Sunday, Jan 30, 2005
Sunday, Jan 30, 2005 |
| New Delhi | ||||
|
News:
Front Page |
National |
Tamil Nadu |
Andhra Pradesh |
Karnataka |
Kerala |
New Delhi |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
Engagements |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | New Delhi
By Our Staff Reporter
The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh receiving a cheque for PM's Relief Fund from the Vice-Chancellor of Jamia University, Mushirul Hasan, at the inauguration of the Center for West Asian Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi on Saturday.
NEW DELHI, JAN. 29. Over two decades after the sprawling Jamia Millia Islamia University here opened its arms to the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, the simmering issues of West Asia once again took centre stage with the inauguration of a new Centre for West Asian Studies today by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Noted historian and Jamia Vice-Chancellor Mushirul Hasan said on the occasion that the Palestinian State is still no more than a distant dream and added that "the Arabs have been our natural allies and it will be a mistake to abandon them in preference to a regime that wields the big stick to humble its neighbours". While noting that India must demonstrate a little flexibility and common sense in its foreign policy, Prof. Hasan said, "a nation of our size and importance needs to take a resolute stand against Zionisation, the belligerence of ultra orthodox groups in Israel, and the ill-treatment of minorities, notably the Palestinians, by their government.'' He further added, "the old shibboleths of the Cold War are shorn of meaning and significance. There is still some space, despite the premature demise of the non-aligned movement, for principled positions in international affairs.'' Reminding the audience that the leaders of India's national movement were not just concerned with the country's independence but also with freedom struggles all over the world, Prof. Hasan said architects of free India had ensured that its citizens fully understood the implications of global affairs. "But we have allowed public interest in international affairs to lapse often into an area of limited professional concern or ad hoc bureaucratic engagement. This problem has become all the more acute in recent years as the developments in West Asia, for instance, have become decisive to the way global politics and global culture have taken shape,'' he remarked. While noting that "cynical observers may well argue that India, tied to a global economy and poised for a major economic breakthrough, should eschew involvement in the Arab-Israel conflict'' Prof. Hasan added that this "myopic view, aired even when the US and British troops were slaughtering innocent civilians in Iraq, needs to be contested.'' In a special gesture, the University presented a cheque for Rs. 14.51 lakhs as a contribution to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the tsunami victims. The fund has been raised with the help of teachers and students with help from the Nagrik Suraksha Samiti in the neighbourhood of New Friends Colony.
Printer friendly
page
News:
Front Page |
National |
Tamil Nadu |
Andhra Pradesh |
Karnataka |
Kerala |
New Delhi |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
Engagements |
|
|
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | The Sportstar | Frontline | The Hindu eBooks | The Hindu Images | Home |
Copyright © 2005, The
Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu
|
