Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Monday, October 10, 2016
For Indian activist, 13-year-old’s death after 68 days of fasting is absurd
Aradhana, who died of cardiac arrest, fasted to bring luck to her economically troubled family. Parents organised a funeral to venerate their daughter as a "holy child". Now they are being investigated for culpable homicide.
Mumbai (AsiaNews) – The death of a 13-year-old Jain girl after 68 days of fasting "is a heinous violation of human rights and of the dignity of a human being,” said Lenin Raghuvanshi, executive director of the Peoples' Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR).
The noted Indian activist spoke to AsiaNews about the death of Aradhana, a girl who died who refused water and food as part of chaumasa, a ritual that marks the fourth holy month in the Jain religion.
The eighth grade student died of cardiac arrest in Secunderabad, Telangana. According to investigation, she fasted to bring luck to her financially-strapped family after her father's jewelry business suffered losses. During the fast, she only drank a few drops of water, according to a precise schedule.
Aradhana’s death has sparked bitter protests from activists, incensed at her parents, guilty in their eyes of failing to protect their daughter.
For their part, the parents, Lakshmichand Samdhariya and his wife Manisha, organised a funeral for their daughter as a bal tapasvi, a holy child. At least 600 people attended the service.
Police in Hyderabad are investigating whether the girl was forced to fast by parents, who have been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder (causing death by negligence) and cruelty to children (under the Juvenile Justice Act).
Prolonged fasting is a common practice in Jainism, and has been condemned by human rights advocates. For Lenin Raghuvanshi, "When religion is used for greed and power grabbing, we see misery, like in this case". Instead, "We must stop the use of our children in the name of religion and greed."
India: 13enne digiuna 68 giorni e muore, indagati genitori
Roma - La morte di una ragazza giainista di 13 anni, dopo 68 giorni di digiuno, "e' una ignobile violazione dei diritti umani e della dignita' di un essere umano". Lo afferma ad AsiaNews Lenin Raghuvanshi, noto attivista indiano e direttore esecutivo del Peoples' Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (Pvchr), commentando la notizia della morte della giovane Aradhana, deceduta per essersi rifiutata di bere e mangiare per osservare il "chaumasa", un rituale che celebra il quarto mese sacro della religione gianista. La giovane, una studentessa dell'ottava classe, e' morta per arresto cardiaco a Secunderabad, nel Telangana. Secondo le indagini, la ragazza digiunava per attirare la fortuna sulla sua famiglia, che era in difficolta' economiche dopo che la gioielleria del padre aveva subito delle perdite. Nei giorni del digiuno rituale avrebbe assunto solo poche gocce d'acqua, ad orari precisi. La morte di Aradhana ha scatenato aspre proteste degli attivisti, che hanno messo sotto accusa la condotta dei genitori, colpevoli di non aver impedito il sacrificio della figlia. Al contrario, Lakshmichand Samdhariya e la moglie Manisha hanno organizzato un rituale funebre per venerare la figlia come "bal tapasvi" ["santa bambina"]. Al suo funerale hanno partecipato almeno 600 persone. La polizia di Hyderabad sta indagando se la ragazza sia stata costretta al digiuno da parte dei genitori, che nel frattempo sono stati imputati di omicidio colposo (morte provocata per negligenza) e per crudelta' contro i minori (in base ad una norma del Juvenile Justice Act). Il digiuno prolungato e' una pratica diffusa nel giainismo, e da tempo viene condannato dai difensori dei diritti umani. Lenin Raghuvanshi dichiara: "Quando la religione viene usata per avidita' e per agguantare il potere, allora assistiamo a miserie come questo incidente". "Abbiamo bisogno - conclude - di fermare l'uso dei nostri bambini in nome della religione e della cupidigia".(AGI)
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Conflict transformation for sustainable peace
War is symptom of conflict escalation. We need to work to create conflict transformation for sustainable peace based on dignity, reconciliation, rule of law and pluralism.
During partition of India and Pakistan, hundred thousands people faced organised violence at both sides. But there is no reconciliation, which is created a Mindset of hatred and distrust.
I ask for pardon to me from all innocent people and their families who faced organised violence in partition. And I appeal to Government of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh to make effort for reconciliation for better world and Better South Asia.
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