Foreign Students Now Come Under Scanner

By M H Ahssan

Foreign students — enrolled in different institutions in India — are under the police scanner. Their visa details are being scrutinised to find out whether some of them might have overstayed, posing a security risk.

The move has been initiated by the Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs) through respective state/UT police forces across the country in the wake of the Centre’s direction to weed out overstaying foreign nationals through detailed checks post-Mumbai terror attacks.

“Although it is an ongoing exercise in the case of all foreigners who visit India on valid documents, the idea is to sensitise educational institutions of the problem of overstaying students and its security implications for India,” said a senior home ministry official.

Latest statistics compiled by the home ministry show that there were a total of 28,842 foreign students in the country till December 31, 2007. Delhi has the highest number of such students (7,424). Four other states — Maharashtra (5,551), Tamil Nadu (4,956), Andhra Pradesh (2,289) and West Bengal (1,697) — too have significant numbers.

The country-wise figures of foreign students show that the highest number of students in the country are from USA followed by Sri Lanka, Hungary, Bangladesh, Sudan, Thailand, UK, Kenya, Afghanistan and Malaysia. Incidentally, no Pakistani student was enrolled in the country as on December 31, 2007.

Though the ministry has not come out with any specific figure of overstaying foreign students, the enormity of the problem can be understood by the huge numbers of missing Bangladeshi and Pakistani nationals who have just disappeared while visiting India on short-term visa.

The figure shows that over 62,000 Bangladeshi nationals disappeared after expiry of their visa during 2005-07. The number of missing Bangladeshis (62,547) is, in fact, much higher than the number of Pakistanis (22,097) who had come to India using proper visas and subsequently vanished.

The other foreign nationals who went missing after arrival in 2005, include 11,845 Afghanistanis, 53 Chinese, 208 Japanese, 176 Australians, 1,142 from USA and 411 from UK.

An official explained that all those who might have overstayed or disappeared may not be a security threat, but the enforcement agencies cannot take the risk of ignoring them.

Foreign Students Now Come Under Scanner

By M H Ahssan

Foreign students — enrolled in different institutions in India — are under the police scanner. Their visa details are being scrutinised to find out whether some of them might have overstayed, posing a security risk.

The move has been initiated by the Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs) through respective state/UT police forces across the country in the wake of the Centre’s direction to weed out overstaying foreign nationals through detailed checks post-Mumbai terror attacks.

“Although it is an ongoing exercise in the case of all foreigners who visit India on valid documents, the idea is to sensitise educational institutions of the problem of overstaying students and its security implications for India,” said a senior home ministry official.

Latest statistics compiled by the home ministry show that there were a total of 28,842 foreign students in the country till December 31, 2007. Delhi has the highest number of such students (7,424). Four other states — Maharashtra (5,551), Tamil Nadu (4,956), Andhra Pradesh (2,289) and West Bengal (1,697) — too have significant numbers.

The country-wise figures of foreign students show that the highest number of students in the country are from USA followed by Sri Lanka, Hungary, Bangladesh, Sudan, Thailand, UK, Kenya, Afghanistan and Malaysia. Incidentally, no Pakistani student was enrolled in the country as on December 31, 2007.

Though the ministry has not come out with any specific figure of overstaying foreign students, the enormity of the problem can be understood by the huge numbers of missing Bangladeshi and Pakistani nationals who have just disappeared while visiting India on short-term visa.

The figure shows that over 62,000 Bangladeshi nationals disappeared after expiry of their visa during 2005-07. The number of missing Bangladeshis (62,547) is, in fact, much higher than the number of Pakistanis (22,097) who had come to India using proper visas and subsequently vanished.

The other foreign nationals who went missing after arrival in 2005, include 11,845 Afghanistanis, 53 Chinese, 208 Japanese, 176 Australians, 1,142 from USA and 411 from UK.

An official explained that all those who might have overstayed or disappeared may not be a security threat, but the enforcement agencies cannot take the risk of ignoring them.

Foreign Students Now Come Under Scanner

By M H Ahssan

Foreign students — enrolled in different institutions in India — are under the police scanner. Their visa details are being scrutinised to find out whether some of them might have overstayed, posing a security risk.

The move has been initiated by the Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs) through respective state/UT police forces across the country in the wake of the Centre’s direction to weed out overstaying foreign nationals through detailed checks post-Mumbai terror attacks.

“Although it is an ongoing exercise in the case of all foreigners who visit India on valid documents, the idea is to sensitise educational institutions of the problem of overstaying students and its security implications for India,” said a senior home ministry official.

Latest statistics compiled by the home ministry show that there were a total of 28,842 foreign students in the country till December 31, 2007. Delhi has the highest number of such students (7,424). Four other states — Maharashtra (5,551), Tamil Nadu (4,956), Andhra Pradesh (2,289) and West Bengal (1,697) — too have significant numbers.

The country-wise figures of foreign students show that the highest number of students in the country are from USA followed by Sri Lanka, Hungary, Bangladesh, Sudan, Thailand, UK, Kenya, Afghanistan and Malaysia. Incidentally, no Pakistani student was enrolled in the country as on December 31, 2007.

Though the ministry has not come out with any specific figure of overstaying foreign students, the enormity of the problem can be understood by the huge numbers of missing Bangladeshi and Pakistani nationals who have just disappeared while visiting India on short-term visa.

The figure shows that over 62,000 Bangladeshi nationals disappeared after expiry of their visa during 2005-07. The number of missing Bangladeshis (62,547) is, in fact, much higher than the number of Pakistanis (22,097) who had come to India using proper visas and subsequently vanished.

The other foreign nationals who went missing after arrival in 2005, include 11,845 Afghanistanis, 53 Chinese, 208 Japanese, 176 Australians, 1,142 from USA and 411 from UK.

An official explained that all those who might have overstayed or disappeared may not be a security threat, but the enforcement agencies cannot take the risk of ignoring them.

Foreign Students Now Come Under Scanner

By M H Ahssan

Foreign students — enrolled in different institutions in India — are under the police scanner. Their visa details are being scrutinised to find out whether some of them might have overstayed, posing a security risk.

The move has been initiated by the Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs) through respective state/UT police forces across the country in the wake of the Centre’s direction to weed out overstaying foreign nationals through detailed checks post-Mumbai terror attacks.

“Although it is an ongoing exercise in the case of all foreigners who visit India on valid documents, the idea is to sensitise educational institutions of the problem of overstaying students and its security implications for India,” said a senior home ministry official.

Latest statistics compiled by the home ministry show that there were a total of 28,842 foreign students in the country till December 31, 2007. Delhi has the highest number of such students (7,424). Four other states — Maharashtra (5,551), Tamil Nadu (4,956), Andhra Pradesh (2,289) and West Bengal (1,697) — too have significant numbers.

The country-wise figures of foreign students show that the highest number of students in the country are from USA followed by Sri Lanka, Hungary, Bangladesh, Sudan, Thailand, UK, Kenya, Afghanistan and Malaysia. Incidentally, no Pakistani student was enrolled in the country as on December 31, 2007.

Though the ministry has not come out with any specific figure of overstaying foreign students, the enormity of the problem can be understood by the huge numbers of missing Bangladeshi and Pakistani nationals who have just disappeared while visiting India on short-term visa.

The figure shows that over 62,000 Bangladeshi nationals disappeared after expiry of their visa during 2005-07. The number of missing Bangladeshis (62,547) is, in fact, much higher than the number of Pakistanis (22,097) who had come to India using proper visas and subsequently vanished.

The other foreign nationals who went missing after arrival in 2005, include 11,845 Afghanistanis, 53 Chinese, 208 Japanese, 176 Australians, 1,142 from USA and 411 from UK.

An official explained that all those who might have overstayed or disappeared may not be a security threat, but the enforcement agencies cannot take the risk of ignoring them.

CPI Gunning for Vijayawada LS Seat

By M H Ahssan

In a move that could surprise even its main rival Congress, the CPI is reportedly lobbying for the Vijayawada Lok Sabha seat with its new ally Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

The CPI, which has a strong base in the city, is not willing to leave the opportunity this time round as a win in the heart of the Coastal Andhra region would help the party restore past glory, aver sources. Sources said the CPI’s move is likely to relieve many of the TDP leaders in the constituency as none of them is ready to contest the LS elections due to infighting within the party. “The TDP would be more than happy to allocate the Vijayawada LS seat if the CPI is really serious about it,” confirmed a senior TDP leader. TDP’s candidate in the last elections, film producer C Aswani Dutt, who was never seen in the constituency after his defeat in the 2004 elections, is unlikely to return, a source said.

Political observers said the CPI’s confidence stems from the fact that it had held the city mayoral post thrice in the past. Also, the party has been coming up trumps in the Vijayawada (West) Assembly segment. “It is but natural that the CPI would like to have its own candidate from the key seat in the 2009 elections,” an observer said.

Curiously, TDP urban unit convenor Gadde Rammohan, who was once considered as giant killer after defeating the ex-Congress’ stalwart P Upendra, had openly expressed his unwillingness to contest the LS election. “The urban
unit is no one’s child as the leaders are engaged in quarrelling among themselves. Party chief Chandrababu Naidu’s repeated warnings have failed to put the house in order,” admitted a senior leader.

Even before the trouble between party’s west incharge Budha Venkanna and another leader Katragadda Babu subsided, the SC leaders have revolted against the urban party leadership demanding a sizeable share in the tickets. When two groups in Gannavaram started warring with each other, Rammohan left it to the high command to solve the issue.

The party has also failed to stop the only minority leader Jaleel Khan, who has a sizeable following in the district, when he left the party to join the Congress.

CPI Gunning for Vijayawada LS Seat

By M H Ahssan

In a move that could surprise even its main rival Congress, the CPI is reportedly lobbying for the Vijayawada Lok Sabha seat with its new ally Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

The CPI, which has a strong base in the city, is not willing to leave the opportunity this time round as a win in the heart of the Coastal Andhra region would help the party restore past glory, aver sources. Sources said the CPI’s move is likely to relieve many of the TDP leaders in the constituency as none of them is ready to contest the LS elections due to infighting within the party. “The TDP would be more than happy to allocate the Vijayawada LS seat if the CPI is really serious about it,” confirmed a senior TDP leader. TDP’s candidate in the last elections, film producer C Aswani Dutt, who was never seen in the constituency after his defeat in the 2004 elections, is unlikely to return, a source said.

Political observers said the CPI’s confidence stems from the fact that it had held the city mayoral post thrice in the past. Also, the party has been coming up trumps in the Vijayawada (West) Assembly segment. “It is but natural that the CPI would like to have its own candidate from the key seat in the 2009 elections,” an observer said.

Curiously, TDP urban unit convenor Gadde Rammohan, who was once considered as giant killer after defeating the ex-Congress’ stalwart P Upendra, had openly expressed his unwillingness to contest the LS election. “The urban
unit is no one’s child as the leaders are engaged in quarrelling among themselves. Party chief Chandrababu Naidu’s repeated warnings have failed to put the house in order,” admitted a senior leader.

Even before the trouble between party’s west incharge Budha Venkanna and another leader Katragadda Babu subsided, the SC leaders have revolted against the urban party leadership demanding a sizeable share in the tickets. When two groups in Gannavaram started warring with each other, Rammohan left it to the high command to solve the issue.

The party has also failed to stop the only minority leader Jaleel Khan, who has a sizeable following in the district, when he left the party to join the Congress.

Mushairas Reflect Conflict in Society

By M H Ahssan

“Koi dul dul sawar aya nahin kyun, tere bandon ne kii aisi khata kya?” (What mistake have your people made/that no angels came to save us). These lines by Ashraf Rafi, could well express the Hyderabadi ‘shaer’s state of mind now, though they were actually written on the Babri Masjid demolition. Moving ahead from love and peace, mushairas are responding to sociopolitical reality now more than ever before.

Shaera (poetess) Ashraf Rafi, a professor of Urdu literature recalls, “Shaers have always been sensitive to socio-political issues, right from the Ghadar or the first war of independence, the Partition, through the assassination of Indira Gandhi to the recent terror attacks on Mumbai.” Mushairas turned to politics as “shaeri took on the ‘inquilabi’ style to speak on politics, labour problems and social stigma,” says S A Shukoor, director of Centre for Educational Development of Minorities.

Clearly, terrorism is the latest area of concern as was evident during a recent mushaira, dominated by the 26/11 attacks. A poet laments, “raushnion ke shahar mein kaisa bair, din dahade yeh kaisa andher,” (what conflict in the city of lights, what dark gloom in broad daylight) in describing the Mumbai attacks. Another poet describes a child’s reaction: “pathake bhi kahin jo chhoote hain, saham jate hain bachche bum samajhkar.” (even when crackers burst somewhere, children withdraw, fearing it may be a bomb).

Expressions of grief and dismay give way to apprehensions and insecurity. A poet reflects on what the post-terror attack scenario may have in store for the minority community, “kal media pe ayega kuch is tarah bayan, ghar ke chirag ne hi jalaya hai ghar yahan.” (tomorrow there will be a media statement, that a spark or a child at home had burnt the house down). “Hyderabad is a heaven for mushaira lovers, shaers have always been received better here than elsewhere,” says poet Johar Kanpuri.

In fact, most mushairas here host over a dozen local shaers, including youngsters, alongside reputed poets from elsewhere. Many youngsters write on topics of contemporary interest, says a mushaera convener.

The appeal of modern shaeri lies in the simple language used to reflect an intense reaction, expressing either the consent or discontent of the common man.

That is probably why mushairas attract a generous mix of elite and mass audience and enjoy the backing of Urdu media houses and organisations like Zinda dilane Hyderabad, Adabi Trust, Gulshan-e-Adab, Shankarji Memorial Trust, etc.

Kanpuri observes that more shearas (women poets) are participating in mushairas now. However, experts say that few shaeras bring good quality poetry. “Some time ago, shaeras like Nayab Sultana, Azmat Abdul Khayyum Khan and Kurshid Nazir were widely appreciated.

Though the numbers of shaeras have gone up, they are used merely for commercial purpose, to attract audience. Otherwise some of them do not even know proper Urdu and are unworthy of attending mushairas,” says a poetess who prefers anonymity.

Women’s issues are also relegated to the back burner, mostly because they are not appreciated by audience, say observers.

Evidently shaers have to walk the tightrope as they balance their concern for community and social issues with their tradition of cultural synthesis. Kanpuri sums it up: “Zidau ne tarke talluk to kar liya lekin sukun use bhi nahin, bekarar main bhi hun/ aur zaban kahti hai sara kusur uska tha, zameer kahta hai kuch zimmedar main bhi hun.”(We argued and debated obstinately, but s/he is not at peace and I am restless too/ and words say that all the blame was anothers, conscience says I am responsible too.)

::: BIG APPLE ADVERTISEMENT :::