This week's headlines in The SouthAsian
Details at : http://www.thesouthasian.org

Environment Guidelines Being Changed
With elections on the horizon, the Ministry of Environment and Forests is planning comprehensive retrograde amendment to the EIA notification - 2006.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2009/environment_guidelines_being_c.html

Gandhi a Feminist
We have heard various terms describe Gandhi - but never hear someone say he is a feminist. Aparna Gard writes about Gandhi's role in the feminist movement in India and the relevance of his ideas to today's Indian society.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2009/gandhi_a_feminist.html

The Opinions of a Judge
Sandip Dasverma comments on reported statements by a Supreme Court Chief Justice of India that "terrorists have no human rights' - and the implications of this.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2009/the_opinions_of_a_judge.html

Book Review: Imagining India
Harshavardhan Purandare reviews Nandan Nilekani's book, calling it the Next Generation Reformist Ideapedia.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2009/book_review_imagining_india.html

The Battle of Azamgarh
Amaresh Misra describes a new secular and inclusive front – including Muslims, Pasis, Chamars, Rajbhars, Musahars and Nonias, other Most Backward Hindu Castes and poorer sections from amongst the upper castes who had enough of the Mafia-Hindutva atrocities - that is rising from Azamgarh with the slogan: Azamgarh shuruaat karega, poora Bharat swarg banega. 
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2009/the_battle_of_azamgarh.html

The Rebellion in Bangladesh
Rahnuma Ahmed reflects on the complicated story unfolding about the BDR rebellion in Bangladesh. Photos by DrikNews.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2009/the_rebellion_in_bangladesh.html

Women's Day in Sri Lanka
March 8, 2009: As the world is celebrating international women’s day 2009 on the theme “Women and men united to end violence against women and girls”, we the undersigned civil society organisations from Sri Lanka wish to highlight and express our deep concern at the increasing vulnerability of women, especially those living in the conflict affected areas to violence and brutality in the context of the ongoing conflict between the government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), and increasing militarization and societal violence in Sri Lanka.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2009/womens_day_in_sri_lanka_1.html

Shrinking Spaces of Democracy
The struggle for independence in India was primarily about access to democratic spaces for all who are citizens of the country. That democratic space is embodied by 'of the people, by the people, for the people'. And yet, it is access to that very space that governments in India – both central and state – have continued to erode. 
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2009/shrinking_spaces_of_democracy_1.html

Islamic Family Law Reforms
Yogi Sikand writes from the conference on Islamic family law in Tehran, on family law reforms within the Muslim world.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2009/islamic_family_law_reforms.html

More reasons to be suspicious of TIFA than not
So far the US has blocked Bangladesh's attempts for increased market access there at the global trade forum and instead divided the least developed countries successfully gaining support from the African LDCs.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2009/more_reasons_to_be_suspicious.html

Need for Peace With Justice in Sri Lanka
Articulating Ethics and Politics: A Leftist Engagement With The Present: By Qadri Ismail, who says that peace in Sri Lanka can only come with justice for the Tamils and the Muslims.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2009/need_for_peace_with_justice_in.html

Pakistanis Say Sorry
The Daily News, a Sri Lankan paper, published an open letter from citizens of Pakistan following the attacks on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2009/pakistanis_say_sorry_1.html

Encounter' at Batla House: Unanswered Questions
The Jamia Teachers' Solidarity group present a report based on citizen investigation, public hearings and published reports on the 'encounter' at Batla House in Delhi, pointing to the number of unresolved questions.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2009/encounter_at_batla_house_unans.html

Sri Lanka's Internal Refugees Facing Violent Crisis
While the Lankan government has stopped access to all information, writers and journalists who fear for their lives weigh in on the ongoing crisis in Sri Lanka. From the globalpost.com
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2009/sri_lankas_internal_refugees_f.html

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