By IANS,
Melbourne: A new 24-hour support and welfare service that will "make a real difference" for international students studying in Australia's Victoria state has been started, Premier John Brumby said Thursday.
At the opening of the Victoria government's new International Student Care Service (ISCC) in Carlton, Brumby said students from overseas would now have greater access to a range of accommodation, counselling, legal, emergency and welfare assistance.
"We understand that our visiting international students can feel isolated from family and friends, especially without a strong social network and they can find themselves disoriented in a new community where they might struggle with the language," said a state government press release quoting Brumby.
"This International Student Care Service - the first of its kind in Australia - is going to make a real difference to all those young people from all over the world who come to Victoria to live, work and study.
"The service is a one-stop shop where international students can get the help and support they need, 24 hours a day, seven days a week."
The development comes following a string of attacks on Indians, causing an outrage in India. The assaults have strained relations between Canberra and New Delhi. There has also been a drop in the number of students from India seeking admissions in Australian colleges.
The services provides a single point of contact for students in an emergency such as those needing of counselling, crisis accommodation and food aid, as well as contact with other welfare services. Students can call a 24-hour phone line for advice and support or access the drop-in service in Carlton during business hours.
Brumby said: "Last year there were more than 190,000 international students enrolled in Victorian education institutions. International students make a significant contribution to Victoria's diverse, multicultural society and enhance our community in many ways."
"We understand there are student concerns about well-being and safety and that is why we invested $14 million in our Action Plan for International Education, Thinking Global which included the international student's service care centre."
Minister for Skills and Workforce Participation Bronwyn Pike said: "The Indian International Student Advisory Centre would also receive $20,000 to support volunteer efforts within the Indian community."
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Asom Gana Parishad hints at snapping pre-poll ties with BJP
By Syed Zarir Hussain, IANS,
Guwahati: Former Assam chief minister and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) founder Prafulla Kumar Mahanta has indicated discontinuing the pre-poll understanding with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
"We must maintain our secular image and also our regional character. We must understand the desire of the people of Assam in so far as political alignments or re-alignments (are concerned)," Mahanta told IANS.
The AGP-BJP alliance suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Congress party during the 2001 assembly elections and also in the 2009 parliamentary polls with the AGP winning just one seat and the BJP in four of the 14 seats in Assam.
He said the party would win the 2011 assembly elections only if internal squabbles are stopped and the leadership is able to put up a united fight to topple the ruling Congress.
"First of all, we have to unite and put up a spirited fight focussing on the main problems in the state, besides resolving any infighting or differences within the party," Mahanta said.
The AGP is desperately seeking power after being in political wilderness since the party lost the 2001 assembly elections to the Congress. The party again lost the 2006 state elections, miserably failed to make any mark in the 2004 and 2009 parliamentary polls and the local council elections last year.
"When a party remains out of power for a long period, obviously it becomes more difficult to bounce back. But I still believe the AGP would be able to win the support of the people of Assam if we are focussed," he said.
Mahanta, twice chief minister of the state, re-joined the party in 2008, four years after he was unceremoniously expelled on charges of anti-party activities.
He formed a splinter group called the AGP-Progressive after he was replaced as party president in 2001 on an alleged bigamy charge. Mahanta denied the charge.
There are indications that Mahanta is trying to claw back with a number of AGP leaders backing him for the president's post.
"I am ready to take up any position or responsibilities as desired by the party," he said.
Guwahati: Former Assam chief minister and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) founder Prafulla Kumar Mahanta has indicated discontinuing the pre-poll understanding with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
"We must maintain our secular image and also our regional character. We must understand the desire of the people of Assam in so far as political alignments or re-alignments (are concerned)," Mahanta told IANS.
The AGP-BJP alliance suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Congress party during the 2001 assembly elections and also in the 2009 parliamentary polls with the AGP winning just one seat and the BJP in four of the 14 seats in Assam.
He said the party would win the 2011 assembly elections only if internal squabbles are stopped and the leadership is able to put up a united fight to topple the ruling Congress.
"First of all, we have to unite and put up a spirited fight focussing on the main problems in the state, besides resolving any infighting or differences within the party," Mahanta said.
The AGP is desperately seeking power after being in political wilderness since the party lost the 2001 assembly elections to the Congress. The party again lost the 2006 state elections, miserably failed to make any mark in the 2004 and 2009 parliamentary polls and the local council elections last year.
"When a party remains out of power for a long period, obviously it becomes more difficult to bounce back. But I still believe the AGP would be able to win the support of the people of Assam if we are focussed," he said.
Mahanta, twice chief minister of the state, re-joined the party in 2008, four years after he was unceremoniously expelled on charges of anti-party activities.
He formed a splinter group called the AGP-Progressive after he was replaced as party president in 2001 on an alleged bigamy charge. Mahanta denied the charge.
There are indications that Mahanta is trying to claw back with a number of AGP leaders backing him for the president's post.
"I am ready to take up any position or responsibilities as desired by the party," he said.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Muslims in Manipur: A look at their socio-economic condition
By Mudassir Rizwan, TwoCircles.net,
Muslims who are also called Pangal in local terminology came to the Manipuri region in the late 16th or early 17th century. They are also called Meitei-Pangal which means indigenized and acculturated or simply Manipuri Muslims. They settled in this land earlier than many other communities.
They have since remained part and parcel of Manipuri society. They were very much part of the various ups and downs witnessed by the region, as it evolved from its tribal nature to its present status.
As per the Census 2001 Muslims constitute 7% of the total population of the state. They are settled in different pockets such as Lilong, Yairipok, Sangaiyumpham, Kshetrigao, Moirang, Mayang Imphal, Thoubal, Bishenpur, Chandel and Churachandpur. A section of the Muslims in the state also are migrants from Bihar and UP.
The present socio-economic condition of the Pangals or Muslims in Manipur is pathetic. At least this is what one concludes from the statistics provided by the All-Manipur Muslim United Coordinating Committee (AMMUCOC), a Muslim representative body in the state.
According to the Muslim body, the literacy rate among Muslims is 58.6 percent (male 75 percent and female 41.6 percent) much below the state’s average of 70.5 percent (male 80.3 percent and female 60.5 percent).
Out of 1,35,000 people (the Muslim population in the state ) by the end of the year 1995 there were only 5,704 matriculates, 1,822 graduates in addition to 86 technical and professional graduates.
There are only 51 Class I Muslim officers including three women, 101 Class II officers and 1,270 and 1,663 employees belonging to Class III and IV categories respectively.
At the root of their pathetic condition, as the community leaders feel, is the fact that the successive governments have done nothing worthwhile to uplift the community educationally and economically.
It is evident from the fact that the twenty-nine officially recognized tribal groups have 20-seats exclusively reserved for them in the 60-member Manipur state assembly and up to 31 percent reservation in all government jobs.
But by contrast Muslims have been forced to recoil in their own ghettos without any kind of help from the government.
Although in December 2006 Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh did announce a four percent reservation policy for the Muslim community in government jobs. But this half hearted announcement hasn't bore satisfactory results.
Their subhuman living condition is characterized by ethnic rivalry. Rivalry between Pangals and Meiteis.
Meiteis are the privileged majority community of the state. They are the most educated and economically well-off community. The clash between them and the Pangals (Muslims) in 1993 is one of the well etched communal scars in the history of Muslims in the state.
TCN talked to Sitara Begum, President of All Manipur Muslims Women Development Organization (AIMMWDO). According to her it started due to wild rumors and misunderstanding between Meiteis and Meitei Muslims.
Although an altercation did take place between the Muslim groups and the Meitei youths belonging to People's Republican Army (PRA), the neighboring Meitei villagers spread the rumors of molestation of some Meitei girls by the Meitei Muslims.
In the riot which followed the rumors, 150 Muslims and 4 Meiteis died in the valley districts and 149 were injured. One hundred and one cases were registered by the police and 423 persons arrested in connection with the incident.
Fortunately, it ended abruptly though healing of wounds took a bit long.
And it is because of this fight between two unequal groups that according to Institute of Peace & Conflict Studies, North East India, militant Muslim groups like the People's United Liberation Front (PULF), Islamic Revolutionary Front (IRF), Islamic National Front (INF), United Islamic Revolutionary Army (UIRA) and United Islamic Liberation Army (UILA) came into existence in Manipur to protect their communities after the Meitei-Pangal clash that took 150 Muslim lives in 1993.
TCN talked to Azimuddin Choudhary, about the socio-economic conditions of the Muslims in the state. Mr. Choudhary is the General Secretary of Markaz Maarif and also runs a madarsa in Lolang.
He too expressed concern over pathetic socio-economic condition of the Muslims in the state. He stressed that they are in urgent need of quality education and economic empowerment.
So it is high time that the government must take concrete measures to ensure fair participation of Muslims in the economic and social mainstream. Otherwise the day is not far when they will be reduced to non-entity.
(With inputs from Delhi-based journalist Md. Ali)
http://twocircles.net/2010jan11/muslims_manipur_look_their_socio_economic_condition.html
Muslims who are also called Pangal in local terminology came to the Manipuri region in the late 16th or early 17th century. They are also called Meitei-Pangal which means indigenized and acculturated or simply Manipuri Muslims. They settled in this land earlier than many other communities.
They have since remained part and parcel of Manipuri society. They were very much part of the various ups and downs witnessed by the region, as it evolved from its tribal nature to its present status.
As per the Census 2001 Muslims constitute 7% of the total population of the state. They are settled in different pockets such as Lilong, Yairipok, Sangaiyumpham, Kshetrigao, Moirang, Mayang Imphal, Thoubal, Bishenpur, Chandel and Churachandpur. A section of the Muslims in the state also are migrants from Bihar and UP.
The present socio-economic condition of the Pangals or Muslims in Manipur is pathetic. At least this is what one concludes from the statistics provided by the All-Manipur Muslim United Coordinating Committee (AMMUCOC), a Muslim representative body in the state.
According to the Muslim body, the literacy rate among Muslims is 58.6 percent (male 75 percent and female 41.6 percent) much below the state’s average of 70.5 percent (male 80.3 percent and female 60.5 percent).
Out of 1,35,000 people (the Muslim population in the state ) by the end of the year 1995 there were only 5,704 matriculates, 1,822 graduates in addition to 86 technical and professional graduates.
There are only 51 Class I Muslim officers including three women, 101 Class II officers and 1,270 and 1,663 employees belonging to Class III and IV categories respectively.
At the root of their pathetic condition, as the community leaders feel, is the fact that the successive governments have done nothing worthwhile to uplift the community educationally and economically.
It is evident from the fact that the twenty-nine officially recognized tribal groups have 20-seats exclusively reserved for them in the 60-member Manipur state assembly and up to 31 percent reservation in all government jobs.
But by contrast Muslims have been forced to recoil in their own ghettos without any kind of help from the government.
Although in December 2006 Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh did announce a four percent reservation policy for the Muslim community in government jobs. But this half hearted announcement hasn't bore satisfactory results.
Their subhuman living condition is characterized by ethnic rivalry. Rivalry between Pangals and Meiteis.
Meiteis are the privileged majority community of the state. They are the most educated and economically well-off community. The clash between them and the Pangals (Muslims) in 1993 is one of the well etched communal scars in the history of Muslims in the state.
TCN talked to Sitara Begum, President of All Manipur Muslims Women Development Organization (AIMMWDO). According to her it started due to wild rumors and misunderstanding between Meiteis and Meitei Muslims.
Although an altercation did take place between the Muslim groups and the Meitei youths belonging to People's Republican Army (PRA), the neighboring Meitei villagers spread the rumors of molestation of some Meitei girls by the Meitei Muslims.
In the riot which followed the rumors, 150 Muslims and 4 Meiteis died in the valley districts and 149 were injured. One hundred and one cases were registered by the police and 423 persons arrested in connection with the incident.
Fortunately, it ended abruptly though healing of wounds took a bit long.
And it is because of this fight between two unequal groups that according to Institute of Peace & Conflict Studies, North East India, militant Muslim groups like the People's United Liberation Front (PULF), Islamic Revolutionary Front (IRF), Islamic National Front (INF), United Islamic Revolutionary Army (UIRA) and United Islamic Liberation Army (UILA) came into existence in Manipur to protect their communities after the Meitei-Pangal clash that took 150 Muslim lives in 1993.
TCN talked to Azimuddin Choudhary, about the socio-economic conditions of the Muslims in the state. Mr. Choudhary is the General Secretary of Markaz Maarif and also runs a madarsa in Lolang.
He too expressed concern over pathetic socio-economic condition of the Muslims in the state. He stressed that they are in urgent need of quality education and economic empowerment.
So it is high time that the government must take concrete measures to ensure fair participation of Muslims in the economic and social mainstream. Otherwise the day is not far when they will be reduced to non-entity.
(With inputs from Delhi-based journalist Md. Ali)
http://twocircles.net/2010jan11/muslims_manipur_look_their_socio_economic_condition.html
Friday, January 08, 2010
Now, 13 Japanese universities to woo Indian students
By IANS,
New Delhi : After many European and American universities, it's now the leading Japanese universities who are set to woo Indian students.
According to the Japanese embassy here, at least 13 major Japanese universities will participate in the "Study in Japan Fair".
"Many Japanese universities have degree courses which are offered fully in English and the foreign students can (pursue) bachelor, masters and PhD degrees without language barriers," the Japan Information Center here said about the forthcoming event.
The varsity officials will interact with prospective students and provide their consultations about opportunities in Japan. The fair will take place at Daulat Ram College of the Delhi University Jan 11.
New Delhi : After many European and American universities, it's now the leading Japanese universities who are set to woo Indian students.
According to the Japanese embassy here, at least 13 major Japanese universities will participate in the "Study in Japan Fair".
"Many Japanese universities have degree courses which are offered fully in English and the foreign students can (pursue) bachelor, masters and PhD degrees without language barriers," the Japan Information Center here said about the forthcoming event.
The varsity officials will interact with prospective students and provide their consultations about opportunities in Japan. The fair will take place at Daulat Ram College of the Delhi University Jan 11.
Thursday, January 07, 2010
History of modern education among Malabar Muslims
By Kashif-ul-Huda, TwoCircles.net
TCN Malabar series: Part 5
Not unlike Muslims of north India, Mappilas also lagged behind when it came to modern education. While there were some attempts made, some as early as a hundred years ago, it was not until a generation ago that major effort was made to link the community to modern education without losing the religious and cultural identity.
The reasons for distrusting western education were same as in the north. English was “the language of hell” and western education a “passport to hell.” As a result of this attitude Muslims were slow to adopt the new system of education and therefore their employment opportunities were also limited. Realizing that they were lagging behind, an effort was made with the establishment of Malabar Muslim Educational Association in 1911. Famous social reformer Vakkom Abdul Qadir Moulavi started the “All Travancore Muslim Mahajana Sabha” around the same time. The result of the leadership and awareness led to the opening of many schools by Muslims where there were no government schools in their areas. Madarasthul Muhammadiya in Parappil, Kozhikode is an example of one such school that was established by the Muslim themselves.
Madrasthul Muhammadiya was established in 1918 in Kozhikode which offers modern education
In 1948 Farook Colllege was established in Kozhikode, which played a valuable part in encouraging the Muslims towards higher education. Farook College was the first degree college established by the Muslims of Kerala.
Kerala had led all the Indian states in making its population 100% literate. Obviously, Muslims have also benefitted from this campaign. In recent years, Muslims have made progress in leaps and bounds in the field of modern education. Until recently, this picture was not that rosy. In the 1940s only 42.5% of school-age Muslim boys and 23.3% of girls were enrolled.
The Kumara Pillai Commission in 1960s found that Kerala held the highest number of Muslims who have not completed primary education. Also, only 2.83 Muslims among per 1000 population were enrolled in Class 10th, this was lowest in the state. In 1970s, 13.3% of students who passed 10th class were Muslims, a big improvement but still much below their share in the population. This figure improved to 17.8% in 1990s.
Mappilas were recognized as a backward caste as early as 1894. The reservation benefit because of their backward status helped them get to the opportunities that were not available to Muslims of north India. This combined with the awareness about the importance of modern education led by social reformers has helped the community march forward and not be too far behind the rest of the state. But the problem of higher education is still there, because of the lure of easy gulf money, adequate numbers of Muslim students are still missing from higher education and professional courses.
Of course, the enlightened Muslim leadership of Kerala is aware of this problem. The organization that manages the largest number of madrasas in Kerala has also launched an engineering college. Samastha Kerala Jammiyyathul Ulama also runs a self-financing engineering college called MEA Engineering College named after the Muslim Educational Association. College is a co-educational institution with separate hostels for girls.
The Ernad Muslim Educational Association established the Mampad College in 1965 in Malappuram district. Later on, after the Muslim League came to power in the state and began to handle the education department, many Muslim colleges came to be established after 1967. The Calicut University was established in Malappuram district in 1968 due to the efforts of the Muslim League leader late CH Muhammed Koya who later became the one and only Muslim Chief Minister of the state for a brief period.
The Tirurangadi Orphanage was founded in the 1920s as an abode for the Mappilas orphaned by the great revolt of 1921 against the British. Later it became an important centre of education which now comprises of a first grade college, training school, hospital etc. The Jamiyathu Dawathul wa Tabligh Islami (JDT Islam) was established in Calicut in the early 1920s also for helping the orphans of the Revolt of 1921. This also has now grown into a centre of learning which includes Polytechnic College, Industrial Training Centre, Orphanage, etc. The JDT also runs a multi-specialty hospital. The Mukkam Muslim Orphanage near Calicut also is one of the pioneer centres of education which now includes a first grade college, training school, higher secondary school, orphanage etc. Since then a number of orphanages and associated other educational institutions have sprung up in various parts of Malabar.
A number of these young kids told me that they want to be police officers. This you will never hear from Muslim kids in north India. I was surprised and was told by Zubair bhai that this is because police here is held in high esteem.
The Muslim Education Society founded on 1964 by a small group of educated Muslim officials at Calicut is now the leading Muslim educational organization in the state as well as outside. The MES now runs a Medical College, an Engineering College, a number of first grade colleges affiliated to almost all universities in Kerala, schools affiliated to CBSE, ICSE and state syllabi, many unaided women’s colleges, training colleges and schools, paramaedical colleges etc not only in Kerala but other states and abroad.
The Kerala Muslim Educational Association based in Kochi runs an engineering college, a polytechnic college and other institutions. The Unity Women’s College, Manjeri, run by the Muslim Educational and Cultural Association is the one and only aided Muslim women’s college in Kerala affiliated to the University of Calicut. It was established in 1991.
Several educational trusts like the Association for the Welfare of the Handicapped (AWH), the Kunhitharuvai Memorial Charitable Trust (KMCT), etc run many institutions including engineering, medical and paramedical colleges.
Throughout Malabar, wherever there is Muslim concentration, one can see educational institutions from kindergarten to post graduate level run by various organizations and trusts.
Links:
http://www.meskerala.com/
http://www.awhonline.com/
http://www.universityofcalicut.info/
http://www.farookcollege.ac.in/
http://www.meaengg.in/
(with inputs from Najiya O. in Kerala)
http://twocircles.net/2010jan06/history_modern_education_among_malabar_muslims.html
TCN Malabar series: Part 5
Not unlike Muslims of north India, Mappilas also lagged behind when it came to modern education. While there were some attempts made, some as early as a hundred years ago, it was not until a generation ago that major effort was made to link the community to modern education without losing the religious and cultural identity.
The reasons for distrusting western education were same as in the north. English was “the language of hell” and western education a “passport to hell.” As a result of this attitude Muslims were slow to adopt the new system of education and therefore their employment opportunities were also limited. Realizing that they were lagging behind, an effort was made with the establishment of Malabar Muslim Educational Association in 1911. Famous social reformer Vakkom Abdul Qadir Moulavi started the “All Travancore Muslim Mahajana Sabha” around the same time. The result of the leadership and awareness led to the opening of many schools by Muslims where there were no government schools in their areas. Madarasthul Muhammadiya in Parappil, Kozhikode is an example of one such school that was established by the Muslim themselves.
Madrasthul Muhammadiya was established in 1918 in Kozhikode which offers modern education
In 1948 Farook Colllege was established in Kozhikode, which played a valuable part in encouraging the Muslims towards higher education. Farook College was the first degree college established by the Muslims of Kerala.
Kerala had led all the Indian states in making its population 100% literate. Obviously, Muslims have also benefitted from this campaign. In recent years, Muslims have made progress in leaps and bounds in the field of modern education. Until recently, this picture was not that rosy. In the 1940s only 42.5% of school-age Muslim boys and 23.3% of girls were enrolled.
The Kumara Pillai Commission in 1960s found that Kerala held the highest number of Muslims who have not completed primary education. Also, only 2.83 Muslims among per 1000 population were enrolled in Class 10th, this was lowest in the state. In 1970s, 13.3% of students who passed 10th class were Muslims, a big improvement but still much below their share in the population. This figure improved to 17.8% in 1990s.
Mappilas were recognized as a backward caste as early as 1894. The reservation benefit because of their backward status helped them get to the opportunities that were not available to Muslims of north India. This combined with the awareness about the importance of modern education led by social reformers has helped the community march forward and not be too far behind the rest of the state. But the problem of higher education is still there, because of the lure of easy gulf money, adequate numbers of Muslim students are still missing from higher education and professional courses.
Of course, the enlightened Muslim leadership of Kerala is aware of this problem. The organization that manages the largest number of madrasas in Kerala has also launched an engineering college. Samastha Kerala Jammiyyathul Ulama also runs a self-financing engineering college called MEA Engineering College named after the Muslim Educational Association. College is a co-educational institution with separate hostels for girls.
The Ernad Muslim Educational Association established the Mampad College in 1965 in Malappuram district. Later on, after the Muslim League came to power in the state and began to handle the education department, many Muslim colleges came to be established after 1967. The Calicut University was established in Malappuram district in 1968 due to the efforts of the Muslim League leader late CH Muhammed Koya who later became the one and only Muslim Chief Minister of the state for a brief period.
The Tirurangadi Orphanage was founded in the 1920s as an abode for the Mappilas orphaned by the great revolt of 1921 against the British. Later it became an important centre of education which now comprises of a first grade college, training school, hospital etc. The Jamiyathu Dawathul wa Tabligh Islami (JDT Islam) was established in Calicut in the early 1920s also for helping the orphans of the Revolt of 1921. This also has now grown into a centre of learning which includes Polytechnic College, Industrial Training Centre, Orphanage, etc. The JDT also runs a multi-specialty hospital. The Mukkam Muslim Orphanage near Calicut also is one of the pioneer centres of education which now includes a first grade college, training school, higher secondary school, orphanage etc. Since then a number of orphanages and associated other educational institutions have sprung up in various parts of Malabar.
A number of these young kids told me that they want to be police officers. This you will never hear from Muslim kids in north India. I was surprised and was told by Zubair bhai that this is because police here is held in high esteem.
The Muslim Education Society founded on 1964 by a small group of educated Muslim officials at Calicut is now the leading Muslim educational organization in the state as well as outside. The MES now runs a Medical College, an Engineering College, a number of first grade colleges affiliated to almost all universities in Kerala, schools affiliated to CBSE, ICSE and state syllabi, many unaided women’s colleges, training colleges and schools, paramaedical colleges etc not only in Kerala but other states and abroad.
The Kerala Muslim Educational Association based in Kochi runs an engineering college, a polytechnic college and other institutions. The Unity Women’s College, Manjeri, run by the Muslim Educational and Cultural Association is the one and only aided Muslim women’s college in Kerala affiliated to the University of Calicut. It was established in 1991.
Several educational trusts like the Association for the Welfare of the Handicapped (AWH), the Kunhitharuvai Memorial Charitable Trust (KMCT), etc run many institutions including engineering, medical and paramedical colleges.
Throughout Malabar, wherever there is Muslim concentration, one can see educational institutions from kindergarten to post graduate level run by various organizations and trusts.
Links:
http://www.meskerala.com/
http://www.awhonline.com/
http://www.universityofcalicut.info/
http://www.farookcollege.ac.in/
http://www.meaengg.in/
(with inputs from Najiya O. in Kerala)
http://twocircles.net/2010jan06/history_modern_education_among_malabar_muslims.html
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