Nazar Presents: Biju Mathew - Immigrant Labor in a Global City

Nazar Presents: Biju Mathew - Immigrant Labor in a Global City

By Staff Reporter 21 October 2008 669 views 10 Comments

Nazar – A South Asian Perspective is proud to announce that Dr. Biju Mathew, Associate Professor of Business at Rider University, will present a talk on the UT campus later this month - Immigrant Labor in a Global City: The Neo Liberal Imaginary and the Rearticulation of Class. Dr. Mathew will discuss issues related to his widely acclaimed book Taxi!: Cabs and Capitalism in New York City.

Date: Thursday, October 30, 2008

Time: 7:00 pm

Venue: CBA 4.348

Snacks will be provided at the talk.

Dr. Mathew is a founding member of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance and the Forum of Indian Leftists (FOIL). His popular book throws new light on the problems faced by the numerous immigrants who come to work as cab drivers in New York City. With years of experience in interacting with this diverse workforce, he is a noted expert in this field and is in a position to offer us rare insight into the workings of a convoluted system that is resistant to change.

Dr. Mathew has a reputation for being an entertaining orator who is not afraid of speaking his mind. As can be expected from this compelling combination, he has had his fair share of controversies in the past – so drop in to listen to his side of the story and a richly rewarding evening. Dr. Mathew will answer questions by participants at the end of his talk, so come prepared for a lively discussion!

This event is co-sponsored by the South Asia Institute.

Photo Courtesy: Cobrapost

10 Comments »

I love Biju said:

I’m so looking forward to this!

[Reply]

# 21 October 2008 at 8:03 pm

Nazar should know better said:

I looked him up on google. He seems to be the US lead person of some indian terrorist organization(CPI (M/L), included in the US State Department’s list of Other Foreign Terrorist Groups in 2004). He was stopped from delivering lectur at Stanford.

I am sure nazar has some explaining to do. Why, in whole south asia, among all the business and social leaders, they got this guy to be the first speaker of Nazar.

I am giving one link, people can look up others.
http://www.ivarta.com/columns/OL_060420.htm

[Reply]

# 23 October 2008 at 11:23 am

GSJ said:

@ Nazar should know better:
If you do your research on this person, you will find that all allegations of his links to terrorist outfits are baseless. These arose as a result of a story that the Stanford Daily ran before Dr. Mathew was due to speak at Stanford. This article drew all of its ‘facts’ from an anonymous source - these were not verified or checked before publication. However, the Stanford Daily issued a retraction and an apology to Dr. Mathew - but as you can see, the damage was done. You can read more about this episode here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friends_of_South_Asia

Dr. Mathew has been a respected figure in NYC public life for several years, and is a professor at a University. Also, the CPI that you refer to is one of India’s oldest political parties and was a part of the central government until a few months back. Please verify your facts before believing everything you see on the internet.

[Reply]

# 24 October 2008 at 2:21 pm

Anon said:

Check this out as well.

http://www.sepiamutiny.com/sepia/archives/003280.html

[Reply]

# 25 October 2008 at 12:27 pm

Nazar should know better said:

I did not mention CPI. I mentioned CPI ML that is the armed counter part of the political outfil CPI. and CPI ML is a terrorist group. It has the credit for the highest number killings in last 5 years. They are commonly known as Naxlites. Anybody from Bihar, Jharkhand and Orisa knows what they are by living through it. It is well known that helped and defended by communist professors in Delhi and around the world.

And please dont show me the cover up - Friends_of_South_Asia, I am not another confused desi. This guys primary affiliation in US is FOIL, forum of indian leftist, and CPI ML in India. I have lived in Jharkhand and from there I know who these people are what they do. What is they make it to the top of the society, people are dying everyday in India because of them.

If I remember it right, there was a capaign in UT supporting the release of some Naxal supporter/terrorist last month or so (Dr. Binayak Sen). People like Biju are the master mind behind gathering this international support for terrorist and trying to legetemise killings of innocent people.

[Reply]

# 28 October 2008 at 11:35 am

Nazar should know better said:

I love the people associated with nazar. You guys are doing a good job. Dont take this personally, but I feel like I have to interupt here.

I dont know how in the world, you found this guy. This lecture is just a resume building exercise for him. He will put the weight of his impressive resume to blur the line between terrorist and human right activist and rally support for naxlite in international community.
I really hope Nazar finds better people to represent south asia.

[Reply]

# 28 October 2008 at 12:24 pm

Free Speech said:

Dude seriously,

I doubt speaking at a university gives any more legitimacy to a university professor. I agree with you in principle that this guy is shady. But, if anything, the primary role of nazar is that of an observer, not a participant. If you think this guy is really into that stuff, show up at this event to question his motives and actions.

[Reply]

# 28 October 2008 at 2:39 pm

Nazar: Take responsibilty said:

just shady … ok … hundreds of people killed every year and his name all over the naxal watch websites … does not mean anything

best of luck for the event …Nazar still has my compliments for being a good publication

[Reply]

# 28 October 2008 at 7:52 pm

reader said:

@ Nazar should know better:

Come on. do u really think a terrorist will still be working as a professor in a university in the US - one of the most anti- communist nations in the world? Nazar has been given his contact information primarily through the South Asia Institute of the University of Texas, who is co-sponsoring this event. Prof. Mathew is a well known academician and thus has good ties with academicians interested in South Asia around the nation.

The website you are getting all your info from seems quite vague and all their articles are quite hindu obsessed. http://www.ivarta.org. really? come up with something a little better than that. And if you are so upset by this why don’t u come to the talk and voice your opinions and give him a chance to respond.

[Reply]

# 29 October 2008 at 2:47 pm

reader said:

also, for a professor, a one day lecture will not be much of a resume builder.

[Reply]

# 29 October 2008 at 2:53 pm