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"If we take the full meaning of the term society into consideration, it will be seen that till now human beings have not been able to form a real society. If India builds a society for only Indians, Pakistan for only Pakistanis, and England for only the English, then these three separate societies will exist, but we cannot look upon them as the society of humanity. Because humanity is divided into groups, one society will naturally try to thrive by exploiting the vitality of others. �You will notice that efforts are being made to establish so-called societies in some particular part of the world, for some particular section of the people, and based on some particular 'ism" or faith. A social consciousness based on such divisions lies latent in the minds of the people, whether they are Indian, Pakistani or English, so they remain absorbed in thoughts of their smaller groups." - Shrii Prabhat R. Sarkar


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"Human beings have still not been able to form a human society, and have still not learned to move with the spirit of a pilgrim. Although many small groups, motivated by self-interest, work together in particular situations, not even a small fraction of their work is done with a broader social motive. By strict definition, shall we have to declare that each small family unit is a society in itself? If going ahead in mutual adjustment only out of narrow self-interest or momentary self-seeking is called society, then in such a society, no provision can be made for the disabled, the diseased or the helpless, because in most cases nobody can benefit from them in any way... in that case there always remains the possibility of some people getting isolated from the collective. All human beings must attach themselves to others by the common bond of love and march forward hand in hand; then only will I proclaim it a society." - Shrii Prabhat R. Sarkar

"Power concedes nothing without a demand.' The struggle for justice must never be adjourned. The forces of injustice do not take vacations. Societies are not static in this regard. They await the political and civic energies of individuals who engage the arenas of power, multiply their numbers and emblazon in deeds and institutions the immortal principle that "Here the People Rule." - Ralph Nader

At least 65 dead, hundreds missing as storms lash India, Bangladesh


Storms in Bangladesh and India left at least 65 dead and hundreds missing, capsizing dozens of fishing boats in the Bay of Bengal, toppling houses and washing away roads, news reports and officials said Wednesday.

DHAKA, Bangladesh Storms in Bangladesh and India left at least 65 dead and hundreds missing, capsizing dozens of fishing boats in the Bay of Bengal, toppling houses and washing away roads, news reports and officials said Wednesday.

Rescuers recovered at least 19 bodies Wednesday along the Bay of Bengal after sudden storms hit Bangladesh's southern coast, a news agency said.

About 900 other people, including a naval commander, were missing after the storms started late Tuesday, the United News of Bangladesh reported, quoting coast guards, boat owners and survivors.

The storm killed at least 15 people and injured 300 others in India's neighboring West Bengal state, Press Trust of India news agency reported.

The storm left a trail of destruction in two districts in West Bengal state, toppling thousands of mud huts, trees, and electricity and telephone poles, the agency reported, quoting the state Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta.

The death toll was expected to rise as reports from interior areas had yet to come in, the report said.

In India's southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh, torrential rains and floods killed at least 31 people over two days, an official said Wednesday.

Most people died when their houses collapsed or when they were swept away by flood waters, said G.T. Priyadarshini, a relief official.

Around 5,000 people have been evacuated to safer areas and many villages were cut off after roads and railway tracks were submerged when rivers in the state overflowed their banks.

The worst affected area was the Karimnagar district, about 180 kilometers (110 miles) north of Hyderabad, the state capital. At least 15 people have died there in house collapses after rain continued nonstop for nearly 24 hours.

Railroad tracks were submerged, and several bridges and large stretches of highways across the district were washed away by the raging flood waters, Priyadarshini said.

More deaths were reported from the nearby Warangal and Guntur districts of the state.

In the Bay of Bengal, a Bangladeshi navy ship partially overturned at Akram Point in Khulna during the storms, leaving its commanding officer missing, but some 40 others aboard the ship are safe, the United News of Bangladesh reported.

The coast guard deployed helicopters on Wednesday to search for Lt. Comm. Firoz Kabir, the report said, adding that search and rescue operations were being hampered by the continuing bad weather.

The chief of the Cox's Bazar fishing boat owners' association meanwhile said he feared at least 30 fishing boats carrying dozens of fishermen capsized in the major coastal district.

"We are trying to assess the exact number of fishermen missing in Cox's Bazar," Mujibur Rahman told The Associated Press.

Fishing boats also capsized in the coastal districts of Bagerhat, Pirojpur, Barisal, Patuakhali, Bhola and Barguna, United News of Bangladesh reported.

Last Updated September 20, 2006 8:01 PM

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