From: iview-AT-technologist.com
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 19:15:34 -0800
Subject: Re: Collective Letter for Accountability of Self-Promotional


Just to clarify...I was being sarcastic re:  "VHP conference" -- it just
*looks* that way with a lot of academic support for the BJP presenters. 
Since I don't "hear" any response from women on this list, I doubt a
*collective* letter will go to Dr. Witzel?

Lizzy?  Rinita?  Others?

-Manjusree


Partha Banerjee wrote:
> 
> >What is the consensus among women on this list interested in writing a
> >letter to the organizers of the VHP conference at Harvard?  Are
> >collective signatures forthcoming?
> >
> >Please let me know.
> >
> >Best,
> >
> >-Manjusree
> _______________
> 
> Friends,
> 
> I wouldn't call this a VHP conference though. It is a conference that was
> almost a "non-event" for the past two years (at Harvard) because of its
> organizers' denial and/or apathy to discuss "dirty" Indian politics and
> their failure to gather women's groups around this issue. My own
> correspondence with South Asian women's groups has been futile as they
> showed little interest for this "no-show."
> 
> What is happening this year though is that the chief financial patron of
> the conference is leaning heavily toward the
> fundamentalist/supremacist/fascist BJP government of India (a party that
> has recently been cited in many American newspapers to be responsible for
> fomenting hatred against the church and missionaries in India -- several
> nuns have been killed; previously, they killed many Muslims and
> "untouchable" Hindus not to say anything about the killed women). It seems
> that now a desperate attempt is being made to get support from the same
> government and the ruling party in India that is historically known for its
> anti-woman, anti-environment, ultraconservative views and acts. And that
> government is responding positively because they desperately want
> credibility on women's issues. I wouldn't be surprised if they shower this
> "conference" with future blessings.
> 
> The elite academia of Harvard (at least them who are involved with this
> "no-show") and London, etc. are not taking an active role to dissuade this
> patronage by and for the fanatics. For example, they have done little to
> dissuade the financial patron from inviting leaders and ministers from the
> fundamentalist parties and government of India.
> 
> But I still wouldn't call this a VHP (Viswa Hindu Parishad) conference. And
> Dr. Mike Witzel, the "other" organizer, is anything but a right-wing person
> himself. So is Dr. Julia Leslie of London.
> 
> A collective campaign however would be good, really.
> 
> -Partha