From: iview-AT-technologist.com
Date: Sat, 28 Nov 1998 08:31:10 -0800
Subject: Re: Dowry Conference: Feminism/Leftism -- or whatever


Hi, Annapurna,

What I said to Partha and Rinita is that there is no "safe" place, not
even on the Internet, for revolutionaries which some of us are, and
lacking "safety" shouldn't keep us silent.  Their frustration of not
getting heard by the conservative right is a frustration many of us
share.  Some of us don't have jobs because of our convictions about
justice and injustice towards minorities as practiced right here in the
US.  However, joblessness in the US is not the lot of most educated
SA's, so I can see that *it*, for example, wouldn't be part of the
Indian revolutionary's *cause* in the sole attempt to save "even one
woman" from abuse and violence.  Abuse comes in many forms, as we know,
from physical to subtle economic pressures that guarantee failure to
survive in a consumer economy.  Abuse, violence, and economic inequities
constitute a *global* problem for women and their children, and are not
the sole province of just one nation.  At this point, if we were to
launch a discussion comparing, say, *kinds* of abuse, that would debase
the issue: Violence in one form or another threatening a woman's ability
to survive *anywhere*.

You and Meg seem to be the only signers of this "collective" letter so
far.  I see the letter in the form of questions, which, if we note, are
rhetorical.  They are meant to focus attention (in my mind, at any rate)
on "global" needs for women vs a sudden upsurge of academic/elitist
research papers presented through Harvard University's Sanskrit and
Indian Studies Department, in conjuction with a US corporate entity that
calls itself, "International Society Against Dowry & Bride-Burning in
India, Inc.", and adding insult to injury, with lavish representation of
the BJP/VHP as upholders of women's rights.

So, the letter is still to be finalized, and with at this stage, only
you, Meg, and myself as signers.  I was hoping Rinita would sign it as
well, since this is an opportunity to speak in one voice with several
other women in a *global* context without being silenced for our
convictions.  Are you also in this, Lizzy?

All those wishing to sign, please send me your "signatures," including
your e-mail addresses, and thank you in advance.

Thank you, Annapurna, for adding your name to this effort.

-Manjusree


Annapurna M wrote:
> 
> dearest manjusree,
> a lot of issues, not the least feminism are being 'appropriated' by the
> bjp and a lot of us are not able to fight it...and i own it up, we even
> use this so called space to get the concessions we need from them.
> while i dont agree with partha's way of communicating his distress...i
> can see that it takes great courage and conviction to do what he is
> doing within what is after all a very closed elite academic clique...
> 
> i would like to suggest to partha that there are a lot of groups who are
> using the space he is creating...who might not themselves be in a
> position to support openly his position...not because they dont have the
> conviction..but because whether bjp or congress...if somebody is giving
> visibility to the issue we need to work with them...
> 
> that in a perfect world we should not need to stand on people like
> partha and rinita's shoulders to do it is true...
> 
> i wish i had them fighting for me on 'my' issues...
> meanwhile please put me on that collectivity letter.for whatever my
> signature is worth
> m.annapurna
> field worker
> dastkar andhra
> hydrabad. india
> 
> 
> ______________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com