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Sunday, December 23, 2007

[Shadeshi_Bondhu] Fwd: [banglaart] Fwd: FW: [shahidulnews] A Flag Fails to Flutter

Our treasures are already being stolen before their departure, so we can be rest assured what to expect. Please read the rest….
 
Sincerely,
Arham Chowdhury


arham chowdhury <arhamhch@yahoo.com> wrote:
To: arhamhch@yahoo.com
From: arham chowdhury <arhamhch@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2007 08:26:41 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [banglaart] Fwd: FW: [shahidulnews] A Flag Fails to Flutter



To: "'arham chowdhury'" <arhamhch@yahoo.com>
Subject: FW: [shahidulnews] A Flag Fails to Flutter
Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2007 19:07:10 +0600



-----Original Message-----
From: shahidulnews-bounces@drik-amsterdam-01.drik.net
[mailto:shahidulnews-bounces@drik-amsterdam-01.drik.net] On Behalf Of
Shahidul Alam
Sent: Sunday, December 23, 2007 1:13 PM
To: shahidulnews@drik-amsterdam-01.drik.net
Subject: [shahidulnews] A Flag Fails to Flutter

http://shahidul.wordpress.com/2007/12/22/

Stop Press: 1:40 am December 22. 2007

Emergency meeting reportedly underway at ministry of culture. Uproar
at Zia International Airport. Remaining consignment not being shipped
as it is incomplete. More than one crate may be missing.

Earlier reports state that the Air France cargo flight arrived late.
The crates were waiting for the craft. However while loading one of
the thirteen crates was found to be missing. Later the empty crate was
found outside the North Western perimeter of the airport grounds in a
residential area.

Intelligence sources wishing to be unnamed have confirmed that at
least one crate has gone missing.

Update 11:25 am. Unconfirmed

There were 13 crates containing 145 pieces. several crates were
totally empty (five are said to be empty, but this does not tally with
subsequent figures), and one crate is still missing.

When the French embassy was contacted at 1:30 in the morning, they
said the remaining 11 crates should be sent. 9 crates had already been
uploaded to the plane, the joint forces seized these remaining crates,
all Ansars (a lightly armed auxiliary force that assists the police in
maintaining law and order) were arrested. Mr. Jahangir Alam of the
National Museum and Mr. Zakaria of Varendra Research Museum and all
supervisors have also been arrested.
-------------------------------------------------------

It was a bad day for cows.


But the Bangladesh government had a supreme sacrifice in mind. When
the most prized of your possessions needed to be sacrificed, and when
the gods have changed to western powers, the four-legged creatures
simply wouldn't do. The nation's most prized archaeological
possessions were therefore bundled away in Homebound chariots to
distant museums. The door to heaven's gate might not have opened, but
a Schengen visa and perhaps a few trips to Paris for some, had surely
been assured.

It was well timed. The Eid holidays meant there would be no newspapers
for two days. Most reporters would be away. The streets of Dhaka would
be empty. Holidays meant there was no rush. No pesky public to worry
about at opening hours. Still one needed to be sure. Bus no Dhaka Jo
11 1767, was on standby with riot police. The police jeep Dhaka Jo 11
4364 followed behind. Then the media that got in the way. With so many
Eid events to cover, why had they gathered round the national museum?
The sanctity of sacrifice should surely have been respected.
Reinforcements in the form of another busload of riot police came in
via bus number Dhaka Jo 14 1799.

Aisha had come with her parents to visit the museum. Like many others
they were turned away. The museum was closed, at least to the public.
The Eid holidays of museum officials had however been cancelled. The
shippers were working overtime.

Police and plainclothes intelligence officials were present in
abundance, their riot gear jarring with the bright new clothes of
Dhakaites. Then it took another turn. Spitting and booing had failed
to stop the Homebound trucks earlier. This time the protesters changed
tack. Chains were put on the gate of the national museum. Visions of
the Chipko Resistance sprang to mind. In place of burglars breaking
in, the comic view of government officials breaking their way out of
the national museum to escape with museum valuables would have brought
laughter in a trirotno drama (popular Bangladeshi sitcom). In the
theatre of Bangladeshi governance, it was yet another tragedy.

"The benefits, for both countries, are cultural: it is a win-win
situation where France gains a better knowledge of Bangladeshi
heritage and Bangladesh gains a better image on the international
cultural scene," the French embassy handout had clarified.

The partially demolished Rangs building continues to be a grave for
the buried Bangladeshi workers far down the priority chain.
Presumably, that is a 'Bangladeshi heritage' the Parisians will not
get to see.

The last time round, they had been playing one of my favourite Bhupen
Hajarika songs. This time there was no music, and no one was smiling.
Even the Bangladeshi flag failed to flutter on this Eid day.


--
Shahidul Alam
Drik Picture Library Ltd.
http://shahidul.wordpress.com
www.drik.net
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[Shadeshi_Bondhu] Will there be a Indian or Pakistani equivalent of Gorvachev?

Will there be a Indian or Pakistani equivalent of Gorvachev?

Both the countries need a Gorvachev like personality, to free their people from the stupidity of their leaderships that takes their inspiration from early 20th century

Let it be made clear that the human civilization that we, people in the eastern and western parts of South Asia, represent great civilizations that rival any of the worlds other civilizations. However, this area has built its civilization during thousands of years through a distributed scale. History do not indicate a monolithic existance of national or supra-national identity among ourselves. This is also true that going forward, civilizations around the world are working tirelessly to build mechanisms that facilitate more uniform development in a certain region. European Union and ASEAN are two such effort which have been most recognized as successful model.

Behind the success of these two mechanisms are certainly the recognition of national indentities that reside within them. Their division within themselves has become a source of strength, since they have blended a number of socio-politico-economic factors.

In recent history, there have also been a big example which was also seen as a very successful effort for the time being. Yes, we are talking about Soviet Union (a.k.a. USSR) which no longer exists on the political map of the globe. The model that USSR used helped them envious development and progress for several decades. Arguably, USSR is the reason that the so-called competiton model (which many would like to identify as free model or the so-called free world) had something to compete with. Why did it eventually fail? Among many, the one relevant for our today's article would be the not recognizing the national identities within itself. So, while the model helped all the identities to reach a certain level of meeting physical needs (food, shelter, etc), however, the mechanism through which USSR worked did not provide enough room for the differences among themselves to act in a way that it become strength. Before being too late, luckily the USSR produced a leader like Gorvachev - who recognized the underlying weakness of the mechanism. That recognition resulted in something that we all know - Russian Federation and many other states. Over time, there proximity may encourage them to build something similar to EU. Or if there are other groupings that are natuaral, those may arise. Only time will dictate that. But our point is not what future hold - rather we want to point to the fact that Gorvachev prevented a big blunder which may have resulted from USSR. Great leaders not only builds, they sometimes destroy - though with a long-term constructive view.

There are few other similar blunders in the making - as we speak. The biggest of those is the nation state called India. Don't be suspicous. We are not trying to ignite instability within India, rather we want to point to certain analytical aspects of the state - addressing of which may help avert a blunder in near future.

The biggest blunder was the concept of political India - the Brits were leaving - but those who were making them leave, including the greats like Mahatma Gandhi, they did not realize the fact that opposition of Brits can not be a basis of a nation state. We, all the people, were united then - not because we are alike, but because we had a common enemy. This was more true since the enemy was there for a long time - two centuries. Yet, two centuries can not blend the thousands of years of differences. The differences had to be recognized - both in political and economic terms - if those differences were to become strength. A mechanism had to be built. But we did not had the time, since the Brits were not here to govern, they were the bandits. Ooh, the British Raj was not the only blunder, it was also complicated by another twist - Pakistan.

So, in 1947, two odd cousin were given birth in the political map of the globe. Even though, there should have been several tens of separate identities within British Raj, the opposition of it made us think there is one identity. And some other stupids thought its a good time to get a country to rule - if they push religion into the politics. The rest is history. Hundreds of peoples lives and displacement, yet no peace, no development, no viable model for long term stability.

Pakistani rulers were more stupid than the Indians - back in the early days. So, they started to feel the stupidity earlier than the Indians. But India is also feeling that every day - every second. Until recently, however, there was not a single leader in who recognized or had the moral strength to publicly say that fact.

Most recently, Sardarji has alluded to it. But he only goes so far. Meeting the economic needs the very basic reason for a state or a mechanism to exist. When that phisical need is not realized, the differences become promient - if there are differences. That means, India is yet to touch the achievments of USSR. And it does not look like it would. But he does not see beyond economics - after all he is not a politician. So, its not surprising. But the point is - there is no need to re-invent the wheel and waste time and resources and human lives. It has been tested in USSR already - isn't it? Why do the wait? Off course, to understand that and at the sametime to have the capacity and courage, India will have to give birth of a Gorvachev. That is the way to avoid a blunder. So, is the case for Pakistan. But it seems its too late for them. Hopefully not. The world do not need any more blunders, while there is the biggest unresolved blunder which we call Global Warming or Climate Change.

Given the current mechanism that exists within the both artificial monoliths that was created due to the stupidity of some and falliability of otheres, it is very unlikely that a single Gorvachev-like figure will evolve to rescue them. So, it is upto progressive thinkers and intellectuals to figure out reforms that are done on the political sphere and the result goes directly to the individual people and national identities. In a sense, these progressive thinkers will have to fill in the shoes of Gorvachev, if blunder-like situations are to be avoided.

One more important thing to emphasize. Before we make that point, it should be made clear that this is an outsiders' view of what is happening both the countries, albeit at a two different scale and different perspective. Yet, both the countries traces back their origin in the opposition of the Brits - a wrong one to build nations on. Both the nation competes to build tools to destroy each other while millions of their own people go to bed hungry. Yet, the brains of these two nations do not recognize the inherent problem since they are still emerged into the psedo nationalism, as was the case for USSR leadership.

If this analysis is true, the main thrust in this regard has to come from the intelligentia of those embedded nationalitites who are relatively well-off. Otherwise, if the mainstream intelligentia joins hands with the stray forces in the underdeveloped regions ( e.g. eastern provinces, norther provinces, disputed provinces in both entities), that could be dangerous. Mistakes in the centre might make such development inevitable. However, a better scenario would be if the centre do not make any mistakes, people who are relatively well-off realizes the importance of recognition of embedded indentities within the recognitions of being Indians or Pakistanis. In order to make the transition smooth, forces of thought has to take control. If the forces of economics and the forces of physical needs takes over, that could be problematic.

That is exactly why we are asking the question that we asked in the title. Will there be a Indian or Pakistani equivalent of Gorvachev? If so, who are those? Are those individual personalities or groups? Are those driven by forces of thought or are those forces of physical needs? Do those individuals and forces recognizes the need for stability and peaceful transition - at the for the sake of humanity and world peace or are those whimsical? Answers to those questions are important for the world polity to consider. It is more important for the countries within the vicinity.

If you thought some of the ideas are worth of your reading time, please forward it to others. If you have an ear to the columinsts in regular traditional media, please forward it to them. If you have an ear to the journalists and news editors of the electronic media, discuss it with them. Hope they would look at the suggestions and give due diligence.

Thanks for your time,
Innovation Line

==================================================================================================
Note: This is a freelance column, published mainly in different internet based forums. This column is open for contribution by the members of new generation, sometimes referred to as Gen 71. If you identify yourself as someone from that age-group and want to contribute to this column, please feel free to contact. Thanks to the group moderator for publishing the article.
===================================================================================================

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[Shadeshi_Bondhu] Fwd: [banglaart] Smuggling artifacts from the National Museum on Eid day. (Need ur attention)



To: arhamhch@yahoo.com
From: arham chowdhury <arhamhch@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2007 15:36:06 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [banglaart] Smuggling artifacts from the National Museum on Eid day.

   I am just traumatized; to put how I feel by the news of artifacts sneaked away from the national museum on Eid day. Is this how we value our heritage what our predecessors left, the reminiscences of their devotion is also pawned away to the novelty of the western wealthy??? To decorate their show cases. We are already very poor and these are the very few and rare fragments that enables us to believe that we had a glorious past, unique pieces are given by away by a certain group of people with doubtful credibility despite a mass protest by the people. Priceless pieces parts of our very identity are just being thrown to the hands of the robbers, whose reputation is proven. Even defying the Supreme Court's stay makes one believe what status a court has in this country at the present day despite the independent state of judiciary. So where is the limit??? We the ordinary concern citizens ask? And wonder if even a court ruling has any effect and if the government at all gives it a damn, or they are ruled by a group only with no respect to the people and country!!!
First time the crates were taken by the Homebound vehicles those were labeled, saying cyclone relief and the trucks were loaded at very early hours in the dark, trucks got in at  4 in the morning inside the national museum – leaves all thinking what noble task might be going in inside. and now this, we took a breath of relief when the supreme court stayed this scam of sending the artifacts and ordered the return of the pieces sent but suddenly out of no where this comes as a blow to all of us who are concern citizens, makes us angry and wonder how the whole system functions and the role of the government. The recent drive of corruption!!! And the corrective measures??? When all the issues and projects of last government were abandoned, then how come this very suicidal and corrupt venture is being given a green light, in favor of whom??? And these are no one person's personal possession that a certain benefiting group can toil with, it is a testament of the whole nation and NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT to toil with them. We wonder if the army government is truly acting as they generally act??? With their own will only??!? When we were under an impression that they were truly building the nation??!??!
 the looters very screamingly chose the Eid day to smuggle out the artifacts; when all will be on holiday and we all know how Eid and such events desensitizes us, taking this moment rightfully to sneak out the treasures when the nation is intoxicated with jubilation. I ASK WHO HAS GIVEN THEM THE RIGHT TO TOIL WITH THE TESTIMENT OF MY IDENTITY & HERITAGE??? AND I ASK YOU ALL TO ASK THE SAME, giving away our very priceless treasures with shady deal with gray approach and to the museum and by the people whose credibility is far from proven. We all know how the western museums are stocked and how they treat the other cultures, muslin, indigo the list we all know can go on and on… but sadly at this present day a certain group of our "Cultured & Educated" people who always eats the cream at no matter what the cost is. They said, the pieces will be returned; in the sixties some went never came back. The Bangladeshi owner of Home Bound who is assigned was even tried and sentenced for such acts long ago. Also no one including the present trustee knows what are the things in the lists those are going to Paris, they allege the proper       procedure is far from followed.  The few pieces we know are going shocks us and are unique. By the law of the land such pieces shouldn't leave the country .The museum the pieces (Musée Gimet) in Paris are sent has a huge collection of stolen art and has not signed the international museum convention treaty, why such a museum with such ill reputation is chosen??? The entire culmination leaves us with little doubt that the venture is far from being honest. It is being said the pieces will be returned but experts say how will we ever know if they are fake or real? As we don't have the means and more over the museum has a great expertise on making fakes, to be precise no one other than the people involved knows what's going to go, so we are all kept in the cloud. already it is found that a crate laying at the Zia International airport has gone missing, with this sincerity we can be rest assured what to expect. But can we just let it go on?? I don't know what can I do but I can surely shout and keep on raising my voice and plea to others all around me;
PLEASE RAISE YOUR VOICE AND ASK AND KEEP OUR TREASURES WITH US. We cannot let such unjust take place just because a certain group of people wishes to do so with the testaments of out very own identity.
Sincerely,
Arham Chowdhury
A concerned distressed citizen

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