Youth for Equality, Chicago

Kolkata Students hunger strike enters day 4

2006-09-02T16:25:00.000-07:00

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

2006-08-30T22:06:00.000-07:00

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

2006-08-29T19:24:00.000-07:00

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

2006-08-25T23:03:00.000-07:00

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

2006-07-27T17:29:00.000-07:00

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

2006-07-05T10:22:00.001-07:00

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

2006-07-01T15:02:00.000-07:00

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

School Kids too, join the protests

2006-06-18T23:01:00.000-07:00

Saw this very well written post by school kids against the proposed reservation bill on one of the YFE related blogs http://voice4quality.blogspot.com/ . The post mirrors so many of our own thoughts that we are reproducing it here verbatim. Sometimes we too feel is the government of today sowing the seeds for civil unrest for tomorrow...But we believe that posts like this should serve as the first warning signs to political parties that even the school kids are slowly begining to see through their divisive game.
Its not long before these school kids become mature adults and when they awaken...the Arjun's , VP's and Ramadoss's in India would be the ones who would need reservations... on flights leaving India ...
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If nothing else,the reservation policy has succeeded to divide the society.In a country where before,whenever an issue of national interest came up,people would either unite for the cause or sit silently.Very rarely, the past had seen people stand up against each other,divide within colleges,friendships fractured,relationships broken...Whatever the result,the outcome of this debate may be,the fact that stares you in your face is...Its never going to be the same again.Okay,we argue that this issue has not yet reached the masses.which remain blissfully unaware of it.But we cant deny the impact it has had on the psyche of people which the reservation policy was going to affect or who in some way were connected,in any which way...Maybe,just maybe we will all forget this all.Maybe it will die a natural death.But it will be present in the subconscious of the individual,always coming forth,forever sensitive..always susceptible,always inflammable.Unless we make a sincere effort to remove this obstacle,forever and For always...The recent controversy at AIIMS is just an example.So much has happened simultaneously, that it cant be misconstrued as coincidence.The timing of the health ministry,their consequent interference all are indicative of the attempt to divide the AIIMS body.And its on the reservation issue.You don't even have to read between the lines.It is out for everyone to see.To lower the autonomic governance at AIIMS and to increase his own stake in governance and political authority,the health minister decided to rule by the 'dummy rule'.Implanted his own person who executed his decision so that in future ,AIIMS cannot be used as a seat of agitation concerning reservation etc. AIIMS is not an isolated example.the government has succeeded on what it set out to do.
1)primarily votebank maintained,as it sets out to please both parties,for and against the government policy,albeit separately(this itself is suggestive of the underhanded way the government is working here)
2)divide the people.Let them never come together so that if someday,the generation awakens,they never unite..End result.they continue to rule and we continue to be ruled.Period

What we must realize is that students,teachers,professors etc who feel for the cause(either pro or against the reservation policy) genuinely and working very hard ,not for personal gains have only to lose.Because as long as the nation is divided and those few corrupt individuals at the top,without any conscience and moral,stay united,in their quest to create a fractured society and rule,we have little hope.everything going to be decided behind the doors,nothing you or me is going to do is going to have much of a difference.Unless...unless we unite against the government.Show them our strength,our stand together...In our numbersand in such a way,that they are forced to reconsider,take stock of the situation.
We will rule then...And not until then.We must hang together nowor we will surely all hang separately later
think about it...
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Partial Vindication: Arjun Singh advised to go slow on the OBC reservation bill

2006-06-15T09:53:00.001-07:00

In perhaps, the first acknowledgement of the fact that Mr. Arjun Singh didnt really consider anything apart from his own political gains while proposing the implementation of the OBC reservation bill, the panel headed by Veerappa Moily has subtly advised the home minister to go slow on the implementation of the bill.
We believe that the Verappa Moily committee should be given credit for seeing the problems that the "Hon'ble" HRD minister for his political convinience just refused to see.The full text of the article can be found at
http://ia.rediff.com/news/2006/jun/15quota1.htm
This is also in a way partial vindication of the stand taken by thousands of committed protestors,medicos, students and the common people who by their protests made sure that the Government looks into the related issues, and they are not shoved under the rug for the political benifit of some party/politicians.Now is the time to make sure that the protests continue and intensify. The reservation policy should be revised to make sure it benifits those who are the most needy, while protecting the interests of the meritorious and just not be the political gimmick that it has become now.
And to all the protesters who braved and are still fighting against everything from disenchantment with the system, to police batons

Not gold but only men can make
A people great and strong;
Men who for truth and honor's sake
Stand fast and suffer long.

Brave men who work while others sleep,
Who dare while others fly...
They build a nation's pillars deep
And lift them to the sky.

--Ralph Waldo Emerson

Whatever be the outcome of this struggle... you are all heroes...for taking up the cause.

Anti-Reservation Signature Campaign in Chicago

2006-06-13T10:22:00.000-07:00

We are conducting a signature campaign against the current reseravtion bill.
This is in collaboration with the signature campaign being held by YFE chapters in India and also in United States. Please stand up and let your voice be heard.
Volunteers needed who can help with the campaign.Please leave a comment on the blog if you would like to participate.

Govt mulls hike in SC quota: Meira Kumar

2006-06-13T10:12:00.000-07:00

Seems like this governement has a personal vendetta against the whole nation, I guess anybody can see the intention here is just to add more fuel to the fire.

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New Delhi, June 11: In a move that may further fuel the quota controversy, the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry is "favourably" considering raising reservations for Scheduled Castes from the existing 15 per cent to 16.23 per cent following the increase in their population.

Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Meira Kumar said her Ministry also wanted the children of Dalit women who married out of their caste to get reservation benefits to ensure gender equality.

"We should increase the quantum of reservation for the SC in the wake of the increase in their population. I am favourably considering it," she said in an interview.

Kumar said this was necessary, as the 2001 Census had put the Dalit share of population at 16.23 per cent, as against 15 per cent in the 1961 Census.
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A very effective protest Idea in Bangalore

2006-06-09T20:12:00.000-07:00

It is ideas like this and people behind them that can make this movement truly the movement of the people...So please if you are in bangalore or know people in and around bangalore, please participate.

http://www.savebrandindia.org/awarenesscamp.html

Awareness Campaign in Bangalore

June, 10-11
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There is a need to spread awareness amongst the common man and therefore, Youth for Equality (YFE), Bangalore chapter, is making an attempt to reach out to the masses in the form of an Awareness Campaign in Bangalore. The idea is to educate people about the evils of discriminatory caste based reservations and the ethos for which YFE stands for thereby garnering mass support for the movement. To this end, volunteers in groups of three, will move from door-to-door in various parts of Bangalore as well as in youth hang-out spots such as malls, CCDs etc. approaching as many individuals as possible and distributing pamphlets to them. Volunteers can wear their I-cards and aprons (in case of doctors) to create a deeper impact and also to lend credibility to the campaigners. Those volunteers who have already participated in past awareness campaigns will coach new volunteers about dos and don’ts before they embark on the campaign trail.

Our experiences of last eight weeks have proven beyond doubt that this is the most effective means of creating awareness and amassing support for the cause. We need your contribution to save the nation’s future. So come out in larger numbers to volunteer for this event.
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The fight continues.. the anger spreads

2006-06-03T13:25:00.000-07:00

Times of India 06/02/2006, Delhi Edition

Although it was disheartening to see the Supreme Court of India, forcing the medicos in delhi to call off their strike. But though thanks to the supreme court the medicos in delhi might have been forced to retreat for a while,its time that the government realizes that the protest movement against the reservation bill is born out of the anger that has engulfed the whole nation and the policy of dividing and redividing the nation on castes again and again is no longer going to work.The protests are no longer limited to India but even the NRIs realize what these shameless vote grabbing moves of the government will do to the nation.The protests in california have echoed back in India. But what is especially heartening is the fact that even small places like Karamsad, Gujarat(www.y4e-karamsad.blogspot.com) are agitating against this move.
On the other hand it seems like we can always count on this government to take the wrong decision at an even worse time. Our minister of "Social justice and Empowerment"(dont think this can be any farther from reality) Ms. Meira Kumar says that the private sector has just two years to implement quota. What is the government thinking that the private industry has no other place to go than India. If there is one move that can undo all the good that has been done in the last few years, by the hardwork and tenacity of countless Indians, it is this reservation policy. We would really like to tell Ms. Kumar, NO PRIVATE COMPANY WOULD WILLINGLY GIVE UP ON MERIT its not Government of India that good for nothings can become ministers, in the private sector you have to perform as an individual as a company if you dont you just die. So try to force the private sector to do it and they would just leave and set up shop somewhere else... China, Poland, Phillipines and a lot many others will only be too willing to welcome them and the govt. would be successful in making india what it wants...a backward country.
And whats the next move Mr. Arjun Singh and Ms. Kumar are you going to ask people to reserve space in their homes too...? This seems to be the next thing on the cards as you have already started violating private ownership . The land and private property should also be reserved , why not try this gimmick it might get you some more votes...who knows ?
But we know before the Government gets a chance to further this divisive agenda Indians all over the world would make sure that they are shunted out of power. Mr Arjun Singh and Ms. Kumar we made a mistake once but let the next elections come and we will make sure that people like you cannot harm the nation any more and rest assured this is not going to stop until then... the sad part is you will take a few good people down with you too...we hope Mr. Manmohan Singh you are listening...

Another Brutal tactic by the Govt: Arrests in Pune Anti-reservation Rally

2006-05-29T12:22:00.000-07:00

Is this what we elected the government for...
On the 28th of May 2006, at around 9:30 a.m., as the protesters started gathering, the police used threats to disperse the protesters, the banners and other display materials were snatched and threats of usage of lathi and arrests were issued.

People from various background like engineers, doctors, IT professionals, lawyers started gathering there. As the police realised that the threats were not deterring the protesters, they arrested two vans full of protesters who were then taken to Swargate Police Station.

YFE- Pune started contacting various media across the country and also came in touch with YFE in other cities. Youths then gathered at the police station to support their fellow protesters who were arrested. The arrested included medical students, engineering students, IT and IT-related professionals among others.

The arrested were later on released on a personal bond of 7000/- each by the Shivaji Nagar court.

This amount of 7000/- asked from students needs to be collected as soon as possible, various individuals and organizations are requested to come forward and support the Pune movement.

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Anti-Reservation March in San Francisco

2006-05-28T15:48:00.000-07:00

Movement to oppose the new OBC reservations in education made by the Indian govt. Protest March on May 29, 2pm in front of SFO consulate at:

540 Arguello Boulevard
San Francisco, CA 94118

Starting point:
University of San Francisco
2130 Fulton St
San Francisco, CA 94117

please join youth4equalityus yahoo group

Reservation Issue : The tide is turning

2006-05-28T15:35:00.000-07:00

Friends,

Due to the relentless pressure by our fellow medical students, there
have been some developments on the reservation issue. The protests
have caught momentum after IIT students joined the medicos and IIT
faculty threatened to mass resign if a faulty policy is pushed down
their throats.

Read Advani's statement about demand for setting up an expert panel to
review the current policy.
http://www.samachar.com/showurl.htm?rurl=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1583383.cms?headline=Advani~demands~panel~to~study~quota

Also the government has shown openness to setup a panel for review the
policy as well.

Arjun Singh and the pro-reservation people think that the number of
people opposing the reservation is very few - which is not true.

check out
http://www.asianage.com/?sam=2:1:235:227792&headline=Arjun~hits~back~at~Mulayam

We need to show them how serious we are about this through our protest
and convert these first signs of resentment to the govt policy from
opposition parties in to a concrete result.

Manish

Anti reservation march in Bay Area, California

2006-05-27T16:59:00.000-07:00

An peaceful march protesting the current reservation bill has been planned on June 6,2006 at 11 at Mountain View, California . For more details please see http://right2education.googlepages.com/

We can make a world of a difference, even from half a world away

2006-05-26T16:12:00.000-07:00

Hi,
This blog is for supporting the efforts of all the protestors back in India who are protesting the government's move to implement 27% quota for OBC's in the central govt. funded educational institutes, which includes premier medical, engineering and management institutions. The IITs are also included in the list of institutions affected by this totally unfair proposal of the indian government.
The only motive behind this ridiculous act of the government is petty vote politics. No contemporary studies have been conducted as a basis of this reservation proposal. The proposed bill is also totally in violation of the right to equality.
Students in India have risen up and are vehemently protesting this step of the government. The government on its part is trying everything from lies and false promises to use of brutal force to suppress the movement. But as it happens with most of the mass movements the fire is only spreading and as is evident it has touched Indians outside india as well. Youth for Equality( www.youth4equality.org ) is a non political organization set up expressly for this purpose and is spearheading the protests in India.
Just because we are presently living outside India does not mean that it does not affect us. This issue affects all Indians not only today but for generations to come. If you have come to this site most probably you already know the basic issue. So the important question is what we can do from here, being so far from where the actual agitation is taking place.
The short answer is ..."we can do a lot".
Some of the steps we can take in order to help the protest movement back in India
1. Spreading awareness, this is a battle of nerves and numbers , please do let each one of your friends acquaintances know of this gross injustice that is being meted out.
2. Make sure our protests are heard, through signature campaigns, petitions to the Indian embassies. If the noise is loud enough even the hard of hearing GOI would be forced to listen.
3. Support and encourage the protestors back in India in every way we can, one of the means that comes to mind is economic support. Every mass movement needs funds to sustain it, and we here in US can contribute in a big way.

Right now these suggestions are to just get things started here, and we will be posting updates and further plan of action on this site shortly. In the meantime please do write with your ideas/suggestions/comments.

Youth 4 Equality
Chicago