RE:2 indians
by satarupa sen on Apr 17, 2007 08:44 AM Permalink
Do you know the name of the prof? I am concerned since my former professor is in VT now.
RE:2 indians
by on Apr 17, 2007 09:35 AM Permalink
I can confirm about the professor. He is dead for sure.
No idea about minal. She was such a close friend. I drove with her to DC 2-3 weeks back and saw the Mueseums together. God keep her safe and God Bless her.
RE:2 indians
by on Apr 17, 2007 09:05 AM Permalink
IBN states " Reports have it that an Indian-origin professor is among those killed in the Virginia Tech University campus massacre. Professor G V Loganathan was teaching in a class in the Norris Hall when the gunman went on rampage. Another student from Mumbai, Minal Panchal, has been missing since the incident. "[0902 hrs IST]
why should anyone associate a life with the nationality ?? (that to a younger kids). And the title sounds like there's nothing much happened out there just because no indian kids are hospitalized.
RE:Insensitive title for a website like rediff
by Libran on Apr 17, 2007 08:41 AM Permalink
Though I understand your sentiments, I don't think you understand important importance of this statements from Indian Association. For hundreds of parents of the students (Most of these parents are in India) this may give some relief. It is a human nature that whenever a tragedy strikes, people will be first waiting for the news of safety of their near and deer ones. I don't feel anything wrong about it. If none of our near and dear ones are there then it is easier to think in egalitarian way.
In fact I would go a step further and say that it is the responsibility of these associations to gather and convey the right information to the near and dear ones as soon as possible especially if contacting hese stuents over the phone is difficult
The statement made by Rediff, that "there hasn't been any bad news till now" is probably one of the most insenstive statements I have ever read. What happened in Virginia was against all of our young students, no matter where they are from. Tragedies that strike anywher in the world happen to all of us, no matter what nationality. It is sad to think that a tragedy is less so because of race or nationality. Only once we can move beyond these "nametags" can we work together to end violence in any form.
Peace to those who were lost and to their families, and to all of us.
RE:A Human Tragedy
by Maximus Decimus Meridius on Apr 17, 2007 08:19 AM Permalink
Well, actually the statement was made by the student association guy. Rediff made it look out of context by quoting a part of what he said in the first half and the remaining in the next. If you put the entire quote together, it appears that he just repeated what he said earlier, but failed to complete his sentence...
"As of now, we haven't heard of any bad news about the Indian students. But the situation will be clear once the authorities release the list of the victims.The situation is under control. We heard that whoever was responsible has been shot. But getting in touch with all the students is not possible just now. The only way information flows now is through our website. And thankfully, there hasn't been any bad news till now". If you read the whole thing as a single chunk, it doesnt look as bad (since now the context is apparent). I'd give the poor chap the benifit of the doubt. I dont think he meant it the way it seems in the last sentence.
That said, I completely agree with what you said - it is a huge tragedy, regardless of nationality or race. My condolances to the families and friends of the innocent victims.
RE:RE:A Human Tragedy
by Maximus Decimus Meridius on Apr 17, 2007 08:27 AM Permalink
PS: I guess the thankfully part of the last sentence was a little out of order. Seems to suggest that the chap wasnt too concerned about the people shot. Not too sure how to interpret it now, after some closer inspection of the statement. I guess there's still room for doubt though...
RE:A Human Tragedy
by Jay Krishnan on Apr 17, 2007 10:53 AM Permalink
You didn't read the article carefully did you? or are you so dumb to understand what he was trying to say "there hasn't been any bad news till now" is with reference to the student who is missing.
RE:A Human Tragedy
by Maximus Decimus Meridius on Apr 17, 2007 11:09 AM Permalink
they updated the website with the death. Earlier it said no indian hurt or killed.
At first glance, this article feels heartless because of it trying to discriminate the victims. But given the fact that a lot of students from India study in the US, it is not totally out of place.
Look at it this way : if someone you know were studying in that university, wouldn't you be worried about his/her safety ? I know I would.
I donot understand why is everyone so concerned about the attitude of Rediff in reporting this news. Does US ever report any death of Indians in the US news. In the same way rediff was concerned about Indian there. Someone commented that all life is equal, I guess US should realise this first. With so many people dying every day in Iraq, US news would say, 1 US marine killed" what about 1000s killed so far. I have no problem with rediff reporting this way about the news. The first thing the parents in India whose children are in this Univ would be relived seeing the title. This is not a portal ready by US people for their news.
RE:What is wrong with everyone
by Maximus Decimus Meridius on Apr 17, 2007 08:01 AM Permalink
Well, sir... Parents in India would not be checking Rediff's website to know if their children are safe. They'll be calling their children, or failing that other contacts like friends. Rediff's headline is more for people who know a friend's brother's friend who went to VT.
What is insensitive, is you have both the things one after the other. In other words, shooting spree on VT campus | all indians safe. It seems to convey the message that all indians are safe, so we dont really care. Dont claim americans dont care for iraqi lives. Their media also reports iraqi casualties. Usually it is explosion on bagdad street, 1 marine killed. That is the headline. Inside, they note civilian casualties. Many people opposing the war note civilian casualties.
In any case, we cant take a holier than thou attitude that we normally do towards them if we start acting the same way right? Or is it that people everywhere are the same... they see a tragedy, say, OMG that's awful and then go back to doing whatever they were doing... I suspect the latter...
RE:What is wrong with everyone
by Maximus Decimus Meridius on Apr 17, 2007 08:12 AM Permalink
PS: I have seen many a headline in Indian media saying explosion in srinagar, 2 jawans killed. Could your logic be applied here too?
Please dont dilute the tragicness of the situation by displaying these kind of reports. In this tragedy one shouldn't care if the dead are asians or whites.
RE:Dont Divide
by Meda Veda on Apr 17, 2007 07:09 AM Permalink
Everything in the article is fine except for this bit "The only way information flows now is through our website. And thankfully, there hasn't been any bad news till no" ... wtf that there is no bad news mean ? .. There has been plenty till now..
What a tragedy! It is even worse that you write about the 33 students being murdered and include in the news that the Indians are safe.It is ONE student population and it hurts, hurts very badly. For God's sake we are one, whether it is the life of an American, Bulgarian, Canadian, Indian, Dravidian, Aryan, Christian. Please be more sensitive when you release news like this. Vatsala
