or widespread phenomenon in India.
However, two wrongs don't make a right. So there is no case for condoning the actions of Hindu fanatics because of forced conversions years ago. Those who were converted hundreds of years ago, even by force, have reconciled to their adopted faith. Those converted in recent years too seem to have willingly accepted the new faith. Besides, it's a constitutional right to choose one's religion or convert.
Christians should not be made to suffer and assaulted for adopting a faith by free will. If an Indian citizen is a Christian by choice, his will should be respected as the freedom to profess and practise your religion is a fundamental right. Besides, they are often victims, hardly the oppressors.
Personally, as a Christian, it would be traumatic for me to reverse the history of centuries and reconvert to the religion that my ancestors may have been born into - if that be the case. But I would like to put into perspective the issue of forced religious conversions.
That is what I've attempted to do in my (yet to be published) second novel (See http://revengeofthenakedprincess.wordpress.com). Called Revenge of the Naked Princess, the novel captures the dark age of forced religious conversions in India in the 16th century. This story happened 450 years ago. But the messages that it conveys are relevant even today.
The story begins on a hot, humid morning on May 28, 1560, when hundreds of beefy Portuguese soldiers armed with a monstrous six-horse driven cannon and scores of mean muskets, raid the palace of the beautiful tribal Princess Darshana Kamya Kathodi at Yehoorwada in Tana. The raid is not meant to capture the princess or the palace, but to cow her down, her soldiers and subjects into conversion. Based on the success of the small Yehoorwada kingdom raid, the Portuguese King John III, dubbed 'Grocer King', hopes to convert into Catholicism thousands of natives in mainline kingdoms in the rest of the country.
By multiplying the flock of faithful native Christians, the insomniac 'Grocer' King who spends the night tallying countless bags of spices stocked in royal storehouses in Portugal, aspires to build a captive market for spices.  Rome's avowed objective of conversion is to open the gates of heaven to the natives by bringing them into the fold of the Lord of love, mercy and compassion. But the real attraction is the employment opportunities for blue-eyed priests and the lucrative market for gold and silver crosses and sacred holy water that the land of the converts offers. 
That's the interesting catch: because everything is not in black and white.
The writer is a senior journalist. His debut novel was Beyond the Newsroom

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Parties feel the heat as voters stay home

The low voter turnout in the first phase of elections makes political parties jittery

Posted On Friday, April 17, 2009 at 12:42:56 PM

The low voter turnout in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra has alarmed senior party leaders. According to reports, the turnout was approximately 54%, almost 10% less than the average voting in the state Was it is due to the scorching sun or the sheer apathy on the part of almost half of the 18.1 million voters? These are the questions now being asked in the state headquarters of major parties. Could it be that star campaigners-like Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, L K Advani, Narendra Modi Mayawati, Sharad Pawar, Vilasrao Deshmukh, Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, Gopinath Munde, and Nitin Gadkari to name a few-have lost their lustre, failing to generate sufficient voter interest in the polls? Union ministers Praful Patel, Vilas Muttemwar and Suryakanta Patil, AICC general secretary Mukul Wasnik, Datta Meghe (NCP), Bhavana Gawli (Shiv Sena), Prakash Ambedkar (BRP), and Bhaskarrao Khatgaonkar (brother-in-law of chief minister Ashok Chavan, NCP), were among the prominent leaders in the first phase. Word on the street is that Congress leaders are keeping their fingers crossed as they are depending heavily on the Vidarbha region for votes. However, they are worried as a low percentage of voting has always affected their chances. Past precedence has shown that the Congress always receives a boost from the floating vote, while a low voter turnout usually comprises die-hard loyalists of local parties, such as the Sena. MPCC president Manikrao Thakare, who reviewed the situation, however, claimed that there was a "positive response'' from the voters to the Congress-NCP-RPI alliance. He added that in all the rallies held so far, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi were crowd-pullers. Their presence, he said, helped generate a positive atmosphere as both addressed less contentious issues. But unlike the Gandhis, whose presence guarantee crowds, state-level leaders are not getting the expected response while campaigning. So, the Congress is taking no chances, and is organising more rallies led by Sonia and Rahul Gandhi for the second phase of voting, scheduled on April 23. According to MPCC spokesperson Kanahaiyalal Gidwani, Sonia will address meetings in Jalna, Pune and Dondaich in Dhule on April 20, while Rahul will be at Bhiwandi and Shirdi on April 19. The MPCC has also decided to put in more effort to ensure mobilisation of crowds at the rallies. MPCC general secretary Sanjay Dutt and Rajani Patil (vice-president) will be in charge of the Pune meeting, while MPCC officials Sheshrao Chavan and Prakash Mugdiya will be in charge of the mobilisation efforts for the Jalna meeting. Senior leaders have also been roped in. One senior AICC observer told TOI that Congress is expecting a large chunk of seats: a minimum of 15 seats from Congress and another dozen from the NCP, a total that will ensure the alliance a comfortable position in the post- election wrap-up. The NCP, too, is refusing to read too much into the low voter turnout. The party spokesperson and former minister Madan Bafna said it was difficult to say who would benefit from the low turnout. Much will depend on the mobilisation of voters by different political parties during the two-week campaigning, he said. Meanwhile, Sena spokesperson Dr Nilam Gorhe said the party was receiving a good response on the campaign trail, and that members were not worried about the low figures. Sena-BJP leaders are hopeful that the low turnout will work in their favour, but they are in no hurry to talk about it and alarm the Cong-NCP alliance in the state. Lack of transportation facilities many have also played a role in the low voter turnout. Due to the Election Commission's vigilant watch, no candidate was taking the risk of providing voters with vehicles so that they can reach the polling booths

READ MORE - Parties feel the heat as voters stay home

Mizoram sees lowest turnout ever

Aizawl, Apr 18 : Mizoram has witnessed a 48.66 per cent poll turnout, the lowest in the history of Lok Sabha elections in the state since it became a Union Territory in 1972.

''Owing to poor communication network
, the results could not be received on time. When the results reached us, the poll percentage turned out to be only 48.66,'' poll officials said here today.

However, the votes polled in the eight relief camps of Bru/Reang refugees were quite high touching 57.7 per cent. In the relief camps, six in North Tripura district and two in Mizoram Mamit district, there are 12,539 eligible voters for Mizoram.

The ballots cast by the Reangs are on their way to the state capital Aizawl under tight security surveillance, officials said.

The 1977 parliamentary elections in Mizoram witnessed a 49.91 poll percentage which had been the lowest until this year's poll turnout.

The fate of the four candidates for the state's lone Lok Sabha seat will remain sealed in strong rooms in headquarters of the each eight districts of Mizoram till May 16.

The run up to the polls will witness a straight fight between Congress nominee and party stalwart C L Ruala and Mizo National Front-Mizoram People's Conference combined candidate and former MP Dr H Lallungmuana.

The two other candidates - Rualpawla of little-known Israel National Front (independent ticket) and Lalawmpuia Chhangte of the Nationalist Congress Party - are unlikely to get more than 10,000 votes each.

All the EVMs used in the polling stations in Aizawl district reached a heavily-guarded strong room here this morning.

Aizawl district election observer Renilla D Marak and Aizawl DC/DEO C Thanchhuma received the EVMs in the presence of other officials.

Mizoram also had by-election yesterday to the South Tuipui Assembly constituency left vacant by Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla.

The by-poll, which was a two-cornered fight between MNF-MPC and ruling Congress party, recorded 67.96 per cent voters' turnout.

READ MORE - Mizoram sees lowest turnout ever

Polling for 10 N-E LS seats peaceful with high turnout

GUWAHATI: Polling for the 10 Lok Sabha seats in six north eastern states went off pretty peacefully on Thursday with a fairly high turnout.

By northeast standards, the first phase of elections went off without a hitch except for a gun battle beween security forces and militants in a polling booth in the Autonomous District constituency. An improvised explosive device explosion had also taken place and a powerful IED was recovered in KarbiAnglong district.

Around 62 percent polling was recorded in the three parliamentary seats of Silchar, Karimganj, and Autonomous District of Assam. A polling officer tried to commit suicide in the Howarhgat area under the Autonomous District constituency.

According to Himanta Narzary, state chief Electoral officer, miscreants tried to snatch voting machines in two polling booths in Karimganj. Technical snags in EVMs was reported from 14 polling stations in Karimganj, eight in Silchar and three in the Autonomous district. "In Katlichera area the EVM was destroyed and we have sought EC’s permission for repoll," Mr Nazary added. Assam and Nagaland does not have Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPICs).

For the two seats in Meghalaya, polling was about 60 percent, while Nagaland registered the highest turnout for its solitary seat at 85 percent. Till 3 pm, polling for the lone Mizoram seat was 48 percent, but it is expected to touch 50 percent by the end of the day. Polling in West Arunachal Pradesh was about 59 percent while in East Arunachal, there was a 63 percent turnout.

Jiban Singh, DIG of Assam police, told ET, "Militants exploded an IED and a gun battle waged between BSF and militants when BSF personnel were attacked as they were returning from pol duty in KarbiAnglong," The police suspected the Karbi Longri National Front (KLNLF) as perpetrators of the crime. "There were also reports of clashes between supporters of Congress and Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF)" Mr Singh said.

State election commission officials said there was no violent incident in Meghalaya. "There were reports of EVM damage from one or two polling stations in Nagaland. We have sought a report and will the needful accordingly" they said.

State election commission officials indicated that there was a likelihood of re-polling in three or four polling booths in Manipur. In Mizoram, polling was by and large peaceful. The electorate in a certain village comprising 209 voters boycotted polls entirely on the issue of re-alignment of the national highway. There were altogether of 12 cases of poll related violence and EVMS damage in Arunachal Pradesh.

Altogether, about 7.45 million voters will decide the political fortunes of 72 candidates in six states of the northeast. Thursday’s ballot will decide the fate of sitting NCP MP, Agatha K Sangma, daughter of P A Sangma and the the youngest MP in the last Lok Sabha.

It will also decide the fate of BJP MP, Kiren Rijiju, Congress heavyweight and Union Minister for Heavy Industries, Santosh Mohan Dev, former minister of state for communications, Kabindra Purukayastha of BJP and AUDF president, Badruddin Ajmal.

READ MORE - Polling for 10 N-E LS seats peaceful with high turnout

Mizoram News Briefs

The first batch of 123 Polling Parties in Lunglei and Lawngtlai District have left today for their respective Polling Stations which are situated in interior areas. These comprised of 58 Polling Parties in Lunglei District and 65 in Lawngtlai District. These Parties also included those who are to undertake foot march in 40 villages in both the Districts. In Lunglei, the rest of the Polling Party except those to be deployed in Lunglei town area are to leave tomorrow. In Lawngtlai District the rest 80 Polling Parties are also to leave for their respective Polling Stations tomorrow. Meanwhile Polling Materials were issued to the Polling Parties in Aizawl, Mamit, Champhai and Saiha today. However, the last briefing of the polling personnel was held  in Serchhip and Kolasib today. The Polling Parties are to collect the polling materials tomorrow and some of them will leave for their destinations tomorrow itself.

Security personnel to be deployed on election duty in Aizawl district were also briefed in a function held at Vanapa Hall today. The Addl. SP, Mr Rodingliana Chawngthu and Mr. Ngursangliana Sailo briefed them on do’s and don’ts as well as for performance of their election duties with dedication till completion.
——

Polling Parties headed by Nodal Officers have arrived in 6 Bru Camps of Tripura to conduct polling by Postal Ballot Paper. According to the instruction of the Election Commission the Polling Parties are to issue Postal Ballot Papers from tomorrow to the genuine voters who are duly enrolled in the list of voters. As already stated, there are 4682 voters in the Bru camps who are eligible exercise their franchise in the coming Lok Sabha election.
——

Four candidates of the lone Lok Sabha seat in Mizoram shared a common platform in Aizawl today. Addressing the gathering an Independent supported by MNF and MPC, Dr. H. Lallungmuana said, his agenda is to see whether indigenous people of Mizoram occupy their rightful place as UN Declaration of Right to Indigenous People. He also underlined the need to utilize Central assistance for sustenance of the people of Mizoram to enable them to stand on their own.  Addressing the people, the Nationalist Congress candidate, Mr. Lalawmpuia Chhangte also said that Mizoram needs a person who can stand on behalf of the people to safeguard and protect them whenever there is a threat to the community and their religion. He also vowed to improve power position of the state. Describing the election as the battle fought between David and Goliath as written in the Bible, the Israel National Front candidate, Mr. Rualpawla said, representative of the Mizos in the Parliament needs to have good relation with the Israel Government. The Congress candidate, Mr. CL Ruala who addressed the meeting lastly also underlined the need to boost power generation in the state with the help of the Centre. His priority lists also included exploration of hydro carbon deposits underneath Mizoram and implementation of the Look East Policy of the Centre. The joint platform organized by the MPF was attended by a number of party workers and it was presided over by the MPF Secretary Dr.Lalbiakmawia Ngente.
————-

Sixteen houses were completely gutted by fire in Vathuampui yesterday. Official sources in Lawngtlai told ZONET that there was no casualty or injury because of the fire though properties worth of several thousand rupees were destroyed in the fire. The Deputy Commissioner, Lawngtlai has sent BDO Bungtlang to conduct on the spot verification of the incident and the quantum of assistance to be given to the fire victims. Meanwhile, the people of Piler and Sialsir villages in Serchhip district are troubled by forest fire during the last two days. Our Serchhip Corr. reported that the people of Sialsir village have got panic as the fire engulf their village. The people of the nearby villages were also asked to come forward to help them. In the meantime, the people of Piler village also continue the fight against the wild fire which has damaged a large cultivable land.
———-

One hundred and six persons fell ill after consumption of a wedding feast in Lunglei last week. According to delayed information, some of them complaint stomach pain with fever as the immediate symptom which was followed by loose motion and vomiting. They were taken to the Civil Hospital and Christian Hospital in Serkawn. The District Magistrate set up an Enquiry Committee headed by the SDPO, Mr. PC Lalchunglura with 3 members who are doctors. The Enquiry Committee is to submit its report to the Deputy Commissioner within 3 days. ———-

The Relief Committee of Baptist Church of Mizoram (BCM) has sent 40 bundles of CGI sheets for roofing materials of 20 cyclone victims families in Sangau and Sentetfiang villages. The BCM Relief Committee Secretary, Rev. R. Lalrintluanga told ZONET that the CGI sheets were sent to the 2 villages today by a 407 Truck.
———-

The birthday of the Architect of Indian Constitution Dr. BR Ambedkar falls tomorrow. The Governor have declared the day as a public holiday under Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881. All the Government offices, educational institution, banks and public undertakings will be closed.
———

Stock position of rice in 14 Principal Distributing Centres all over the state have been improved considerably. In reply to ZONET Corr., the senior official of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department said, over 42 thousand and 499 quintals of rice have been lifted during the last two days and stored in the PDCs at Lawngtlai, Lunglei, Hnahthial, Serchhip, Chhingchhip, Champhai, Khawzawl, Kawlkulh, Saitual, Kolasib, Kawnpui, Lungdai, Aibawk andAizawl for distribution to the people on the basis of ration card.
———

READ MORE - Mizoram News Briefs

Mizoram's international border sealed

Aizawl, Apr 13 : Mizoram's international border with Myanmar and Bangladesh have been sealed to prevent disruptive forces from entering the state during the elections on April 16, official sources said on Monday.

Mizoram's 722-km long international border with Myanmar and Bangladesh have been sealed and strict vigil maintained along the borders with the Assam Rifles deploying additional forces in the areas adjoining Myanmar and Manipur border, sources said.

Preparations for the election to the lone Mizoram Lok Sabha seat and assembly by-poll to the South Tuipui constituency to be held on April 16 are complete, Mizoram joint chief electoral officer Lalhmingthanga.

"All the polling parties collected polling materials and other necessary items by today and everything would be ready in the polling stations by Wednesday, the eve of the polling," he said.

A 50-strong polling party left Aizawl on Sunday for Tripura to conduct polling for 4,682 Bru voters now lodged at six relief camps in North Tripura district's Kanchanpur Sub-Division, he said.

An electorate of 6,29,155 voters would exercise franchise on April 16 in 1,026 polling stations of which 40 are identified as sensitive.

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