Wednesay 25 November
The Prime Minister visits the US
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived in the US last Monday to talk about Afghanistan, Pakistan, climate change and nuclear energy cooperation with President Barack Obama.
He is also there because, like the USA, he is concerned by al-Qaeda terrorism.
During their meeting on Tuesday, Obama praised the Indian Prime Minister, he described the relationship between the US and India as "one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century".
After the two leaders met, Barack Obama decided to visit India next year, and expressed his desire to work more closely and to share information with India.
They announced new economic forums for the two countries.
However, problems such as trade, climate and Pakistan remain.
Mr. Obama and Mr. Singh made a deal which gives Delhi access to US civilian nuclear technology and fuel.
During his stay the Indian Prime Minister will hold meetings with business leaders and foreign policy scholars.
Roxane
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8373574.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8375904.stm
Mercredi 25 Novembre
Le Premier Ministre en visite aux Etats-Unis
Le Premier Ministre Manmohan Singh est aux Etats-Unis depuis lundi pour discuter de l’Afghanistan, du Pakistan, du changement climatique et de coopération en matière d’énergie nucléaire, avec le président Barack Obama et aussi parce que, comme les Etats-Unis, il est concerné par le terrorisme d’Al-Qaeda.
M. Singh a rencontré Barack Obama mardi. Pendant cette rencontre, Mr Obama a fait l’éloge du de son visiteur et décrit la relation entre les Etats-Unis et l’Inde comme «une des relations décisives du 21ème siècle».
Après la rencontre entre les deux hommes, Barack Obama a décidé de se rendre en Inde l’année prochaine, et a souhaité travailler plus étroitement et partager plus d’informations avec l’Inde.
Ils ont annoncé de futurs forums économiques entre les deux pays.
Cependant, des problèmes tels que le commerce, le climat et le Pakistan subsistent.
M. Obama et M. Singh ont passé un contrat qui donne accès à Delhi à la technologie nucléaire américaine en échange de visites de contrôle.
Pendant son séjour, le Premier Ministre tiendra plusieurs réunions avec des dirigeants d’entreprises et des universitaires.
Roxane
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8373574.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8375904.stm
dimanche 6 décembre 2009
Wednesday 21 October
Muslim widows considered as “witches”
Recently in a remote village in Deoghar district, five women were paraded and beaten by villagers because they were considered as witches.
The local police said the victims where Muslim widows who were labeled as witches.
According to the correspondents in India, this is not the first time it happens and it is common in India.
The villagers gathered on Sunday morning to watch the five women being humiliated, stripped and beaten up. They forced them to eat human excrements and to walk naked in the village. No one came forward to rescue the victims.
After hearing the story the police came in the village, tried to look for the perpetrators of this barbarian act and four people, including women, have been arrested in connection with the incident.
Police say that people in Pattharghatia believed they practiced witchcraft, possessed a “holy spirit” and they are deeply convinced that they bring misery.
Each year a lot of people, mostly women, are killed in India because their neighbours thought they were witches.
Experts say superstitious beliefs are behind some of these attacks but it’s sometimes an occasion for people to get the land and property of the victims.
Roxane
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8315980.stm
Mercredi 21 Octobre
Des veuves musulmanes considérées comme des « sorcières »
Dimanche 18 Octobre dans un petit village de Deoghar, cinq femmes ont été exhibées et frappées par les villageois car elles étaient jugées comme des sorcières.
La police locale a dit que les victimes étaient des veuves Musulmanes considérées comme des sorcières.
D’après les correspondants en Inde, ce n’est pas la première fois que cela arrive et c’est assez commun en Inde.
Les villageois se sont rassemblés dimanche matin pour voir les cinq femmes humiliées, dépouillées et battues. Ils les ont forcé a mangé des excréments humains et a marcher nues dans le village. Et personne ne vint à leur secours.
Après avoir entendu cette histoire la police vint dans le village, chercha les coupables de cet incident et quatre personnes, y compris des femmes, ont été arrêté en rapport avec l’incident.
La police dit que les personnes qui vivent à Pattharghatia croient qu’elles pratiquaient la sorcellerie et étaient possédées par un « esprit ». Ils pensent qu’elles apportent la misère.
Chaque année beaucoup de personnes, majoritairement des femmes, sont tuées en Inde car leurs voisins pensaient qu’elles étaient des sorcières.
Des experts disent que les superstitions sont derrière certaines de ces attaques mais c’est parfois l’occasion d’obtenir les terres et les biens des victimes.
Roxane
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8315980.stm
Muslim widows considered as “witches”
Recently in a remote village in Deoghar district, five women were paraded and beaten by villagers because they were considered as witches.
The local police said the victims where Muslim widows who were labeled as witches.
According to the correspondents in India, this is not the first time it happens and it is common in India.
The villagers gathered on Sunday morning to watch the five women being humiliated, stripped and beaten up. They forced them to eat human excrements and to walk naked in the village. No one came forward to rescue the victims.
After hearing the story the police came in the village, tried to look for the perpetrators of this barbarian act and four people, including women, have been arrested in connection with the incident.
Police say that people in Pattharghatia believed they practiced witchcraft, possessed a “holy spirit” and they are deeply convinced that they bring misery.
Each year a lot of people, mostly women, are killed in India because their neighbours thought they were witches.
Experts say superstitious beliefs are behind some of these attacks but it’s sometimes an occasion for people to get the land and property of the victims.
Roxane
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8315980.stm
Mercredi 21 Octobre
Des veuves musulmanes considérées comme des « sorcières »
Dimanche 18 Octobre dans un petit village de Deoghar, cinq femmes ont été exhibées et frappées par les villageois car elles étaient jugées comme des sorcières.
La police locale a dit que les victimes étaient des veuves Musulmanes considérées comme des sorcières.
D’après les correspondants en Inde, ce n’est pas la première fois que cela arrive et c’est assez commun en Inde.
Les villageois se sont rassemblés dimanche matin pour voir les cinq femmes humiliées, dépouillées et battues. Ils les ont forcé a mangé des excréments humains et a marcher nues dans le village. Et personne ne vint à leur secours.
Après avoir entendu cette histoire la police vint dans le village, chercha les coupables de cet incident et quatre personnes, y compris des femmes, ont été arrêté en rapport avec l’incident.
La police dit que les personnes qui vivent à Pattharghatia croient qu’elles pratiquaient la sorcellerie et étaient possédées par un « esprit ». Ils pensent qu’elles apportent la misère.
Chaque année beaucoup de personnes, majoritairement des femmes, sont tuées en Inde car leurs voisins pensaient qu’elles étaient des sorcières.
Des experts disent que les superstitions sont derrière certaines de ces attaques mais c’est parfois l’occasion d’obtenir les terres et les biens des victimes.
Roxane
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8315980.stm
vendredi 9 octobre 2009
Roxane's portrait
Thursday 8 October
Roxane
With Roxane, it’s easy - you either love her or hate her.
She can be touchy – especially when I call her the queen of shopping addicts - and admittedly she’s slightly boastful.
Most of the time, she’s lively and pleasant. Are you bored? Call her, you are sure to have fun!
But, you’d better not be her neighbour, she can talk to you for hours on end!
Like all blond girls she can be smart only when she wants.
Knock at Roxane’s door, you’ll have to step over a huge clothes heap, and you’ll inevitably find her chatting on Facebook and drinking a Coca light.
I’ve known Roxane for 10 years. Yes, she’s worth meeting.
Caroline
Roxane
With Roxane, it’s easy - you either love her or hate her.
She can be touchy – especially when I call her the queen of shopping addicts - and admittedly she’s slightly boastful.
Most of the time, she’s lively and pleasant. Are you bored? Call her, you are sure to have fun!
But, you’d better not be her neighbour, she can talk to you for hours on end!
Like all blond girls she can be smart only when she wants.
Knock at Roxane’s door, you’ll have to step over a huge clothes heap, and you’ll inevitably find her chatting on Facebook and drinking a Coca light.
I’ve known Roxane for 10 years. Yes, she’s worth meeting.
Caroline
lundi 30 mars 2009
Saturday 29 March
Saturday 29 March
Malnutrition: the killer of India
Affecting 42.5 percent of Indian children, malnutrition is “a national shame” in the words of the Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh.
India’s rate of malnutrition is higher than in some African countries. Malnutrition makes children more prone to illness and stunts physical growth. Even in the capital, which has the highest per-capita income in the country, 42 percent of children under five years old are stunted, or too short for their age and 26 percent are underweight.
Amartya Sen, the Nobel prize-winning economist pointed out that malnutrition is not a political priority in India. Nevertheless India has started a 1.3 billion dollar food program in order to contain this problem.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development acknowledged that the program used to be a good thing during the last 30 years but that it is not any more adapted. The report recommended to fortify food with micronutrients and to teach parents how to better feed their babies.
Last month, a report of Food Program noted that India was the fourth hungry country of the world. Malnutrition concerns a total of 230 million people.
My point of view
I think that malnutrition is a very important issue. It’s important to see that developing countries are suffering from malnutrition while it has been eradicated for a long time in Europe.
Eva
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/13/world/asia/13malnutrition.html
Samedi 29 mars
La sous-nutrition fait toujours autant de victimes
Touchant 42,5% des enfants indiens, la malnutrition est «une honte nationale» selon le premier ministre Manmohan Singh. En effet, le taux de malnutrition est, en Inde, plus élevé que dans certains pays africains. La sous-alimentation rend les enfants plus fragiles face aux maladies et retarde le développement physique et intellectuel. Même dans la capitale, qui a le revenu par habitant le plus haut du pays, 42% des enfants de moins de 5 ans sont rachitiques ou trop petits pour leur âge tandis que 26% sont en sous-poids.
Le Prix Nobel d’Economie Amartya Sen fait cependant remarquer que le gouvernement ne prend pas assez au sérieux ce problème. Pourtant, l'Inde a lancé un grand programme d'alimentation, d’une valeur de 1,3 dollars afin de combattre ce fléau.
Le Ministère de Femmes et le Développement de l'enfant a reconnu que le programme avait porté ses fruits dans les 30 dernières années mais qu’il n’était plus adapté. Le rapport a recommandé de fortifier l'alimentation avec des micro substances nutritives et d’instruire les parents sur la façon de mieux alimenter leurs bébés.
Un rapport de Programme Alimentaire Mondial le mois dernier a noté que l'Inde est le 4ème pays du monde où la sous-nutrition est la plus importante : 230 millions de personnes en tout souffrent de ce fléau.
Je pense que la sous-nutrition est un phénomène qui mérite qu’on s’y intéresse. Il est important de voir que les pays à forte croissance comme l’Inde souffrent actuellement de problèmes éradiqués depuis longtemps en Europe.
Eva
Malnutrition: the killer of India
Affecting 42.5 percent of Indian children, malnutrition is “a national shame” in the words of the Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh.
India’s rate of malnutrition is higher than in some African countries. Malnutrition makes children more prone to illness and stunts physical growth. Even in the capital, which has the highest per-capita income in the country, 42 percent of children under five years old are stunted, or too short for their age and 26 percent are underweight.
Amartya Sen, the Nobel prize-winning economist pointed out that malnutrition is not a political priority in India. Nevertheless India has started a 1.3 billion dollar food program in order to contain this problem.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development acknowledged that the program used to be a good thing during the last 30 years but that it is not any more adapted. The report recommended to fortify food with micronutrients and to teach parents how to better feed their babies.
Last month, a report of Food Program noted that India was the fourth hungry country of the world. Malnutrition concerns a total of 230 million people.
My point of view
I think that malnutrition is a very important issue. It’s important to see that developing countries are suffering from malnutrition while it has been eradicated for a long time in Europe.
Eva
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/13/world/asia/13malnutrition.html
Samedi 29 mars
La sous-nutrition fait toujours autant de victimes
Touchant 42,5% des enfants indiens, la malnutrition est «une honte nationale» selon le premier ministre Manmohan Singh. En effet, le taux de malnutrition est, en Inde, plus élevé que dans certains pays africains. La sous-alimentation rend les enfants plus fragiles face aux maladies et retarde le développement physique et intellectuel. Même dans la capitale, qui a le revenu par habitant le plus haut du pays, 42% des enfants de moins de 5 ans sont rachitiques ou trop petits pour leur âge tandis que 26% sont en sous-poids.
Le Prix Nobel d’Economie Amartya Sen fait cependant remarquer que le gouvernement ne prend pas assez au sérieux ce problème. Pourtant, l'Inde a lancé un grand programme d'alimentation, d’une valeur de 1,3 dollars afin de combattre ce fléau.
Le Ministère de Femmes et le Développement de l'enfant a reconnu que le programme avait porté ses fruits dans les 30 dernières années mais qu’il n’était plus adapté. Le rapport a recommandé de fortifier l'alimentation avec des micro substances nutritives et d’instruire les parents sur la façon de mieux alimenter leurs bébés.
Un rapport de Programme Alimentaire Mondial le mois dernier a noté que l'Inde est le 4ème pays du monde où la sous-nutrition est la plus importante : 230 millions de personnes en tout souffrent de ce fléau.
Je pense que la sous-nutrition est un phénomène qui mérite qu’on s’y intéresse. Il est important de voir que les pays à forte croissance comme l’Inde souffrent actuellement de problèmes éradiqués depuis longtemps en Europe.
Eva
mardi 10 février 2009
Muslims protest against persecutions
Thursday 29 January
Muslims protest against persecutions
Indian Muslims demonstrated in Delhi against the presumed harassment of the Muslims by police forces. A special train brought them in Delhi Thursday morning.
The train came from Azamgarh in the state of Uttar Pradesh. A lot of passengers got on board it during the journey to Delhi. The protesters arrived in Delhi brandishing banners which said "Let the truth prevail, bring the innocents out of jail" and "Give us security, not tears and blood".
Maulana Amir Rashadi, one of the organizers of the demonstration, claims that young Muslims are too often accused of being terrorists. In November, Human Rights Watch declared that the police of the state of South Andhra Pradesh should be prosecuted. It was suspected to have tortured Muslims detained after bomb blasts last year. The Watch warned the police of the risks of stigmatising and alienating "a whole community". The government of the state had admitted that 21 people had been tortured and it paid to each of these victims 600 dollars in compensation.
Joanna Jolly from BBC, in Delhi, reports that more than 2000 persons had gathered.
Amik Jamai, a film-maker who participated in the demonstration, said that “the Muslims here are proud to be patriotic, they have promoted the concept of peace here, they live in harmony” "We are hoping for justice. We are hoping for transparency."
The ultimate objective of the organizers is a meeting with the interior minister.
My point of view
I think that the conflicts between religions are inevitable. However, in this case, it is a conflict between the government and a religious community. I find that the Indian government is not very tolerant. It is however necessary to remind that the Muslims are pointed out like terrorists in a lot of countries. And that India is no exception.
Eva
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7857468.stm
Muslims protest against persecutions
Indian Muslims demonstrated in Delhi against the presumed harassment of the Muslims by police forces. A special train brought them in Delhi Thursday morning.
The train came from Azamgarh in the state of Uttar Pradesh. A lot of passengers got on board it during the journey to Delhi. The protesters arrived in Delhi brandishing banners which said "Let the truth prevail, bring the innocents out of jail" and "Give us security, not tears and blood".
Maulana Amir Rashadi, one of the organizers of the demonstration, claims that young Muslims are too often accused of being terrorists. In November, Human Rights Watch declared that the police of the state of South Andhra Pradesh should be prosecuted. It was suspected to have tortured Muslims detained after bomb blasts last year. The Watch warned the police of the risks of stigmatising and alienating "a whole community". The government of the state had admitted that 21 people had been tortured and it paid to each of these victims 600 dollars in compensation.
Joanna Jolly from BBC, in Delhi, reports that more than 2000 persons had gathered.
Amik Jamai, a film-maker who participated in the demonstration, said that “the Muslims here are proud to be patriotic, they have promoted the concept of peace here, they live in harmony” "We are hoping for justice. We are hoping for transparency."
The ultimate objective of the organizers is a meeting with the interior minister.
My point of view
I think that the conflicts between religions are inevitable. However, in this case, it is a conflict between the government and a religious community. I find that the Indian government is not very tolerant. It is however necessary to remind that the Muslims are pointed out like terrorists in a lot of countries. And that India is no exception.
Eva
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7857468.stm
Jeudi 29 Janvier
Les Musulmans persécutés
Des Indiens de confession musulmane ont manifesté à Delhi contre le harcèlement présumé des Musulmans par les forces de l’ordre. Un train spécial les a amenés à Delhi jeudi matin.
Le train était parti de Azamgarh dans l’état de l’Uttar Pradesh et de nombreux passagers sont montés durant le trajet jusqu’à Delhi. Les protestataires sont arrivés à Delhi en brandissant des bannières qui disaient «Laissez prévaloir la vérité, sortez les innocents de prison » et « donnez-nous la sécurité et non les larmes et le sang »
Maulana Amir Rashadi, l’un des organisateurs de la manifestation, prétend que les jeunes Musulmans sont trop souvent accusés d’être des terroristes. En novembre, l'Observatoire des droits de l'homme a déclaré que la police de l'état d'Andhra Pradesh du sud devait être poursuivie. Elle était suspectée d’avoir torturé des musulmans placés en détention après des attentats à la bombe l’année dernière. L’Observatoire a averti les policiers des risques de stigmatiser et d’aliéner "une communauté entière". Le gouvernement de l’Etat a admis que 21 hommes avaient été torturés et a versé à chacune de ces victimes 600 dollars de dédommagement.
Joanna Jolly de la BBC, à Delhi, rapporte que plus de 2000 personnes s’étaient rassemblées.
Amik Jamai, un cinéaste qui a participé à la manifestation, a déclaré à la BBC que « Les Musulmans d’ici sont fiers d’être patriotes, ils ont accepté le concept de paix ici, et tous vivent en harmonie » « Nous espérons la justice. Nous espérons la transparence »
L’objectif ultime des organisateurs est une entrevue avec le ministre de l’Intérieur.
Mon point de vue
Je pense que les conflits de religions sont inévitables. Cependant, dans cette situation c’est un conflit entre le gouvernement et une communauté religieuse. Je trouve que le gouvernement indien ne fait pas preuve d’une grande tolérance. Mais il est pourtant nécessaire de se rappeler que les Musulmans sont pointés du doigt dans un grand nombre de pays et que l’Inde n’est donc malheureusement pas une exception.
Eva
lundi 2 février 2009
Mumbai Meri Jaan
Saturday 19 JanuaryMUMBAI MERI JAAN - [Mumbai My Love]
Mumbai is the most cosmopolitan city I have ever seen. A lot of people told me that the city is not the accurate reflection of India, but I think they are absolutely wrong. Actually, Bombay is rich with ethnic diversity, various ways of life are mixed there, you can find billionaires aside with the poorest persons in that extraordinary place, from the fanatics to the moderns...The city has a multilingual populace, the Mumbaikars can speak English, Marathi, Hindi at the same time. People of all religions and ethnicity, from various parts of the country are migrating, because Mumbai makes dreams come true, it is the land of the pursuit of happiness.
For ages the city has been the economic powerhouse and heart that supplies the Indian economy with investment and riches. Mumbai is well-known for its damaging pollution, its fast paced lifestyle, its claustrophobic atmosphere, its crazy traffic, and yet the city has always managed to charm people and they eventually fall in love with it.
From 19th to 28th December, I was in India, mostly in Mumbai. I visited there Haj-Ali, a Muslim holy place of pilgrimage for both Hindus and Muslims. It’s also the mausoleum of a Muslim merchant and saint named Haji Ali who renounced all his worldly possessions before making a pilgrimage to Mecca. Legend has it that Haj Ali died on his way to Mecca and his body, floated back to Bombay.
I saw another famous mausoleum, the Taj Mahal in Agra on my 6th day in India. It was fabulous, the place is really wonderful, but Agra is a very poor city. The Taj Mahal was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The 7th day, I was in Delhi, the capital. I visited the Lotus temple of the Bahai faith, a Persian religion, the Indian gate and the Qutab Complex, site of ruins. I went to Coloba, a touristic district of Mumbai, well-known for the 26/11 attacks. I saw the Taj Mahal hotel, The Oberoi Trident and ate at Leopold cafe where the traces of bullets were still clear on the wall!
I went to an Indian wedding which shows how the Mumbaikars are tolerant and open-minded; the girl is Muslim, the boy Hindu and the two families were glad for this union.
In India, you can find, Hindus in Muslim places, everyone celebrates the other religion’s holidays. Indian people are peaceful, funny and nice, they are also so curious, that’s why they ask a lot of questions even if they don‘t know you. « Where are you from? », « Which languages are you talking? »…Most of the time, I could be understood but I had to practise my Hindi with the taxi driver, the policemen and merchants. I was using words like « Kitne? » which means « How much? » etc. In Mumbai, if you have money, you do nothing! There would be someone for opening the door, someone for serving you at the shop or the restaurant, someone in the lift etc, that’s why you feel like a Maharajah. I have seen a lot of poor children who beg but fewer than I had imagined because you feel the boom of the middle class.
It’s not recommended to give money to those kids because most of them are used by the Indian mafia. I have lived two strange experiences.
The first was in Hadj Ali, there were too many beggars, most of them disabled, it was so sad.
The second was on the train from Delhi to Agra, it was the third class so it was very dirty and disgusting. I will always remember Mumbai and this fabulous journey to a city where I was welcomed with a smile.
Inès
Mumbai is the most cosmopolitan city I have ever seen. A lot of people told me that the city is not the accurate reflection of India, but I think they are absolutely wrong. Actually, Bombay is rich with ethnic diversity, various ways of life are mixed there, you can find billionaires aside with the poorest persons in that extraordinary place, from the fanatics to the moderns...The city has a multilingual populace, the Mumbaikars can speak English, Marathi, Hindi at the same time. People of all religions and ethnicity, from various parts of the country are migrating, because Mumbai makes dreams come true, it is the land of the pursuit of happiness.
For ages the city has been the economic powerhouse and heart that supplies the Indian economy with investment and riches. Mumbai is well-known for its damaging pollution, its fast paced lifestyle, its claustrophobic atmosphere, its crazy traffic, and yet the city has always managed to charm people and they eventually fall in love with it.
From 19th to 28th December, I was in India, mostly in Mumbai. I visited there Haj-Ali, a Muslim holy place of pilgrimage for both Hindus and Muslims. It’s also the mausoleum of a Muslim merchant and saint named Haji Ali who renounced all his worldly possessions before making a pilgrimage to Mecca. Legend has it that Haj Ali died on his way to Mecca and his body, floated back to Bombay.
I saw another famous mausoleum, the Taj Mahal in Agra on my 6th day in India. It was fabulous, the place is really wonderful, but Agra is a very poor city. The Taj Mahal was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The 7th day, I was in Delhi, the capital. I visited the Lotus temple of the Bahai faith, a Persian religion, the Indian gate and the Qutab Complex, site of ruins. I went to Coloba, a touristic district of Mumbai, well-known for the 26/11 attacks. I saw the Taj Mahal hotel, The Oberoi Trident and ate at Leopold cafe where the traces of bullets were still clear on the wall!
I went to an Indian wedding which shows how the Mumbaikars are tolerant and open-minded; the girl is Muslim, the boy Hindu and the two families were glad for this union.
In India, you can find, Hindus in Muslim places, everyone celebrates the other religion’s holidays. Indian people are peaceful, funny and nice, they are also so curious, that’s why they ask a lot of questions even if they don‘t know you. « Where are you from? », « Which languages are you talking? »…Most of the time, I could be understood but I had to practise my Hindi with the taxi driver, the policemen and merchants. I was using words like « Kitne? » which means « How much? » etc. In Mumbai, if you have money, you do nothing! There would be someone for opening the door, someone for serving you at the shop or the restaurant, someone in the lift etc, that’s why you feel like a Maharajah. I have seen a lot of poor children who beg but fewer than I had imagined because you feel the boom of the middle class.
It’s not recommended to give money to those kids because most of them are used by the Indian mafia. I have lived two strange experiences.
The first was in Hadj Ali, there were too many beggars, most of them disabled, it was so sad.
The second was on the train from Delhi to Agra, it was the third class so it was very dirty and disgusting. I will always remember Mumbai and this fabulous journey to a city where I was welcomed with a smile.
Inès
Samedi 19 Janvier
MUMBAI MERI JAAN - [Mumbai Mon Amour]
Mumbai est certainement la ville la plus cosmopolite au monde. Beaucoup de gens me disent que cette ville ne peut représenter l‘Inde, mais je pense qu‘ils ont totalement tort. Mumbai est si extraordinaire par sa richesse culturelle et sa diversité. On peut voir des milliardaires côtoyer les plus pauvres, des fanatiques, des modernes.
Les Mumbaikars sont polyglottes, ils peuvent parler anglais, hindi et marathi, la langue officielle de l’état de Bombay. Des gens de différentes religions et ethnies viennent à Mumbai, à la recherche de richesse et de bonheur car la ville est bien connue, elle rend possible les rêves de chacun. La capitale économique indienne est le cœur de la richesse du pays en terme d‘investissements. La ville est réputée pour sa forte pollution, son mode de vie rapide, une ambiance stressante et angoissante, ainsi que son trafic dément. Et pourtant la mégalopole semble charmer ses visiteurs, qui tombent bien évidement amoureux d’elle.
Du 19 au 28 décembre, j‘étais en Inde, la plupart du temps à Bombay où j‘ai visité Haj-Ali, une mosquée et lieu saint où Hindous et Musulmans viennent en pèlerinage. C‘est aussi le mausolée d’un saint marchant musulman du nom de Haj Ali qui a renoncé à toutes ces richesses avant d‘effectuer un pèlerinage à la Mecque. La légende raconte que Haj Ali est décédé en chemin et que son corps a flotté jusqu’à Bombay.
J’ai vu un autre mausolée très connu, le Taj Mahal durant mon 6ème jour en Inde. C’était merveilleux, l’endroit était si beau mais la ville d’Agra est vraiment pauvre. Le Taj Mahal a été construit par l’Empereur moghol Shah Jahan en mémoire de son épouse favorite, Mumtaz Mahal. Le 7ème jour, j‘étais à Delhi, la capitale de la république indienne. J’y ai visité le temple du Lotus de la religion bahai venue d’Iran, la porte de l’Inde, et le Qutab, un site de ruines musulmanes. Je suis allée à Colaba, un quartier touristique de Bombay, où ont eu lieu les attentats du 26/11. J’ai ainsi eu l’occasion de voir le Taj Mahal hotel, l’Oberoi Trident et pu manger au Café Leopold tout près des impacts de balles dans le mur.
Je suis allée à un mariage indien où j’ai pu remarquer à quel point les Mumbaikars sont tolérants et ouvert d’esprit; la mariée était musulmane, le marié hindou et les familles heureuses de cette union. En Inde, on peut trouver des Hindous dans des endroits musulmans et inversement, chacun célèbre les fêtes religieuses de l’autre. Les Indiens sont des gens pacifiques, amusants et très sympathiques. Ils sont aussi très curieux, c’est pourquoi, beaucoup vous posent des questions même s’ils ne vous connaissent pas. « D’où viens-tu? », « Quelles langues parles-tu? »… La plupart du temps, j‘ai pu me faire comprendre en utilisant mon hindi avec les chauffeurs de taxi, les policiers et les marchands. J‘utilisais des expressions comme « Kitne? » qui veut dire « Combien ça coûte? » etc.
A Bombay, si on a de l’argent, on ne fait plus rien. En effet, il y a quelqu’un pour vous ouvrir la porte, quelqu’un pour vous servir au restaurant et au magasin, quelqu’un dans l’ascenseur etc. C’est pourquoi on a l’impression d’être traité comme un Maharadjah. J’ai rencontré beaucoup d’enfants pauvres qui mendient, moins que ce que j'imaginais. En effet, on sent vraiment le boom de la classe moyenne. Il est déconseillé de leur donner de l’argent car la plupart de ces enfants sont utilisés par la mafia. J’ai vécu deux expériences étranges. La première fut à Haj-Ali, il y avait beaucoup trop de mendiants handicapés, triste spectacle. La deuxième fut dans le train qui relie Delhi-Agra, nous voyagions en 3ème classe et c’était particulièrement dégoutant.
Je me souviendrais cependant, de ce beau voyage où j’ai été accueilli avec le sourire.
Inès
More blooshed in Kashmir
Saturday 13 December
More bloodshed in Kashmir
A poll is taking place at present in India to elect the Assembly. The vote will unfold in 7 stages and last 5 weeks to end on December 24 while vote count will be held on December 28.
Hundreds of people took to the street in Kashmir because the fifth phase of the election took place in Pulwama. In this disputed region, the poll is being seen as a test for the Indian government. The protesters have been marching, chanting slogans against Indian authority. The police intervened. According to a witness, the policemen didn’t seem to want to shoot at the demonstrators but a man was killed and two casualties both hit by bullets were brought to a hospital of Srinagar.
These last months Kashmir has been the scene of several pro-independent demonstrations, conflicts or riots against police forces, leaving several dead. Separatist leaders have been detained to try to prevent the organization of new protests. They however called up for a boycott of the vote and required a plebiscite to decide on the future of the State.
Polling stations were nevertheless able to work in spite of the boycott. The vote was relatively quiet with an average turnout during the first hours.
Eva
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7781064.stm#map
More bloodshed in Kashmir
A poll is taking place at present in India to elect the Assembly. The vote will unfold in 7 stages and last 5 weeks to end on December 24 while vote count will be held on December 28.
Hundreds of people took to the street in Kashmir because the fifth phase of the election took place in Pulwama. In this disputed region, the poll is being seen as a test for the Indian government. The protesters have been marching, chanting slogans against Indian authority. The police intervened. According to a witness, the policemen didn’t seem to want to shoot at the demonstrators but a man was killed and two casualties both hit by bullets were brought to a hospital of Srinagar.
These last months Kashmir has been the scene of several pro-independent demonstrations, conflicts or riots against police forces, leaving several dead. Separatist leaders have been detained to try to prevent the organization of new protests. They however called up for a boycott of the vote and required a plebiscite to decide on the future of the State.
Polling stations were nevertheless able to work in spite of the boycott. The vote was relatively quiet with an average turnout during the first hours.
Eva
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7781064.stm#map
Samedi 13 Décembre
Du sang sur le Cachemire
Un scrutin se déroule actuellement en Inde pour élire l’Assemblée. Le vote se déroule en 7 phases et dure 5 semaines. Il se terminera le 24 décembre et le décompte des voix aura lieu le 28 décembre.
Dans la région du Cachemire administrée par l’Inde, les gens sont descendus par centaines dans les rues de Pulwama, où se tenait la cinquième phase du vote. Là-bas, le scrutin est perçu comme un test pour le gouvernement indien. Les protestataires ont défilé en martelant des slogans contre l’autorité indienne. La police est intervenue. Selon un témoin, les policiers semblaient ne pas vouloir tirer sur les manifestants, pourtant un homme a été tué et deux blessés par balle ont été amenés dans un hôpital de Srinagar. Le Cachemire a été témoin, ces derniers mois, de plusieurs manifestations indépendantistes et d’affrontements avec les forces de police, laissant plusieurs morts. Des leaders séparatistes sont retenus pour tenter d’empêcher l’organisation de nouvelles protestations. Ils ont cependant appelé à un boycott du vote et ont exigé un plébiscite pour décider de l’avenir de l’état.
Les bureaux de vote ont néanmoins pu fonctionner correctement malgré le boycott. Le vote a été relativement calme avec un taux de participation plutôt modéré au cours des premières heures.
Eva
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7781064.stm#map
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