Three Generations of Mewati Gharana concert media conference 20120319 
South Asian Outlook
VIEWPOINT: What’s Inside Muslim Minds?
By Ishtiaq Ahmed*
Multiple meanings and interpretations of Islam are possible. The two main interpretative approaches are those of the apologists who strive to reconcile Islam with modernity and the Islamists who fiercely oppose it.
John Locke famously postulated that the human mind is a tabula rasa - a clean slate - with nothing written on it. Whatever is fed to the human mind becomes its frame of reference and a source of values and beliefs. Hence what is in the mind is what has gone into it. Distinguished Pakistani sociologist Professor Emeritus Riaz Hassan has undertaken one of the most extensive studies of the religious consciousness of Muslims: Inside the Muslim Minds (Melbourne University Press, 2008).
5 Indian Americans Honored as 2012 Outstanding Achievers
Global Organization of People of Indian Origin Connecticut Chapter (GOPIO-CT) celebrated its sixth anniversary at the Italian Center of Stamford, on April 28. Five Indian Americans were honored by the organization for their achievements and contributions at an Awards Banquet.
LETTER FROM U.S.A.
Guantanamo Bay Justice on Trial
By Matthew C. Waxman 
Adjunct Senior Fellow for Law and Foreign Policy
The Pentagon has authorized a military commission trial at Guantanamo for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four others accused of orchestrating the September 11 attacks. The charges include murder in violation of the law of war, attacking civilians and civilian objects, hijacking aircraft, and terrorism. If convicted, the five suspects could face the death penalty.
LETTER FROM U.K.
OPEC Split May Threaten Oil Market Management
By Richard Johnson 
Although there have been no serious threats to global supplies since the Arab uprisings started more than one year ago, a new study predicts that oil prices will remain volatile as political developments combine with global economic gloom, and surviving regimes spend to pacify populations.
The report titled 'The Arab Uprisings and the International Oil Markets' has been authored by Professor Paul Stevens who is Senior Research Fellow, Energy, Environment and Development Programme at the Chatham House, a prestigious UK think-tank.
LETTER FROM GERMANY
Voluminous Online Archive on Mahatma Gandhi
By Peter Ruhe
A Germany based organization has launched a comprehensive online archive on peace icon Mahatma Gandhi after 30 years of research with material gathered from over 600 worldwide sources.
Peter Ruhe, CEO of about 14-years old Berlin headquartered GandhiServe, which made this GandhiMedia possible, lists its aim as virtually “bringing Mahatma Gandhi to life”. It is aimed at viewing/downloading rare photographs, films, film footage, letters, cartoons, newspaper clippings, documents and art work on Gandhi and India’s independence movement; gathered with research and contributions from scholars and Gandhi’s associates and family members.
LETTER FROM EUROPE
Concern Over Historic Drop in Development Aid
By R. Nastranis
Imagine a physician telling you to get a haircut to reduce your weight. This sort of a spurious argument has been apparently used by some of the major givers of official development assistance (ODA) which fell by nearly 3 percent in 2011 for the first time in 14 years.
HUMAN RIGHTS: Nobody Bothers If a Tibetan Burns Himself
By R. S. Kalha*
When most people in India saw Jamphel Yeshi, a young 27-year old Tibetan, setting himself on fire – on March 26, 2012 – to protest the arrival in India of the Chinese leader Hu Jintao, they could not but have pondered over the sad fate that has befallen a forgotten people.
WELL-BEING Better Health Increases Age
By Prof. (Dr) Surya Kant
In India, population more than 60 years of age in 2001 was 6.9% which is now increased to 8.3% (2011) and is estimated to be 17% (30 crores) by 2050. If today’s young India is not made healthy then in future these would suffer from large number of diseases in their older age. It’s true that neonatal and child mortality rate is decreasing and life expectancy is increasing and therefore the population of elderly is also on rise.
FOCUS: Battle of Words About Sinhala-Tamil Conflict
By Global Editors - IDN
The article headlined which was published in IDN on April 9, 2012, has aroused sharp reactions among representatives of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) overseas.
FOCUS: Sri Lanka and Human Rights Campaigners
By Kalinga Seneviratne
In May 2009 when the Sri Lankan army decisively defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the battlefields of Wanni in northern Sri Lanka, the entire population of the island felt a great sign of relief. There was a strong feeling of reconciliation among all sectors of the society after 30 years of a bloody civil war. Simply the people had had enough and they wanted peace.
