From: iview-AT-technologist.com
Date: Sat, 14 Nov 1998 13:07:23 -0800
Subject: Collective Letter for Accountability of Self-Promotional Organizers


lizzy wrote:
> 
> > But, my suggestion is we write a collective letter to him.
> >
> > -Manjusree
> 
> Sounds fine to me. I guess when I wrote initially about how can I (we)
> help, I meant how can we help put an end to the dowry and bride burning
> that still hangs on.
> Is education the answer, or peer pressure, or what? But I agree, your
> collective letter has merit - hope we can do it without too much
> arguing. Lizzy

Stopping bride-burning and dowry that are in the hands of the very
perpetrators now in power, and representing the very women they abuse at
this Havard/VHP rendezvous...that's like the rooster guarding the hen
house, only worse...we're talking out-and-out murder and abuse of women.

As for arguments, I happen to think they're vital to forming collective
opinion.  There's no getting around it unless you're suggesting we scrap
democracy.

My letter to Witzel would be mostly questions...if other women on this
list such as you have statements to add, please do:

Dear Dr. Witzel,

Please provide a clear account of the reasons for having this conference
that is heavily populated by VHP/BJP presenters.  Do you yourself know
the history, rise, and known oppressive actions of the RSS/BJP/VHP in
India (the state of Rajasthan is a BJP stronghold, for example, where
bride-burning is accepted practice)?  What is the political make up of
the Sanskrit and Indian Studies department faculty at Harvard
University? Does Harvard support fundamentalist views, which this
conference seems to suggest?  What is Harvard's investment in women's
issues other than purely academic research based on observing oppressed
populations of women?

Sincerely,

Manjusree Sen
iview-AT-technologist.com