Page 8 - Pakistan Link - August 25, 2023

P8 - PAKISTAN LINK - AUGUST 25, 2023 OPINION
n By Professor Nazeer Ahmed Muslim Contributions to India’s Freedom forces was in favor of Europe. There
Concord, CA was widespread resentment in India

The First War of India’s Struggle - A Different Narrative - 2 and its former ruling classes of the
loss of power and increasing poverty
Independence (1857) thanks to the rapacity of the East India
Company. These tensions were inher-
he uprising of 1857 has been to consolidate its hold on India by force ent in the relationship between the col-
the subject of numerous books, as with the Anglo-Maratha wars (1803- onizer and the colonized as well as the
Tarticles, and analyses. What is 1818) in Central India and the Anglo- unbridled capitalism of the East India
astonishing about the uprising was Sikh wars (1845-49) in the Punjab. The Company. But what finally ignited the
not that it took place other method was the dispossession of spark of uprising was religion.
in 1857 but it took so Rajas, Nawabs and potentates under Increasing wealth tilted the balance
long for it to happen. the so-called Doctrine of Lapse under of power in Europe towards the Protes-
The British East India which a kingdom would be taken over tant North (England, Holland, Germa-
Company came to by the British if there was no male heir ny) and away from the Catholic South.
India to trade. Then, for the king. Examples of this were the There was a Protestant resurgence and
as the Mogul Empire kingdoms of Jhansi, Satara and Oudh. its impact was felt as far away as In-
disintegrated, they started to meddle As India and much of Asia contin- dia and China. What seemed to have
in Indian affairs. ued its political retrenchment in the ignited the spark of uprising in India
After winning a protracted strug- 19th century, colonialism enjoyed its appears to be the increasing aggressive-
gle with the French for supremacy in heyday. The technology gap between ness of Protestant ministers to preach
Southern India, the British had a clear Asia and Europe continued to in- their faith in India. In one of her proc-
field for their political aspirations. What is astonishing about the uprising was not that it took place in 1857 but it crease thanks to the industrial revolu- lamations, Begum Hazrat Mahal of
Their first win came with the historic took so long for it to happen - CulturalIndia.net tion and this increasing gap was used Oudh, one of the principal leaders of
Battle of Plassey in Bengal (1757). As by the Europeans to consolidate their the Uprising, describes her grievances
a military event, it was only a skirmish. only by the greed for profits from the famines and thousands perished in hold on Asia and Africa. The Dutch against the Company (quotation from
In its political impact, it was a pivotal Company stakeholders in London. The Bengal and Bihar. captured Indonesia and French estab- William Dalrymple, The Last Mughal,
event in world history, a hinge around well-known episode of how Governor There was resistance in Southern lished themselves in Indo China. Even Viking Penguin 2006):
which the destiny of Asia revolved, a General Warren Hastings starved the India from Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan mighty China was forced to bow down "To eat pigs and drink wine, to bite
milestone that changed the history of Begums of Oudh and compelled them but the British successfully navigated when a combined expeditionary force greased cartridges and to mix pig's fat
the world. to part with their jewelry is now an- the balance of power in their favor, en- consisting of British and French naval with sweetmeats, to destroy Hindu
The East India Company had a cient history. The peasants of Bengal ticing the Nizam and the Marathas to squadrons shot its way up to Beijing and Mussalman temples on pretense of
taste of real wealth in Bengal. Soon, went from prosperity to penury. Cheap side with them. Tipu fell in the Battle and forced the Chinese emperor to ca- making roads, to build churches, to send
they turned from trade to loot. The cotton cloth was imported from Eng- of Srirangapatam (1799) and the gold pitulate and permit the sale of opium clergymen into the streets to preach the
victory at the battle of Buxor (1764) land, and discriminatory taxes were from Tipu’s treasury as well as the prof- in his vast realm as well as opening up Christian religion, to institute English
brought them total financial control imposed to drive the weavers of Bengal itable spice trade from the Malabar Chinese hinterland to foreign influ- schools, and pay people a monthly sti-
of Bengal, Bihar and Eastern UP. This and eastern UP into poverty. Malad- coast fell into British hands. ence (1839-60). pend for learning the Eng lish
they exercised with a rapacity matched ministration brought about successive The East India Company continued The aggregate thrust of geopolitical (Continued on page 23)

n By Phil Pasquini Fukushima Radioactive Water Release is Set to Begin effects of such a release.
The premise is based on numerous
an Francisco: Much to the ag- historical findings made by scientists
gravation of concerned environ- Once that discharge begins and tri- and regulatory agencies who have pro-
Smental activists, the Japanese tium is introduced into the water it will nounced as “safe” various levels of chem-
government has approved the Tokyo be taken up by sea life in entering the icals and other materials in the environ-
Electric Power Com- food chain. Migratory fish in the coastal ment and for human exposure to them
pany (TEPCO) plan area of the plant will in turn transport it only to later discover their findings were
to begin releasing the across the ocean posing health problems inaccurate, false, or misleading. The once
“treated” radioactive including an increased risk of cancer ‘harmless” miracle insecticide DDT of
water into the Pacific for people who may ingest large quanti- the1940s was banned in 1972 while
Ocean that is stored at ties of the contaminated fish. One such ozone depleting chlorofluorocarbons
the Fukushima nuclear migratory species used in sashimi and (CFCs) were banned in 1972. These are
power plant beginning later this month. sushi is the ever-popular Bluefin Tuna shining examples among a long laundry
The water used to cool the radioac- (Thunnus orientalis). That species is al- list of chemicals and materials that were
tive fuel rods from the plant that was ready widely known to contain unsafe later banned or listed as dangerous and
damaged in the 9.0-magnitude Great levels of mercury and/or PCBs that are injurious to people and our planet.
East Japan Earthquake and subsequent harmful to humans. The wonderful modern world of
tsunami on March 11, 2011, is presently Findings from the Proceedings of the chemistry has time and again reversed
being held in 1,000 massive storage con- National Academy of Sciences journal course to list one of its miracles or another
tainers on site. Presently, the massive ment that the water is safe and clean – the water to bring the tritium to below article just five months after the Fuku- as harmful and dangerous or both, thus,
water storage tank farm is 96 percent not harmful – and that there is nothing regulatory standards.” Tritium is a rare shima plant disaster in 2012 revealed that the obvious skepticism by activists who
full and is running out of space to store wrong with dumping it into the Pacific radioactive isotope that was once used Bluefin Tuna caught near San Diego had play the “canary in the coal mine” role
an additional 100,000 liters of contami- Ocean. Even if they release the water, if to illuminate watch faces due to its abil- “Tiny amounts of caesium-137 and cae- of calling attention to such questionable
nated water being added to it each day. any major worldwide opposition is en- ity to emit light without an external light sium-134.” They further elaborated that shortsightedness, convenience, and inex-
In all, the plan calls for the release of countered the company could cease the source. It can efficiently do so during its the fish “…had carried the radioactive pensive solutions to complex problems.
1.3 million tons of water gradually over discharge since they installed a shut off half-life of 12 years. materials across the Pacific Ocean faster Add to all this the numerous nations
the next 30 to 40 years to be dumped into valve to the pipe.” As a Berkeley resident, in her attempt than those conveyed by wind or water.” who have long histories of regularly
the Pacific Ocean, a volume that would TEPCO for its part has stated that the to condemn the dumping of the radioac- Greenpeace stated that TEPCO has dumping both high-and low-level radio-
fill 500 Olympic-size swimming pools. radioactive water being dumped has been tive water that she characterized as a “vi- not revealed all and that “the water con- active waste in the oceans along with the
In venting their aggravation and to treated by an “advanced treating system” olation of International Maritime Law” tains materials (carbon-14) that could numerous nuclear materials generated
inform the public of the ongoing Fuku- (ALPS) to prepare it for release and as (see the1972 London Convention, in- potentially damage human DNA.” during an era of atmospheric testing and
shima disaster and its worldwide envi- such poses no threat to the ocean, marine ternational treaty) Hamad attempted to Another finding, however, disputes what we have today is a growing con-
ronmental and health consequences, a life or that of people. However, activists enlist the Berkeley City Council to pass the danger proposed by the release. centration of worldwide “nuclear soup.”
small group of dedicated and concerned refuse to believe the water’s release will a resolution opposing and condemning The UN’s International Atomic Energy While the world’s oceans are extensive,
activists held a morning protest outside not be without consequences and refer to the plan. Although she initially had the Agency (IAEA) at the request of the Jap- covering a third of the planet, everything
of the Japanese Consulate office sfor the the entire matter yet as another chapter support of two council members, her anese government studied the impact of on Earth is finite. We truly live in an en-
110th time. of the blatant disregard for the long-term resolution when put up for a vote did the water’s release concluding that the closed terrarium. Once you put it in, you
Speaking to the issue of the pending health of people and our planet along not pass. When she inquired why she “…gradual discharges of the treated can’t take it out.
release on August 11, organizer Chizu with that of future generations. was told that “The Japanese Embassy water to the sea, as currently planned Photos by Phil Pasquini
Hamad responded to a question regard- As reported earlier, however, a re- had made phone calls to council mem- and assessed by TEPCO, would have a (Phil Pasquini is a freelance
ing the disbanding of the protest now port in the Global Times published on bers prior to the voting. I cannot myself negligible radiological impact on people journalist and photographer. His
that the Japanese government approved March 27 of this year stated that the believe that the Japanese government and the environment…the discharge of reports and photographs appear in the
that plan for the water’s release. Hamad treated water “…still contains radionu- directly intervened into the voting. We ALPS treated water taken by Japan is Washington Report on Middle East
responded that the group would not do clides that are not able to be removed… were fully dismayed and disappointed. consistent with relevant international Affairs and Nuze.ink. He is the author
so because “People don’t know that Ja- Including ruthenium, strontium-90 and We hoped that ‘Nuclear free Berkeley’ safety standards.” That conclusion has of Domes, Arches and Minarets: A
pan will release the radioactive water. iodine-129, in addition to tritium.” Part would pass the resolution and when they done little to create confidence in activ- History of Islamic-Inspired Buildings
And, also, people believe the govern- of the release includes the dilution of “… didn’t it was very painful” she stated. ists who continue to warn of the possible in America.)

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