Hello friends! We are 7+ months into our travels of discovering deaf worlds and realize we are well overdue for an update. We are currently in Kolkata, India and originally planned to travel throughout this country for the next 6 weeks. However, there is currently a major protest happening in Northern India that may escalate with more potential violence. In the last nine days, over 15,000 protestors, many Gujjar tribe, have gathered to block railways in and out of Delhi and Jaipur. They are pressuring the government to reclassify them as members of the lowest caste so they can benefit from government quotas. Clashes with the 45,000+ police have already occurred and at least 43 people have been killed.
We planned to visit both Jaipur and Delhi within the next couple weeks but have decided to change our plans. Between the current political issues, and the nearly unbearable pre-monsoon heat, we instead will visit Nepal. After the dust settles, we plan to return to India in August and pick up where we left off.
In the meantime, we are spending much of our time in Kolkata at the Shuktara house, a residential care for boys and girls with disabilities who have no families. We are stunned by the stories of each of these children and have fallen in love with the family they have created amongst each other.
We will continue to post blogs when internet access is convenient. But a more reliable way to hear from us for the remainder of our trip is through our monthly newsletter that you can sign up for at: www.discoveringdeafworlds.com
For more news on the protest, visit http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2008/05/30/2_lower_caste_protesters_killed_in_india/
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Travel safely!
Oh, Dear. Perfect timing.
Nepal abolishes its monarchy.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/05/28/nepal/index.html?eref=rss_world
Nepal's newly elected leadership changed the country from a monarchy to a republic just before midnight Wednesday, a historic move that ended about 240 years of autocratic rule in the country.
Members of Nepal's newly elected assembly attend the swearing-in ceremony in Kathmandu Tuesday.
After approving the move by an overwhelming vote, the body said it would send a letter to 60-year-old King Gyanendra and his family, informing them that they have 15 days to vacate the royal palace.
Of the 564 members of the assembly present for the vote, only four voted to keep the monarchy.
The group met all day in a convention center to reach the agreement and even continued to work after the facility was bombed.
Two apparent bombs damaged the building about 8:20 p.m. local time, said a CNN journalist covering the meetings.
There were no reports of injuries, and the group was back working within 10 minutes of the blasts.
Even though the meeting went late into the evening, a small procession of people could be seen celebrating outside the convention center when the news of political transition was announced.
There was no immediate reaction from the palace, which has rarely commented on political developments in Nepal since King Gyanendra was forced to end his royal dictatorship and restore democracy after widespread protests two years ago.
The country's former rebels, the Maoists, then ended their 10-year communist insurgency and in April won the most seats in the assembly, setting the stage for the end of Nepal's monarchy.
The king was stripped of all his powers two years ago after he gave up direct rule following widespread popular protests.
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has been carrying out head-of-state responsibilities, like receiving foreign dignitaries and participating in official cultural events.
Nepal's ruling coalition decided Tuesday to create the post of president, who will serve as the head of state, but it's expected to take about a week to fill the post.
Post a Comment