========================================================== II PPPPPPPPPPPP SSSSSSSS GGGGGGGG II PP PP SS SS GG GG II PP PP SS GG II PP PP SS GG II PPPPPPPPPPPP SSSSSS GG II PP SS GG GGGGG II PP SS GG GG II PP SS SS GG GG II PP SSSSSSSSS GGGGGGG ========================================================== Newsletter of the Indian Progressive Study Group, Los Angeles August 1996 ------------------------------------------------------------------- ACTIVITIES * Gail Omvedt talks on Economic Reforms * New York, March 30: The well-known academic and social activist, Gail Omvedt, spoke at a meeting hosted by IPSG, New York. In her presentation, she said that liberalization and globalization will assist in breaking the elite-centered economy based on the state-regulated organized sector. In the process, women, dalits and other sections of society that had been marginalized in the old setup will be empowered, she asserted. She also defended the necessity to pass patent rights legislation in India, which is being opposed by many who fear that it will make small farmers increasingly indebted to multinationals like Cargill who have the wherewithal to acquire patents. The hour-long presentation was followed by a vigorous often sharp question-and-answer session. Many participants said that they failed to see how globalization could empower the "weaker sections" of society, since the experience thus far has shown the exact opposite to be true. Many participants also discussed the inadequacy of the cold-war era "market versus state" paradigm of economic development, and of the necessity to go beyond these terms. * Standing Conference Of South Asians (SCSA) Begins Its Work * Over the past few months SCSA has been active in organizing a series of Regional meetings at New York, London, Winnipeg. The conference is primarily intended for activists and all those interested in seriously addressing the concerns facing South Asia and people of South Asian origin abroad. It is now preparing for an international conference in Toronto in November. The regional conferences have brought together local activists to develop discussion on a number of topics such as: the crisis of parliamentary democracy in South Asia, Identity, culture and racism: problems facing second and third generation South Asian Youth, and the problems facing women and minorities. --------------------------------------------------------------------- CRISIS OF PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY: What is the alternative? Macgowan Hall University of California, Los Angeles August 24, 1996 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. For further information of this & other activities, please call (310) 391-0692 or email ipsg@ucla.edu --------------------------------------------------------------------- * CONFERENCE at UCLA * New Mechanisms To Overcome Political Marginalization Discussed April 13, 1996: A central concern at the conference was the growing disillusionment of people around the world with governments, politicians and political parties, and of their yearning for change in the way political power is organized and executed. A energetic discussion took place on what has to be done to change this, and facilitate people's participation in politics. A call was given to begin the work of bringing together the Indian student organizations and other such groups to put forward a vision for India at once. * State Terrorism And The Murder Of Jalil Andrabi * AIPSG issued a statement on March 31, 1996 which points out that Jalil Andrabi has become of the yet another victim of the six-year old central rule in Kashmir. The statement raised the demand that the problem of violation of rights of people and the nation of Kashmir cannot and must not be solved by military occupation, state terrorism and "black laws". Besides punishing those guilty of human rights violations, an immediate withdrawal of the military and paramilitary forces, the repeal of all "black laws" and the release of those detained under these laws will create favorable conditions for finding a solution to the problem of the rights of Kashmir and its people. The statement concluded that "There is a need for all people to come together to find ways to become effective in ending the use of state terror against any struggle for rights in India. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~