Kolkata Students hunger strike enters day 4

Friday, September 01, 2006 : The hunger strike by the students in Kolkata belonging to The Kolkata medical college and NIT entered its 4th day today. A total of 10 students collapsed. However, the government has shown no interest in initiating talks.
The demands of the students are:-
1. An apolitical commission reviews the entire quota system and stastically prove that it has worked.
2. The govt follow the directive of the supreme court on this issue
3. The creamy layer be excluded from the benefit of the quotas
4. SUSPENSION OF THE POLICE OFFICER WHO ORDERED A LATHI CHARGE ON 24th, AUG.

Looking at these demands any sane person would think that each of the above is a reasonable demand, Infact these are some of the things that a responsible govt. is ought to do , those students should not have to put there lives on line for these. Its time we realize that the govt. is working on cross purposes to the interest of its own citizens.

Vande Mataram

If there is any song that captures the feelings of the people who are protesting against reservations which is a divisive, opportunistic , shameful move of the Govt of India, this is it. Its for love of the nation they fight ... and what greater love than for your own mother. The feelings behind this song are exactly the feelings which move those thousands who are protesting this slap on the face of the nation by the govt. , those feelings know no boundaries, no language so here is the first few lines of Vande Mataram in three different languages... three languages but one undercurrent of feeling...

वन्दे मातरम्
सुजलां सुफलां मलयजशीतलाम्
शस्य श्यामलां मातरंम्
शुभ्र ज्योत्सनाम् पुलकित यामिनीम्
फुल्ल कुसुमित द्रुमदलशोभिनीम्,
सुहासिनीं सुमधुर भाषिणीम्
सुखदां वरदां मातरम् ॥


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Mother, I bow to thee!
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
bright with orchard gleams,
Cool with thy winds of delight,
Green fields waving
Mother of might,Mother free.
Glory of moonlight dreams,
Over thy branches and lordly streams,
Clad in thy blossoming trees,
Mother, giver of ease
Laughing low and sweet!
Mother I kiss thy feet,
Speaker sweet and low!
Mother, to thee I bow.

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Tasleemat, maan tasleemat
tu bhari hai meethe pani se
phal phoolon ki shadabi se
dakkin ki thandi hawaon se
faslon ki suhani fizaaon se
tasleemat, maan tasleemat
teri raaten roshan chand se
teri raunaq sabze faam se
teri pyar bhari muskan hai
teri meethi bahut zuban hai
teri banhon mein meri rahat hai
tere qadmon mein meri jannat hai
tasleemat, maan tasleemat

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think about it ...thats the least we can do.

Jai Hind

KOLKATA STUDENTS ON HUNGER STRIKE

Tuesday, August 29, 2006 : About 20 students from the Kolkata Medical College and 80 students National Institute of Technology, Durgapur are on hunger strike to protest against the police lathi charge on 24th Aug and the quota bill.

Quota Bill deferred in parliament

The quota bill was tabled in the Lok Sabha by HRD minister Arjun Singh amidst widespread protests by Youth for Equality all over India . It was not a cakewalk as expected by the Minister that the bill will be passed by all the parties by a voice vote without any discussion or debate.
The DMK and Pmk pushed for rapid deployment of the bill but it was not tobe......the increasingly vocal and widespread protests by all the members of Youth for Equality all over India finally bore fruit ..
The CPI-M raised the issue of exclusion of creamy layer from the reservation..which the minister did not even mention in the bill.
The BJP also raised a vital issue of minority instituions being excluded from the reservations in a democratic India. finally the bill was referred to a Standing Committee for its comments and recommendations.....thus, the bill is defferred till the Winter session of the Parliament.
It is a great victory in the history of the YFE protests and the stepping stone to attainment of our ultimate goal...
It is time to regroup and look at other aspects of our protests.....mainly building our mass base and including the common Indian man in the protests.....
these politicians only understand the language of vote banks...thus do vote and encourage others to vote...only for those leaders who listen to you an have similar opinions to build a progressive and prosperous India....
MERA BHARAT SAMAAN

Indian Government resorts to draconain measures to contain the growing Anti-Reservation movement

Friday , 21st of July

It all started with 92 students going on a hunger strike at Indraprastha University (IP), Kashmere Gate, Delhi. The purpose of the strike was to kick-off the movement against caste based division of the country. The IP University had the backing of the major universities like DU, JNU, IIT and the medicos.
Early morning , amidst severe opposition from the administration, the students managed to set up a tent in the university lawns. This was reminiscent of the central lawns at AIIMS. Despite several warnings from the "top officials" and repeated visits from Government Intelligence, the students stood firm on their decision to carry on with the strike. Eventually in the afternoon, police did a flag march in the campus, trying to arouse anxiety amongst ones present there.
During the achievers kept on visiting the campus. Mr Shiv Khera also addressed the students. Teams from DU and JNU visited the campus expressing solidarity. What made the symbolic hunger strike a success was the freshers and their parents also supporting Youth for Equality.
Handouts were distributed at the nearby Metro Station to create awareness about the vote-bank politics being played by the so-called care-takers of Indian democracy.
At 6:30 pm striking students initiated a no-slogan peaceful candle light march. The students started the march by observing a 2 minute silence on account of recent Mumbai serial blast. About 100 odd armed CRPF jawans were waiting outside the IP university campus to stop the peaceful march. When students were not deterred by the threats, police used force to stop, but determined students hit the Kashmere gate main road. The destination was Red Fort. Students on the way distribute awareness pamphlets informing general public about the Youth for Equality rally on 23rd at Raj Ghat at 4 PM.
When the general public tried to join the peaceful march they were shoved away by the police. On the way, Police Officers took scores of photographs identifying individual participating students. When enquired about the reason, it was told that these photographs will be sent to the "Higher Authorities".
On the way, striking students took extreme care that traffic was not disrupted and two human chains were formed. After reaching Red Fort, candles were instated there and students sat around them singing patriotic songs and slogans of equality like "Mera Bharat Samaan" and "Awaaz do. Hum Ek Hai.". Police threats about arrests continued and when all students courted arrest, the police refused. In the meanwhile medicos arrived from AIIMS and broke the students' HUNGER STRIKE.
It was a clear breach of the Right to Demonstrate peacefully.

After this incident we couldnt help but remember Mahatma Gandhi's words,
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they attack you, then you win

Lets keep it up ...the time for change is now...

One of India's foremost cardiac surgeons, Dr. Venugopal dismissed on political whims

Today, the Government of India(more specifically Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss) dismissed the AIIMS director, Dr. Venugopal,his fault ...he is not a shameless opportunist as our ministers . If this is the way Govt of India treats one of India's most prominent surgeons, then mark our words, the day is not far off when people who believe in merit and hardwork would be hunted in the streets . If we still want to keep quite...then the future is very bleak indeed. History has shown us time and again, the downfall of a people begins, when they bow down to persecution like this.

The pioneer of cardiac transplantation in India, a person who has given all his life to the healthcare of this country has been chucked out, by an incompetent minister, to support his unjustifiable policies. And from what we have seen of this minister.... who is supposedly a doctor... his idea of medicine is just, getting himself photographed with a stethescope, and indulging in shameless political gimmicks.

The medical fraternity in Delhi has decided to oppose this systematic degradation of the profession. AIIMS has gone on an indefinite strike. The resident doctors and students of MAMC and UCMS have decided to go on a 24 hour strike , expressing solidarity with their AIIMS colleagues.

Lets stop this while there is still time, today its Dr. Venugopal, tomorrow it would be all of us... and at stake then would not be just education/jobs/positions....but our right to equality and human dignity. Lets stop these politicians from making a mockery of India and Indians.

Join YFE and together we can and will make a difference...

Protest Human Chain in Mumbai on 07/05/2006

YFE MUMBAI IS ORGANISING A HUMAN CHAIN FROM ANDHERI STATION TO SHIVAJI PARK ON SV ROAD ON WEDNESDAY 5TH JULY 2006 BETWEEN 4.OO PM TO 7.OO .PLEASE LET YOUR FRIENDS IN MUMBAI KNOW ABOUT THIS. TOGETHER WE CAN AND WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

FOR FURTHER DETAILS CONTACT:-
YFE HELP LINE:- 9833158385
http://yfemumbai.blogspot.com