Junior Members Meeting Details

1. Steve Dew-Jones "The Rule of Thumb: Hitchhiking to Malaysia". Steve is a journalist and experienced traveller. His first book, The Rule of Thumb, was published in 2010 and he has recently interviewed by Wanderlust magazine.

2. Hammad Baig "Education in Pakistan". Hammad is a businessman-turned-barrister who divides his time between the UK and Pakistan. He is closely involved with the Excellence Education System (EES) in Hyderabad and is a strong proponent of education for girls.

3. Susanna Hudson "Driving in Iran". In 2010, Susanna drove an elderly Mercedes Unimog from Nepal to Kyrgyzstan via Iran. She travelled independently across Iran after her travelling companion was refused a visa, and found a beautiful country that confounded her expectations.

4. Arijit Sen Marginal On The Map: Hidden Wars and Hidden Media

Conflict in India's Northeastern states, the response of the State, how it affects people and how it is reported in the media

Since the 1950s, virtually every state in India’s Northeast has witnessed the emergence of powerful militias that contest the Indian nation-state’s narrative of socio-economic progress and national integrity. As both academics and activists continue to insist, the Indian state’s brutal repression of political struggles and implementation of draconian measures—such as the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 which authorizes security forces to use lethal force with legal immunity—have done little to improve the situation. It is pertinent then to ask why mainstream media institutions are hesitant to report on terrorist acts or government atrocities in northeastern India with the same level of depth and engagement, as, for instance, the Mumbai terror attack (November 26, 2008)

A report on this event can be downloaded via this link.