Stories that Matter

A visit to Dargah of Hazrat Shah Kamal Baba at Indo-Bangla border Submitted by  admin4  on 24 December 2010 - 5:17pm Indian Muslim By Anjuman Ara Begum, TwoCircles.net, Guwahati: Right at the Indo-Bangla broder, alongside the Dalu-Mahendraganj-Mankachar border road in West Garo Hills, Meghalaya, stands the Dargah Sharif of Peer Hazrat Shah Kamal Baba, popularly known as Pirsthan or Dargah, a symbol of communal harmony since centuries. The Dargah is also characterized by a continuous traditional annual Urs (prayer-fair) that has existed since the pre-partition of East Bengal and held at the Pristhan, close to Mahendraganj, West Garo Hills. Devotees from across the state and neighbouring states pour in hundreds to seek blessings from the Peer Baba at his shrine. Pirsthan is also famous because it is believed prayers here always find favourable response. The Pirsthan is also known for the presence of a stone believed to be of Devi Kamakhya of Mankachar, Assam. A big Kamakhya temple is si

Lives and longings at India-Bangladesh borderland The Human Rights Watch has recently released an 81-page report on the situation on India-Bangladesh borderlands in West Bengal where both the countries have deployed border guards to prevent infiltration, trafficking, cross-border terrorism and smuggling etc. but the misuse of power by the security persons is rampant. Numerous cases of indiscriminate use of force, arbitrary detention, torture, and killings by the security force, without adequate investigation or punishment have been reported in this region by civil society group like MASUM. Based on over 100 interviews with victims, witnesses, human rights defenders, journalists, and India’s Border Security Force (BSF) and Bangladesh Rifles’ (BDR) members, the HRW report portrays a pattern of grave abuses by BSF against both Bangladeshi and Indian nationals in the border area along India’s 2,000 km-long international frontier with Bangladesh in West Bengal state. Indo-Bangladesh borde

December 10: International Human Rights Day Submitted by  admin4  on 10 December 2010 - 11:48am Articles   India News   Indian Muslim By Anjuman Ara Begum, TwoCircles.net, Guwahati: It has been 62 years since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights came into effect. The Magna Carta of human rights declares and urges all states to ensure respect for human rights and human dignity. The declaration came into force on December 10, 1948, is considered ‘the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world’. Though the declaration is not a formal treaty, its significance is so widely accepted that today no country can deny its relevance and contribution to the human rights norms. In 1950, all States and interested organizations were invited by the United Nations General Assembly to observe 10 December as Human Rights Day. The UN also adopted a resolution – 423(V) – to mark the anniversary of the Assembly's adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. Thus a sig

Women and witches Submitted by  admin3  on 11 December 2010 - 6:48pm India News   Indian Muslim   Women By Anjuman Ara Begum, TwoCircles.net, “I was about 50 years old, when they branded me as witch. I didn’t know that I was a witch and they caught hold of me and tortured for two days. I was chased out of the house and it took a legal battle of eight long years for me to come back to my home. I sold all my ornaments to fight the case and get back my home.” these were the words shared by Khedai Bala Rabha at a state level consultation on “Witch hunting” organized by Assam Mahila Samata Samiti on the occasion of International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2010. What is witch hunting? Witch hunting is a superstitious evil practice quite common among the communities Rabha, Hajong, Mishing, Bodo, Adivasi etc. It is also practiced among the Nepalis. A witch in most of the cases is a woman who is alleged to be a practitioner of black magic and causes death to the villagers where she liv

Women and witches “I was about 50 years old, when they branded me as witch. I didn’t know that I am a witch and they caught hold of me and tortured for two days.   I was chased out of the house and it took a legal battle of eight long years for me to come back to my home. I sold all my ornaments to fight the case and get back my home.’ these were the words shared by Khedai Bala Rabha at a a state level consultation on “Witch hunting’ organized by Assam Mahila Samata Samiti on the occasion of International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2010. What is witch hunting? Witch hunting is a superstitious evil practice quite common among the communities Rabha, Hajong,Mishing, Bodo,   Adivasi etc.   It is also practiced among the Nepalis. A witch in most of the cases is a woman who is alleged to be a practitioner of black magic and causes death to the villagers where she lives. Local Ojhas   (healers) ‘detects’ and identifies witches. Media has reported   cases of witch hunting have been rep

Guns and Widows The ongoing armed conflict situation prevalent in the north eastern states of India has intensified the violence faced by women which takes the form of sexual, mental or physical abuse or killings and clashes. All members of communities are impacted in situations of armed conflict; the impact on women is far worse because of their status in society and their subordinate position in the society make them more vulnerable. Patriarchal values and norms which has brought with it new restriction imposed on the movement of women and choice of livelihood. This is all the more compounded by the long social, economic and psychological traumatic consequences of armed conflict. In northeast India, particularly in Manipur, everyday newspapers carry reports of either ‘suspected militants’ killed in encounter or cross-firing or ‘civilians killed by unknown youths’. Civilian population is sandwiched between the clashes everyday by either state actors or non-state actors. Needless to sa

I met this woman over coffee at a restaurant in Imphal on Nov 11, 2010. She is amazing. My idea was that Manipur is quite liberal in terms of women's mobility and that includes Muslim women too. But i was surprised to discover that they have to fight for their right to work. ... Anjuman Nazma Phumdreimeiyum is the founder of Organisation for Development (OFD), a group working on the issues of violence against women and women empowerment in Santhal Namung Leikai, Thoubal district of Manipur. She has been working on women’s rights since 2001 and this passion became her profession in 2003. Nazma, a courageous and outspoken lady, shares the challenges she faces everyday for her work. What are you interests? I am interested to work on the issues of violence against women, child rights. The economic development of women and proper education for children are my main focus. I started dealing with the cases of domestic violence directly since 2003. What kinds of cases you deal with? Differe