LETTERS

Issn 0012-9976
Ever since the rst issue in 1966, EPW has been Indias premier journal for comment on current affairs and research in the social sciences. It succeeded Economic Weekly (1949-1965), which was launched and shepherded by Sachin Chaudhuri, who was also the founder-editor of EPW. As editor for thirty-ve years (1969-2004) K rishna R aj gave EPW the reputation it now enjoys.

Silence of Subalterns in Himachal?

editor

C Rammanohar Reddy
EXECUTIVE Editor

aniket Alam
Deputy Editor

Bernard DMello
Senior Assistant Editors

Lina Mathias Srinivasan ramani

copy editors

Prabha Pillai jyoti shetty

Assistant editor

P S Leela
Assistant editor (web)

Anurag Mazumdar
editorial Assistants

lubna duggal ABHISHEK SHAW

production

u raghunathan s lesline corera suneethi nair

Circulation

Gauraang Pradhan Manager B S Sharma

Advertisement Manager

Kamal G Fanibanda
General Manager & Publisher

K Vijayakumar
editorial
edit@epw.in

Circulation
circulation@epw.in

Advertising
advertisement@epw.in

Economic and Political Weekly

320-321, A to Z Industrial Estate Ganpatrao Kadam Marg, Lower Parel Mumbai 400 013 Phone: (022) 4063 8282 FAX: (022) 2493 4515

EPW Research Foundation

EPW Research Foundation, established in 1993, conducts research on nancial and macro-economic issues in India.

Director

k kanagasabapathy
C 212, Akurli Industrial Estate Kandivali (East), Mumbai 400 101 Phones: (022) 2887 3038/41 Fax: (022) 2887 3038 epwrf@vsnl.com
Printed by K Vijayakumar at Modern Arts and Industries, 151, A-Z Industrial Estate, Ganpatrao Kadam Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai-400 013 and published by him on behalf of Sameeksha Trust from 320-321, A-Z Industrial Estate, Ganpatrao Kadam Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai-400 013. Editor: C Rammanohar Reddy.

n Himachal Pradesh as Dev Bhumi: Sociological Paradoxes (EPW, 18 January 2014), Arvind Sehgal has provided a brief and informative narrative on the linkages between caste and religiouspolitical institutions and has given a description of how traditional hierarchies are incorporated in modern governance. In fact, does he not agree that the history of the modern state has never shown any hesitation to collaborate with religious institutions without feeling very disturbed? He probably does not, otherwise he would not have found this a social paradox. To me it seems a perfect t where contradictions between hierarchies are resolved by the politico-religious sphere which has been successfully holding onto both class and caste rule without blinking an eyelid. In other words, this modern mode of governance has never come into contradiction with religious forces which are predominantly Hindu and largely represented by the upper classes and castes. But why do such phenomena continue, I thought the author would ask in the article. Why being largely a communitarian society has the state not advanced to a more pluralistic, equity-based society? Going by the article, it seems, no subaltern protest culture exists in Himachal Pradesh against political elites governing through divine kingship. I was wondering why the scheduled castes remain hardly audible in spite of such discrimination. The author has mentioned a fear of punishment. If this is so then questions arise about governing the minds of all, particularly the subalterns. Do subalterns feel happy about their dignity and the possibilities available to develop further? If not, then what precisely they are doing about it should have been an important part of the article.

11 January 2014). Actually, the issues arising from the sea ice melt, as a positive feedback process, are a lot more profoundly disturbing than this article suggests. This is so because large amounts of frozen methane in both soils and seas are to be found around the melting poles, and methane is 10 to 20 times more potent (i e, causative of further warming directly or indirectly) than CO2, and would result in a sudden surge in the warming effect if a big methane release emerged. The early signs of such a release are already there, with massive growth of methane umes in both arctic waters and Siberian bogs. Essentially, the main point that James Hansen is making is that the threshold for positive feedbacks and near irreversible rapid warming may be much lower than 2 degrees Celsius, meaning we are quite possibly very near to or past the limits already. This shifts the whole urgency of the debate, and is a line of argument that does not come through enough in the conservative process of writing IPCC reports.
Daniel Taghioff Comment on Website

Faculty Resolution on Suspension of Neeraj Hatekar

Amitranjan Basu
Shimla

Climate Change
his is with reference to the article by Nagraj Adve (The IPCCs Summary for Policymakers: A Comment, EPW,

he following is the resolution passed at the Faculty Meeting of the Department of Economics (Autonomous) of Mumbai University on 6 January 2014 on the suspension of Prof Neeraj Hatekar by the university. There was one dissension: The faculty (permanent) of the Department of Economics (Autonomous) protests the suspension of Professor Neeraj Hatekar. Professor Hatekar has adhered to the code of conduct of the Maharashtra Universities Act by enjoying the guaranteed freedom of speech. All his appeals to the authorities have fallen on deaf ears. A press conference called by him was another opportunity guaranteed by the Constitution to express concern about the deteriorating conditions in the University. Our colleague has never resorted to unparliamentary language, calumny, slander, and such that would call forth disciplinary action. We are at a loss to understand
vol xlix no 4
EPW Economic & Political Weekly

january 25, 2014

LETTERS

the charge of moral turpitude levelled against him. If anything he has shown moral courage for the sake of the good of the University. The authorities are always welcome to dispute his cases. We are disturbed that standard steps have not been taken by the university authorities: the Director was not consulted; a memo was not issued; a show cause notice was not given. Being an Autonomous Department, the issue should have been put forward before the Departments Management Board and the Academic Board. Instead, an extreme action (in the de facto sense) was imposed by the university authorities. In addition, this draconian decision has severely disrupted our teaching programme. Professor Hatekar was involved in teaching two courses. We urge the immediate withdrawal of the suspension order issued to Professor Neeraj Hatekar.
Ritu Dewan Director, Department of Economics (autonomous), Mumbai University

Ila Pathak (1933-2014)

n the passing away of Ila Pathak on 9 January in Ahmedabad, Gujarat has lost a dedicated social activist who stood by the excluded sections of society, especially brutalised women. She tirelessly supported women survivors of dowry harassment, rape victims, victims of crimes of honour not only in the towns and cities but also in the rural and tribal areas. Ilaben brought her own energies and perspective to the womens movement. She had been an untiring worker right from the beginning. A masters degree in law and a PhD in English literature were indicative of her capacity to achieve the goals she had set for herself. Her devotion to working for womens rights and development was reected in her writings and action through the Ahmedabad Womens Action Group (AWAG) and the numerous institutions she was associated with. In the early 1970s she started her crusade against misogyny in Gujarati plays which were rife with double-meaning sentences full of crude and crass jokes/ puns that degraded women and objectied womens bodies. In 1981, Ilaben with her young colleagues/students such as Ila
Economic & Political Weekly EPW

Joshi, Aditi Desai (a theatre artiste), and Soa Khan (now a human rights lawyer) established AWAG which energetically raised voices against sexism in advertisement, media and textbooks. Her tireless work resulted in the Government of Gujarat appointing a committee under her leadership to examine the portrayal of sex stereotypes and subordinate status of women in school textbooks. In 1982, she spearheaded a participatory action research project of AWAG to bring out the precarious condition of homeless and miserable tribal migrant workers near the railway tracks of Ahmedabad who eked out a subsistence through collection of coal fallen from the engines. She started income-generation activities for them based on tribal art and beadwork. In 1982, when a tribal woman in Sagbara village of south Gujarat was gang-raped, it was Ilaben who activated the government machinery. As a result all the rapists were punished and a tribal woman got justice. Her courageous and consistent work among victims of communal riots post the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992 and among Muslim refugees after the Gujarat riots in 2002 symbolised her secular humanism. Ilabens command over language helped her coin catchy and hard-hitting slogans in Gujarati such as Silence is not a virtue, Break the silence of oppression, Putting up with injustice is not a virtue, ght for justice. She gave great emphasis to documentation, research and training and

AWAG always provided material in the local language and case studies for capacity building of community workers, elected representatives and youth. During 1986-92, she regularly wrote for a feminist quarterly in Gujarati, Nari Mukti (Womens Freedom). To take the womens political agenda into mainstream politics, she also contested the elections for the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation in 1990. Her persuasive style of speaking was her mantra. She could reach out to all Gandhian, liberals, feminists, human rights activists and leftists. She could establish communication with the rich and powerful without getting cowed down by them even as she was able to reach out to the weak and marginalised people with utmost humility. Ilaben served on many apex bodies to further the cause of women. She was a member of the Women Development Cell of Gujarat University that had to perform the twin tasks of prevention of sexual harassment and promotion of gender sensitisation in the university and its afliated colleges. She played an important role in all womencentred activities of Gujarat Vidyapeeth. Her four decades of pioneering work will always give us the inspiration to keep the torch of womens rights burning in todays volatile circumstances. Ilaben will always remain with us in spirit. As fellow-travellers in the womens movement, we salute our sister, Ila Pathak.
Vibhuti Patel, Sonal Shukla
Mumbai

Welcome to EPW Blogs

EPW Blogs, a new section of EPW, will feature a number of diverse writers regularly posting light-hearted and conversational, yet thought-provoking and argumentative pieces. Away from academic articles, the blogs will talk about life, work and other experiences of the bloggers that will allow discussions and an informed adda. At present we have six authors lined up and will add a few more over the coming months, each of whom will bring their distinctive perspective to this space. We hope our readers will find the EPW Blogs engaging and provocative but free from the shrillness and intolerance of many online discussions. Blogs for the week: (1) One Dark Night and Freedom Suren Pillay (2) Exploring Muslim Representation Hilal Ahmed (3) Travels in Time Praha G Arunima

Web Exclusives
The following article has been uploaded in the past week in the Web Exclusives section of the EPW website. It has not been published in the print edition. Modernity and Godmen Ajay Gudavarthy Articles posted before 18 January 2014 remain available in the Web Exclusives section.
vol xlix no 4

january 25, 2014