Dr. Reza Aslan, an internationally
acclaimed writer and scholar of religions, was the keynote speaker
at the SAJA 15th Anniversary Scholarship and Awards Dinner on Saturday.
The author of "How to Win a Cosmic War: God, Globalization, and the End of the
War on Terror," shared his views on the events unfolding in Iran, media, and President Obama in a conversation with SAJA blogger Sweta Vohra.
What is the role of South Asian and Middle Eastern voices in Western media?
In the 21st century we are going to be a multi-polar world, and what’s going to shape the Western World is going to come out of Middle East and South Asia, even Southeast Asia. We can’t have outsiders speak. The key is to have people within the diaspora bridge that divide, those who have their foot in both cultures and who can speak to their indigenous culture, customs, etc. And they can do it with the confidence that American media requires.
Can you speak briefly about the recent events in Iran and what this means for the future of the country?
Iran is at a precipice. Iran is going to look different and its either going to be more militaristic and isolationist or it could nationalistic and democratic. Whatever it is, its going to be a very long process. This is a war of attrition and it’s going to happen in the back holes of power. We should try to shy away from the media narrative that the uprising is over because its really just beginning. What we do know is we’re on a path to greater openness that can be slowed but not stopped; this is a population largely under 30 that is politically sophisticated and highly educated. This is a generation in change.
Is there a bias here in America towards the Middle East, or the muslim world in general?
I do think there is definitely a bias towards the Middle East – a narrow focus. The Middle East does not represent the muslim world. In fact, the muslim world exists outside of that and that term should not even be used. Communities of muslims around the world is the term to be used.
You have spoken about how the younger generation in America encompasses a much more globalized point of view of the world.
I call this generation the "under 45s.” The formative experience of America up until now was WWII which for many generations defined American values and in many ways, America’s place in the world. But “under 45s”, thanks to Obama, have more of a role in defining these same values. They grew up in an Internet and globalized world where the world is a single space. Yes, they are nationalistic but have a whole different idea of patriotism.
So what is the responsibility of young journalists in the American media?
Well, they know what their responsibility is – it’s to inform people about global events. But the challenge is to do it in interesting ways and to convince people that what happens there matters here. There is still a majority of people who use “ink to paper” to get their news but for “under 45s,” the news is synonymous with opinion. The challenge to young people is to combine the reliability and responsibility of mainstream media with the immediacy and accessibility of new media technology.
You’ve already spoken a lot about the change under Obama – is this a more positive change?
Yes. It is different because he’s member of the generation that I’m talking about. And, he is the most powerful man in the world. He shares values that we have. He’s globalized, and he looks at world through the lens of decades not weeks. Obama said he is a “citizen of world” while someone like Newt Gingrich says “I’m not a citizen of the world.” You know what, Newt? That’s why you are irrelevant. That is why your thinking is irrelevant. Having Obama is having someone who gets it.
Photo by Preston Merchant
Today I sat in on a meeting of the National Gay and Lesbian Journalists Association. The event was held in my station's new performance space - a tony little auditorium in downtown Manhattan - and the invited speaker was Christine Quinn, New York's openly gay City Council Speaker. Her main remarks centered on pretty much what all gay and lesbian officials and activists around here are dealing with these days: the fight to make same-sex marriage legal in New York state. A whole slew of states have passed same-sex marriage recently, and some people fear that's making all-too-cool New York look a bit behind the curve. In recent weeks, I've attended rallies against and in support of same-sex marriage, and for all the star power the pro rally drew - the cast of the Broadway show Hair, cast members of Sex in the City, Mayor Bloomberg, and New York's governor - there were actually a lot more people at the anti-same-sex marriage rally, namely Latinos who are religiously opposed.
But for a little perspective, it's worth turning one's attention, every now and then, to the state of affairs in India, where homosexuality is still criminalized. And in that context, the act of producing a magazine for the LGBT community seems an act of bravery.
From "India's Little Gay Magazine That Could," an article by Amita Parashar in The Advocate:
Bombay Dost (Bombay Friends), India's first and only LGBT publication, has just relaunched after going out of print in 2002 when the then-underground publication ran out of financial support. The original Dost, which printed from 1990 to 2002, was available mostly through roadside vendors and often wrapped in plain brown paper.
"There is a sense that certain sections of Indian society are now much more liberal and tolerant, something that would be unheard of back in 1990," editor Vikram Phukan told Advocate.com via e-mail.
Six weeks into the relaunch, Bombay Dost has sold two thirds of its initial print run -- nearly 1,000 copies.
The magazine costs 150 rupees an issue (about $3) and will be published twice a year. Some of its funding is coming from the United Nations Development Program, but even more amazing is the financial support coming from a Bollywood actress.
Celina Jaitley, Bollywood actress and former Miss India, has thrown her support, and money, behind the magazine's relaunch, though she has received hate mail for doing so. Jaitley told The Times of India that homophobia was responsible for taking the life of a close gay friend and she won't be deterred by the intolerance. Phukan applauds Jaitley's courage and said that Bollywood "attracts more than its fair share of queer professionals," yet few come out for fear of losing social standing and professional work.
Check out the rest of the article in The Advocate, as well as the Bombay Dost website.
The SAJA Photo Forum presents the work of photographers covering South Asia and its global diasporas in order to highlight important but often overlooked stories.
The Believers: Indian Christians Under Attack
Text and photographs © Massimiliano Clausi
In August and September 2008, a wave of violence perpetrated by Hindus on Christian villages swept through the Khandamal district in the in the Indian state of Orissa. Most estimates put the death toll between sixty and one hundred people, with dozens of churches destroyed and thousands of homes burned to the ground. More than 50,000 people were displaced from their homes. The official reason for the violence was the murder, blamed on Christians, of a widely followed religious and political leader. But the roots of hatred lay deep in a mix of poverty and political interests undermining the fragile peaceful coexistence of faiths and ethnic groups in Orissa.
Khandamal is a mountainous area where every plain is cultivated with rice, the major source of income for the villages. Most of the inhabitants belong to the Khanwa tribe; hence the district's name. The Panos, who are the dalits at the bottom of the caste ladder, form the next big group and converted to Christianity generations ago. The percentage of Christians in Khandamal – 25 percent – is high compared to the 2.4 percent for India as a whole.
On August 23, 2008, 81-year-old Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati, a leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, a political party, was gunned down at night in the district. Notwithstanding the fact that Maoist guerrillas took responsibility for the murder, Christians were immediately blamed by politicians belonging to the major Hindu parties. Two days later, hordes of Hindu militants were attacking Christian homes and places of worship in Khandamal, mainly at night. Whole families were forced into hiding in the nearby forest for days with no food or water. Those who stayed behind, the old and sick or those simply not willing to surrender their land and belongings to the assailants, were killed, mutilated and burned, or severely injured.
Three months after the peak of the violence, the situation is deadlocked. While Christians are still stuck in inadequate relief camps, the local government is encouraging them to go back to their villages. But they say the threat of fresh attacks is too high, and the local police force is unable to protect them. Every week new assassinations of isolated Christian peasants are being reported, and the promised compensation of Rs. 20,000 is not enough to rebuild a house.
A relief camp near Dopakia village. There are now 12 state-run relief camps hosting displaced Christians. The situation is still tense, with the killings of Christians being reported every week.
An estimated 20 churches were burned. At least 15 Christian leaders, including Lutheran pastors, Catholic priests, and Christian missionaries, were killed while guarding their places of worship.
Introducing SAJAforum's new "Authored" series. The idea here is to have writers tell us the back story of their book--how it came to be--as well as the nasty, unwriterly business of getting out there and selling their wares. We think this will accomplish two things: get the word out about new or upcoming releases, and educate other authors (and aspiring ones) about the biz.
Authors, editors, publicists: talk to us.
Our inaugural book is "The American Muslim Teenager's Handbook," by the mother-daughter-son combo of Dilara, Yasmine and Imran Hafiz, who are Pakistani-American. The book is being released on February 10, by Simon & Schuster, but as you'll see in Dilara's account, the work only got picked up by S&S after the family initially self-published it. She also provides some great insights into the marketing of the book, setting up a website, getting blurbs and how going after the NYT can in fact pay off, handsomely.
The Story Behind "The American Muslim Teenager's Handbook" - by Dilara Hafiz, Yasmine Hafiz and Imran Hafiz
The Idea...
“You’re writing a non-fiction book about Islam in America…with your two teenagers? Are you crazy?” This was the standard response I received from various friends and relatives - but I’m grateful that it was the occasional comment of “Oh, that sounds interesting - I think you guys could do a great job!” that we listened to.
The Why…
Life in post 9/11 America has been challenging for America Muslims: the ‘random’ searches at the airport, the impression that hijab = oppression, that Muslims are "the other." We heard so many misconceptions about Islam in the media, yet no coherent Muslim voices ever got airtime. Where are the Moderate Muslims? Well, we’re fairly moderate - maybe we should speak up. So in 2002 we sent out a survey to 44 Islamic full-time and Sunday Schools across the country. The 150 responses which we received displayed such a variety of opinions and stories that we felt motivated to continue with our project - of not only writing an educational and entertaining handbook for the average American Muslim teenager, but also an enlightening guide to the basics of Islam for non-Muslims who are curious about Islam or want to pursue an interfaith dialogue.
The How...
After three years of writing, re-writing, editing and surreptitious editing (remember, we’re 3 authors here) - our manuscript was finally ready. Full of quizzes, lists of Do’s & Don’ts, results of the teen questionnaire - we knew we wanted the book to appeal to teens, so it needed to have pictures, humor and variety. But the response from Muslim publishers? Too progressive - you have pictures of girls without headscarves - haraam! The response from mainstream publishers? Your audience is too narrow, your treatment of religion is too humorous, your information content is interesting…but we’re going to pass on this manuscript. The project was badly stalled, until my Dad decided to go on Hajj in 2006.
Continue reading "AUTHORED: Dilara Hafiz on "The American Muslim Teenager's Handbook"" »
[See SAJAforum's full coverage of the Mumbai attacks]
Mumbai Attacks
Photographer Andri Tambunan was checking his email at an Internet cafe across from Leopold's when the attacks began.
Text and photographs © Andri Tambunan
A crowd looks through the bullet-shattered glass of Café Leopold
I arrived in Mumbai several days before the terrorist attacks. I was excited about being here because it's the "New York" of India. Moreover, I wanted a change of pace since I had missed the city life. I had been dying for a real coffee and going to a western restaurants and bars. Also, I had been reading the novel Shantaram, whose story takes place in Mumbai, and I wanted to explore the city and hopefully encounter the same exciting adventure. The first place I visited upon my arrival was Café Leopold located in the heart of Colaba, a tourist district. It gained international recognition when Gregory Roberts wrote about it in his novel. Though he described it as a watering hole where gangsters, gunrunners, drug dealers, tourists, and locals mingled during the early years, it is now a city landmark attracting tourists and backpackers from all over the world.
On November 26, I went to a bar to have drinks with some friends. We decided to go to a local bar rather than Café Leopold because the beer was significantly cheaper. Around 9 PM I went to check my email at an Internet café across the street from Café Leopold. Minutes later I heard loud bangs, which I thought were firecrackers. However, more bangs followed, and they were louder and closer. My instinct was telling me something bad is happening outside. I knew then they weren't firecrackers but gunshots, and my heart was racing. My first thought was that it was a gunfight between gangs. I peeked through the window, and I saw people scrambling and hiding in dark alleys. The owner of the Internet café immediately locked the door and turned off the light. He told everyone to go to another room and close the door. People were huddling in the corner overwhelmed with terror.
Bystanders take an injured victim of the terrorist shooting out of Café Leopold
More sounds of the gunshots filled the air, and our hearts with fear. I could hear the owner calling the cops and requesting help. I was listening closely for police sirens to drown out the sounds of gunshots. I was hoping that I would hear them soon. But they never came and help never arrived. I worried about my friends, and I hoped that they didn't go outside. Through the window I saw a woman being carried by two men--she had been shot in the leg. On the other side of the Internet café, a man was lying face down on the ground, covered in blood. He was not moving, but I could see he was barely breathing. I tried to remain calm and wait patiently for help to arrive.
I saw the two killers walk calmly and confidently past our hideout. Each of them carried a machine gun and a backpack. They weren't in a hurry, and they didn't wear a mask to hide their faces. I wanted to get out and help the man that was shot, but I was not sure if there were more gunmen. I couldn't believe that the cops were nowhere to be found because the police station was across the street from Café Leopold. Then I saw a car stop next to the wounded man, and the driver and the passenger put him inside. I also saw a truck next to Café Leopold putting injured victims in the back. I knew then that it was safe to get out. I told the owner to unlock the door, and despite his protest he let me out. I ran towards Café Leopold and discovered the place had been torn apart by bullets. People were still ducking under tables, helpless. The workers of Café Leopold stepped outside with their hands up in their air. They didn't want people to think they were gunmen. I was worried that the gunmen would return and open fire at us. It was chaos and confusion, and I couldn't believe that it was happening. I took my point and shoot camera and started taking photos.
Continue reading "PHOTO FORUM: Mumbai Attacks, by Andri Tambunan" »
Pooja Dorward says her brother, Kapali Giridhar Swamy, was outgoing, personable and friendly. An artistic person who was fond of movies, his dream was to be a director, Dorward told SAJAforum in a phone interview.
However, Swamy’s dreams have died with him. The 27-year-old Alabama native was killed in Hanceville in Cullman County, Alabama, on Nov. 18, 2007. The reason for his death— just one or two punches from 23-year-old Christopher Brett Pennington.
From The Cullman Times citing the report from Cullman County Sheriff’s Department:
According to the autopsy reports by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, Swamy suffered one or two blows to the head.
The case was tried in a closed courtroom with an 18-member jury. But the jury dismissed charges against Pennington, who had been charged with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide for Swamy’s death.
Swamy’s family and friends are angry about the verdict. They hold Pennington responsible for his death.
“One punch can kill, and my brother is an example,” Dorward said. “This guy (Pennington) walked without a single charge, and he killed somebody.”
Continue reading "CRIME: A Punch Can Kill - A Family's Fight for Justice" »
Pirates imprisoned in Boosaaso's main jail, Somalia (photo by Jehad Nga)
The INS Tabar, a frigate in the Gulf of Aden, destroyed a "mothership" used by Somalia-based pirates to launch attacks by speedboat on merchant shipping in the area. The New York Times reports that at least eight ships have been attacked by Somali pirates off the Horn of Africa in the last two weeks, the most notable of which is the Saudi-owned supertanker Sirius Star, with its $100 million cargo of crude. The vessel was captured and is now being held for ransom off the coast of Somalia.
Danger Room notes that this is the Tabar's third engagement with pirates in little more than a week. The Times of India reports that the Tabar answered distress calls from Saudi- and Mumbai-based ships. Defending the Saudi vessel, the Tabar launched a Chetak helicopter with armed commandos, who fired on the pirate craft, forcing it to disengage.
India's naval presence in the region is new. The International Maritime Bureau reports (cited in the NYTimes article) that this year, at least 92 ships have been attacked in and around the Gulf of Aden, more than triple the number in 2007. India has joined British, American, Russian, and French naval vessels in the region, though there is no formal agreement, among the UN, NATO, or another body, on how best to coordinate the defense of merchant shipping and to reconcile security with the sovereignty of Somalia's territorial waters.
India's stake stems in part from its role in the centuries-old dhow trade, the small wooden cargo vessels that ply the Arabian Sea, the Gulf, and the Gulf of Aden, with cargo ranging from dates and grain to televisions, cooking oil, and contraband. All the major ports in the region, including Dubai, Karachi, and Kuwait, are active in the dhow trade, with most of the sailors coming from India and Pakistan. Mumbai and ports in Gujarat are home to India's dhow industry.
Gujarati sailors aboard the MSV Shree Mahalaxmi, Sharjah, UAE, 2004 (photo by Preston Merchant)
An Indian dhow with 13 crew were seized on October 25 and later released. Indian nationals also serve on the crews of vessels flagged in other countries, including the Japanese-owned chemical tanker MV Stolt Valor, which was captured by pirates in September and released on Nov. 16 after a ransom was paid. The crew of 22 was comprised of 18 Indian nationals, including the captain.
According to the Business Standard, Somalia has become the most important destination for dhow cargo since it receives no container traffic:
Today, most of the “high quality” trade happens with — take a breath — Somalia, through the ports of Berbera and Mogadishu. It might come a surprise but even the World Bank in its trade briefs notes that India is the lawless country’s biggest trade partner — supplying it with essential basic commodities such as rice, pulses, wheat, flour and sugar and helping transport the country’s only significant export — goats — to West Asia. And all the trade is courtesy the brave seamen who set out from the Kutch and, to a lesser extent, from Mumbai, Mangalore and Calicut.
Somalia's lawlessness and poverty have given rise to piracy as a second career for fishermen and for Somalia's warring factions to extort money and supplies. Jeffrey Gettleman explores this phenomenon in a long article in the New York Times, with haunting photographs by Jehad Nga.
Trade matters. According to the BBC, "about a third of India's total fleet of 900 cargo ships deployed in international waters are at risk" in the Gulf of Aden, with its access to the Suez Canal, and the INS Tabar has already escorted some 35 ships, including non-Indian ones, along the route.
On Monday, November 17, 2008, Pakistan's ousted Chief Justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, will be in New York to speak at the New York City Bar Association and to accept an Honorary Membership, which is one of the Association's highest honors. The invitation to receive the award was originally extended to Chaudhry in October 2007, following a unanimous recommendation by the Association's honors committee a month earlier, but Chaudhry was unable to come to New York to accept the award, since he was detained for several months under house arrest after General Pervez Musharraf's extraconstitutional suspension of the Pakistan Constitution in November 2007. The New York City Bar ultimately conferred the award in absentia in January 2008, breaking with the Association's longstanding policy requiring honorees to accept the recognition in person.
Chaudhry is the eighth individual to be conferred honorary membership by the New York City Bar. Prior recipients include former Chief Justice of the United States William Rehnquist, former Chief Justice of India P.N. Bhagwati, and Judge Thomas
Buergenthal of the International Court of Justice. 
Last November, the Association held a rally protesting Musharraf's Emergency that attracted approximately 700 lawyers to the steps of the New York Supreme Court in lower Manhattan.
Pakistan's lawyers' movement has insisted that Chaudhry remains Pakistan's legitimate and constitutional Chief Justice, and continues to demand his reinstatement to that office. However, the Pakistan People's Party-led government that came to power in the spring has refused to reinstate Chaudhry, claiming that the individual installed as Chief Justice by Musharraf upon suspending the constitution in November 2007 is Pakistan's "rightful" chief justice and that Musharraf's extraconstitutional actions cannot be undone.
The New York City Bar website has more details about the event, which is free and open to the public, and the award. Journalists may direct inquiries to the New York City Bar's Eric Friedman, at efriedman[at]nycbar[dot]org or +1 212 382-6754. Tell 'em SAJAforum sent you.
During his visit to the United States, Chaudhry also will speak at Fordham University Law School (details) and Harvard University, which awarded Chaudhry its Medal of Freedom in November 2007.
Last week on SAJAforum: "Musharraf's 'Emergency' - One Year Later"
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