Friday, February 25, 2011

A Graphic Petition Against Discriminatory Hostel Rules for Women in Delhi University

Note: Hundreds have already signed this petition physically including many leading feminist scholars and activists. If you agree with the petition and want to endorse it, please leave your name and affiliation in the comment section of this post.

Delhi University Post Graduate and Under Graduate Women's Hostels enforce rigid mechanisms which restricts mobility and freedom of the "INMATES". Many of our "FEMINISTS" professors just happen to be on the Managing Committee of these Hostels. We demand that they put their feminism into practice and and in turn force the University authorities to put an end to our imprisonment.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Jashn-e-Tahreer : History As It Happens

New Socialist Initiative
Invites you to a discussion on

People’s March for Liberation:
The Upheaval Across Arab World

Speakers
Qamar Agha
(Senior Journalist and Academic)

Bonojit Hussain
(Researcher and Political Activist)

Activity Center (Above SPIC MACAY Canteen),
Arts Faculty, DU; 2 pm, 18th
February, 2011


Background Note: The recent upsurge of people’s movements against decades of dictatorial regimes, especially in Tunisia and Egypt, and its ripple effect, could establish the year 2011 as the turning point in contemporary history, both of the region and the history of the world itself. If today the Egyptian people’s popular uprising is a mirror of the declining power of the US over its most precious Arab ally, then the geopolitical location of this uprising hints at the ‘possible’ demise of US imperialism in general. More specifically because US has high stakes in the Arab World due to its insatiable greed for oil, and Egypt being the key political player in the region.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Egyptian Blogger says "Today - I am the People!" And Delhi University Students say bring "Substantive Popular Sovereignty and Democracy in Egypt"

Last night we blogged about prominent blooger and activist from Egypt - Sandmonkey. He was arrested and then beaten up in prison cell. While he was battered, his car and phone was also destroyed. He has been released and his blog was also restored after international hue and cry and he is back to tweeting.

He tweets tonight from Tahrir square:

# Okay, guys, I am using an old laptop till the paranoid friends who took and hid my laptop upon hearing of my arrest come back with it.

#One group is peaceful and uses technology, the other is violent and uses rocks to smash your head. Which side do u wanna take?

You read his last blog post here. But few nights ago a fellow Sudanese blogger had a telephonic conversation with Sandmonkey. Now NSI-DELHI has put it together in a video format:



Thursday, February 3, 2011

Egypt, Right Now! [Words from the Ground Today]

This gripping account of despair and hope was written this morning by Egypt's top blogger and activist Sandmonkey . Now their are unconfirmed reports doing round on Twitters and facebook that the authorities have arrested him this afternoon, if the report is true we can only hope that he is not murdered by the Egyptian state.
......................
I don't know how to start writing this. I have been battling fatigue for not sleeping properly for the past 10 days, moving from one's friend house to another friend's house, almost never spending a night in my home, facing a very well funded and well organized ruthless regime that views me as nothing but an annoying bug that its time to squash will come. The situation here is bleak to say the least. 

It didn't start out that way. On Tuesday Jan 25 it all started peacefully, and against all odds, we succeeded to gather hundreds of thousands and get them into Tahrir Square, despite being attacked by Anti-Riot Police who are using sticks, tear gas and rubber bullets against us. We managed to break all of their barricades and situated ourselves in Tahrir. The government responded by shutting down all cell communication in Tahrir square, a move which purpose was understood later when after midnight they went in with all of their might and attacked the protesters and evacuated the Square. The next day we were back at it again, and the day after. Then came Friday and we braved their communication blackout, their thugs, their tear gas and their bullets and we retook the square. We have been fighting to keep it ever since.