Forum of Intentional Liars

ForumofIntentionalLiars
TheIndianCommunist/ChristianMissionary/Islamist
NexusandItsAntiHindu/AntiIndiaAgenda
AbhimanyuArjun
7/31/2011
TheaboveflagisnottheflagofIndia,butasymbolicconstructthatcapturestheagendaoftheaxisof
theIndianCommunists,ChristianMissionariesandIslamistOrganizationsinUSAandinIndia
Page||1
TableofContents
QuotableQuotes...........................................................................................................................................3
AboutMe..............................................................................................................................................5
AboutThisReport.........................................................................................................................................6
StructureoftheReport.................................................................................................................................9
ChapterI.
Background..........................................................................................................................10
Figure1AModelofHowtheNexusManufacturesAntiIndia/AntiHinduViewsandShapesWorld
Opinion....................................................................................................................................................12
Section1.01 ASpotlightonProminentFOILMembersandTheirAffiliates........................................13
(a)
RomilaThapar.........................................................................................................................13
(b)
VijayPrashad...........................................................................................................................16
(c)
BijuMathew............................................................................................................................18
(d)
AnganaChatterji......................................................................................................................20
(e)
VinayLal..................................................................................................................................23
(f)
MeeraNanda...........................................................................................................................26
ChapterII.
FOILonHindusandHinduism..............................................................................................28
Section2.01 SanatanaDharmaAnarrowversionofHinduism.........................................................28
Section2.02 CritiqueofBiasesAgainstHinduism=anAttackonFreeSpeech...................................30
Section2.03 BhagavadGitaANonHinduTextwithNonHumanistTeachings................................33
Section2.04 RamayanaArguesforColonization.................................................................................41
Section2.05 SketchySouthAsianHistory...........................................................................................47
Section2.06 ShivajiAQuestionableMonarch...................................................................................50
Section2.07 Hinduism=SpiritualFascism..........................................................................................52
Section2.08 MaligningHinduismin6thGradeTextbooksisOK.........................................................58
(a)
ImportantplayerswhoopposedtheeditssuggestedbyHinduGroups.................................60
Section2.09 NRIsUnintelligent,HinduExtremists;NotEnoughDrunks..........................................74
Section2.10 IndianIndependenceHegemonicVisionofNationalCommunity................................81
ChapterIII.
AGraphicalIllustrationoftheConnectionsbetweenLeftistOrganizations........................84
ChapterIV. OrganizationsintheCommunist/ChristianMissionary/IslamistNexusTheirActivities,
PositionsandAgenda..................................................................................................................................87
(a)
CampaigntoStopFundingHate(CSFH)..................................................................................87
Page||2
(b)
FriendsofSouthAsia(FOSA)...................................................................................................88
(c)
AssociationforIndiasDevelopment(AID).............................................................................96
(d)
AshaforEducation................................................................................................................103
(e)
SINGHFoundation.................................................................................................................111
(f)
SabrangCommunicationsPrivateLimited............................................................................118
(g)
IndianAmericanMuslimCouncil(IAMC)..............................................................................124
ChapterV. TheCongregationoftheNexusIllustrationsofAntiHindu/AntiIndiaEventsand
Partnerships...........................................................................................................................................130
(a)
2003IAMCConvention.........................................................................................................130
(b)
2005IAMCConvention.........................................................................................................137
(c)
2008IAMCConvention.........................................................................................................138
(d)
2010MITWorkshop..............................................................................................................138
(e)
CeaseandDESIstAcallfororganizingagainstUSImperialism..........................................141
(f)
CoalitionAgainstGenocide...................................................................................................143
Conclusion...........................................................................................................................................145
Page||3
QuotableQuotes
TheRamayanaarguesforthecolonizationofthepeoplesofthesubcontinentwhilethe
Ramcaritmanasarguesfortheworshipofaniconicfigureratherthan,forinstance,a
considerationoftheUpanishads'metaphysics.VijayPrashad,ChairofSouthAsianHistory
andProfessorofInternationalStudies,TrinityCollege.Foundingmember,ForumofInqualabi
Leftists
ComingbacktoSamskara,weseethatnotsurprisingly,humanistteachingsinHinduismarise
notfromourhostofgodsandgoddesseswhoselifestoriesaremanytimesfilledwith
outrageouskindsofdeceit,manipulations,selfishnessandgreedIndeed,whenonesuchGod
triedtoplaytheroleofaguruasseenaboveintheGita,theteachingsarequiteclearlynon
humanistic.BalmurliNatrajan,AssistantProfessorofAnthropology,WilliamPaterson
University.Member,ForumofInqualabiLeftists
Hinduismisareligionofviolence.AllHindugodskilledtheirenemiesandbecameheroic
images.Thisistheonlyreligionintheworldwherethekillerbecomesgod.Whomdidthey
kill?FromBrahmatoKrishna,thosewhowerekilledwereDalitbahujans.Nowtheseimages
andthestoriesandnarrativesandeverythingisoutthereinthecivilsociety.Now,becauseof
this,theconsciousnessofworshippingthekillerorworshippingviolencedidnotgiveany
spaceforhumanrightsforHindudharma,resolvingofaconflictisonlybykilling.Thereisno
otherdiscourse.Debateisnotthere.Youhavetokilltheenemy.KanchaIlaiah,authorof
WhyIamNotaHindu,inaninterviewwrittenbyForumofInqualabiLeftists
TheMarxistshavelongsubscribedtotheviewthatGandhiwasaromantic,ahopeless
idealistandevenhypocrite;tothisachorusofvoicesaddedthethoughtthatGandhiwasan
insufferablepuritan.VinayLal,AssociateProfessorofHistory,UCLA.Member,Forumof
InqualabiLeftists
IjustreturnedfromPatna,India,andamsendingthispraisenotefromCalcutta,enroute
Chennai.Butthespectacularbaptismaleventthathasdwarfedtheotherstookplacein
Patna,wherewehadinalltwobatchesof135convertsbaptizedintheriverGangesinthe
veryHolyriver,wheremillionsoftheidolanddemonworshippingpagansgoeveryoncein
awhiletohaveaholydip.BishopEzraSargunam,headofEvangelicalChurchofIndia
[The]PatelsbegansponsoringanumberofHindureligiousoutfitsandbackingHindutva
organisationsinthestate,thuspresentingthemselvesasardentHindus,and,therefore,as
highcastes.OneaspectofthatnewlyconstructedidentityassuperHinduswasadeep
hostilitytowardsMuslims.Infact,thePatels,whocomprisemorethan30%oftheGujarati
population,playedamajorroleinthe2002antiMuslimgenocide.MukulSinha,aspeakerat
Page||4
the2010MITWorkshoporganizedbyIndianAmericanMuslimCouncil,ina2007interviewwith
YoginderSikand,anaffiliateofForumofInqualabiLeftists.
[TheNRIs]'patriotism'issimple:theyarejingoisticforwhomeverwillallowthemthe
freedomtomakemoney.Whethersaffronorred/white/blue,thesecatsareheavilyintothe
greenAndwhatareissuesthatmotivatedesis?Thingstodowiththe'homeland'orthings
thathavetodowiththeexploitationandoppressionofdesisandothersintheU.S.Vijay
Prashad,ChairofSouthAsianHistoryandProfessorofInternationalStudies,TrinityCollege.
Foundingmember,ForumofInqualabiLeftists
AcountrynotonlydividedbetweenMahommedanandHindoo,butbetweentribeandtribe,
betweencasteandcaste;asocietywhoseframeworkwasbasedonasortofequilibrium,
resultingfromageneralrepulsionandconstitutionalexclusivenessbetweenallitsmembers.
Suchacountryandsuchasociety,weretheynotthepredestinedpreyofconquest?...India,
then,couldnotescapethefateofbeingconquered,andthewholeofherpasthistory,if
anything,isthehistoryofthesuccessiveconquestsshehasundergone.Indiansocietyhasno
historyatall,atleastnoknownhistory.Whatwecallitshistory,isbutthehistoryofthe
successiveintruderswhofoundedtheirempiresonthebasisofthatunresistingand
unchangingsociety.KarlMarx,TheFutureofResultsofBritishRuleinIndia.July22,1853
Page||5
AboutMe
IamaHinduAmericanyouthwhowasborninIndiabutbroughtupintheUS.Idecidedtowrite
thisreportoutofagrowingfrustrationandconcernthatHinduismandIndiaareroutinelydemonizedby
individualspretendingtofightforsecularismandhumanrights;inreality,theyfollowapolluted
Communist/MarxistagendaandsupportIslamicandChristianorganizationsattheexpenseofHindus.
TheydeeplydiscountthehumanrightsandgrievancesofHindusandblamemostoftheproblemsof
IndiaonHinduism.Unfortunately,theyhavemadeprofessionalcareersoutofblatantlyinaccurate,
highlyoutofcontextandraciallychargedbooks,articlesandactivities.
MostHinduslikemeareunawareoftheirmachinations,untilwefaceprejudicedandracialviewsinhigh
schoolsandcollegesaswellasinthemedia.FellowHinduandIndianyouthareoftenshockedandeven
believetheviewsandargumentsputforthbysuchprofessors,academicsandactivistsduetoinertiaon
theirpartoralackofdeeperunderstandingofHinduscripturesandIndianhistory.
WedonotconsiderallMuslimsasterroristsorfundamentalists.Infact,manyofushavecloseMuslim,
JewishandChristianfriends.Wealsodonotsupportdiscriminationagainstanysectionofoursociety
basedonrigidandhierarchicalstructuresandcorruptionofourreligioustexts.Wedo,however,
believeeveryonehasafundamentalrighttopracticeherreligionorspiritualpathwithoutbeingsubject
toridiculeandbigotry.
AnAppeal:
IsincerelyappealtomyfellowHindusallovertheworldtoreadthisreportandunderstandthegame
beingplayedagainstourbelovedheritage.Weareinthisgame,whetherwelikeitornot.And,the
rulesofthegamefavorouropponents.Eitherwestepupandleveltheplayingfieldorgetwipedout.
Theimpactoftheirstrategiesmaynotbefeltimmediately,butwillcertainlybefeltovertheyears.
TheHinducommunityneedstouniteagainstthisrapeofitsheritage.Whiletherehavebeensome
excellenteffortsinthisspace,thecommunityasawholehasyettogoontheoffensiveandanalyze
thosewhoanalyzeus.
Iamnotascholaranddontclaimthistobeascholarlywork.Ihavealsonotreceivedhelpfromany
organizationorgroup,domesticorforeign,butwelcomefeedbackfromanyoneandeveryone.
Sincerely,
Abhimanyu,
NewJersey
Contact:abhimanyuarjun2011@gmail.com
Page||6
AboutThisReport
Thisreportisaculminationofalmostayearofinformationgathering,researchanddiscussions.
Iamgratefultotheeffortsofallthosewhohavewrittenbigandsmallworksexposingthe
vitriolicagendaofthenexusofCommunists/ChristianMissionaries/Islamists.
Thereportisahumbleattempttoshedlightonindividualsandorganizationsthatworkhand
inglovetodemonizeHinduismandIndiathroughtheirviews,writingsandactivities.Inthis
respect,twobroadthemescomeforward:
First,inwhatisadangerouslygrowingandalarmingtrend,thisnexusattemptstoinfluence
(andismanyatimessuccessful)policymakersinlargeWesternnationstointerveneininternal
mattersrelatedtoIndiaviasanctions,censuresorfortoprovidefundstoNGOsthatwork
underthepretenseofhighlightinghumanrightsviolationsorprovidinghumanitarianrelief.
ThisnexusnotonlysupportstheconceptofaviolentcivilwarinIndiabutsupportsandeven
fundsterroristgroupsliketheNaxals.
Tocorroboratethispoint,onTuesday,July19,2011,theNewYorkTimesbrokethefollowing
story:theFederalBureauofInvestigationoftheUSarrested[GhulamNabiSyedFai]oncharges
ofbeinganagentofthePakistanispyagencytheISI.NeilMacBride,theUSAttorneyinthe
EasternDistrictofVirginia,infilingthecharges,accusedFaiofadecadeslongschemewithone
purposetohidePakistansinvolvementbehindhiseffortstoinfluencetheU.S.governments
positiononKashmir.MacBridealsomaintainedthat[his]handlersinPakistanallegedly
funneledmillionsthroughtheKashmirCentertocontributetoU.S.electedofficials,fundhigh
profileconferencesandpayforothereffortsthatpromotedtheKashmiricausetodecision
makersinWashington.Similarly,theFBIstatedthatgroupsobjectivewastopersuadethe
UnitedStatesgovernmentthatitwasinitsinteresttopushIndiatoallowavoteinKashmirto
decideitsfuture.FaiwasapopularfigureamongFOILcirclesandwasinvitedtoa2003
meetingbyorganizedbyAnganaChatterji,AkhilaRamanandFriendsofSouthAsia,asister
organizationofFOIL.
Furthermore,thereportbringsforththepoliticallinksoftheIndianLeftistsintheUSunder
theguiseofprogressive,secular,pluralisticwork,theseorganizationsandindividualsare
nothingmorethantheambassadorsofpoliticalpartiessuchastheCommunistPartyofIndia
(Marxist)andtheCommunistPartyofNepal(Maoist),bothknownfortheirviolenthistoriesand
atrocitiesagainsttheirpopulace.WhilethewesternLeftistsaremostlyatoddswithChristian
MissionariesandIslamists,theIndianLeftistsactuallysupportandworkwithChristian
MissionariesandIslamiststopaintIndiaasanoppressorofminorities,especiallyChristians,
MuslimsandDalits.Toachievethisgoal,theyexaggeratefactsandprovidehighlyoutof
contexttestimonialsandgoonfactfindingmissionstogatherdatafortheirtheses.
Page||7
Asshowninthereport,evenorganizationssuchastheAssociationforIndiasDevelopment
(AID)andAshaforEducationareapartofthisnexus.Thereportprovidesdetailsofthe
Communist/Marxistleaningsoftheseorganizationsandhowtheyworkwithgroupsand
politicalpartieswhosemembershavebeenprosecutedforcriminalactivitiesorwhose
membershavehadahistoryofviolentbehaviorsandterroristtendencies.Itisevenmore
disturbingthattheAmericandonors(includingwellmeaningIndianAmericans)andvolunteers
oftheseorganizationsmaynotknowthepoliticalandideologicalleaningsofthese
organizationsbecausemosthaveasoftcornerforIndia.Asshownintherepot,inthenameof
educationanddevelopment,theseorganizationsactuallyworktogroominnocentkidsand
unsuspectingindividualsinMarxist/Communistideology.
Secondly,thisnexuscontainspowerfulplayersthathaveshapedthewayHinduismisstudied,
viewed,discussedandreportedintodaysworld,includinginIndia.Hinduismisfrequently
reducedtoaforeignreligionoffairskinnedpeoplethatattackedandsubduedthenative
blackpopulationoftheIndiansubcontinentthroughitsBrahminicalpracticesandtheCaste
System.Hinduismisthusseenasanoppressivereligionthatneedstobeabolishedandwhose
peopleneedtobesaved;anythinggoodinHinduism(e.g.Yoga,BhagavadGita,Karma,
Reincarnation,etc.)hasbeenmisappropriatedfromotherreligionsorregions(i.e.Buddhism,
Christianity,etc.orfromEurope)andshouldthereforebelookedatwithsuspicion.
SeveralIslamicandChristianorganizationsandindividualssupporttheeffortsofthese
Communists/Marxistsinmanywaysby:a)Providingfundsfromforeigngovernmentsand
religiousbodies;b)Invitingthemtoprestigiousorpopularconferences,seminars,etc.;c)
Publishingdocumentariesandholdingscreeningofmoviesthathighlighttheatrocitiesagainst
Christians,MuslimsandDalits;d)Supportingtheirappointmentstokeypostsintheacademia
aswellasinpoliticsandmedia;e)Distributingtheirvenomouswritingsandviewsthroughout
theinternet,inthemedia,inpoliticalcirclesandintheacademia;ande)Partneringupwith
themtolodgeprotests,petitions,etc.againsttheIndiangovernmentoragainstvariousHindu
organizationsaccusingthelattertwooffascism,extremism,humanrightsabuse,etc.
Together,thisnexushasattackedseveralIndianandHinduorganizationsandhaveattempted
toeradicatetheirexistencebyfalsepropaganda.Forexample,in2002,FOILanditsaffiliates
attackedtheIndiaDevelopmentandReliefFund,accusingitoffundinghatredinIndia.In
2007andin2008,FOILanditsaffiliateswentonarampagetodestroytheUSbasedyouth
groupHinduStudentsCouncil,accusingitoffascismandrightwingextremism.Theattackon
theHSCwasparticularlydangeroussinceFOILattemptedtoconfuseyoungHindusand
persuadethemtodisowntheHSCbyitshalftruthsandoutofcontextstatements.
ThebigotrypracticedbythenexusbecomesevidentwhenwellmeaningIndiansorHindu
Americanspointouttheirblatantlyinaccuratestatementsandtheirpoliticalandextremist
Page||8
connections.WhenIndiansandHinduAmericansaskforabalancedopinionorforincludingan
alternativeopinion,theyareoftendiscountedordenouncedasfascistHindutvatypesoranti
secular.
Page||9
StructureoftheReport
Thereportreliesondatafromthewebsitesandwritingsofvariousorganizationsand
individualsdiscussedhere.Italsoreliesondatafromscholarlybooks,newspapers,journals,
magazinesandblogs.Inaddition,thereportisdiverseinitssourcesanddoesnotrelyona
handfulofperspectives.
ChapterIprovidesabriefbackgroundontheForumofInqualabiLeftists(FOIL)andshedslight
onsomeofthebigwigsofFOILandthosefromwhomFOILderivesitsviewsonHinduismand
India.Figure1providesamodelthatillustrateshowthenexusofCommunist/Christian
Missionary/IslamistorganizationsandindividualsnourishesantiIndia/antiHinduworldview.
Figure1isavisualoverviewofanumberofthemesdiscussedinthereport.
ChapterIIoffersadetailedanalysisofFOILsdisturbingviewsonHinduism,Ramayana,
BhagavadGita,etc.ThischapterstartstoanalyzetheconnectionsbetweenFOILandits
affiliates,alongwithChristianandIslamicorganizations.Italsoofferssubstantialinformation
onCommunistandChristianMissionaryorganizationsthatwereinvolvedinsuccessfully
torpedoingtheeffortsofHindugroupstoseekafairportrayalofHinduismvisvisother
religionsin6thgradeCaliforniatextbooks.
ChapterIIIprovidesavisualillustrationoftheinterconnectednessofvariousFOILorganizations
paradingassecular/humanrightsorganizations.Figure6demonstratesthatthoughthese
groupsclaimtobeseparatetheycontainthesamepeople,areregisteredtothesamepeople
and/orhavebeenstartedbythesamepeople.Table1offersregistrationdetailsofsomeof
websitesassociatedwithFOILanditsaffiliates.Theinformationhasbeengatheredfromthe
websitesthemselvesaswellasDomainLookupServicessuchasWhois.net.
ChapterIVexaminesaplethoraoforganizationsandindividualswithinthe
Communist/Islamist/ChristianMissionarynexus.Itdrillsdeeperintotheirviews,activitiesand
supportersandattemptstohighlighttheirnefariouslyantiHindu/antiIndiaagenda.
ChapterVprovidessomespecificexamplesofhowthenexusmemberspromoteandworkwith
eachothertoinfluencepolicymaking,toprovidefodderforshapingantiHindu/antiIndia
agendasaswellastofurtheraworldviewthatregardsIndiancivilizationasachaoticmishmash
ofreligiousandculturalidentitiesthatisatickingtimebomb.Inthesamepurview,Hinduism
andIndiaarecontinuouslydeclaredasoppressorsofwomen,minoritiesandDalits.
Page||10
ChapterI.
Background
TheForumofInqualabiLeftists(FOIL)(formerlyknownastheForumofIndianLeftists)isa
groupofMarxists/Communistsprofessors,activistsandindividuals;thegroupsoriginsdate
backtothelate1980s/early1990s.FOILsfoundingfathersareBijuMathewandVijay
Prashad,bothwellknownMarxists/Communistswhowriteinfarleftleaningpublicationsas
wellinPeoplesDemocracy,aweeklymouthpieceoftheCommunistPartyofIndia(Marxist).In
aDecember1995noteintheirnewsletterSanskriti,PrashadandMathewdiscusstheideaof
establishingtheforum,asaclearinghouseforradicalIndianactivistsintheUnitedStates,
CanadaandEngland[to]helpbuildprojectsthatmake[their]radicalpoliticsmorematerial.1
Fromthedomainregistrationrecords,theirwebsiteseemstohavebeenfirstregisteredon
December15,1997,byRajasekharRamakrishnan,aresearcheratColumbiaUniversity2and
SecretaryTreasureroftheSINGH(nottobeconfusedwiththeSikhandHindulastnameof
Singh)Foundation3.AlsonamedPROXSA(ProgressiveSouthAsians),theforumofover300
Marxist/Communistactivists4isthemotherofseveralorganizationsandblogs,magazinesand
forumsthathavebeenstartedorinspiredbyindividualmembersofFOIL.
OtherprominentpersonalitieslikeAnganaChatterji,whoseviewsarediscussedlaterinthe
report,arealsoaffiliatedwithFOILanditssisterorganizations.
FOILsmemberssubscribetoastrongbeliefthatMarxism/Communismisthesolutionto
problemscreatedbycapitalistimperialismledbytheUS,ZionistinterestsledbyIsraeland
HindunationalistinterestsledbyHindufascists.Thus,FOILestablishedthisclearinghouse
todiscussanddisseminatespecificpoliticalideasandagendasthatprovidea
Marxist/CommunistviewofIndiansandIndia.Unfortunately,onlyHinduIndiansinIndiaand
abroadbearthebruntofFOILsbiasedperspectivesandstudies.Hinduism,asunderstoodand
practicedbyamajorityofHindutemples,organizations,andfamiliesbothinIndiaandabroad
(e.g.USA),ismythicallyreducedtoanoppressive,nonpluralisticreligionpracticedby
hegemonicuppercastesectionsofthesociety.FOILlooksatNRIs(NonResidentIndians)and
HinduswithacynicalviewandanyeffortsbythesegroupstodefendbiasesagainstHinduism,
HindusorIndiaareautomaticallyreducedtoextremist,YankeeHindutva,rightwing,etc.
agendasattackingfreespeech.MembersofFOILgosofarastocallHindudeitiesas
colonizers,whoselivesarefilledwithoutrageouskindsofdeceit,manipulations,selfishness
VijayPrashandandBijuMathew,FOIL,Sanskriti,December25,1995,
http://www.proxsa.org/resources/sanskriti/dec95/foil.html,accessedJune16,2011
2
http://cumc.columbia.edu/ihn/faculty_/ramakrishnan,accessedJune16,2011
3
http://www.singhfoundation.org/,accessedJune16,2011
4
SeeForumofIndianLeftists,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forum_of_Indian_Leftists,accessedJune16,2011
Page||11
andgreed5.ItisimportanttonotethatmostofthemembersofFOILanditssister
organizationsthatmakesuchclaimshavenobackgroundorspecializationinHinduism,Hindu
Scriptures,IndicTraditions,Sanskrit,Linguistics,Archaeology,Genetics,etc.Theymerelyuse
theirHindunamesasifspeakingforHindus,orrelyonbiasedopinionsofotherMarxist
ScholarsorAmericanUniversityProfessorswithquestionablewritingsandbackgrounds.Thisis
illustratedlaterinthereport.
FOILsnegativeviewsonHinduismandIndiafindcompanionshipinvariousIslamistand
ChristianMissionaryorganizationsintheUSaswellasinIndiawhohavetheirownagendas.
Together,asthereportshows,theseindividualsandorganizationslendeachothercredibility
anddemonizeHindusandIndiaviavarioussymposiums,humanrightsconferences,
presentationsinfrontofgovernmentbodiesandpoliticalfigures,aswellasspreadingfalse
propagandaviapopularmedia.ThisisalsoillustratedinFigure1below.Asthemodelshows,
thenexusstartswithanalreadyprejudicedagendaandthencultivatesthisfurtherbyholding
events,creatingreportsanddocumentariesandinvitingbiasedpersonalitiestosolidify
pejorativeopinionsandoutlookonIndiaandHinduism.Theendresultsarevenomous.For
example,thankstotheconstantlobbyingofthenexus,in2007,theUnitedNationsdeemed
Indiaasthefirstcountrytobeevaluatedforvarioushumanrightsviolations.Similarly,the
nexusconcoctedanefariouspropagandaagainstvariousHindugroups,includingHindu
parents,anddestroyedtheirattemptstogiveHinduismanequalplatformversusother
religionsin6thgradeCaliforniatextbooks.Inthesamemanner,thenexusspewedvenom
againstHinduorganizationssuchastheIndiaDevelopmentandReliefFundaswellastheHindu
StudentsCouncilwithhalfbakedtruths,outofcontextstatementsandlibelousstatements.
BalmurliNatrajan,LettertoaProgressiveHindu,SAMAR,Issue28,February28,2008,
http://samarmagazine.org/archive/articles/255,accessedJune16,2011.
Page||12
Figure1AModelofHowtheNexusManufacturesAntiIndia/AntiHindu
ViewsandShapesWorldOpinion
CommunistOrganizations/Individuals
ChristianMissionaryGroups
andIndividuals
e.g.DFN,DSN,LutheranChurch,
EvangelicalCouncilofIndia,All
IndiaChristianCouncil,PIFRAS,
P.D.John,JohnDayal,etc.
e.g.FOIL,FOSA,AID,Asha,NRISAHI,SAHMAT,
Sabrang,VijayPrashad,Angana Chatterji,Teesta
Setalvad,Romila Thapar,Vinay Lal,etc.
IslamistOrganizations/
Individuals
BiasedViews
e.g.CSSS,IAMC,Omar
Khalidi,Kaleem Kawaja,,
etc.
Symposiums,Conferences,Studies,Movies,Lecture
Tours,Articles,etc.on
InviteRight
WingForeign
Politicians(e.g.
JoePitts)
InvitebiasedUS
Academics(e.g.
WendyDoniger,
Lise McKean,
MichaelWitzel,
etc.)
Citeeachothers
workasresearch
andlinktoeach
otherssites.
HumanRightsAbuses
inIndia
IndiaandSecularism
CasteandHinduism
Dalits:BlacksofIndia
TheIdeaofIndia
IntheNameofGod
ThreattoSecularism
Issuereports,
resolutions,action
alerts,callsforhalting
offoreignaidtoIndia,
UNintervention,
AmericanPolicyarm
twisting,etc.
SelfDeterminationin
Kashmir
DowryMurders
HinduFascismand
ThreattoMinorities
WomeninHindu
society
PresentFindingsto
GovtBodies,
politicians,and
InternationalOrgs
(e.g.DFID,HRW,USCIRF,
USCongress,UN,Ford
Foundation,etc.)
Circulatebiasedconferencereports,
minutes,studies,resolutions,etc.via
PropagandaNetwork
AwardIndividualsforhumanrights
work,Dalitemancipation,publication
ofstudies,NGOactivities,etc.
InfluenceOpiniononHindusandIndia
Hinduism=fascism
Hindusareethnicallycleansingminorities
IndiaislikeKosovo,EastTimor,orChechnya
AllproblemsofIndiaareduetoHinduism
Indiangovernmentisunlawfuland
oppressive
Exaggerateand
CookUp
Information
(e.g.2000
MuslimDeaths
inGujaratriots,
MythofSt.
Thomas,
MillionsofDalit
Killings,Indian
Armycruelties
inKashmirand
againstNaxals,
etc.)
e.g.Tipu Sultan
awardstoAngana
Chatterji,Biju
Mathew,Teesta
Setalvad,John
Dayal,etc.
InfluencePoliciesonIndia
2007 UNdesignatesIndiaasfirstcountry
tobereviewedforHumanRightsViolations,
2008 DanishParliamentrejectsclaim
thatcasteisaninternalIndianmatter;calls
forgreaterinternationalattentiontohuman
rightsabusescausedbycastediscrimination
Page||13
Section1.01
ASpotlightonProminentFOILMembersandTheirAffiliates
SinceFOILdeemsitselfasagroupofradicalactivists,itisimportanttoshedsomelightonthe
individualmembersoraffiliatesoftheforum.Whataretheirviewsandtheirpositionswhenit
comestoHindus(inIndiaandabroad)andIndia?Whatisthebasisfortheirviews?
InhisgroundbreakingbookBreakingIndia.WesternInterventionsinDravidianandDalitFaultlines,
(India:ManipalPressLtd,2011),RajivMalhotra,aUSbasedNRIintellectualandfounderofInfinity
Foundation,andAravindanNeelakandan,anNGOactivistandeditorofahighlypopularweb
portalTamilHindu,discusseshowthesecularIndianLeftists/Communists,alongwithsome
membersoftheUSLeftdelegitimizeIndiaandbyextensionitsHindupopulation.Accordingto
Malhotra,WhiletheUSrightwingneoconssupporttheideaofaChristianIndia,theleftwing
hasageneralsympathytowardsIslam.BoththesehaveHinduismandclassicalIndian
civilizationastheircommonenemy.6Indeed,onewillseldomfindsignificantcriticismsofIslam
andcountrieslikePakistanorBangladeshinthewritingsofFOILanditsaffiliates.Accordingto
theirviewsIndiansocietyisasplinteredmirrorofsubnational/regionalidentitiesheldtogether
bytheoppressiveandauthoritativeIndianstateandHindusocialorder.PerMalhotra,Such
portrayalsbecometoolsinthehandsofthosewhodemandtheUSmediatedbalkanizationof
India7.
TheeffectofthisphenomenonisalsofeltbyHindusallovertheworld,includinginUSAand
Europe,whereIndiaandHindusareseenasoppressivecastefollowers,antiminorities,anti
womenandnonprogressive.IndiaisviewedasalegacyofcolonialBritisherawithnohistorical
validity.
(a) RomilaThapar
WhilenotadirectmemberofFOIL,RomilaThaparisoneofthemostfamousMarxisthistorians
onAncientIndia.Herbooksandwritingsareasourceofreferenceandinspirationformanyof
FOILsideasonHindusandIndia.ShehasheavilyinfluencedthewayIndianhistoryiswritten
andstudiedinIndiaandabroad.Thankstoherefforts,Indianhistorybookscontinuetopeddle
theracisttheorythatIndiawasinvadedbylightskinnedforeignersknownasAryans,who
drovetheindigenouspeopleknownasDravidiansdownSouthandimposedtheir
Brahminic/Vedicreligionontheindigenouspeople.
RajivMalhotraandAravindanNeelakandan,BreakingIndia.WesternInterventionsinDravidianandDalit
Faultlines,(India:ManipalPressLtd,2011),247
7
MalhotraandNeelakandan,248
Page||14
MalhotraandNeelakandanhighlightThaparsviewsbriskly:
Hinduspiritualexperiencesaredevaluedasevenpathological.Sheresortstoaquasi
scholarlyspeculationofracialhatredasexistinginentireIndiantraditionswhenshe
wonders,astowhetherthereferencestotherakshasa,thepretaandthedaitya,
demonsandghostsofvariouskinds,couldhavebeenareferencetothealienpeopleof
theforest.Demonizingtheotherissometimesatechniquetojustifyholdingsuch
peopleincontemptandevenattackingthem.Thisisexactlythesamethesisthatis
beingspreadtodaybyMaoistinsurgentsworkingamongremotetribesincentralIndia,
namely,thatdemonsmentionedinHinduismareactuallyreferencestotribalpeople.8
Thus,Maoistinsurgents,deemedasamajornationalsecuritythreatbythePrimeMinisterof
India,useanalysesofscholarslikeThapartojustifytheirviolentwar.
SheacceptsthemythofSt.ThomasandhismartyrdominSouthIndiaascredible9.Thapar
doesrecognizethelegitimacyofJesusastheChristandacceptsthehistoricityofhisexistence
whiledenyingthehistoricityofRama.10AsafurtherexampleofThaparsbiasedviews,in
2005,sheworkedwithwesternIndologistslikeMichaelWitzelandSteveFarmerandlambasted
severaleditsproposedbyCaliforniaIndianparentswithrespecttotheportrayalsofHinduism
in6thgradetextbooks.Thoughtheywerefactualerrors,Thaparandhercroniesdismissed
thementirelyandblastedseveralindividualsandorganizationsasHindufasciststhatwere
bentonchanginghistoryandreligioustexts.
SuchauthoritativewritingsarealsoutilizedbytheChurchtoharvestIndiansouls.Malhotra
andNeelakandan,pointouttotheexampleofCambridgeJesuittheologianMichaelBarnes.
Accordingtotheauthors,Barnesdefinesthetherecentphenomenonoflowcaste
insurgencyasanagitationagainstthehegemoniccultureofBrahminicallydominantelite.11
BarnesthenproceedsfurthertocampaigntheChurchssupportfortheseinsurgentswho
consideraunifiedIndiancivilizationandnationasanarrowinterpretationofIndianculture,
derivedfromVedictimesasacreationoftheAryanpeople12.HecitesRomilaThaparand
statesthatinfluenceofbothorientalandHindunationalistconceptsofIndianidentityare
beinghelduptoanincreasinglycriticalscrutiny.13
Inanotherinstance,RobertEricFrykenberg,professoremeritusofHistoryandSouthAsian
StudiesatUniversityofWisconsinMadison,inhispaperentitled,HinduFundamentalismand
10
11
12
13
9
Page||15
theStructuralStabilityofIndiaattheAmericanAcademyofArtsandSciences,hestatesthat
theideasofIndiaandHinduismarebyproductsofofficialpoliciesoftheBritishCompanys
Raj,andhedismissesthefallacyofassumingthatsomesortofinclusiveHinduismexisted.14
HissourceisnoneotherthanThapar,especiallyherstatementthatancientIndiansshouldbe
seenasmerelyaclusterofdistinctivesectsandcults15.ThisportraysIndiaasachaotic
clustermuchlikethevarioustribesofthirdworldnationsbeforetheEuropeanconquest.
Underthispurview,Hinduismasanentityisarecentlymachinatedphenomenon.
ThaparwasappointedastheholderoftheKlugeChairattheLibraryofCongressin2003.In
2008,sheacceptedthe$1MillionprizewithanotherrecipientPeterRobertLamontBrown.16
However,whileThapargladlyacceptedthe$1Millionprize,shetwicedeclinedtheIndian
governmentshighestaward,thePadmaBhushan.17Perhapsshewantedtostayawardfrom
beingseenaspoliticallyalignedtoaparticularideologyorgovernment.However,Malhotra
andNeelakandanpointoutthattheKlugeawardiswellknownforbeingoftengivento
Christianevangelicals.18Evenmoreinterestingly,accordingtoKlugeCenterswebsite,The
Centerseekstobringagroupoftheworld'sbestseniorthinkerstheKlugeScholarsinto
residence,tostimulate,energize,anddistillwisdomfromtherichresourcesoftheLibraryand
tointeractnaturallyoveraperiodoftimewithpoliticalWashington[EmphasisAdded].Thereis
greatflexibilityintheinteractionbetweenthescholarsandMembersofCongress[Emphasis
Added]withintheJeffersonBuilding,wherelawmakersfindahavenforseriousdiscourseonlya
shortwalkfromtheCapitol.19[Emphasisadded].Whythen,didThaparacceptanawardthatis
politicallyclosetoWashington(thoughnotoffereddirectlybytheAmericangovernment)?
Inanotherirony,Thaparwasgiventheawardeventhoughhereresearchhasdemonized
HinduismanddemolishedthesenseofIndiancivilization.Hercorecipientmeanwhile,
accordingtoMalhotraandNeelakandan,isahistorianofearlyChristianmonasticismandhis
workhasbroughtoutapositivepictureofChristianmonasticismthatisequivalenttotheIndian
spiritualculturewhichThaparcondemnedaslifenegatingescapism.20
14
16
GailFeinberg,BrownandThaparHonored:KlugePrizeWinnersTakeFreshLookatHistory,LibraryofCongress
InformationBulletinVol.68,Nos.12,January/February2009,http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/09012/kluge.html,
accessedJune17,2011
17
RomilarejectsPadmaaward,TimesofIndiaOnlineEdition,January27,2005
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/20050127/india/27864821_1_padmaawardpadmabhushanhrd
ministry,accessedJune17,2011
18
19
AbouttheKlugeChair,http://www.loc.gov/loc/kluge/about/,accessedJune19,2011
20
15
Page||16
(b) VijayPrashad
VijayPrashadistheGeorgeandMarthaKellnerChairinSouthAsianHistoryandProfessorof
InternationalStudies.21Thisisindeedironic,sinceGeorgeKellneristhefounderofKellner
Dileo&Company,whichspecializesinmergerarbitrage,distressed&highincomeinvestingand
securitieslendingcorebusinessesofWallStreet,theveryseatoftheideology(Capitalism)
thatPrashadroutinelydenounces.22PrashadisoneofthefoundingfathersoftheFOILandis
theauthorofseveralbooksregardingSouthAsia,Indians,etc.Hehasoftenwrittenarticlesand
papersonUSimperialismandcapitalisthegemonyandimpactsofthisacrosstheworld.
AccordingtoMalhotraandNeelakandan,PrashadendorsestheAfroDalitmovement,
includingtheracisttheoriesofV.T.Rajshekar.TheAfroDalitprojectpurportstopaintDalitsas
theBlacksofIndiaandnonDalitsasIndiasWhites23.ThehistoryofAmericanracism,
slaveryandBlack/WhiterelationsisthussuperimposedontoIndiansociety.24Buttakingits
cuefromtheAmericanexperience,theAfroDalitprojectattemptstoempowerDalitsby
castingthemasvictimsatthehandsofadifferentrace.25Similarly,Prashadalsobelievesthat
boththeAfricansandtheIndianUntouchablesandtribalshadcommonancestorsthatDalits
resembleAfricansinphysicalfeatures.26Thoughheisawareoftheshortcomingsand
fallaciesofAryanDravidianethnographicprojectsundertakenbycolonialanthropologists,his
writingsaredesignedtoprovokesuspicionagainstanythingtodowithHinduismandIndias
legitimacyasanationstate.
MalhotraandNeelakandaillustratetheneteffectsofsuchoutrageousideasinthisinfluential
internetage.ACanadianbloggernamedPlawiuk,creditingthewritingsofVijayPrashadand
V.T.Rajshekar,whichhepickedupattheCultureandtheStateconferenceatUniversityof
Albertain2003,forhisideasaboutIndiancivilizationasfollows:27
ModernHinduismisfascismandracism.Itistheoriginofwhatwewouldcallmodern
fascism.BasedonareligiouscastesystemthatisAryaninorigin,itdividesuptheworld
21
SeefacultyprofileofPrashadathttp://internet2.trincoll.edu/facProfiles/Default.aspx?fid=1000767.Accessed
June17,2011
22
SeeoverviewofKellnersbusinessstrategiesonthecompanyswebsiteat
http://www.kellnerdileo.com/index.php?page=strategies.AccessedJune17,2011
23
24
IntheIntroductiontothebook,MalhotradiscusseshowracerelationsofAmericaareforcedontoIndiansociety
bythelikesofV.T.RajshekarandfurtherendorsedbyindividualslikePrashad.Dalitsareconsideredadifferent
racethanotherHindus/Indiansandarethereforeencouragedalongthisthemetorebelagainstthewhitesof
India.http://www.breakingindia.com/introduction/.AccessedJune17,2011
25
26
27
Page||17
intothreecastes,warriors,priests,merchants,andinaslaveclass,theDalitsor
Untouchables.28
PrashadalsosupportstheideasofKanchaIlaiah,deemedastheleadingDalitrights
campaigner29.However,KanchaIlaiahiswellknownforhishatredtowardsanddemonization
ofSanskrit,HinduismandIndia.IlaiahsandFOILsviewsonHinduismandIndiaarepresented
laterinthereport.But,itissufficienttosaythatIlaiahsviewsareextremelydisturbing,
inaccurateandademonstrationoftheoriesgonewild.Interestingly,oneofIlaiahsbooks
WhyIamnotaHinduisprescribedinintroductorycoursesonHinduismatmanyAmerican
universities!30KoenradElst,aBelgianIndologist,reviewedIlaiahsbookandfoundparallels
withtheantiJewishdepictionsinNaziwritings:31
TheseantiHinduforcesareexploitingtheAryanInvasionTheorytothehilt,infusing
crankracisminvastdosesintoIndiasbodypolitic.Read,e.g.KanchaIlaiahsbookWhy
IAmNotaHindu(Calcutta,1996),sponsoredbytheRajivGandhiFoundation,withits
antiBrahmincartoons:movethehairlocksoftheBrahminvillainsfromthebackofthe
headtojustinfrontofthetheirears,andyougetexactreplicasoftheantiSemitic
cartoonsfromtheNazipaper,DerStumer32
PrashadwroteanarticleonHinduHolocaust(NewsIndiaTimes,Sept.25,2009)aboutanevent
heldbyFrenchjournalistFrancoisGautiertoraisemoneytobuildaHinduHolocaustMuseum
thathighlightstheatrocitiesagainstHindusthroughouthistory.Contrarytoavailableevidence
bothfromMuslimandnonMuslimwritersandscholars,Prashadcategoricallydeniesthe
slaughterofHindusintheIndiansubcontinentatthehandsofIslamicinvadersstartingfrom
the8thcenturyAD.HesurmisesthatIslamenteredIndiaviapeacefultraderelationsrather
thanonthebacksofinvaders.And,evenwheninvadersdidcome,theyweremainlyinterested
inwarfareandplunderandnothingmore.VinodKumar,writingafactbasedresponseto
Prashadsarticle,highlightsthefollowingstatementsfromPrashad:
BetweenHindusandMuslimstherehasnotbeenanendlessrivalryforsocialpower.
WhenIslamentersthesubcontinent,itdoesnotcomeinthesaddlebagsoftheGhaznis
ortheGhouris,butamongsttherumbleofgoodsbroughtbytraders.Earlyconversions
arenotbytheswordbutbythemerchants.Therewaskilling,butthatwasasmuchfor
reasonsofwarfareandplunderasforreasonsofGodandtradition.Aninterested
readermightwanttolookatthedistinguishedhistorianRomilaThapar'ssuperbbook
28
30
31
32
29
Page||18
Samantha:TheManyVoicesofaHistory(Penguin,2005).There,ProfessorThapar
showsusthatMahmudGhaznisdestructionoftheShivatemplein1026wasdrivennot
somuchbyafanaticalreligiousbeliefbutbecausehisfather,Subuktigin(sic),needed
moneytosustainhisfalteringkingdominCentralAsia.Nowitiscertainlytrue,as
historianMohammedHabibputit,thattherewaswantondestructionoftemplesthat
followedinthewakeoftheGhaznavidarmy.33
PrashadshistoryknowledgeisbasedonnoneothertheMarxisthistorianRomilaThaparand
hercontroversialbookonthefamousHindutempleofSomnath.
(c) BijuMathew
BijuMathewisanAssociateProfessorofBusinessAdministrationatRiderUniversityinNew
Jersey.34MathewisthecofounderofFOIL.WhilehisbackgroundseemstobeinBusinessand
InformationSystems35,MathewseemstobeobsessedwithHindutva,anddescribesitasa
nationalistideology,basedonmoderndayversionofcentralizedintolerantHinduism.36In
2002,Mathew,alongwithothermembersofFOILandtheSouthAsianMarxist/Communist
community,startedagroupcalledCampaigntoStopFundingHate(CSFH),whichlaunched
attacksontwoUSbasedHinduorganizationstheIndianAmericancharityknownasIndia
DevelopmentandReligiousFund(IDRF)andtheUSHinduyouthorganizationknownasHindu
StudentsCouncil(HSC).FOILinitiatedtheattackonHSCinthe2007YouthSolidaritySummer
(youthwingofFOIL,startedbyMathew)conference,heldattheMarxistorganizationBrecht
ForuminManhattan,NY.MathewisassociatedwithBrecht,whichhedescribesasaleftist
educationalspacestartedwaybackintheReaganerawhenanythingleftistwasanathemain
America37
Duringthe2002attackIDRF,Mathew,inaninterviewclaimed:
Iamclearthatallformsofrightwingreligiousfundamentalistandobscurantistgroups
needtobeopposed.IftherearepetrodollarscomingintoIndiatofundradicalIslamist
groups,thatneedstobeinvestigatedandstopped.Likewiseinthecaseoffundingto
33
VinodKumar,Prof.VijayPrashadandHinduHolocaustMuseum,
http://vivekajyoti.blogspot.com/2009/09/thisfactbasedresponsetoprofvijay.html,accessedJune17,2011.
34
SeebackgroundinformationonMathewprovidedatRiderUniversityswebsite.
http://www.rider.edu/faculty/bijumathew,accessedJune17,2011
35
SeereferencethefollowingarticlewhereMathewdiscusseshisarrivaltotheUS.YoginderSikandandBiju
Mathew,StopFundingHate,August12,2005,http://www.countercurrents.org/commmathew120805.htm,
accessedJune17,2011.
36
BijuMathew,ANANTIINDIANNATIONALISTIDEOLOGY,
http://www.proxsa.org/politics/hindutva/hindutva.html,accessedJune18,2011
37
YoginderSikandandBijuMathew,Ibid.37
Page||19
Christianevangelistgroupstoengageinproselytism.So,we'vebeenequallycriticalof
radicalIslamistsandrightwingChristiangroupsaswehaveoftheRSS38
MathewisextremelysincereonhistiradeagainstHinduorganizationsandexposingtheir
hatefulagendasbutcompletelyignoresanyinvestigationofIslamistandChristianevangelical
groupsoperatinginIndiaandcreatingcommunaldiscord.Infact,onewouldbehardpressed
tofindanyinvestigativearticlesorreportscompiledbyMathew,FOILorCSFHregardingthe
muchdetailedchannelingofAmericanandEuropeanchurchdonationstoconversionactivities
inIndia.InvestigativejournalismwebsiteandnewspaperTehelka,inareporttitledPreparing
fortheharvest,providespainstakingandextremelydisturbingdetailsonsuchactivities.
Religiousexpansionismhasnotwitnessedthisscale,scope,andstateresourcesinalong
time.DetailedinvestigationsbyTehelkarevealthatAmericanevangelicalagencieshave
establishedinIndiaanenormous,wellcoordinatedandstrategisedreligiousconversion
planAttheheartofthiscomplexandsophisticatedoperationisasimplestrategy
convertlocalsandthengivethemtheknowhowandmoneytoplanttheirown
churchesandmultiply.39
TehelkagoesfurtheranddescribestheworldwideevangelicalplansinIndia.Thelaunchofthe
JoshuaProjectinthemid1990sresultedinscoresofAmericanresearchteamsarrivinginIndia
tolaypreliminaryroadmapsforthechurchplantingmission.InIndia,acoordinatedgospel
literaturedistributionexercisewasstagedtoreach600,000villagesbytheendof2000.40
TehelkaalsomentionsthattheprimetargetoftheseChristianmissionswasninenorthernand
centralstatesofIndia,because:
TheGangeticbeltisoneofthemostheavilypopulatedregionsoftheworld.Forty
percentoftheIndianpopulationliveshere;NewDelhiisthecapitalandcentreof
politicalpowerinIndia;ItisthemostsociallydeprivedareaofIndia(theHindibelthas
aliteracyrateof30percent,infantmortalityisdoublethenationalaverageandthe
governmentofIndiaofficiallydesignatesfourofthesestatesasBIMARU(sick));
ThisareaofIndiaisknownastheheartlandofHinduism,areligionthatboastsofsome
33milliongods;andIthasthesmallestChristianpresenceinallofIndia.Accordingto
the1991census,theChristianpopulationofNorthIndiais0.5percentofthetotal
population.41
38
YoginderSikandandBijuMathew,Ibid.37
VKShashikumar,PreparingFortheharvest,Tehelka,Page1,
http://www.tehelka.com/story_main.asp?filename=ts013004shashi.asp&id=1,AccessedJune18,2011
40
VKShashikumar,Ibid.,Page2
41
Ibid.
39
Page||20
Theseandotherfactsarewidelyavailableonthenetandinofficialchurchdocuments.
MalhotraandNeelakandandiligentlyexposethenetworkofthesegroupsaswellastheir
connectionswithLeftist/Communistindividuals,governmententitiesandcorporations.
TheabovestatementsshowthatthecleartargetsoftheseChristianorganizationsareHinduism
andHindus.Thenumbersareastronomicallyhigherincomparisontotheforeignfundingof
hatredthatMathewandothersaccuseHinduorganizationsof.WhyhasntMathew,a
championofMarxismandLeftistideals,beenequallycriticalandopposedthisharvestingof
soulsandfundingofhatredinIndia?CanitbethathisChristianbackgrounddoesntallowhis
consciencetorebelagainsthisownfaith?Thatwouldbeevenmoredisturbinggivenhis
Marxistandthereforeagainstallreligionsbackground.
Mathew,justlikePrashad,supportstheracistandantiHinduideasofKanchaIlaiah.Infact,
MathewconductedaninterviewofIlaiahonbehalfofFOIL,asseenfurtherinthereport.
(d) AnganaChatterji
AnganaChatterjiisaProfessorofSocialandCulturalAnthropologyattheCaliforniaInstituteof
IntegralStudies(CIIS).42Ironically,CIISwasestablishedtobringtheintegralteachingsofHindu
spiritualgiantSriAurobindoandhisIntegralYoga(PurnaYoga)intheUS.43Chatterjiusesher
positioninCIIStobasicallydotheoppositei.e.todemonizeHinduismandtheIndianstate.
OnewondershowChatterji,arabidantiIndia/antiHinduadvocate,canevenbeassociated
withCIIS.
PriortojoiningCIIS,sheworkedinpolicyandadvocacyresearchfortheIndianSocialInstitute
(ISI).ThisisanorganizationrunbyJesuitsandfoundedbyFr.JeromeDSouza,JesuitPriestand
educationist44.Onitswebsite,theISI,amongitsroleandidentity,mentions:Foradvocacy,the
institutealsobendsitsresearchmethodsinordertoinflatethemagnitudeofthesocialproblem
[emphasisadded]described,andtherebysuggestssocialactiontoaddresstheissue45.Inother
words,ISIfeelsquitecomfortableshowingonesidedresearchandinflatingnumberstoshow
thehumanrightsviolationsdonebyHinduextremistsagainstDalits,minorities,womenand
children.Thisisnotsurprising,sincemanyofthesetypesofNGOs(runbyChristian
organizations)tendtopumpupthedataandcastHinduism/Indiainanegativelightto
42
SeeentryforChatterjionWikipediaathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angana_P._Chatterji,accessedJune18,
2011
43
SeeentryforCIISonWikipediaathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Institute_of_Integral_Studies,
accessedJune18,2011
44
SeeHistoryofISIat
http://www.isidelhi.org.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=24&Itemid=12,accessedJune18,
2011
45
Ibid.
Page||21
strengthentheircaseofreligiousconversioninthenameofhumanrights.Problemsof
discriminationarelargelyblamedonHinduism,eventhoughcasteissuesareprominentamong
IndianChristians46andMuslims47.Indeed,amongstthepublicationsoftheInstituteisonebook
calledHumanRightsinIndianSituationbyJosephBenjamin,aprofessoratSt.FrancisdeSales
CollegeinNagpur,India.48Thebookclaimstoholisticallydocumentthehumanrights
violationsagainstDalits,women,etc.bytheIndiangovernmentandbytheHinduCasteSystem.
Whatsmore,suchdataisusedbyotherorganizations(especiallyChristianorganizations)
acrosstheworldtohighlightthebadnewsaboutHinduism.AmericaMagazine,aprominent
Catholicmagazine,citestheISIinthefollowingsentence:AccordingtoNewDelhisIndian
SocialInstitute,recentHinduMuslimriotsandattacksonChristiansareinstigatedbyaffluent,
elite,highcasteHinduswhoaretryingtoexpelthreatstothebrahminiccastesystem,or
VarnatheHinduideologyofsuperiorityandinferioritybasedonbirth,profession,pollution
andpurity49.Thus,Hindusaredepictedasaviolentlotthataimstoridanyonewhochallenges
theirsocialstructuresandsystems.
ChatterjiisalsoinvolvedintheCampaigntoStopFundingHate(CSFH),anotherorganization
foundedbymembersofFOILandotherIndianLeftists/Communists.Chatterjiprovidedcritical
assistancetoahighlylibelousandunsubstantiatedreportthatdamnedaUSbasedIndian
charityorganization,IndiaDevelopmentReliefFund(IDRF),allegingthattheywerefunding
hatredandatrocitiesagainstIndianminorities.50ThedrivingforcebehindthiswasthatIDRFs
schoolsinIndianruralandtribalareaswereprovidingasuccessfulalternativetoChristian
missionaryschoolsinvolvedinconversion,andChatterjiwasbroughtintodefamethenon
ChristiancompetitionthatIDRFprovided.51MoreinformationaboutCSFHisprovidedlaterin
thereport.
MalhotraandNeelakandanstatesthatwhileshefindsUSinterventioninIraqandAfghanistan
tobeaviolationofthosecountriescivilrightsshestillwantsUSinterventioninIndiasaffairs,
forexample,throughtheUSCommissiononInternationalReligiousFreedom.52Infact,
ChatterjiprovidedtestimonybeforetheUnitedStatesCongressionalTaskForceon
InternationalReligiousFreedomonviolenceinOrissa,chairedbyCongressmenTrentFranks
46
CastesystemamongIndianChristians,Wikipedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste_system_among_Indian_Christians,accessedJune18,2011
47
CastesystemamongSouthAsianMuslims
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste_system_among_South_Asian_Muslims,accessedJune19,2011
48
JosephBenjamin,HumanRightsinIndianSituation,IndianSocialInstitute,
http://www.isidelhi.org.in/contents/pub11.pdf,accessedJune19,2011
49
JohnFrancisIzzo,DalitMeansBroken,February14,2005,America,accessedonline,
http://www.americamagazine.org/content/article.cfm?article_id=4011,accessedJune19,2011
50
51
Ibid.
52
Ibid50
Page||22
andJosephR.Pitts,bothwithstrongrightwingevangelicalconnections.53Shealsosentan
unsolicitedtestimonyonOrissatotheGovernmentofIndia,inwhichallherdatacamedirectly
fromthereportbytheAllIndianChristianCouncil.Herdatawassoonesidedthatshe
completelyignoredsomewellestablishedfactsabouttheaggressiveevangelisminvolvedand
thenexusbetweenChristianevangelistsandMaoistsinthestate.54
ShedescribesthesocialservicesdonebyHinduorganizations,asconscriptionintoHindu
activism,evenasshepraisesthesamekindofsocialworkinhealthcare,educationand
employmentofferedbyChristianmissionaries.55
SheisthecoconveneroftheInternationalPeople'sTribunalonHumanRightsandJusticein
IndianadministeredKashmir56.TheTribunalseekstoanalyzetheconditionsinKashmir
wroughtbyIndianmilitaryoccupationandthesubjugationofmovementsforself
determination,aswellasthecyclesofviolencetheyproduced,includingandtheearlierarmed
militancyof1990suntil2007.57Curiously,thisTribunalisruthlesslyfocusedontheIndianstate
andtheHinduextremistsupportagainstIslamistterror.Itcompletelyignoresthehuman
rightsviolationsagainstHinduKashmiriPanditsandthesituationinPakistanoccupiedKashmir
(PoK),thoughtitsreallymeanttobeanInternationalPeoplesTribunal.Shewasinvitedtoa
conferenceonKashmir,organizedbythePakistaniStudentsAssociationatGeorgeWashington
University,theEmbassyofPakistan,andPakistansMinisterofKashmirAffairsandspokeofthe
growingconcernamongcivilsocietygroupsabouthumanrightscrisisinIndianoccupied
Kashmirintheareasofsocial,political,cultural,religiousandeconomicrights.Sheaccused
Indianofcontinuedoccupationof[certainareasof]Kashmir.58
MalhotraandNeelakandanfurtherdiscussobservationofMuhammedSadiq,aMuslimandthe
editorofaKashmirinewsportal,onChatterjislopsidedstatementsandactivitiesthatfind
placeinthehandsofIslamicterrorists:
[AnganaChatterji]announcedtheformationoftheInternationalPeoplesTribunalon
HumanRightsandJusticeinIndianAdministeredKashmiron5AprilinSrinagar.
Interestingly,thisorganizationtooinsiststhatthefocusofHRinvestigationsshouldbe
ontheIndiansideofKashmirandnotinPoKtoo.Moreover,thisisafaultfinding
53
Ibid50
Ibid50
55
Ibid50
56
SeeentryforChatterjionWikipediaathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angana_P._Chatterji,accessedJune19,
2011
57
Ibid.47
58
Ibid.48
54
Page||23
mission.ItsonlyaimistoslamtheIndiansecurityforces,furtherhighlightHRissuesand
vitiatethesituation.59
Thus,suchacademicscontinuetoportrayIndiaasalandofHindusavagesandundemocratic
statepoliciesandtrytoerasethelinesbetweentheveryrealIslamicterrorismandwhatthey
callequallyhorriblehumanrightsviolationsagainstMuslims,ChristiansandDalits.Thisseems
tojustifyterroristattacksonIndiaaswelldeserved.60MalhotraandNeelakandanremarkthe
viewsofJulianDuin,thereligioneditorofWashingtonTimesintheaftermath2008Mumbai
terrorattacksonIndia:TheterroristassaultthistimebyMuslimsonMumbailaterinthe
year,highlightedthepowderkeg(sic)IndiahasbecomeandhowofteninthisHindumajority
country,theoppresseddontgetalotofjustice.TheperpetratorsinOrissahavegone
unpunished.61
Thus,biasedresearchbythelikesofChatterjifluidlytranslatesintotheviewofmainstream
media.
(e) VinayLal
VinayLalisanAssociateProfessorofHistoryandAsianAmericanStudiesatUCLA.Lalrunsa
blogcalledLalSalaam,acleverplayonhislastnamebutalsoareferencetothepopular
Communistsalutation(EnglishTranslation:RedSalute)inIndia,usedbyindividualsandpolitical
partiesalike.LalisthespokespersonfortheCampaigntoStopFundingHate(CSFH)62anda
memberofFOIL63.HisviewsonHinduism,IndiaandHindusingeneralusethesame
hateful/suspiciouslensusedbyfellowFOILmemberssuchasVijayPrashadandAngana
ChatterjiandMarxistslikeRomilaThapar.Inhisbook,IntroducingHinduism(USA:Totem
Books,2005),LalspejorativeobsessionwiththeevilsofHinduismshinesbrightlyinaddition
tofactualerrors.VishalAgarwal,inareviewofthebook,mentions:Kalki,thelastincarnation
ofLordVishnuislikenedtotheexUSPresidentGeorgeBush(page92)inaratherinsensitive
way.ThephotographofSwamiDayanandSaraswati(18241883),thefounderofAryaSamaj
giveninthebook(p.119)isactuallythatofacurrentlylivingSwamiDayanandSaraswati,whois
59
Ibid.
61
Ibid59
62
AshfaqueSwapan,IDRFSupportersDisputeCharges,CriticsUnimpressed,IndiaWest,January10,2003,
availableathttp://stopfundinghate.org/resources/news/011003IndiaWest.htm,accessedJune19,2011
63
http://www.proxsa.org/politics/nonuke/vlal.html,accessedJune19,2011
60
Page||24
thefounderofArshaVidyaGurukulaminPennsylvania.64Similarly,Lalmakesadubious
assertionBuddhismandJainismintroducedvegetarianismandmonasticismintoHinduism.65
WhenLaltalksaboutRamayanain7pages(pages5763),hedevotes34ofthemtoSita's
agniparikshaand1onalternate(=notconformingtotheconventionalversions)versionsof
Ramayana.66ThereisbarelyanydiscussiononwhyRamaisconsideredanidealson,warrior,
etc.byHindusandwhyheisconsideredanAvatar(incarnation)ofVishnu.Theoverall
impressioncreatedisthattheRamayanaisamisogynisttext.67IndiscussingthePauranic
Deities,ShivaisofcoursealsoreferredtoasaPreAryantransplantintoVedicHinduism(page
68).68HinduprotestsagainstimagesofDeitiesonshoes,toiletseats,etc.arecategorizedas
thosedrivenbyhatefulideologiesandtheNRIsinUSareautomaticallyconsideredsupporters
ofHinduNationalism.TheimmenselypopularIndianTVseriesRamayanaandMahabharata
arelabeledasfuelingHinduCommunalism.69ThedoctrinesofRebirthandReincarnation,
SamsaraandKarmawhicharesovitaltounderstandingHinduworldview,[are]practically
ignoredinthebook.70Lalsviewssharestrikingbutnotsurprisingsimilaritiestothose
espousedbyfellowFOILmembersandlikeVijayPrashad,BijuMathewandothers.
IncontrasttoLalsbiasagainstHinduism,hegoestogreatpainstodefendIslam.Inanarticle
discussingtheTalibansdestructionoftheBamiyanBuddhas,Lalisparticularlysympatheticto
theTaliban.HewhitewashestheideologyandintentsofTalibanandseemstojustifythe
destructionofthestatues:[it]isconstruedasanexpressionnotonlyoftheTalibansangerbut
ofitssenseofbetrayal,itsfeelingofisolation,anditsprofounddisappointmentthatitshould
nothavebeensuitablyrewardedontheoneoccasionwhenitsubscribedtosomenormsof
internationalpoliticalengagement.71Thus,TalibansFundamentalistIslamicviewisreallyout
offrustrationattheWestfornothonoringitspartofthedealwhenTalibanmadeAfghanistan
freefromPoppyseedproduction!Lalthenproceedsfurthertoofferamorebalancedviewof
theTaliban,remindinghisreadersthatoneshouldnotbeallowedtoforgetthatRonald
ReaganwelcomedtheMujahideentotheWhiteHouseasfreedomfighters;atthisjuncturein
64
VishalAgarwal,HatingHindusasaFunActivity,VoiceofIndia,January2010,Page3,
http://voi.org/vishalagarwal/columnvishalagarwal/hatinghindusasafunactivity/page3.html,accessedJune20,
2011
65
Ibid.
66
Ibid.64
67
Ibid.64
68
Ibid.64
69
http://voi.org/vishalagarwal/columnvishalagarwal/hatinghindusasafunactivity/page5.html,accessedJune20,
2011
70
http://voi.org/vishalagarwal/columnvishalagarwal/hatinghindusasafunactivity.html,accessedJune20,2011
71
VinayLal,TheFragmentsofBamiyan,Page5,http://www.vinaylal.com/ESSAYS%28GP%29/bamiyan3.pdf,
accessedJune20,2011
Page||25
history,itisstilltherelentlesszerosumofpoliticswhichmakestheUnitedStatesandits
adversaryAfghanistanlookstrikinglyakin.72Furtherinthearticle,LaldefendsIslamicinvaders
andIslamingeneral,byaddingBamiyanstwogiganticBuddhasweresparedbyMahmudof
GhaznibutGenghizKhan,theMongolking,wasnotsoindifferent.DescribingMughalKing
Aurangzebasecumenical,Lalisreadytopointoutthatwhilethereissomeevidencethatthe
kinginitiatedattacksontheBamiyanBuddhas,helefttheAjantaandElloraCavesuntouched
duringhistwentyyearfightwiththeMarathasintheDeccan.Similarly,hehighlights:
alltheMuslimstateshaveemphaticallyrepudiatedtheTalibansactions,andeven
SaudiArabia,whichfanciesitselfastheguardianofanauthenticandorthodoxIslam,
declareditselfunequivocallyopposedtothedestructionoftheBuddhas.Nothinginthe
Sharia,orinthepronouncementsofvariousIslamicschoolsoflaw,encouragesthe
destructionofmonumentswhicharenotthesitesofreligiousworshipandcannot
thereforebeconstruedasidols.Mostpoignantly,thecalltojihad,whichisdescribed
bytheTalibanashavingfurnisheditwiththewarranttotakeactionatBamiyan,has
beenstrippedofitsendearingpromise.TheauthorizedtranslationoftheHolyQuran,
publishedbytheKingFahdHolyQuranPrintingComplex,statesthattheessenceof
jihadconsistsinabidingbyatrueandsincerefaith,whichsofixesitsgazeonAllahthat
allselfishorworldlymotivesseempaltryandfadeaway.73
LalcomesoutasagreaterdefenderofIslamwhilebedevilingHinduismasareligionthat
sanctionsviolenceagainstthelowercasteDalits,womenandminorities.PassagesfromKoran
andtheHadithsincitingviolenceagainstanddestructionofinfidelsareconsideredtobetaken
outofcontext,whilethesameisnottrueincaseofHinduismstexts.WhydoesntLaldiscuss
deeplypluralisticteachingsofHinduscriptures,thatthecastesystemisaconstructoflatterday
societyandnotsanctionedbyHinduscriptures,thattheconceptofSati(brideburning)isalso
notsanctionedinHinduscriptures,etc.?But,LaliskeenonpeddlingtheoriesthatHinduswere
somebeefingeatinginvadersfromoutsideofIndiawhooppressedthedarkskinned
DravidiansanddrovethemdownSouth.
LalandotherFOILmemberslikePrashadlovetoquoteGandhiwhenhittingoutatHindus,asif
theyholdhiminhighregard.However,LalacknowledgestheMarxistshavelongsubscribedto
theviewthatGandhiwasaromantic,ahopelessidealistandevenhypocrite.74Gandhis
companyofwomenissurmisedasfollows:
72
Ibid
Ibid71,Page7
74
VinayLal,TheSexualityofaCelibateLife,May5,2011,http://vinaylal.wordpress.com/2011/05/05/the
sexualityofacelibatelife/,accessedJune20,2011
73
Page||26
Thevowofbrahmacharyadidnotpreclude,asithasforreformersandsaintsinIndian
religioustraditions,thecompanyofwomen;indeed,Gandhiadoredtheirpresenceand
reveledintheirtouch[Mirabehns]correspondencehasatouchoftheeroticShewas
bynomeanstheonlywomanwithwhomGandhienjoyedaplatonicrelationship75
LalfallsjustshortoflabelingGandhiahomosexual.Hesays:
Manyofhismalefriendshipsareequallyinteresting:forexample,hemayalsohave
beenattractedtoHermannKallenbach,awealthyJewisharchitectwhowouldbecome
oneofGandhisearliestpatronsandclosestfriends76
(f) MeeraNanda
MeeraNandaisaJohnTempletonFoundationFellowinReligionandScience(20052007),with
aPh.D.fromRensselaerPolytechnicInstituteandaninitialtraininginbiology77.Accordingto
MalhotraandNeelakandan,ShewasavisitingfellowatJawaharlalNehruUniversityinNew
Delhiduring2009,andhaswrittenseveralarticlesandbooksdenouncingIndiancultureas
inherentlyantiscientificandaccusingIndiannationbuildersofpavingthewayforpseudo
scienceandevenhavingaNazimindset.78
AnotherofNandasarticleCallingIndiasFreethinkers,accusesSwamiVivekanandaand
BankimChandra(forefathersoftheIndiannationalresurgence)ofthecardinalsinoftryingto
appropriatemodernscientificthoughtforHinduism.AllattemptstoinvestigateHinduismin
thelightofsciencearedeclaredtobelinkedtoHindutva,includingworksbytheapologists
associatedwiththeRamakrishnaMissionandAurobindoAshram.79LinksbetweenIndian
cultureandscienceresonatewithdeeplyHinduandAryansupremacistovertones.80Nanda
hassupportedProtestantismasbeingscientific,whiledescribingHinduismastheexact
opposite.81InanarticleinOpenMagazine,NandacomesdownhardonHinduismandYoga
andtriestodestroyanylinkbetweenthetwo.Sheadds:Farfrombeingconsideredthecrown
jewelofHinduism,yogicasanaswereinfactlookeddownuponbyHinduintellectualsand
reformersincludingthegreatSwamiVivekanandaasfitonlyforsorcerers,fakirsand
jogis.82HasNandaeverreadthewritingofVivekanandaandothergreatspiritualgiantsof
75
Ibid.
Ibid.74
77
SeeentryofMeeraNandaonWikipediaathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meera_Nanda.AccessedJune21,2011
78
79
80
Ibid.
81
Ibid.79
82
MeeraNanda,NotasOldasYouThinknorveryHindueither.Thereistellingevidencetodebunkthis
nationalisticmyth,OpenTheMagazine,OnlineEdition,February12,2011,
http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/living/notasoldasyouthink,accessedJune21,2011
76
Page||27
India?Thisisdoubtful,becausejustacursorylookatSwamiVivekanandasworkonRajaYoga
showsYama,Niyama,Asana[EmphasisAdded],Pranayama,Pratyahara,Dharana,Dhyana,and
SamadhiarethestepsinRajaYoga83.Whythen,didNandachoosetoignorethisfact?
AccordingtoNanda,thephysicalaspectsofyogawerehybridised(sic)withdrills,gymnastics
andbodybuildingtechniquesborrowedfromSweden,Denmark,England,theUnitedStates
andotherWesterncountries.TheseinnovationswerecreativelygraftedontheYogaSutras84
Atanotherinstance,NandahasthefollowingtosayaboutHindusclaimonYoga:
Indeed,ifanyHindutraditioncanatallclaimapatentonposturalyoga,itisthesecaste
defying,ganjasmoking,sexuallypermissive,ShivaandShaktiworshippingsorcerers,
alchemistsandtantriks,whowerecowherds,pottersandsuchlike.Theyundertook
greatphysicalausteritiesnotbecausetheysoughttoachievepureconsciousness,
unencumberedbythebodyandothergrossmatter,butbecausetheywantedmagical
powers(siddhis)tobecomeimmortalandtocontroltherestofthenaturalworld.85
Inaninherentlackofcontextandanutterdisregardforfacts,Nandacherrypicksinformation
andsplicedatatogethertoconjureupathesis.
TheIndiaTodayreviewofherlatestbook(TheGodMarket:HowGlobalizationisMakingIndia
MoreHindu,RandomHouse,2009)summarizedsuccinctlyherattitudetowardsIndiaand
Hinduismthus:MeeraNandadoesntlikeIndia.AndshehatespopularHinduismwitheven
greaterpassion.86
WhenconfrontedbyHinduswithsourcesthatquestionherresearch,Nandasimplylabels
theseindividualsasHinduNationalists,apracticealltoocommonwithinthe
Marxists/Communistcircles.
NandaswritingsarefrequentlyfeaturedonSouthAsianCitizensWeb(SACW)87,asitefounded
andrunbyoneofFOILsoldtimemembers.
83
DaveDavies,RajaYogainBrief,BySwamiVivekananda,http://www.davedavies.com/splanet/raja.htm,
accessedJune21,2011
84
Nanda,Ibid.
85
Nanda,Ibid.
86
87
SeesearchresultsforMeeraNandaathttp://www.mail
archive.com/search?l=act%40yahoogroups.com&q=meera+nandaaswellasarticlespostedatSACWsoldwebsite
http://www.sacw.net/Index2.html.AccessedJune23,2011.
Page||28
ChapterII.
FOILonHindusandHinduism
Asmentionedearlier,FOILsviewsonHindus,HinduismandIndiaarehighlybiased,
unsubstantiatedandbasedontheresearchofscholarswithquestionablecredentialsorwithout
lackofspecialty.Thisisverymuchanexampleoftheblindleadingthedeaf.Eachhastorely
ontheothersfacultyandtheirworldviewisshapedonwhatinformationtheyfeedeachother.
Furthermore,FOILanditsaffiliatesarehighlyselectiveintheiranalysisandexcelathalftruths.
And,theyusethisviewtoexamineandridiculeotherorganizationsandindividuals.
Section2.01
SanatanaDharmaAnarrowversionofHinduism
In2007and2008,FOILanditsaffiliatesliketheCampaigntoStopFundingHate(CSFH),Sabrang
CommunicationsPvt.Ltd.andmanyothers,attackedtheUSbasedHinduyouthorganization
calledHinduStudentsCouncil(HSC)inalibelouscampaignthattheyclaimedwasbasedon
meticulousresearchfromHSCsowndocumentsandstatementsfromHindutva
organizations.Thegroupsclaimwasthattheorganizationishidingitsextremistagendaand
putsonapublicfaadeofHinduspiritualityandpluralism.88CSFHtakesexceptionwithHSCs
definitionHinduism.
[HSCs]promotionofSanatanaDharma,withnomentionthatthedeitiesbeing
worshippedandtheformofHinduismbeingextolledisanarrow,versionofHinduism
practicedbyuppercasteHinduswhoconstitutelessthanafifthofallHindus,isone
elementthatshouldsetthealarmbellsringingforanyonewhoknowssomethingabout
IndiaandHinduism,andsomarstheotherwiseliberalpublicimagethatHSCis
attemptingtoproject.89
SanatanaDharma,asmostHindusknow,isanothernamegiventoHinduism.Mahatma
Gandhi,writinginYoungIndia,onJune20,1921,defineshimselfthus:
IcallmyselfaSanataniHindu,becauseIbelieveintheVedas,theUpanishads,the
Puranas,andallthatgoesbythenameofHinduscripture,andthereforeinavatarasand
rebirth;Ibelieveinthevarnashramadharmainasense,inmyopinionstrictlyVedicbut
notinitspresentlypopularcrudesense;IbelieveintheprotectionofcowIdonot
disbelieveinmurtipuja.90
88
CampaigntoStopFundingHate,LyingReligiously:TheHinduStudentsCouncilAndThePoliticsOfDeception,
April15,2007,Page7,accessedJune21,2011
89
Ibid.,page10
90
SubhamoyDas,GandhionGod&Religion,About.com,
http://hinduism.about.com/od/history/a/gandhiquotes.htm,accessedJune21,2011
Page||29
Thus,GandhisdefinitionofaHinducertainlyincludedtheconceptofSanatanaDharmaand
thatasaHinduhispracticewasbasedonconceptsoftheVedas,Upanishads,Puranasandall
theHinduscriptures.
ChinmayaMissionsharesthefollowingthoughtsonthemeaningofHinduism:
Hinduism,moreaccuratelyreferredtoasSanatanaThetermHinduwasamisnomer
usedforthepeoplewholivedbeyondtheSindhuRiver,andeventuallytheterm
HinduismwascoinedtodenotetheHinduresidentsoftheIndiansubcontinent.91
SwamiSivananda,therenownedfounderoftheTheDivineLifeSociety,inhisbookAllAbout
HinduismsaysSanatanaDharmaistheEternalReligion,theAncientLaw.Hinduismisknown
asSanatanaDharma92.SwamiChidananda,theheadofParmarthNiketanandtheforce
behindTheEncyclopediaofHinduism,putsthedefinitionofHinduismquitebeautifully.
Accordingtohim,HinduismisagreattreeoflifeThattreeisSanatanDharma.93
TheEncyclopediaBritannicadescribesSanatanaDharma,asthetermusedtodenotethe
eternalorabsolutesetofdutiesorreligiouslyordainedpracticesincumbentuponallHindus,
regardlessofclass,caste,orsect.94SimilarlyWikipediamentionsthatHinduismisoften
referredtoasSantanaDharma(aSanskritphrasemeaningtheeternallaw)byits
adherents.95
Similarly,acursorysearchofwordsSanatanaDharmaonGoogleandonpopularonline
marketplaceslikeAmazonleadyoutonumerouswebsite,articlesandbooksthatbasicallyuse
thewordsSanatanaDharmaandHinduisminterchangeably.
OnecanthelpbutwonderwhatFOILanditsaffiliatesknowaboutIndiaandHinduismthat
othersdont.WherearetheygettingtheirdefinitionofSanatanaDharmaandHinduismfrom?
Canalltheseexperts,spiritualteachers,greatpersonalitiesandsourcesofreferencebewrong
orportrayingsomeuppercastehegemonicview?ThereportonHSCdoesntprovideany
references.
91
RupaliGupta,SanatanaDharmaa.k.aHinduism,Page2,
http://www.chinmayasaaket.org/articles/others/Sanatana_Dharma_aka_Hinduism.pdf,accessedJune21,2011
92
SriSwamiSivananda,ALLABOUTHINDUISM,TheDivineLifeTrustSociety,1999,WorldWideWebEdition,
http://www.dlshq.org/download/hinduismbk.htm,accessedJune21,2011
93
http://ihrf.com/bookSection/publications/unity.pdf
94
SeedefinitionofSanatanaDharmaonBritannicasOnlineEditionat
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/665848/sanatanadharma,accessedJune22,2011
95
SeeentryonHinduismonWikipediaathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism,accessedJune22,2011
Page||30
Section2.02
Speech
CritiqueofBiasesAgainstHinduism=anAttackonFree
In2004,Ghadar,apublicationofFOIL,RaRavishankarandShefaliChandra,ridiculetheyouth
organizationHSCforpublishingapresentationcritiquingtheportrayalsofHinduismbywestern
academics.InitsslightlydeeperinvestigationoftheCouncil,FOILconcludes:Anothersection
[oftheHSCwebsite]virulentlylambaststheworkofUSacademicsJeffreyKripal,Wendy
DonigerandPaulCourtwright(sic),thusestablishingthatfreespeech,eveninthenameof
intellectualpursuitsremainsantitheticaltothedogmaofHindufundamentalism.96So,in
essence,FOILanditsmembersarefreetocritiquetheworksofanyHinduscholaror
organization,buteffortsdonebytheinsidersofthetradition(i.e.Hinducommunitymembers,
scholarsandorganizations)aredenouncedasattacksonfreespeech.Unfortunately,therules
ofplayapplydifferentlytoFOILanditsaffiliatesversusHindus.
FOILreadilyignoresthebiasedviewsandresearchoftheseacademicscholars.Forexample,
WendyDoniger,MirceaEliadeDistinguishedServiceProfessorattheChicagoDivinitySchool
andprobablythemostinfluentialUSbasedacademicscholaronHinduism,hasthistosayabout
theBhagavadGita:
TheBhagavadGitaisnotasniceabookassomeAmericansthinkThroughoutthe
Mahabharata...Krishnagoadshumanbeingsintoallsortsofmurderousandself
destructivebehaviorssuchaswar....TheGitaisadishonestbook97
Thisview,combinedwiththeviewsofotherslikeKanchaIlaiah,formthebasisofstatements
madebymanyoftheFOILmembers.TheabovedefinitionofBhagavadGitaisatoddswiththe
myriadofscholars,poets,famouspersonalities,spiritualleadersandsaintsthathave
appreciatedthewisdomoftheGita.
IntheForewordtoPaulCourtrightsbookonGanesha(discussedlaterinthesection),Doniger
claimsthattheMabharatawasdictatedbyGaneshatoVyasa.98AnyHinduoranyindividual
whohaseverreadanytranslationoftheMahabharataknowsthatVyasadictatedtheepicto
Ganesha!Then,whyisDonigerclaimingtheopposite?
96
RaRavishankarandShefaliChandra,BrahmanizingtheDiaspora,Ghadar:apublicationoftheforumof
inqualabileftists,Volume7:June2004,http://ghadar.insaf.net/June2004/MainPages/Editorial2.htm,accessed
June22,2011
97
RajivMalhotra,RISALila1:Wendy'sChildSyndrome,September6,2002,
http://rajivmalhotra.sulekha.com/blog/post/2002/09/risalila1wendyschildsyndrome.htm,accessedJune22,
2011
98
VishalAgarwalandKalavaiVenkat,WhentheCigarbecomesaPhallus:AReviewofPaulCourtrightsGanesa,
LordofObstacles,LordofBeginnings(OxfordUniversityPress,1985)PartIandIITheText,July7,2004,
http://vishalagarwal.voiceofdharma.com/articles/devis/cigar.htm,accessedJune22,2011
Page||31
JeffreyKripal,aProfessorofReligiousStudiesatRiceUniversity,inhisbookKalisChild
psychoanalyzesRamakrishnaParamhamsa,oneofthemostreveredspiritualsaintsofIndia.
ThoughKripallacksproperunderstandingofBengaliandSanskrit,hisanalysisofRamakrishna
andthesaintspurportedhomosexualityknowsnobounds.Kripalscentralthesisis
summarizedinhisownwordsasfollows:
Ramakrishnawasaconflicted,unwilling,homoeroticTantrika[xiv]Tantra's
heterosexualassumptionsseriouslyviolatedthestructureofhisownhomosexual
desires.HisfemaleTantricguruandtemplebossmayhaveforcedthemselvesonthe
saintbutRamakrishnaremainedalovernotofsexuallyaggressivewomenorevenof
oldermenbutofyoung,beautifulboys.[xv]99
Inimaginationgonewild,Kripal,referringtoRamakrishnasmeetingwithamemberofthe
Nagasectofsanyasins,assumesthingswithoutanyevidenceaddstheextraspicetohis
analysis:
[W]hatitmusthavebeenlikeforRamakrishna,ahomosexuallyorientedman,tobe
shutawayfordaysinasmallhutwithanother,starknakedman.Vedantainstructionor
not,itwasthisman'snudity,andmoreespecially,hispenis,thatnormallycaught
Ramakrishna'sattention.Howcoulditnot?100
SwamiTyagananda,theheadofRamakrishnaVedantaSociety,inBoston,USAandtheHindu
ChaplainatMITandHarvard,offeredadetailedrefutationofKalisChildandexposedvarious
flawsinthebook.AccordingtoSwamiTyagananda,
Kripal'sconclusionscomeviafaultytranslations,awillfuldistortionandmanipulationof
sources,combinedwitharemarkableignoranceofBengaliculture.Thederisive,non
scholarlytonewithwhichhediscussedRamakrishnadidnothelpeitherKripal's
ignoranceofBengaliculturejumpsrightoffthepage.Manyoftheauthor's
misrepresentationsareduetoasimplelackoffamiliaritywithBengaliattitudesand
customs[Furthermore,]it'spainfullyclearthathealsohaslittleknowledgeof
Sanskrit101
InyetanotherinstanceofUSacademicsfreespeech,PaulCourtright,professorinthe
DepartmentofReligionatEmoryUniversitypsychoanalyzedHindudeities,includingLord
Ganesha.Inhisbook,Ganesa:LordofObstacles,LordofBeginnings,Courtrightisparticularly
crasstowardsLordGanesha.
99
Malhotra,Ibid.97
100
Malhotra,Ibid.97
101
Malhotra,Ibid.97
Page||32
Liketheeunuch,Ganesahasthepowertoblessandcurse;thatis,toplaceandremove
obstacles.AlthoughthereseemtobenomythsorfolktalesinwhichGanesaexplicitly
performsoralsex[EmphasisAdded],hisinsatiableappetiteforsweetsmaybe
interpretedasanefforttosatisfyahungerthatseemsinappropriateinanotherwise
asceticdisposition,ahungerhavingcleareroticovertones.102
Interestingly,intheaboveanalysis,Courtrightisthatheevenacknowledgesthatthereisno
textualorfolkevidenceofsuchbehaviorbyLordGanesha!Yet,heconcludesthatLord
Ganeshasloveforsweetshassomethingtodowithadesirefororalsex!AnyHindu,nomatter
howdevoutornot,willseethisasaclearlybiasedviewbrazenlyinsertedbytheauthor.
CourtrightanalyzesGaneshastrunkasfollows:...Theelephanttrunk,whichperpetuallyhangs
limp,andbrokentuskarereminiscentofSiva'sownphalliccharacter,butasthesephallic
analogsareeitherexcessiveorinthewrongplace,theyposenothreattoSiva'spowerandhis
eroticclaimsonParvati.103
Thus,throughouthisbook,Courtrightmisusesvarioustoolsofanalysisbasedonfolktalesand
HindutextstocreatedubioustheoriesaboutLordGaneshaandhischaracteristics.
Suchanalysesrunacrossthegamutofbooksandarticlespublishedbytheseandotherscholars.
And,disturbinglyenough,thesescholarsdonothaveappropriateknowledgeofSanskritor
nativelanguagessuchasBengali.ProfessorMichaelWitzelofHarvardhascalledoutWendy
DonigeronherimpropertranslationsofSanskrit.104
WhydoesntFOIL,whoclaimstostandfortheidealsofpluralismandforSouthAsiansin
general,sayanythingaboutsuchblatantbias?Doesitconsiderallevidenceandrefutations
providedbypeoplelikeSwamiTyaganandaandothersadogmaofHindufundamentalism?
PerhapsFOIL,throughitsowntaintedlenses,agreeswithsuchdemonizationofHinduismand
considersHinduisminherentlyevil.
102
Malhotra,Ibid.97
103
AgarwalandVenkat,Ibid.98
104
Malhotra,Ibid.97
Page||33
Section2.03
Teachings
BhagavadGitaANonHinduTextwithNonHumanist
Duringthe2007attackonHinduStudentsCouncil,VijayPrashad,oneofthefoundingmembers
ofFOILandwhowasintroducedpreviouslyinthereport,wroteaLettertoaYoungAmerican
Hindu,105whichessentiallycalledonallofHSCschapterstodissociatefromtheNationalBody
andstartanotherorganization(Sarvodaya)cateringtoeveryone.Whiletheletteriswrittento
strikeachordwithyoungHinduAmericansandtheirunderstandingofthingsHindu,Prashads
focusquicklyturnstoNoxiousHindutva.Heweavesinhisowndefinitionsandunderstandings
ofHinduisminthisprose.HeagreesthatheisnotanexpertintheGita106,butthengoesonto
makesomesweepingconclusionsregardingthescripture.HepositsthattheGitawas
composedlongaftertheMahabharata,writteninclassicalSanskritintheGuptaera,
interpolatedintothelongepicmuchlater.107TheGitaisasublimeresponsetothepowerof
Buddhismwithconceptssuchaskarmadrawnfromit.108WhatisthebasisfromPrashads
bizarrestatements?RomilaThapar,theMarxisthistoriandiscussedearlierinthereport,seems
toarriveatthisconclusion,inherEarlyIndiaFromtheOriginstoAD1300.Thaparsummarizes
thattheMahabharatamayhavebeenalocalizedfeud,andtheBhagavadGitaawholesale
interpolation!109Thapar,inAHistoryofIndia,goesevenfurtherandclaimsthattheEpicshad
originallybeensecular[andwere]revisedbytheBrahminswithaviewofusingthemas
religiousliterature110.Theaudacityandridiculousnatureofsuchclaimsisbeyondany
comparison.Nonetheless,suchclaimsareexactlywhatformthebasisofPrashadsconclusions
abouttheGitaanditsteachings.AnythinggoodinHinduism(i.e.Gita)musthavebeensecular
andthereforehijackedbyevilBrahmins.
PrashadsandFOILsobsessionwithcasteandtheBrahminicevilsagainsurfacesinhisanalysis
oftheGita.Hementionsthatthegeniusofthetextisthatittakesconceptsandideasfrom
thesepopulartraditions[i.e.Buddhism]andbringsthemintolinewithsomeofthecentral
principlesofBrahmanism(varna,mainly).111So,Gitaislookeduponasamerereconciliatory
textandtheonlyBrahminicconceptrelevantlysynthesizedbytheGitaistheconceptof
Varna.Goingbythatlogic,otherimportantconceptssuchasKarma,Samsara,Yoga,Sankhya,
105
VijayPrashad,LettertoaYoungAmericanHindu,May21,2007,http://www.passtheroti.com/posts/487,
accessedJune23,2011
106
Prashad,Ibid.
107
Prashad,Ibid.105
108
Prashad,Ibid.105
109
KalavaiVenkat,ACriticalReviewofRomilaThaparsEarlyIndiaFromTheOriginstoAD1300,Page14,
http://voiceofdharma.org/indology/EarlyIndia.pdf,accessedJune23,2011
110
IndraniBandopadhayay,TheBhagavadGita,http://www.acns.com/~mm9n/articles/dev/10Gita.htm,
accessedJune23,2011
111
Prashad,Ibid.105
Page||34
theconceptsofBrahman/Atman,etc.arenotpartoftheBrahminictraditionandhavereally
beenborrowedfromothertraditions.So,arguably,themostwidelyreadandwidelycherished
HinduscriptureisnotreallyHinduinorigin!Inessence,accordingtoPrashad,ancientHindus
arenotcapableofproducinganythingfruitfulandhavecontinuedtostealfromother
traditions.
HealsoadvisesyoungHindustoseetheGitaasanexperimentintruth.112So,thetimeless
principlesandprofoundteachingsoftheGitaarereducedtomereexperiments.Onewonders
ifPrashadcandaretosendsuchadviceinletterstoyoungAmericanMuslims,Christians,Jews
orevenSikhs.WhatwouldbetheimpactofsuchaletteronPrashadsreputation?But,allis
fairgamewhenitcomestoHindus.
PrashaddescribesthephilosophyofBhakti(selflessdevotion)asonethatdrewoutfromthe
oppressedpeoplesofthesubcontinenttheabilitytochallengethosewhostoodbetweenthem
anddivinity(theBrahmins,forinstance)andthosewhostoodbetweenthemandapeacefullife
(Kings,forinstance).113HisstatementsoundsmoreinlinewiththeMarxistconceptof
rebellionsandtheMaoistinsurgencyinIndia,ratherthanthesaintsandpoetsunderstanding
ofdevotion.Interestingly,hefailstomentionthattheserebellionsreadilyenrichedthegreat
fabricofHinduism.Hindutemples,HindufamiliesthesocalleduppercastesofHindusreadily
singthepoetryanddevotionalsongsofallthesesaints.
PrashadwouldbenefittokeepthefollowingwordsofKabirinmind:
Bijak/Sakhi171:
hIrAparAbajArmaiN
rahAchhArlapaTAy
ketihemurakhpachimUye
koipArakhiliyAuThAy
Adiamondwaslaying(sic)inthestreetcoveredwithdirt.Manyfoolspassedby.
Someonewhoknewdiamondspickeditup.
[Thosewhounderstandgyansiddhanta(trueknowledge/principles),pausetoacquire
it].114
Unfortunately,FOILfailstoappreciateandunderstandtheknowledgeableprinciplesfoundin
Hinduscripturesandtexts.
112
Prashad,Ibid.105
Prashad,Ibid.105
114
KabirMysticPhilosopher13981518,http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~malaiya/kabir.html,accessedJune24,
2011
113
Page||35
Prashad,towardstheconclusionofhislettertoyoungHindus,says:tokeepitalive,Hinduism
requiresanengagementwithitshistory(whichshowsushowitevolvesandchanges)andwith
itscoreconcepts(whatweotherwisecallphilosophy).115However,theengagement,
accordingtoFOILisonlyonewaytheoutsiders,liketheWesternacademicscholars
discussedaboveandIndianCommunist/MarxistslikeFOIL,engageHinduismandshapeits
definitionandhistory,whiletheinsiders(i.e.Hindupractitionersandadherents)shouldbe
mutewitnesses.IftheinsidersattempttoselfdefineorshowcaseHinduismasadynamic
tradition,theyareblackballedandlabeledasYankeeHindutvadisorHinduchauvinists.
ChallengestobiasedinterpretationsoralternativeengagementsofHinduismarelabeledas
attacksonfreespeech.
BalmurliNatrajan,anothermemberofFOILandtheCampaignToStopFundingHate,isa
professorofanthropologyatWilliamPatersonUniversity.Heprovidessimilarexampleof
FOILspositionontheBhagavadGita.InaLettertoProgressiveHindu,Natrajantakesa
particularlypeculiarandprejudicedviewonLordKrishna,theGitaandvariousdeitiesfoundin
Hinduism.InanappealtosocalledprogressiveHindustorejectpartsorallofthescripturesas
notsuitable,Natrajancites:
Anexamplecouldbeverses3.223.24fromtheGitawhereinKrishna,theGodwhoplays
thepartofaguru,triestoconvinceArjunatodohisdutyongroundsthatfailuretodo
sowouldresultinsankarasyaortheinterminglingormixtureofcastes.For,noamount
ofintellectualcamouflagingwillbeabletoanswerthequestionthataprogressiveHindu
willask:So,whatiswrongifpeopleintermingle(orifsankarasyahappens)?Whois
botheredwiththisandwhy?WhydoestheGitadwellsomuchonnotdoinganother
person'sduty?Whodefinesthisduty?What,inotherwords,istheGitaupholdingas
asocialorder?116
Theverse3.24thatNatrajancitesisnotaboutArjunabutaboutKrishnasroleinthisuniverse.
Accordingtotheverse,Krishnasays:IfIdidnotperformprescribedduties,alltheseworlds
wouldbeputtoruination.Iwouldbethecauseofcreatingunwantedpopulation,andIwould
therebydestroythepeaceofalllivingbeings."117Krishnaissayingthatbynotperforminghis
ownprescribeddutyinthisuniverse,hewillbethecauseofgreatdiscord,becauseothers
wouldfollowsuit.Inverse3.25,healsosaysthatthewiseshouldactwithoutattachmentfor
115
Prashad,Ibid.105
BalmurliNatrajan,LettertoaProgressiveHindu,SAMAR,Issue28,February28,2008,
http://samarmagazine.org/archive/articles/255,accessedJune23,2011
117
TheBhagavadGita:TheDivineSongofGod,Chapter3,Verse24,http://www.bhagavad
gita.us/categories/TheGita%3AChapter3/?Page=2,accessedJune23,2011
116
Page||36
thesakeofleadingpeopleontherightpath.118Ineverycultureandineverysociety,most
peoplefollowwiseleaders.MillionsofIndiansfollowedMahatmaGandhiintheIndian
independencestruggle.MillionsofpeoplefollowedandstillfollowtheteachingsofBuddha,
AdiShankaracharya,Vivekananda,Ramakrishna,GuruNanak,GuruGovindSingh,Chanakyaand
manyothers.Thesegreatpersonalitiesledlivesofdetachedactionandsetexamplesfor
peopletofollow.ThousandsofpeoplealsofollowedandfollowHitler,Stalin,OsamabinLaden
andothersthroughouthistoryandthiscreatedmajorchaosintheworld.So,Krishnasadviceis
realandapplicableevenintodaysworld.
Now,letsturntoNatajransquestionregardingwhyGitaisdwellingsomuchonduty.Firstof
all,theGitahasmanydifferentconceptsinit,andadherencetodutyisjustone.But,itis
importantinArjunascasebecausehewasthemostpowerfulwarrioronthePandavasideand
wascriticalforthesuccessofthewar.Imagineifhedidnotfight!Pandavasdefeatwascertain
then.And,nottomention,ArjunasretreatwouldalsodefametheentireKurudynastyand
Arjunapersonally.Ifhehadretreatedfromthebattlefield,wouldhebesofamoustoday?But,
FOILandNatrajaneasilyoverlooksuchsimplerlogic.
Unfortunately,Natrajanisagainnarrowlyfocusedoncasteanditssupposeddefinitionfoundin
thisverseoftheGita,andhisanalysisoftheconceptsofVarna(classes)seemssuperficial.In
fact,thewordcasteitselfisamisnomerderivedfromthePortuguesewordCasta.Varna
wasmistranslatedas'caste',andaftergenerationsofrepetition,itbecametheprevailingview
evenamongstHinduseducatedundertheBritishsystem.Thisinterpretationbecameaself
fulfillingprophecysincetheBritishcensusofIndiausedrigidcasteboundariesintowhichthey
forcefittheentirepopulation.119
HeasksquestionstounmasktheintellectualcamouflagingthatheblamesHindusforinhis
letterandhisquestionsaremeanttoinvokeasenseofsuspicionregardingtheGita.Thus,per
histhesis,progressiveHindusshouldbeboldenoughtoevenrejecttheentireGitabasedonthe
versethatheprovides.However,beforeanyHindujumpsonthatbandwagon,itwillbewiseto
putthatverseincontextwiththeentirephilosophicaldiscussionthatKrishnaishavingwith
Arjunainthatchapter.Also,itsimportanttorememberthatKrishnaengagesArjunainvarious
philosophicalargumentsandconcepts.Themixingofcastes(whichisnotproperlytranslated
byNatrajan)isonepointoutofsomanythathemakesthroughouttheGitatoexplaintoArjuna
whythelattermustfightintheKurukshetraWar.
118
gita.us/categories/TheGita%3AChapter3/?Page=2,accessedJune23,2011
119
RajivMalhotra,BhagvadgitaonCaste,http://www.infinityfoundation.com/ECITcaste3frameset.htm.
AccessedJune24,2011
Page||37
Chapter3isaboutKarmaYogaanddetachedaction.KrishnadiscussesKarmaYogaasoneof
themeansofattainingliberationfromthecycleofbirthanddeath.Forinstance,inverse3.8,
Krishnaadvises:Performyourprescribedduty,fordoingsoisbetterthannotworking.One
cannotevenmaintainonesphysicalbodywithoutwork.120So,inessence,Arjunamustdohis
dutybecausethatisthenatureofallbeings.Thisversealsohasobvioustruthinitbecauseifa
persondoesnottakecareofherbody,shewillhaveallsortsofhealthproblems.Maintaining
ourphysicalbodyrequiresworkonourpart(i.e.exercise,eatinghealthy,etc.)Similarly,in
verse3.19,Krishnasays:Therefore,withoutbeingattachedtothefruitsofactivities,one
shouldactasamatterofduty,forbyworkingwithoutattachmentoneattainstheSupreme.121
ItisimperativeforawarriorlikeArjunatoremaindetachedinhisdutiesbecauseonlythencan
hesincerelyperformthematthisimportantjunctureofthewar.Krishnadiscussestheconcept
ofdetachedactioninmuchgreaterdetailthroughoutthisandotherchapters.But,inChapter
5,Krishnaalsosaysthatonecanattainliberationbydevotionalserviceandanalyticalstudy.In
verse5.5,Krishnaadvises:"Onewhoknowsthatthepositionreachedbymeansofanalytical
studycanalsobeattainedbydevotionalservice,andwhothereforeseesanalyticalstudyand
devotionalservicetobeonthesamelevel,seesthingsastheyare.122But,analyticalstudyis
notthepathtofollowinabattlefield.Itisasoldiersdutytofightinthebattlefieldandnot
openupbookstoanalyzephilosophicalconcepts(althoughshemaydothatwhennotinthe
battlefield).
Justbylookingatafewoftheseversus,onecaneasilyunderstandthattakingversesoutof
contextandinisolationcanleadtoamisunderstandingofthepowerfulconceptspresentedin
theGita.TheGitadiscussesmultipleapproachesforattainingliberation,rangingfromKarma
YogatoBhaktiYoga,JnanaYoga,etc.Krishnaalsomaintainsthataparticularapproachmaybe
suitableforapersonwithcertainqualities,whileanotherapproachmaybemoreattractivetoa
personwithadifferentsetofqualities.But,Natrajan,likehisFOILbrethren,sidelinesallthisto
raisesuspicionstowardsthemostprofoundHinduphilosophicalconcepts.
Natrajan,intheletter,furtherpaintsLordKrishnasteachingsasnonhumanistandthe
teachingsofthevariousdeitiesasfilledwithincest,greed,etc.Onlywhentheteachingsare
taughtbyaguruaretheyreallyhumanist.
ComingbacktoSamskara,weseethatnotsurprisingly,humanistteachingsinHinduism
arisenotfromourhostofgodsandgoddesseswhoselifestoriesaremanytimesfilled
120
gita.us/categories/TheGita%3AChapter3/,accessedJune23,2011
121
122
TheBhagavadGita:TheDivineSongofGod,Chapter5,Verse5http://www.bhagavadgita.us/categories/The
Gita%3AChapter5/,accessedJune23,2011
Page||38
withoutrageouskindsofdeceit,manipulations,selfishnessandgreed.[EmphasisAdded]
Instead,allhumanistHinduteachingsarefromitshumanandhumanegurus,notgods.
Andthebestgurusteachtoservehumanityandtonotobservedistinctionsofcaste,
creed,andevengenderinwaysthatcreateandreproducehierarchiesorinequalities.
Indeed,whenonesuchGodtriedtoplaytheroleofaguruasseenaboveintheGita,the
teachingsarequiteclearlynonhumanistic.123[EmphasisAdded]
Inoneswoop,NatrajanholdstheentirehostofdeitiesaswellasscriptureslikeGitaguiltyof
immoralbehavior.Granted,thereareeroticstoriesandsexualreferencestodeitiesinpoems
andarts.However,thatdoesntpermitanyonefrommakingsuchsweepinggeneralizationsand
paintingtheentireHindutraditionred.
ItisironicthatNatrajanacceptsthatteachingsfromgurusarehumanist,notthoseofthe
deities.But,wherearethegurusgettingtheirteachingsfrom?Whichgurusishereferringto?
ThewisestteachersofHinduismrangingfromVyasa,Valmiki,Yagnavalkya,etc.to
Shankarcharya,Ramanujacharya,Madhvacharya,Kabir,Mirabai,LordChaitanya,Swami
Narayan,Tulsidas,Tukaram,NarasinhMehta,SaiBaba,SwamiVivekananda,Ramakrishna
Paramhamsa,Aurobindo,Gandhi,RamanaMaharishi,SwamiChinmayananda,Srila
Prabhupada,etc.haveallbasedtheirteachingsonvariousdeitiesandtheiravatars,likeShiva,
Vishnu,Krishna,Rama,Hanuman,Kali,Durga,Ganesha,etc.So,whatdoesNatrajanmean
whenhetriestoseparatethegurusfromthedeities?Howdothegurusattaintheirknowledge
withoutdeepdevotiontowardsandmeditationuponthesedeitiesthatareultimatelythe
personificationoftheImpersonalRealityknownasBrahmaninthescriptures?Howdodeities
whosestoriesarefullofdeceit,manipulations,selfishnessandgreedinspiresomanylearned
gurusandspiritualpersonalities?Cantheyallbedeluded?
ConsiderthefollowingBhajanofMirabai,the16thcenturydevoteeofKrishnaandalegendary
saintofIndia:
AkandaVarneVareeSaheli,HutoAkhandaVarneVaree
Omycompanion,saheli(femalefriend)!IammarriedtoTheEternalHusband(Krishna).
IamnowmarriedtoTheIndivisibleHusband.
MiraKePrabhuGiridharNaagar,SantonaCharnePadiSaheli
123
Natrajan,Ibid.116
Page||39
GopiMira'sLordisGiridhar(whoraisedthemountaintosavehisdevoteesin
Vrindavan).Heisthetruecivilized,dependable,pure,selflessfriendandhusband.I
nowsurrenderatthefeetofsaints.124
IntheaboveGujaratiBhajan,MiraisclearlyinlovewithKrishna,considershimherhusband
andoffershercompletedevotiontohim.HerBhakti(selflessdevotion)isextremelystrong
towardsKrishna.WouldNatrajanconsiderthisanimmoralbehaviorandblamethesaintfor
incest?
ComingbacktotheGita,NatrajanmaintainsthatLordKrishnasteachingsarequiteclearly
nonhumanistic.Thisoneisbasedononeexampleofverses3.223.24thathecites.However,
evenanamateurstudentoftheGitaandHinduscriptureknowsthatHinduismisvastlyfilled
withhumanistandpluralisticteachings.TheGitaisrichinhumanistteachingsandhasbeenthe
sourceofinspirationforhundredsofmillionsofpeopleallovertheworld,bothreligiousand
secular,HinduandnonHindu,rangingfromGandhitoThoreauandEinstein,from
ShankaracharyatoAurobindotoVivekanandaandmanyothermodernandancient
personalities.Infact,theentireHinduscripturaltreasureisfilledwithuniversal,pluralistand
humanistteachings.
BhagavadGita,verse9.26declares:WhoeverwithdevotionoffersMealeaf,aflower,afruit,
orwater,thatIacceptthedevoutgiftofthepureminded125Similarly,verse9.29says:Iam
thesametoallbeings:toMethereisnonehatefulordear.ButthosewhoworshipMewith
devotion,areinMe,andItooaminthem.126
BhagavadGita,verse2.64declares:Buttheselfcontrolledman,movingamongobjects,with
hissenseunderrestraintandfreefrombothattractionandrepulsion,attainspeace.127
BhagavadGita,verse17.20declares:"Charitygivenoutofduty,withoutexpectationofreturn,
atthepropertimeandplace,andtoaworthypersonisconsideredtobeinthemodeof
goodness.128
124
AkhandVarNeVariHuIAmMarriedToTheEternalHusband,http://www.gitananda.org/bhajans/akhand
varnevarihu.html,accessedJune23,2011
125
SrimadBhagavadGita,EnglishtranslationandcommentarybySwamiSwarupananda,[1909],Chapter9,
Verse26,http://www.sacredtexts.com/hin/sbg/sbg14.htm,accessedJune24,2011
126 126
SrimadBhagavadGita,EnglishtranslationandcommentarybySwamiSwarupananda,[1909],Chapter9,
Verse29,http://www.sacredtexts.com/hin/sbg/sbg14.htm,accessedJune24,2011
127
SwamiChinmayanand,Peacewhileonehasmuchworkandresponsibility
http://www.mychinmaya.org/index.php?id=topic_2,accessedJune24,2011
128
Page||40
HerearesomefamousperspectivesontheGita:
Whendoubtshauntme,whendisappointmentsstaremeintheface,andIseenotone
rayofhopeonthehorizon,IturntoBhagavadGitaandfindaversetocomfortme;and
Iimmediatelybegintosmileinthemidstofoverwhelmingsorrow.Thosewhomeditate
ontheGitawillderivefreshjoyandnewmeaningsfromiteveryday.Mahatma
Gandhiji
TheBhagavadGitaisthemostsystematicstatementofspiritualevolutionofendowing
valuetomankind.Itisoneofthemostclearandcomprehensivesummariesofperennial
philosophyeverrevealed;henceitsenduringvalueissubjectnotonlytoIndiabuttoall
ofhumanity.AldousHuxley
TheBhagavadGitadealsessentiallywiththespiritualfoundationofhumanexistence.It
isacallofactiontomeettheobligationsanddutiesoflife;yetkeepinginviewthe
spiritualnatureandgranderpurposeoftheuniverse.PanditJawaharlalNehru
TheBhagavadGitaisatruescriptureofthehumanracealivingcreationratherthana
book,withanewmessageforeveryageandanewmeaningforeverycivilization.Sri
Aurobindo
InthemorningIbathemyintellectinthestupendousandcosmogonalphilosophyofthe
BhagavadGita,incomparisonwithwhichourmodernworldanditsliteratureseems
punyandtrivial.HenryDavidThoreau129
OnewonderswherethesegiantsofcivilizationarewrongintheirinterpretationoftheGita
whencomparedtoNatrajan.
129
SubhamoyDas,InPraiseoftheBhagavadGita:GreatCommentsbyGreatPeople,About.Com,
http://hinduism.about.com/od/thegita/a/famousquotes.htm,accessedJune24,2011
Page||41
Section2.04
RamayanaArguesforColonization
In1996,VijayPrashadgaveatalkontheoccasionofDiwali,oneofthemostimportantHindu
festivals.OnewouldexpectthetalktobeaboutDiwalianditssignificancetoHindus.
However,thetopicwasDiwaliandDecolonization.Aftermentioningthattherearemultiple
talessurroundingDiwali,PrashadquicklyshiftshisfocustodemolishthestatureofLordRama
inHindutradition.HelamentsontheRamjanambhoomiBabriMasjidissueandthesubsequent
riotsandthenblamesLordRamaforthecontroversy.Hewonders:Thebloodwhichhas
sanctifiedthisdeitymakesmewonderifthereisanyneedtorememberDiwalithrough
him130Hecontinues,inhistalktodescribeRamaasacommonplaceherowhowas
transformedlaterintoapersonalGodaccessibletothemasses.ThoughHindusviewRamaas
amodelofrighteousnessandcompassion,Prashaddistinguisheshisrighteousnessversusthat
oftherighteousnessfoundintheVedas,asiftheyarebothseparate.Hestates:Ramadoes
notkeeptohisvarnadomain,butconsortswithvariousoppressedcastesandoutcast
tribes131.So,if,throughhisownconduct,Ramashowscompassionandfriendlinesstoothers
inthesociety,thisisnotacceptablesinceaccordingtoPrashadsviewtheBrahminicVedic
textsarefrozenandcanonlybeviewedasoppressive.Inessence,Hindusaredamnedifthey
do,anddamnediftheydont.IfHinduismhasexamplesofpersonalitiesanddeities
transcendingclassbarriersorovercominganyrestrictions,thoseareviewedwithsuspicionand
discardedasnotpartofthecoreoppressiveBrahminicreligion.
Then,hemakesoneofhismostoutrageousstatements:
ThevarioustextsofferthestoryofRamtomakepedagogicalandmoralpoints:the
Ramayanaarguesforthecolonizationofthepeoplesofthesubcontinentwhilethe
Ramcaritmanasarguesfortheworshipofaniconicfigure[EmphasisAdded]ratherthan,
forinstance,aconsiderationoftheUpanishads'metaphysics.132
Withoutprovidinganyevidenceorcontexttohisposition,Prashadbasicallydemonizesoneof
themostreveredtextsofHinduismassanctioningcolonization!DoesherefertoRamasbattle
withRavanaascolonizingtheblackpeopleoftheSouth,inlinewithhisbiasedbeliefsofthe
Aryan/Dravidianracisttheories?
HisargumentsoundsextremelysimilartothecrackpottheoriespeddledbythelikesofKancha
Ilaiah,whoseideasandworkFOILmemberswidelysupport.Forexample,inhisbookWhyIam
notaHindu,IlaiahmaintainsthattheTheRamayanaissomeprimevalracewarinwhichthe
130
VijayPrashad,DiwaliandDecolonization,atalkatBrownUniversity,October26,1996,
http://www.foil.org/culture/diwali.html,accessedJune24,2011
131
Prashad,Ibid.
132
PrashadIbid.130
Page||42
AryanssuppressedtheDravidiansouth.133ItseemsthatbothPrashadandIlaiahareoblivious
tothefactthatoneofthemostpopularversionsofRamayanawascomposedbyTamilpoet
KambanandbecamewidelypopularintheSouth.WhywouldaDravidianpoetcomposea
glorifyingtaleofacolonizer?Furthermore,RavanahimselfwasalearnedBrahminandthe
sonofsageVishravaandthegrandsonofsagePulatsya.134So,intermsofcastehierarchy,
Ravana(Brahmin)wasofahighercastethanRama(Kshatriya)!Similarly,Ravanaisdescribed
byValmikiashavingknowledgeoftheVedasandagreatdevoteeofShiva.Hewasa
SamavedinandcomposedtheShivaThandavaStotram135.So,whywouldaDravidiankingbe
aBrahminandknowledgeableinSanskritaswellastheVedas?Thisinformationcontradicts
PrashadsandIlaiahsviewsontheRamayana.
Next,letsanalyzePrashadsargumentthatRamcaritmanasarguesfortheworshipofaniconic
figureratherthan,forinstance,aconsiderationoftheUpanishadsmetaphysics.Prashad
againsubjectsHindutextstoridiculeandsuspicionwhilemakingoutrageousand
unsubstantiatedstatements.HislackofknowledgeofHinduismshinesoutbrightlywithsuch
ascomments.RamcharitmanasaswellasmanyotherBhaktiworksarerichlyembeddedinthe
Saguna(withqualities)BrahmanconceptoftheUpanishadsandexpressthisconcept
beautifully.TulsidaspreferredtheSagunaBrahmanformoftheAbsoluteRealityoverthe
Nirguna(withoutqualities)Brahman.Thus,tohim,LordRamawastheembodimentofthat
SagunaBrahman.Rambhadracharya(2008)illustratesthisfromtheUttarKhandof
Ramcharitmanas:
IntheUttarKandofRamcharitmanas,Tulsidasdescribesindetailadebatebetween
KakbhushundiandLomashaaboutwhetherGodisNirguna(asarguedbyLomasha
adheringtomonism)orSaguna(asarguedbyKakbhushundiadheringtodualism).
KakbhushundirepeatedlyrefutesalltheargumentsofLomasha,tothepointwhen
LomashabecomesangryandcursesKakbhushunditobeacrow.Lomasharepentslater
whenKakbhushundihappilyacceptsthecursebutrefusestogiveuptheBhaktiofRama,
theSagunaBrahma136
TheSvetashvataraUpanishadprovidessplendidexamplestheconnectionbetweenthe
philosophyofBhaktiandtheUpanishads.Chapter1,verse11mentions:
133
RanbirSingh,ReviewofKanchaIlaiahsWhyIamnotaHindu,February13,2011
http://www.chakranews.com/reviewofkanchailaiahswhyiamnotahindu/1100,accessedJune24,2011
134
Devdutt,ThiswasRavanToo,September30,2009,http://devdutt.com/thiswasravantoo/,accessedJune
24,2011
135
P.R.Ramachander,ShivaThandavastotrambyRavana,
http://www.hindupedia.com/en/Shiva_Thandava_stotram_by_Ravana,accessedJune24,2011
136
Pleaserefertonote59inWikipediasentryofTulsidas,underthesectionentitledDoctrine,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulsidas#cite_note58,accessedJune24,2011
Page||43
WhentheLordisknownallfettersfalloff;withthecessationofmiseries,birthand
deathcometoanend.FrommeditationonHimtherearises,afterthedissolutionofthe
body,thethirdstate,thatofuniversallordship.Andlastly,theaspirant,transcending
thatstatealso,abidesinthecompleteBlissofBrahman.137
Similarly,Chapter4,Verse11states:
Bytrulyrealising(sic)Himwho,thoughnondual,dwellsinprakriti,bothinitsprimary
andinitssecondaryaspectandinWhomthiswholeworldcomestogetherand
dissolvesbytrulyrealising(sic)HimWhoistheLord,thebestower(sic)ofblessings,the
AdorableGod,oneattainsthesupremepeace.138
Furthermore,itissurprisingthatPrashadtakesissueswithTulisdaswork,sinceTulsidasisone
ofthemostfamousBhaktisaintsandRamcharitmanasisoneofthecornerstonesofBhakti
writings.Infact,PrashadhimselfdescribesBhaktiasoneofthefoundationstonesof
modernHinduism.139WhatisPrashadimplyingbydemotingthisgreatworkofBhaktiagainst
theUpanishads?Or,isheholdingRamaincontemptandthereforeimplyingthat
Ramcharitmanasarguesforworshipofthiscontemptuousicon?Itisinterestingtonotethat
heholdsKabir,Mira,etc.saintsinhighesteemandlaudsthemforstartingspiritualandsocial
rebellions,140whileTulsidasisnotgiventhesamestaturebasedonPrashadsanalysisofhis
work.IfheblaststheRamcharitmanas,heisblastingtheentireBhaktimovementsinceit
essentiallycallsforunconditionaldevotiontoiconicfigureslikeRama,Krishna,Vishnu,Shiva,
etc.
Interestingly,KabirhadthistosayaboutthenameofRama(RaamNaam):Ifanyoneutters
RamaNamevenindream,Iwouldliketomakeapairofshoesoutofmyskinforhisdaily
use.141.OneoftheversesinKabirsBhajansisasfollows:
bhajorebhaiyaa
bhajorebhaiyaaraamgovi.ndharii.
raamgovi.ndhariibhajorebhaiyaaraamgovi.ndharii..142
137
SwamiNikhilananda,HolyUpanishadsSvetasvataraUpanishad,EnglishTranslation,
http://www.ishwar.com/hinduism/holy_upanishads/svetasvatara_upanishad/,accessedJune25,2011
138
Nikhilananda,Ibid
139
Prashad,Ibid.105
140
Prashad,Ibid.105
141
SwamiSivananda,Name,FaithandLove,GLORYofRAMANAM,
http://www.sivanandaonline.org/public_html/?cmd=displaysection&section_id=1042,accessedJune24,2011
142
IntroductiontoSantKabir,extractedfromDevotionAloneMatterstoGod,TheHindu,December29,1997,
http://sanskritdocuments.org/hindi/bhajan/kabir.htm,accessedJune24,2011
Page||44
Translation:Brother,chant
Brother,chantthenameofRaam,Govind(Krishna),Hari(Vishnu)
Raam,Govind,Hari,chant,oBrother,Raam,Govind,Hari
Furthermore,ifPrashadtakesissuewithRacharitmanasbecauseitisnonupanishadic,heis
indeedtakingissuewiththeworksofKabir,Mira,Tukaram,NarasinhMehta,LordChaitanya
andnumerousotherBhaktisaintsthathaveenrichedIndiaandHinduism.
Prashad,inhistalk,thenequatesthetestofloyalty143ofSiteinRamayanawiththesituation
ofIndia.Hesays:LiketherootsofDiwali,thehistoryofourrepublicismarkedbythetalesof
manySitaswomen,dalits,adivasis,Muslims,theworkingclasswhohavehadtofacetests
ofloyalty,ordealsoffire144.However,inthebeginningofhistalk,Prashadmaintainsthat
thereisnosinglestorywhichexplainsDiwali145.Thatsacorrectstatement,sinceDiwaliis
celebratedwithvariousstoriesandevenamongJainsandSikhs146.Yet,inanattemptto
spotlighttheoppressionbyHindus,PrashadmakesthestoryofRamayanaastherootsof
Diwali.And,inhiscategorizationofSitas,heleavesoutthemasskillingsofHindusandSikhs
inPakistanaswellasinIndia,duringPartition.ForexamplesTheGreatCalcuttaKillingof
August1946wasanimmediateconsequenceofJinnahscallfordirectactionforthe
achievementofPakistan,whichhecertainlyknewmeantviolencehereandelsewhereinthe
country147.October10,1946sawanothermassacreofHindusinNoakhali.
ThemajorityofthepopulationintheareawasMuslim,around82%,whilemostofthe
landbelongedtoHindulandlords.AsaconsequenceoftheriotsinCalcutta,amassive
antiHindupogromwasorganizedbyMuslimlocalssoastocleansetheregionfrom
Hindupresenceeitherbykillingthemorbyforcingthemtofleethearea.Thedeathtoll
iscloseto5,000deadaccordingtothepress(Sengupta,2007:138),thoughMoon
consideredthatitshouldratherbecountedinhundreds(Moon,1998:59).Itisclaimed
thatnearly75%ofHinduspreviouslyinthearealefttheplace.(Sengupta,2007;Moon,
1998).148
SenatorEdwardKennedy,submittingareporttotheUSSenateaboutthe1971Bangladesh
massacres,hadthefollowingtosay:
143
PrashadIbid.130
PrashadIbid.130
145
PrashadIbid.130
146
SeetheentryofDiwaliinWikipediaathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali,accessedJune26,2011
147
PaulR.Brass,ThepartitionofIndiaandretributivegenocideinthePunjab,194647:means,methods,and
Purposes,JournalofGenocideResearch(2003),5(1),71101,http://faculty.washington.edu/brass/Partition.pdf,
accessedJune28,2011
148
LionelBaixas,ThematicChronologyofMassViolenceinPakistan,19472007,June24,2008,
http://www.massviolence.org/ThematicChronologyofMassViolenceinPakistan19472007,accessedJune26,
2011
144
Page||45
FieldreportstotheUSgovernment,countlesseyewitnessjournalisticaccounts,
reportsofinternationalagenciessuchasWorldBankandadditionalinformation
availabletothesubcommitteedocumentthereignofterrorwhichgripsEastBengal
(EastPakistan).HardesthithavebeenmembersoftheHinducommunity,whohave
beenrobbedoftheirlandsandshops,systematicallyslaughtered,andinsomeplaces,
paintedwithyellowpatchesmarkedH.Allofthishasbeenofficiallysanctioned,
orderedandimplementedundermartiallawfromIslamabad.149
Howabouttheethniccleansingofestimated400,000KashmiriPandits150outofKashmirinthe
late80sandearly90s?KPSGill,thefamousformerDirectorGeneralofPoliceinPunjab,has
thistosayaboutthesituationofKashmiriPandits:Amongtheworstvictimsofthisconflictare
theKashmiriPandits,descendents(sic)ofHindupriestsandamongtheoriginalinhabitantsof
theKashmirValley151.Hedescribesthat,whilepeoplehavehadhugenoiseaboutotherriots
inIndia,verylittleisknownaboutthepogromagainstthesePandits,whowereintegraltothe
economyoftheKashmirValleyandtotheculturalharmonythatexistedthere.
On[January13,]1990,aKashmiriPanditnurseworkingattheSouraMedicalCollege
HospitalinSrinagarwasrapedandlaterkilledbyPakistanbackedterrorists.The
incidentwasprecededbymassacresofPanditfamiliesintheTelwaniandSangrama
villagesofBudgamdistrictandotherplacesintheKashmirValley.WhiletheJammu&
KashmirLiberationFront(JKLF)claimeda'secular'agendaofliberationfromIndianrule,
theterroristintentwasclearlytodrivenonMuslim'infidels'outoftheStateand
establishNizameMustafa(literally,theOrderoftheProphet;governmentaccordingto
theShariah).AccountsofPanditsfromthistraumaticperiodrevealthatitwasnot
unusualtoseepostersandannouncementsincludingmanyarticlesanddeclarationsin
localnewspaperstellingthemtoleavetheValley.Panditpropertieswereeither
destroyedortakenoverbyterroristsorbylocalMuslims,andtherewasacontinuous
successionofbrutalkillings,atrendthatcontinueseventoday.152
ItisevenpeculiarthatPrashad,inhis2007lettertoyoungAmericanHindus,talksabouthis
HinduandSikhheritage.However,hehardlyseemstocareabouthisHinduheritageand
brethrenandtomakeacaseforpeopleliketheKashmiriPandits.Isthisacaseofselective
interpretation?WhydoesFOILcontinuetoignoreHindusandtheatrocitiestheyhavefaced
149
VivekGumaste,TheHindugenocidethatHindusandtheworldforgot,
http://www.indiatribune.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2105&Itemid=524,accessedJune
28,2011
150
K.P.SGill,TheKashmiriPandits:AnEthnicCleansingtheWorldForgot,
http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/kpsgill/2003/chapter9.htm,accessedJune28,2011
151
Gill,Ibid.
152
Gill,Ibid.150
Page||46
(eveninthelastfiftyyears)?Granted,thePartitionriotskilledmanyMuslimsandthisshould
notbeforgotten.However,presentingaonesidedviewofthestoryonlyhighlightsthebiasof
FOILandcontinuestosimmerthepotofcommunalmistrustsandhatred.
Towardstheendofhistalk,hequotesGandhi:Itisgoodtoswiminthewatersoftradition,but
tosinkinthemissuicide153But,Prashadhasntevenskinnydippedinthewatersofthe
Hindutraditionbecausehehasalreadydevelopedapreconceivednotionthatthesewaters
dirty.
153
Prashad,Ibid.130
Page||47
Section2.05
SketchySouthAsianHistory
Figure2ontherightisanextractofapageonSouthAsianHistoryfromFOILswebsite.Forall
theSouthAsianhistoryandculturalexpertiseofFOILsmembers,itisindeedsurprisingthat
theyonlycoverIndianhistoryandleavemajorgapsintheirsketches.PrehistoricErais
definedas50001500BC154.Itis
interesting(andperhapsFOILis
unaware)thatwhenoneclickson
thelink,itactuallytakesonetoa
differentwebsiteontheancient
IndusValleyCivilization,containlinks
thatactuallyhascertainarticlesand
papersdebunkingtheracistAryan
InvasionTheory,thesametheory
thatFOILanditsmemberssubscribe
to.InthesectioncalledAncient
India(1500711)155,weonlyfindtwo
writeups.Thefirstoneisaboutthe
GreeksandtheirexpeditiontoIndia
insearchoftheOcean.Thesecond
oneisaboutTheFirstVictoryof
CasteinSouthAsia.Interestingly,
FOILcouldnotfindanythingelseto
writeaboutIndiaintheroughly800
yeartimespan!Howaboutthe
GuptaEmpire?Howaboutthe
MauryaEmpire?HowaboutIndian
tradewithPersia,Greeceandother
partsoftheworld?Howaboutthe
famousIndianinstitutionof
Figure2,SketchesofSouthAsianHistory,apagefrom
Takshashila?Howabout
FOILswebsitewww.proxsa.org
achievementsofIndiainsciences,
math,shipbuilding,architecture,etc.?HowaboutthetravelsofChinesepilgrimsFaXianand
Xuanzang(HuenTsang)toIndiaandtheirdocumentationoftherichnessandinclusivenessof
Indians?Or,isallthisnotasimportantashighlightingtheGreekinvasionofIndia?FOILs
obsessionwithcasteresurfacesagaininthesecondarticle.Eventhough,thereisgrowing
154
155
SketchesofSouthAsianHistory,http://www.proxsa.org/history/index.html,accessedJune28,2011
Ibid.
Page||48
evidencethatCasteidentityfaultlinesbecameinvigoratedandpoliticizedthroughtheBritish
CensusesofIndia156,theonlytwothingsthatFOILcanfindtotalkaboutareaforeigninvasion
ofIndiaandthesocalledvictoryofcaste.
TheMedievalPeriod(7121564)157iscompletelyblank.Itbegsthequestionwhy?Coulditbe
coincidentalthat712ADmarksthefirstMuslimInvasionofSouthAsia?MohammadBin
QasiminvadedIndiain712ADandconqueredSindhwhichbecametheprovinceofOmayyad
Khilafat.158Followinghisconquest,forthenext800years,thereareaseriesofMuslim
invasions,establishmentoftheDelhiSultanatebetween1206and1526andculminatingwith
theestablishmentoftheMughalDynastyin1526.Howabouttheachievementsofkingdoms
liketheVijaynagaraEmpireortheMarathaEmpires?Or,eventheMughalDynasty?Whyisnt
FOILincludingsuchimportanthistoricalpointsinthehistoryofIndia?
Continuingon,intheEarlyModernPeriod(15651946)159,onecanseeasimilarpatternonly
threearticles.ThefirstoneportraysShivajiandhiscomplexities.Thesecondtalksaboutthe
Revoltof1857andthethirdisabriefhistoryoftheCommunistMovementinKerala,citingthe
worksoftheGeneralSecretaryoftheCommunityPartyofIndia(Marxist)PrakashKaratand
showinghowtheLeftliberatedtheoppressedcastesfromtheclutchesofuppercasteHindus.
ThearticleisessentiallyadefenseofanargumentmadebyVictorFicinhisbookKerala:Yenan
ofIndia,RiseofCommunistPower:19371969(1970).160Ficarguesthatthecommunist
movementmanipulatedlocalcastesandreligiousidentitiesinitsroadtopowerinKerala.161
Prashad,inhisessay,declares:toutilizecasteforelectoralpurposesortoholdpoweristo
playwithapoliticsoffission...TheLeftmovement,Menonshowsus,neitherignoresnor
manipulatescaste162.
KPJoseph,aformerCivilServantandaconsultanttotheUnitedNations,theDirectorofINSIST
(InstituteofStudiesinSocialTransformation)aswellasauthorofseveralbooks,hasextensively
Marxism/CommunismandtheirclaimsofemancipationoftheKeralaunderclass.Inan
interviewwithPradeepKrishnanofHaindavaKeralam,Josephhighlightsthehypocriticalofthe
CommunistpartyinKerala:
156
SixProvocations,fromthewebsiteofBreakingIndia.WesternInterventionsinDravidianandDalitFaultlines.
Malhotra,RajivandNeelakandan,Aravindan,2011,ManipalPressLtd,availableat
http://www.breakingindia.com/sixprovocations,accessedJune28,2011
157
Ibid.154
158
TheDelhiSultanate(12061526),http://www.factsaboutindia.com/thedelhisultanate.php,accessedJune
28,2011
159
Ibid.154
160
VijayPrashad,Caste,NationalismandCommunisminMalabar(19001948),
http://www.proxsa.org/history/malabar.html,accessedJune28,2011
161
Ibid.
162
Ibid.160
Page||49
InKerala,Marxismprovidedopportunitytothescionsoffeudalfamiliestoextend
exploitationanddominationoftheunderclassfeedingthelatterwithvisionsofUtopia.
Insteadofseekingemancipationthrougheducation,largenumbersofyouthofthe
underclassbecamefollowersofMarxistuppercrustfeudalleadersandthe(sic)perished
intheflamesofCalcuttathesisuprisings.IttookfiftyyearsfortheMarxistpartiesin
Keralatoputanavarna[i.e.anoutcasteoruntouchable]inthechairoftheChief
Minister(VSAchuthanandan).ItisnotknownhowmanyyearswillittakeforWest
Bengaltodoso.FeudalisminKeralawouldhavecrumbledwithoutMarxismandfeudal
scionswouldhavebeencompelledtoworkhardforalivingbutforMarxistpolitics.
LeaderslikeJyotiBasutoEMStoNayanartoAKGopalantoPrakashKarat(theMarxist
supremeleaders)rosefromtheuppercrustoffeudalsociety.Muchoftheirstories
showthattheyusedideologytorideandclingtopower,ratherthanforemancipation
oftheoppressedfrompovertyandbackwardness.IftheMarxistsleaderswereindeed,
differentfromthenormalrunofleaders,theywouldnothavebeenChiefMinisterfor
life(likeJyothiBasu)orassumedchiefministershipagainandyetagain(likeEMSand
Nayanar).In1957,EMSwasworkingforthepartyinNewDelhiandTVThomaswasthe
electedleaderintheKeralaAssembly.TVThomaswasacapableleader.EMShad
therefore,nobusinesstocomedowntoKeralatotakeupChiefMinisterShip.
Afterwardsalso,therewereoccasionstoyieldchiefministershiptoSuseelaGopalan,VS
Achuthanandanetc.,buttheuppercasteleadersclungtopower.Therecordofthe
leadersprovedthatthesecretagendaoftheMarxistleaderswasalwayspowerandnot
emancipationasisthecasewithotherpoliticalleaders163
Finally,theentiresectionfrom1947whenIndiagainedindependenceisblank.Canttherebe
atleastsomegoodhistoricalaspectsofIndia(orSouthAsia)thatcanbeincludedhere?
Thus,fortheentire5000yearshistory,FOILfindsitrelevanttohighlightaforeigninvasionof
India,somecastepoliticsandsupposedhistoryofit,complexitiesofShivajiandthe
communistroleintheMalabarregionofKeralaalongthelinesofcaste.
163
PradeepKrishnan,ThedayofCommunism/MarxisminIndiaareover,inaninterviewwithSriKPJoseph,
http://www.haindavakeralam.com/HKPage.aspx?PageID=13997&SKIN=B,accessedJune28,2011
Page||50
Section2.06
ShivajiAQuestionableMonarch
WehavealreadyseenFOILsselectiveportrayalofIndianhistoryintheabovesection.But,
FOILstendencytodevalueimportantIndianfiguresneedsfurtherelaboration.Aspartofthe
SketchesOutOfSouthAsianHistory,PrashaddiscussestheTheComplexitiesofShivaji164.
ThisarticleisessentiallyinresponsetoaneventheldinNewYorkbyanorganizationcalledHSS
(HinduSwayamsevakSangh)inwhichaspeakerbythenameofShripatiShastrydescribedhow
ShivajifoughtMughalEmperorAurangzebandwasadefenderofHinducivilization.Prashad
questionsthisportrayalofShivajibyaskingthatthehistoricalrecordshouldbescouredto
checkifShivajiindeeddidfightAurangzebtoconstitute'Hinducivilization'andifhemadeithis
purposetocleansethesubcontinentof'foreigners.'165Inhisanalysis,PrashadreducesShivaji
toaarebelliouszamindarandhillchief166who,claimedtobea'Hindu'kingwhenitsuited
him167HesaysfurtherthatIn1668,Shivaji'srepeatedpetitionstoAurangzebwonhimthe
title'Raja'andChakanfort.AftertheMughaltreasuryrefusedtoreimbursehimforatriphe
tooktoAgra,hetookuparmsagain.168ThisstatementmakesShivajisoundlikealittlewhiner
andspiteful.
Then,toraisemoresuspicionsontheShivajischaracter,heeventhrowsininformationabout
hissonsconduct,asifthatisablackmarkonShivajihimself.Headds:onemightaddthat
Shambhaji,Shivaji'sson,rapedaBrahminwomaninDecember1678:suchfactsoftengetlostin
theblindvalorizationofhistoricalfigures.Whatdoeshissonsbehaviorhavetodowithhis
character?Didhesanctionhissonsbehavior?
LetsanalyzePrashadsclaimaboutShivajisstatureasaHindukingandasmerehillchief.
WhatdoeshistoryreallysayaboutShivaji?True,inhisearlierlife,hewasgivenchargeofhis
fathersJagir(territory)ofPune.But,historyindeedismorecomplexthanPrashadsversion.
TheMarathaEmpirewasfoundedandconsolidatedbyMaharajaShivajiBhosale.169Shivaji
learnedmuchfromhisfather'sfailedattemptsatpoliticalindependence,hisexceptional
militarycapabilitiesandachievements,hisknowledgeofSanskrit,Hinduethos,patronageof
thearts,hiswarstrategiesandpeacetimediplomacy.JijabaialsoinstilledinShivajianatural
164
VijayPrashad,TheComplexitiesofShivaji,http://www.proxsa.org/history/shivaji.html,accessedJune30,
2011
165
Prashad,Ibid.
166
Prashad,Ibid.164
167
Prashad,Ibid.164
168
Ibid.143
169
SeetheentryonMarathaEmpireonWikipedia,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maratha_Empire,accessedJune
30,2011
Page||51
loveforselfdeterminationandanaversiontoexternalpoliticaldomination.170In1657,while
AurangzebattackedGolcondaandBijapur,Shivaji,usingguerrillatactics,tookcontrolofthree
Adilshahifortsformerlyunderhisfather'scommand171.ThesevictoriesprovidedShivajiwith
leadershipofmanyindependentMarathaclans.Shivaji'ssmallandillequippedarmysurvived
analloutAdilshahiattack,andShivajipersonallykilledtheAdilshahigeneral,AfzalKhan.172
Withthisevent,theMarathastransformedintoapowerfulmilitaryforce,capturingmoreand
moreAdilshahiandMughalterritories.173Attheendof1676,ShivajiMaharajlaunchedawave
ofconquestsinsouthernIndiawithamassiveforceof50,000(30,000cavalryand20,000
infantry).174Howcanamerehillchiefcommandaforceof50,000?Shivajiestablishedan
effectivecivilandmilitaryadministrationandhadapowerfulnavy.By1659,hehadafleetof
twentywarships175andcontinuedtoexpandhisnavalpresencetostrengthentheMaratha
Empirescoastalborders.HeevenlaunchedanamphibiousassaultontheSidiYakubsfortof
DandaRajapur176.Towardtheendofhiscareer,hehadacontrolof360fortstosecurehis
growingkingdom.Shivajihimselfconstructedabout1520totallynewforts(includingkeysea
fortslikeSindhudurg),buthealsorebuiltorrepairedmanystrategicallyplacedfortstocreatea
chainof300ormore,stretchedoverathousandkilometersacrosstheruggedcrestofthe
WesternGhats177.Aurangzebspentthebestpartof30yearstryingtocrushthelightfooted,
rapidactionmountainpeopleofShivaji'sarmy.Intheprocess,heruinedhishealthand
expendedhistreasuryfruitlessly,asitturnedout,fortheMarathascontinuedtoexpandtheir
holdingsforafullcenturyafterShivaji'sdeath.178
AlloftheaboveclearlyshowsthatShivajiwasnotarebelliouszamindarandhillchiefbutone
ofthegreatestkingsofmedievalIndia.
170
SeetheentryontheEarlyLifeofShivajionWikipedia,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_life_of_Shivaji,
accessedJune30,2011
171
SeetheentryonAurangzebonWikipedia,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurangzeb#Rebellions,accessedJune
30,2011
172
Ibid.
173
Ibid.171
174
Ibid.170
175
Randolph,G.S.Cooper,TheAngloMarathacampaignsandthecontestforIndia:thestruggleforcontrolofthe
SouthAsianmilitaryeconomy,2003,CambridgeUniversityPress,Page31,accessedonlineat
http://books.google.com/books?id=qweZWra_tbwC&pg=PA31&lpg=PA31&dq=shivaji+navy&source=bl&ots=FJgJ7
PRr3a&sig=HU7sefgGEyClVofCEGLvXf
wYGE&hl=en&ei=quUETp_ONdCRgQeXqpjDDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CEoQ6AEwBzg
K#v=onepage&q=shivaji%20navy&f=false,accessedJune30,2011
176
Cooper,Ibid.,29
177
SeetheentryonShivajionWikipedia,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivaji,accessedJune30,2011
178
AdrianHamilton,Shivaji:AthomewithaHinduhero,December15,2010,TheIndependentonlineedition,
http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/asia/shivajiathomewithahinduhero2160480.html,accessedJune30,
2011
Page||52
Section2.07
Hinduism=SpiritualFascism
Asdiscussedearlier,lunaticandracisttheoriesaboutHinduismandIndiaareroutinelyspitted
outofthemouthofKanchaIlaiah.Infact,hehasmadeacareeroutofitandhaswrittenbooks
venomouslydenouncingHinduism.IlaiahisadarlingofChristianmissionariesandIslamic
organizationsandisfeaturedprominentlyinthesecirclesasarepresentativeauthorityon
HinduismandIndia.DalitFreedomNetwork,aColorado,USAbasedorganizationrunby
hardcoreChristianmissionaries,awardedIlaiahapostdoctoralfellowship.179Onitswebsite,
DFNlistIlaiahamongstIndianChampions.180OneofthemembersoftheirAdvisoryBoard,
JohnGilmanistheheadofDayspringInternational,whichdescribesitsgoalsinIndiavery
directly:
Theworshipofahundredmilliongodswilldisappear.Idolatrywillbecastdown.But,
whatwillreplaceit?NationalDalitleaderspleadtotheChurchinIndia,saying,Come
andtellusaboutyourJesus.Teachusyourscriptures.Theybelievethisistheonly
hopeforIndia,anationthatcouldbeonthebrinkofabloodycivilwaroronthebrink
ofanoutpouringoftheHolySpiritunlikeanyinhistory.Therehasneverbeenabetter
soulwinningopportunitythanrightnowinthenationofIndia181
FOILanditsmembersdonotdistancethemselvesfrompersonalitieslikeIlaiah;instead,they
wholeheartedlysupporthimandrecommendtheirworksaslegitimaterepresentationsof
HinduismandIndia.SuchdangerousendorsementisashiningexampleofhowFOILandits
membersreallyfeelaboutHinduismandIndia.Onsurface,FOILanditsmembersappearto
fightfortheoppressedandforallSouthAsians.Yet,thegroundrealitiesarequitedifferent.
KanchaIlaiahisthechairmanofthepoliticalsciencedepartmentatOsmaniaUniversity.182Itis
appallingthatsuchpeopleareinanyimportantpositionsanditreflectsnegativelyuponthe
universityscredentials.HeisanactivistfortheDalit(referredtoastheoutcastesofIndia)
movementandexpressesseverehatredagainstallthingsHindu.Ilaiahtwistsandhighly
exaggeratesselectiveaspectsofHinduismandIndiainordertodemonizethetwo.Inaddition,
hispenchantformisrepresentationoffactsisnotorious.HeisaBuddhistbutconsiders
Buddhasrealizationoftruthasmorepoliticalratherthanreligious.183Healsobelievesthat
BuddhawasbasicallyanonAryanandcamefromatribalbackground.However,[inBuddhist
179
http://www.dalitnetwork.org/go?/dfn/about/C25/,accessedJuly5,2011
181
182
SeetheentryonKanchaIlaiahatWikiquote,http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Kancha_Ilaiah,accessedJuly5,2011
183
NishaVenugopal,KanchaIlaiah:Godaspoliticalphilosopher,indiscussingthebookGodasPolitical
Philosopher:BuddhasChallengetoBrahminism(Ilaiah,2000),http://samyukta.info/site/book/export/html/216,
accessedJuly5,2011
180
Page||53
texts],theShakyas,theinhabitantsofShakyajanapada,arementionedasaKshatriyaclanof
Gotamagotra.184Hismother,QueenMahaMaya(Mydev)andSuddhodana'swife,wasa
Koliyanprincess.185So,BuddhawasaKshatriyaShakyaprince.PlayingbyIlaiahsowntwisted
logicthen,IlaiahisfollowingtheteachingsofanAryanprince!
MalhotraandNeelakandansharethatTheIndianExpressreportedthathemadeastrong
presentationbeforeIndiasNationalConferenceonHumanRights,saying,Wewanttokill
Sanskritinthiscountry.186Inaninterview,healsoadvocated,WeshouldclosedowntheIITs
andtheIIMsastheypandertotheuppercasteeconomyofthecountry.187Similarly,Ilaiah,in
aninterviewwithChristianityToday,IlaiahconsidersHinduismakindofspiritualfascism
becausetheHindubookssaythatAryanswrotethat,andNaziGermanyHitlerbelievedhe
belongedtoanAryanrace.188ModernintellectualsknowthatHitlerandtheNazis
misappropriatedHinduspiritualsymbolsliketheSwastikaandtheconceptofAryansbasedon
popularEurocentrictheoriesofthosetimes.However,thatdoesntstopIlaiahfromequating
HinduswithNazis.HeconvenientlydisregardsthefactthatsymbolslikeAumandSwastikaare
usedinHinduism,BuddhismandJainism.189Notonlythat,Swastikaisalsoknowntohavebeen
foundinotherancientreligionsandculturesaroundtheworld,asshownbyanexhibitinthe
RoyalSaskatchewanMuseum190.
InhisbookWhyIamnotaHindu,IlaiahlaunchesaviciousdiatribeagainstHinduism,Hindus
andHindudeities.Factsareignoredormisplacedandstatementsaremadeasiftheyarefact.
IlaiahissuspiciousoftheBrahminsandKrishnaandessentiallyconsidersKrishnaacharacter
manufacturedbytheevilBrahmins:
WhoisKrishna?WhydidtheBrahminscreatesuchagod?ItisthesameKrishnawhois
saidtohaveauthoredthemostBrahminicaltexttheBhagavadGita.Atatimewhenthe
Sudrashadnorighttoeducation,howdidaYadavawritetheGita?HowdidaYadava
184
SeetheentryonShakyainWikipedia,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakya,accessedJuly5,2011
SeetheentryonGautamaBuddhainWikipedia,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha,accessedJuly
5,2011
186
187
Ibid.
188
InterviewwithDr.KanchaIlaiahLeadingDalitRightsCampaignerinIndia,November12,2005,
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/interview.with.dr.kancha.ilaiah.leading.dalit.rights.campaigner.in.india/44
952.htm,accessedJuly5,2011
189
SeetheentryonSwastikainWikipedia,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika,accessedJuly5,2011
190
TheMuseum,inresponsetoquestionsWhyisthereaSwastikaonthesaddleintheFirstNationsGallery?
providesabriefexplanationoftheexistenceofthesymbolinmanyancientNativeAmericancultures.
http://www.royalsaskmuseum.ca/research/faqs/ex_8.shtml,accessedJuly5,2011
185
Page||54
writernotprovideanysocialspaceforYadavasthemselves,leavealonetheotherDalit
bahujans?(Page82&83ofEnglishversion;P.101ofTeluguversion)191
Hisbizarreviewandlackofregardforfactsisillustratedinthefollowingfewsentences.
RegardingtheMahabharata,Ilaiahsays:
ThefightwasbetweentheminorityPandavas(Brahmins,KshatriyasandVaisyaswere
alwaysaminoritytheyconstitute15%ofthepopulation)andthemajorityKauravas.
ThehundredKauravasstoodagainstBrahminicalDharmaandrepresentedDalit
bahujans,whereasthefivePandavasrepresentedtheBrahminicalminority.Inthefight
forland(andforthekingdom)Krishnastandsbytheminority.Themajoritywerenot
willingtogiveupthelandtheyacquiredthroughsweatandblood.192
Suchsentencesaresoinaccurate,outofsyncwithfactsandblatantlyabsentofcontextthatit
isextremelydifficulttoeventakethemseriously.EverychildinIndiathathaseverreadany
versionoftheMahabharata(saveIlaiahsofcourse),hasseenanyoftheTVversionsoftheepic
orheardanystoriesoftheepicknowsthatthePandavasandtheKauravaswerefirstcousins
fromthesamefamily!Theywerealsoeducatedunderthesameteachers(whowere
Brahmins).Anyseriousscholarorstudentoftheepicwouldhavemajorreservationsagainst
suchunsubstantiatedstatements.
IlaiahcontinueshisattackonKrishnaandtheMahabharataandsuperimposesthestruggleof
theoutcastesontheepic.
Finally,Krishnaresortstoviolence.Afterthedefeatofthemajorityinstruggleforland,
theGitawasusedtocreateamuchstrongerconsentsystemtoensurethatnoserious
revoltsemergedfromtheDalitbahujansocialbase.
Wheneversuchattemptsweremade,eitherbyYadavasorbyotherDalitforces,
Krishna'sGitawaseffectivelyusedtomanipulatethemintosubmission."(p.85&86.
Eng;p.105Tel.).193
OnestrugglestoaskquestionssuchaswhywouldsomefirstcousinsbeBrahminsandothersbe
someDalitbahujans?WhereistheevidencethatKauravasstoodagainstBrahminical
Dharma?WhendidtheKauravaseveracquirethelandthroughsweatandblood?Whereis
theevidencethattheGitawasusedahegemonicconsentsystemtosuppressanyrevolts?
191
M.V.R.Shastry,ACriticalReviewofKanchaIlaiahsWhyIamNotaHindu,
http://voiceofdharma.org/indology/Ilaiah.html,accessedJuly5,2011
192
Shastry,Ibid.
193
ShastryIbid.191
Page||55
Inhislatestbook,titledPostHinduIndia,Ilaiahconstructsaracistideologyofhatredagainst
HinduismingeneralandBrahminsinparticular.194Inhisattempttorevivepseudoscientific
racism,hepurportstostudywhathetermsasBrahminpsychologyandthengoesonto
characterizeBrahminsassubhumans,statingthatBrahmincommunitarianismactslikethe
communitarianismofpenguinsandsheep,whichhardlybuildstheenergyforindividual
struggleforsurvival.195HestatesthatBrahminsareworsethananimals,becauseintheir
case,eventheanimalinstinctsareunderdeveloped.196HeconcludesthattheBrahmin
childhoodformationitselfhasgeneticandsocialcharacteristicsofnontransformability.197
(i) AdvocatingaCivilWarinIndia
Basedonthishatred,heenvisionsacivilwarinIndia,urgingtheDalitBahujanstostartacivil
waratthemacroandmicrolevel.198Hesuggeststhefollowing:
Historicallyuppercasteshavesuppressedthelowercastemasseswithweapons,asthe
Hindugodsoriginitselfisrootedinthecultureofweaponusage.TheSC/ST/OBCswill
thenhavetoturntoawarofweaponsintheprocessofeliminationofHinduviolence
fromIndia.199
PredictingamajorcivilwaronthelinesofviolentupheavalsthathappenedinEurope,Ilaiah
seesisanecessaryevilandclaimsthatDalitshaveenormouspotentialtoleadthecivilwarin
IndiawithinputsfromBuddhismandChristianitygrowingintoplanthood.200However,
IlaiahsmentionofBuddhismisonlylipserviceinordertobuildupaunifiedarmyagainst
Hinduism,becauseelsewhereinthebookhestatesthatIndianDalitsfindJesustobeamore
powerfulliberatorthanBuddha.201Furthermore,IlaiahsinaccurateviewsonBuddhahave
alsobeendemonstratedearlier.
194
MalhotraandNeelkandan,226
196
197
Ibid.
198
Ibid.196
199
Ibid.196
200
201
Ibid.
195
Page||56
(ii) FOILandKanchaIlaiah
Ilaiahisa
resourcefor
FOILto
demonize
Hinduismas
anon
pluralistic,
oppressive
tradition.
For
example,in
July1997,
FOILsBiju
Mathewand
Chris
Chekuri
interviewed
Ilaiahin
Figure3,ascreenshotofanexcerptfromtheKanchaIlaiahsinterviewwithFOIL
responseto
members
theforce
fedcelebrationof50yearsofindependence202ofIndia.Thetextoftheinterview,titledasThe
StateofDalitMobilization:AnInterviewwithKanchaIlaiah,wastranscribedbyfellowFOIL
membersVamsicharanVakulabharanam,RadhikaLalandMirAliRazaintheNovember1997
editionofitsnewsletterGhadar.203FOILhighlightsseveralpointsmadebyIlaiahinspecial
boxesasifendorsinghisviews.Forexample,asFigure3shows,IlaiahblamesHinduismfor
havingcreateduntouchabilitywithinitscastestructure204Similarly,Ilaiah,takesthe
positionthatBrahminism(whichiswhathecallsHinduism)isantilaborandanti
production205,athemethatresonateswiththecommunistideologyofFOIL.
202
VamsicharanVakulabharanametal,TheStateofDalitMobilization:AnInterviewwithKanchaIlaiah,Ghadar:
APublicationoftheForumofInqualabiLeftistsVol.1,No.2,November26,1997
http://www.proxsa.org/resources/ghadar/v1n2/ilaiah.html,accessedJuly5,2011
203
Vakulabaranametal,Ibid.
204
VakulabaranametalIbid.202
205
Page||57
FurtherdowntheinterviewandalsoillustratedinFigure3,onFOILsquestionregarding
creatingamassbaseforconsciousnessraisingaboutcivilrights,206Ilaiahagreeswiththe
Communistviewofcounterviolence207anddoesntseeaneedtogiveupsuchviolence.He
maintains:
Hinduismisareligionofviolence.AllHindugodskilledtheirenemiesandbecameheroic
images.Thisistheonlyreligionintheworldwherethekillerbecomesgod.Whomdid
theykill?FromBrahmatoKrishna,thosewhowerekilledwereDalitbahujans.Now
theseimagesandthestoriesandnarrativesandeverythingisoutthereinthecivil
society.Now,becauseofthis,theconsciousnessofworshippingthekilleror
worshippingviolencedidnotgiveanyspaceforhumanrights.208
In2002,FOILanditsaffiliatesstartedagroupcalledCampaigntoStopFundingHateasa
campaigntoagainstHinduultranationalism209.Initsintroduction,CSFHstatesthatitstands
inabsolutesolidaritywithallgroups,SouthAsianandnonSouthAsian,thatfighthatred210.
YetthegrouphasonlytargetedtheIndianAmericancharitycalledIndiaDevelopmentand
ReliefFund,aswellastheAmericanHinduyouthassociationcalledHinduStudentsCouncil.
ThereisnomentionoftheatrocitiesagainstHindusPanditsinKashmir,thedenialofrightsto
minoritiesinBangladesh,theilltreatmentofHindusinAfghanistanduringtheTalibanregime
ortheinferiorstatusofHindusinPakistan.
But,inthecontextofFOILssupportforIlaiah,itisimportanttopointoutthatamongstthe
ResourcesforaProgressiveHindu;211CSFHsuggestsKanchaIlaiahsvenomousworks.
Similarly,a2009bookAgainstStigma:StudiesinCaste,RaceandJusticeSinceDurban,edited
byBalmurliNatrajanofFOIL,carriesanessaybyKanchaIlaiah,calledCaste,raceandnation:a
discourseinbinaryhistory/KanchaIlaiah.212
206
208
209
SeetheAboutUssectionofhttp://stopfundinghate.org/about.html,accessedJuly5,2011
210
Ibid.191
211
http://stopfundinghate.org/resources.html,accessedJuly5,2011
212
BalmurliNatrajanandPaulGreenough,AgainstStigma:StudiesinCaste,RaceandJusticeSinceDurban,
OrientBlackswan,2009.SeedescriptionofContentathttp://www.vedamsbooks.com/no61310/againststigma
studiescasteracejusticesincedurbaneditedbybalmurlinatrajanpaulgreenough,accessedJuly5,2011
207
Page||58
Section2.08
MaligningHinduismin6thGradeTextbooksisOK
In2005,acontroversyconcerningtheportrayalsofHinduismin6thGradeCaliforniaTextbooks
generatedmuchdebate.CaliforniaisthelargestpurchaseroftextbooksintheUSandoften
influencesthepurchasesoftextbooksbyotherstates.Everysixyears,varioustextbook
publisherssubmittheirdraftsoftextbooksforreviewbytheCaliforniaBoardofEducation.
AccordingtotheBoardsStandardsforEvaluatingInstructionalMaterialsforSocialContent:
Thestandardswillbeachievedbydepicting,whenappropriate,thediversityofreligious
beliefsheldintheUnitedStatesandCalifornia,aswellasinothersocieties,without
displayingbiastowardorprejudiceagainstanyofthosebeliefsorreligiousbeliefsin
general.
Noreligiousbelieforpracticemaybehelduptoridiculeandnoreligiousgroupmaybe
portrayedasinferiorAnyexplanationordescriptionofareligiousbelieforpractice
shouldbepresentedinamannerthatdoesnotencourageordiscouragebeliefor
indoctrinatethestudentinanyparticularreligiousbelief.213
Thestandardsclearlystatethatnogroupwillbesubjecttoaninferiororbiasedportrayalofits
beliefsandpractices.Furthermore,accordingtotheBoardsstandards,Textbooksshould
instillasenseofprideineverychildinhisorherheritage214.Yet,theHinduismisportrayed
withaninherentbias.WhileinHinduism,womenareshownasbeingtreatedinferiorly,such
informationisabsentfromChristianityorIslam.Similarly,thetextbookspointoutHindu
atrocitiesagainstcertaingroups;nothingisnotedaboutthesameforChristianity,Judaismand
Islam.Christian,IslamicandJudaictextsareassumedtobestatinghistoricalfacts,whileHindu
textsarelookedupwithderogatorycriticism.
SomeHinduAmericangroups,inordertoaddressthis,followedaprocesssimilartothat
followedbyChristian,JewishandIslamicgroups.Theyreviewedthedraftsandproposed
severalchanges.WhilethechangesproposedbyChristian,JewishandIslamicgrouphardlymet
anycriticism,thoseproposedbytheHinduAmericangroupsdrewvirulentcriticismbya
consortiumofindividualsandscholarsclaimingtostandforpluralityandfortheaccurate
depictionofthetheviolenttruthofcastebaseddiscriminationinIndia.215Knowingwell
that11yearoldsareimpressionableandhaveashortattentiontimespanandthefactthat
issuesrelatedtoAryanInvasionTheoryandCasteSystemareincrediblycomplexandrequire
213
SeetheentryonCaliforniatextbookcontroversyoverHinduhistory,inWikipedia,at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_textbook_controversy_over_Hindu_history,accessedJuly8,2011
214
RajivMalhotra,DebatingtheCaliforniaTextBookControversy,
http://www.littleindia.com/news/135/ARTICLE/1133/20060313.html,accessedJuly8,2011
215
Ibid.213
Page||59
deeperstudyofHinduismandIndianhistory,thisconsortiumcontinueditsassaultontheedits
proposedbytheHindugroups.Theargumentsputforthbyitwerenotonthecontentofthe
textbooks.Rather,itlabeledtheHinduAmericangroupsasfascists,fundamentalists,etc.
whilelinkingthemtoviolenceinIndia.WhilehighlightingthehorrorscommittedbyHindus,
theconsortiumremainssilentonIslamicgenocideinSouthAsia,theChristiangenocideof
NativeAmericans,etc.WhileHinduism,deemedasareligionofSouthAsia,isdemonizedin
suchaway,thehumanrightsstandardsdontapplytoIslam,whichalsohashundredsof
millionsofadherentsinSouthAsiaandwhohashadamuchbloodierhistoryintheregion.
LetterssentbymembersofthecampaignbrandedtheWorldAssociationofVedicStudies
(WAVES)asaHinduNationalistorganization.216EvenwhenCaliforniaparents,expressing
genuineconcernfortheirkids,challengedthebiaseddepictionsofHinduism,theywere
dismissedandbrandedinthesameveinastheotherHindugroups.Similarly,supportfrom
otherHinducommunityorganizationswasignored.
216
ThereferencetoHinduNationalistswasmadebyANHAD;anorganizationreferredtolaterinthereport,in
writingtoUSAmbassadortoIndiaDavidMulfordonJanuary4,2005.Also,thisletterwassignedbyseveral
individualsandgroupssuchasAliAsghar,HarshDobhal,HarshMander,RamPuniyani,AnandPatwardhan,John
Dayal,etc.thatarediscussedfurtherinthereport.Seetheletterat
http://www.friendsofsouthasia.org/textbook/Letter_From_Concerned_Citizens_To_USAmbassador.pdf,accessed
July8,2011
Page||60
(a) ImportantplayerswhoopposedtheeditssuggestedbyHinduGroups
Severalgroups,includingFOIL,itsaffiliateslikeFriendsofSouthAsian(FOSA)andChristian
Missionaryorganizationslaunchedarobustcampaignagainstthechangesproposedfor
HinduismintheCaliforniatextbooks.Thissectionhighlightssomeofthegroupsbehindthe
vitrioliccampaign.
(i) Organizations
a)
FriendsofSouthAsia(FOSA)
FOSAwasakeyorganizerofthecampaign.ThewebsiteisregisteredtoAliHasan
Cemendtaur217,whowasborninKarachi,PakistanandnowlivesinSanJose,California.218FOSA
wasstartedbyCemendtaurandeightothers219andishostedbyEKTA,another
leftist/communistorganizationdiscussedfurtherinthissection.FOSAsmissionistowork
towardsapeaceful,prosperous,andhatefreeSouthAsiaandtopromoterespectforand
celebratethediversityandpluralityofSouthAsia.220However,asshowninChapterIV,FOSAs
depictionofIndiaandHinduismishighlybiasedwhencomparedtothatofPakistan,Bangladesh
andIslam.
b)
DalitFreedomNetwork(DFN)
Asdiscussedearlier,DFNisthehardcoreChristianmissionaryorganizationmaskingitselfasthe
advocatefortherightsoftheDalits(untouchables).DFNconsidersKanchaIlaiah(also
discussedearlier)asachampionofDalitcauses.InalettersenttotheCaliforniaBoardof
Education,signedbyKanchaIlaiah,JosephDsouza(presidentofDFN)andUditRaj(Chairman,
AllIndiaConfederationofScheduledCastes/ScheduledTribesandaBoardMemberofDFN),
DFNdraggedthepoliticsofIndiaintotheargumentandprotestedthechanges.221Itpusheda
ratherinaccurateviewthatthecastesystemhasruledsocialinteractioninIndiaformorethan
3,500years.222
217
Asperasearchofthewebsitedomainnameonhttp://cqcounter.com/whois/,accessedJuly8,2011
SeethebioonCemendtaurathttp://www.chowk.com/writers/AliHasanCemendtaur,accessedJuly8,2011
219
A.H.Cementaur,Learningtheropesofpeaceactivism,
http://www.peacenews.info/issues/2450/245017.html,accessedJuly8,2011
220
http://www.friendsofsouthasia.org/about/,accessedJuly8,2011
221
SeethelettertoRuthGreenandothermembersoftheCaliforniaBoardofEducation,
http://www.friendsofsouthasia.org/textbook/DalitFreedomNetwork.pdf,accessedJuly8,2011
222
Ibid.
218
Page||61
c)
DalitSolidarityForumintheUS
JebarojaSingh,aprofessoratWilliamPatersonUniversityandthepresidentofDalitSolidarity
ForumintheUS,alsosentalettertotheCaliforniaBoardofEducation,opposingchanges
suggestedbytheHinduAmericangroups.SinghalsodragsthepoliticsofIndiaintothe
depictionofHinduisminasixthgradetextbooktotalkabouttheinjusticessufferedbyDalit
communitiesinIndia223andthatsuchthingsareverymuchacontemporaryrealityin
India,arealitywithdeeprootsinourhistory.224Whilesuchprotestsmaybeappropriatein
textbookscateredtomoreadvancedstudiesaboutIndiaandHinduism,thesearenot
appropriateintextbooksdesignedtoshowallreligionsinapositivelightandtogeneratea
feelingofprideinapersonsreligionorculture.
ItisimportanttonotethatSinghsDSFisapartandparceloftheEpiscopalChurch225.Sheis
alsomarriedtoaChristianpriest226.ThewebsiteoftheEpiscopalDioceseofRochester
providesfullinformationaboutDSFanditsmission.
TheDalitSolidarityForumintheUS,Inc.becameactiveasaregisterednonprofit
organizationin1999inMorristown,NJasaresultofthe1998InternationalSignature
CampaignforDalitHumanRights,whichwasledbytheNationalCampaignforDalit
humanRights(NCDHR).ThecampaignwashousedinSt.PetersEpiscopalChurch,
Morristown,NJ.227
Themainobjectiveofthiscampaign,ledbytheChurch,wastoraiseconundrumaboutthe
dalitproblemataninternationallevelandlabelitisahumanrightsproblemtoforcethe
handsoftheIndiangovernment.Whilepolicychangesarenecessarytoaddressvarious
problemsinIndia,thebackingoftheChurchposesasignificantoppositiontosecularsolutions.
TheEpiscopalChurchlistsoneofthemainaccomplishmentsofDSFasestablishingaChristian
schoolinpartnershipwithseveralchurchesinUSandinIndia.Accordingtoitswebsite:
OnesignificantachievementofDSFincludestheestablishmentofaschoolforDalit
childreninIndia,alongtermprojectthatcametofruitionthroughauniquepartnership
223
SeethelettertoRuthGreenathttp://www.friendsofsouthasia.org/textbook/DSF_Ruth_Green.pdf,accessed
July8,2011
224
Ibid.
225
TheEpiscopalChurchofRochesterswebsitehostsapageonDSFandgivesabriefbioofJebarojaSingh,
referredtoasRoja.Seehttp://dalitusa.episcopalrochester.org/,accessedJuly8,2011
226
VijiSundaram,IndianGroupsContestCaliforniaTextbookContent,February17,2006,http://www.mail
archive.com/zestcaste@yahoogroups.com/msg02649.html,originallyappearedinIndiaWest,accessedJuly8,
2011
227
PleaseseethefollowinglinkthatdescribestheDSF,itsMissionandotherrelevantorganizationsdetails,
http://dalitusa.episcopalrochester.org/digital_faith/dfcfiles/523,accessedJuly8,2011
Page||62
betweenDSFandSt.PetersEpiscopalChurch,St.AlbansEpiscopalChurchinNew
Jersey,andtheChurchofSouthIndia,DioceseofMadras,undertheleadershipof
BishopDevasahayam228
SinghisalsoaboardmemberoftheD.deVoeFoundation,basedinMountFreedom,NJ.229The
foundationraisesmoneyforSt.PetersEnglishMediumSchoolinAndhraPradesh,India230,
showninFigure4.RichardHaslet,theTreasurerofD.deVoehastwelveyearschurchlay
leadershipandtwentyfiveyearsasachurchschoolteacherandyouthgroupmentor.231
Similarly,CarylGwynethMunn,theSecretaryofthefoundationhastraveledextensively,
includingtwovisitstothe
underprivilegedareasofSouthIndia.
Shehasspokenontheconcernsof
poverty,lackofeducationandcaste
persecutioninIndia.232
HinduismisanaturalenemyofChristian
missionaries.Therefore,anyeffortto
portrayHinduisminapositivelightis
vehementlyopposedbyChristian
missionariesworkingunderthepretext
ofupliftingtheoppressedwhilehiding
theirrealintentionstoharvestinfidel
souls.
Figure4St.PetersEnglishMediumSchool,India
228
Ibid.
http://www.ddevoefoundation.org/board.aspx,accessedJuly8,2011
230
Ibid.
231
Ibid.229
232
Ibid.229
229
Page||63
d)
CampaigntoStopFundingHate(CSFH)
Asdiscussedearlier,CSFHisthecoalitionstartedbyFOILanditsaffiliatesthatlaunchedattacks
ontheIndianAmericancharityIndiaDevelopmentandReliefFundaswellastheAmerican
youthorganizationcalledHinduStudentsCouncil.WhileCSFHclaimstostandinsolidaritywith
allgroupsthatwantahatefreeSouthAsia,noattemptismadebyCSFHtohighlightthehuman
rightsviolationsagainstHindusinBhutan,Bangladesh,Nepal,Pakistan,AfghanistanandIndia.
WhileCSFHdemonizesHinduismandIndia,itdoesnotdothesametoIslamandPakistan.
e)
OrganizingYouth!
ThewebsiteofFriendsofSouthAsia(FOSA)describesthisorganizationasaSanFrancisco
basedorganizationofSouthAsianactiviststhatseekstoempowerSouthAsianyouththrough
politicaleducationandtraining.233However,OrganizingYouth!isanotherorganizationstarted
bymembersofFOILanditsyouthwingYouthSolidaritySummer(YSS).Infact,June2004ofthe
Ghadar,themouthpieceofFOIL,publicizesthe2005OrganizingYouth!eventunderYouth
Activism234
f)
YouthSolidaritySummerCollective
ThewebsiteofFOSAdescribesYouthSolidaritySummer(YSS)asavolunteercollectiveof
artists,activists,educatorsandstudentsprovidingalternateeducationforSouthAsianYouthin
NewYorkCity.235Again,nomentionisgiventothefactthatYSSistheyouthwingofFOIL.
g)
FederationofTamilSangamsofNorthAmerica(FeTNA)
FeTNAismentionedasanumbrellaorganizationofTamilcommunityorganizationsthat
functionwithintheNorthAmericancontinent.236Whileitcallsitselfaliterary,educational,
cultural,charitable,secular,andnonpartisanorganization,FeTNAhasbeenaccusedof
supportingtheSriLankanterroristgroupLTTE,andoneofitsformerdirectorswasarrestedby
theFBIfortryingtobribeUSofficialsinordertogetthebanonLTTElifted.237
Similarly,FeTNAusesitsacademiclinkstospreaddemonicimagesofIndiansociety,withthe
helpofTamilNadubasedDalitactivists.238FetNAwasoneofthemajorcontributorstothe
233
SeethelistoforganizationsupportingthecampaignagainstHindugroupsat
http://www.friendsofsouthasia.org/textbook/LettersOfSupport.html,accessedJuly8,2011
234
SeetheLeftSidebaronYouthActivismathttp://ghadar.insaf.net/June2004/index.htm,accessedJuly8,2011
235
Ibid.233
236
Ibid.233
237
238
Ibid.
Page||64
TamilChairestablishedatUniversityofBerkeleyinCalifornia239.Oneofthefirstprofessors
invitedbytheChairwasIlakkuvanarMaraimalai.Marailmalaipreviouslyattendedalinguistic
conferencewhereheexpressedhisdelighttohavelearnedmanythingsabouttheMormon
religionandtheChurchoftheLatterDaySaints.240TheMormonBibleremindedhimofa
prominentreligiousliteratureinTamil,Tiruvachagam.241LikeatrueDravidianist,Ilakkunavar
believesthattheGovernmentofIndiadiscriminatesagainstitsTamilcitizensandthatIndia
remainnorth,andthatpresentdayIndiaisatorturecampforreligiousminorities.242
GeorgeHart,thecurrentChairholder,hasusedhisposttoemphasizetheseparatenessof
TamilfromIndiantraditions.Forinstance,heorganizedameetingofWesternTamileducators
featuringThomasMalten,whoTamilStudiesdepartmentatCologneUniversitywasclosely
associatedwithGermanysLutheranChurch.OtherconferencesorganizedbytheTamilChair
oftenfeaturepapersthatdeconstructtraditionalTamilimagesofdevotion,inthesamemanner
asisfoundinmodernDravidianpolitics.243Forexample,apaperbyHartinterprets
RamayanaasastrangeworkfilledwithcontradictionsbetweenBrahminicalthoughtand
martialvalor.244HeseesRamayanaprimarilyyetsubtlyasawaytooppressDravidians.245
ThisviewissimilartotheoneexpressedbyVijayPrashadofFOIL,asdiscussedearlierinthe
report.Hartclaimsthatthiswaslaterreflectedasthewaythatthegreatmilitaryandimperial
poweroftheCholaswasleavenedbytheBrahminicalsystemthattheysupported.246Inthis
manner,Indiasclassicsaredeconstructedasamethodtoteaseouttheoppressioninherentin
Indiancivilization.247
FeTNAhasalsohonoredJagatGasper,aCatholicpropagandist,whohasusedhisproximityto
DravidianpowercentersforChristianizingtheTamilculture.248In2005,accordingtothe
ChicagoTribune,IllinoisCongressmanDannyK.DaviswentonaFeTNAsponsoredtriptotheSri
LankanTamilregionsandacknowledgedthatheknewthat[FetNAwas]associatedwiththe
TamilTigers.249
239
SeetheBackgroundinfoontheChairinTamilStudies,
http://web.archive.org/web/20060718064824/http://tamil.berkeley.edu/Tamil%20Chair/Background.html,
accessedJuly9,2011
240
241
Ibid
242
Ibid.240
243
Ibid.240
244
Ibid.240
245
Ibid.240
246
Ibid.240
247
Ibid.240
248
249
Ibid.
Page||65
FeTNAstestimonyattheCaliforniaCurriculumCommissionmadetheblatantlyerroneous
claimthattheEarlyTamiltextsclearlydistinguishbetweenTamilsandAryans.250Malhotra
andNeelakandanprovideafullAppendix(AppendixB)intheirbookshowingthisstancetobe
completelyfalse.
h) DalitShaktiKendra
DalitShaktiKendra(DSK)orDalitEmpowermentCenterisaninitiativeofNavsarjanand
Janvikas,anNGObasedinGujarat,India.DSKdescribesitselfasprimarilyavocationaltraining
centerservingeconomicallyandsociallymarginalizedyouth251whocomefromDalitfamilies.
Accordingtheirwebsite,acentralpartofDSKsphilosophyis"aredefinitionofthewordDalit,
therebyincludingDalitsfromvariouseconomic,socialandreligiousbackgrounds.252However,
justlikeallotherorganizations,institutionsandindividualsdiscussedinthisreport,DSKholds
onlyHinduismhostagefortheevilsofthecastesystemandisanotherDalitorganizationthat
isconnectedwiththeChristianChurch.DSKsfounder,MartinMacwan,isaChristianDalit,
supportedbytheUnitarianChurch253.Ina2000newsalert,TheChurchacknowledgesfunding
MacwansDSKthroughtheHoldeenIndiaProgramforsevenyears254.Initsintroductiontothe
CasteSystem,theChurchequatestheVarnas(socialclasses)toCastes(whichismorerelatedto
theJatisofIndiaandtheworditselfisPortugueseinoriginandmeansrace,breedorlineage).
Similarly,theChurchsubscribestotheracialAryanInvasionTheoryanddeclaresthat[the]
rootsoftheHinducastesystemwerealreadyinplacebetween1000and1500B.C.,whenthe
AryanssettledintheIndusRivervalley.255Furthermore,theChurchmaintainsthattribals
predatetheAryanandDravidiancivilization.256AccordingtotheChurch,TheRigVeda
[emphasisoriginal],asacredtextfromthe[Aryan]period,describesthefourmaincastes
(varnas)intraditionalHindusociety.257SuchconclusionsdonothingbutundermineHinduism,
pintheoriginsoftheCasteSystemandoppressiononHinduscripturaltextsandcreatean
atmosphereforliberationoftheoppressedbytheChurchandtheWest.
250
Ibid.248
http://navsarjan.org/aaaa,accessedJuly8,2011
252
Ibid.
253
MartinMacwanreceives17thAnnualRobertF.KennedyHumanRightsAward,November21,2000
http://www.uua.org/news/newssubmissions/59206.shtml,accessJuly8,2011
254
UnitarianUniversalistHoldeenIndiaPartnerMartinMacwanFeaturedinNewYorkTimesArticle,November
16,2000,http://www.uua.org/news/newssubmissions/56884.shtml,accessedJuly8,2011
255
AbriefintroductiontoIndia'scastesystem,July/August2010,
http://www.uuworld.org/ideas/articles/24053.shtml,accessedJuly8,2011
256
Ibid.
257
Ibid.255
251
Page||66
i)
NationalCampaignonDalitHumanRights(NCDHR)
NCDHRwasanothersignatoryopposingtheeditsrelatedtoHinduisminCaliforniatextbooks.It
describesitselfasademocraticsecularplatformledbyDalitwomenandmenactivists,with
supportandsolidarityfrommovementsandorganizations,academics,individuals,peoples
organizationsandinstitutionsthroughoutthecountrywhoarecommittedtoworktoprotect
andpromotehumanrightsofDalitsfocusingonwomenandchildren.258Theorganization
servesasacoalitionoffourDalitorganizationsDalitArdhikAdhikarAndolan(DAAA),AllIndia
DalitMahilaAdhikarManch(AIDMAM),NationalFederationofDalitLandRightsMovements
(NFDLRM)andNationalDalitMovementforJustice(NDMJ)259.However,NCDHRisyetanother
DalitgroupthathasdeeprelationswithChristianchurchesallovertheworld.InMarch2009,a
fourdayGlobalEcumenicalConferenceonJusticeforDalitsinBangkok,Thailand,organizedby
theWorldCouncilofChurches(WCC)andtheLutheranWorldFederation(LWF)andhostedby
theChristianConferenceofAsia,drew95leadersandrepresentativesofchurchesandhuman
rightsanddevelopmentorganizationsworldwide.260Themainobjectiveoftheconferencewas
tohighlighttheDalitissuesinIndiaandalsotalkaboutthekillingsofDalitChristiansbyHindu
militants.TheconferencewasacontinuedefforttopushtheUnitedNationstorecognize
castebaseddiscriminationandcrucifytheoriginatorofthesystemthatis,Hinduism.Itis
alsodisturbingthat,throughsuchconference,theseChristiangroupspromoteindependent
DalittheologyasifseparatefromandthereforeoppressedbyHinduism.Accordingtothe
declarationoftheconference,churchesareexpectedtoimplementawarenessraising
programs,empowerDalits,monitorandrespondtocasteatrocities,encourageDalitsto
expresstheircultureinworship,liturgyandtheology,andsupportDalitwomen'sinitiatives.261
Infact,oneofthesessionsintheconferencewasaworkshoponDalitTheology:Principlesand
process262.Mr.VijayParmar,theNationalConvenerofNCDHR,oneofthemainDalitattendees
oftheconference,appealedtotheecumenicalfamilytomakeamoralstatementandhelp
churchesaroundtheworldbecomeawareofcastebaseddiscrimination.263Participantsat
theconferencecommittedthemselvestomakingDalitliberationacentralmissionobjective.264
NCDHRisalsoapartnerofChristianAid,theUKbasedChristiancoalitionofover40Britishand
258
http://www.ncdhr.org.in/aboutncdhr/index_html,accessedJuly8,2011
Ibid.
260
CallforinternationalChristiansolidaritytoovercomecastebaseddiscrimination,
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/news/newsmanagement/eng/a/article/1634/callforinternational
ch.html?tx_ttnews[cat]=127&cHash=6b51c489bb8709fcd3e285b2794acf64,accessedJuly8,2011
261
Ibid.
262
SeetheprogramscheduleoftheConferenceat
http://www.lutheranworld.org/What_We_Do/OIahr/Issues_Events/OIAHRDalitConf0309_program.pdf,accessed
July8,2011
263
Ibid.
264
Ibid.262
259
Page||67
IrishProtestantChurches.InaMarch2011writtentestimonytotheUKGovernments
DepartmentforInternationalDevelopment(DFID),ChristianAidhighlightedtheongoingsocial
problemsinIndiaandstressedtheneedfortheUKGovernmenttointervenethroughtheDFID
aswellasotherpolicytools.Providingelaboratestatisticaldataaboutpovertyandstructural
inequality(thatis,castebasedinequalityblamedontheHinduoriginsofthecastesystem),
ChristianAidsuggests:
Keepinginviewthemagnitudeanddeepersocialandstructuraldimensionsofpoverty
inIndia,DFIDhasastrongroletoplayinworkingalongsidetheGovernmentofIndiaand
civilsocietytotacklepoverty.ChristianAidseesaverystrongargumentforcontinued,
targetedUKaidtoIndia,focusedonthepooreststatesandcommunities,andforrobust
UKGovernmentengagementwithIndiasGovernmentabouttheinequalitiesthatcause
andcharacterise(sic)povertythere.265
Also,MalhotraandNeelakandapointoutthatattheInternationalDalitHumanRights
ConferenceinLondon(2000)theheadoftheAsiaTeamforChristianAidpresentedapaper
recommendingthatthegovernmentswhichgiveaidtoIndiashouldconsultandactaccording
totheadviceprovidedbythemissionaryDalitgroupsoperatingfromtheWest.266
NCDHRalsopresentedwrittentestimonytotheUKGovernmentinthesamereport.InApril
2006,BishopJohnGladwin,ChairofChristianAid,gavethekeynoteaddressataconferenceon
DalitChristianRights,organizedbytheUKCharityVoiceofDalitInternational(VODI)267.Inits
2007/2008AnnualReport,theUKCharityDalitSolidarityNetwork(DSNUK)highlighteda
conferenceonDalitsattheUKParliament,whereBishopGladwinchairedasessioncalled
ReflectionsfromIndiaTacklingCasteGlobally,whichincludedvenomousantiHinduspeakers
likeKanchaIlaiahandJosephDSouza;GladwindrewparallelsbetweentheCasteSystemand
theabolitionofslavery200yearsago.268VincentManoharan,GeneralSecretaryofNCDHRwas
alsopresentattheconference269GladwinisalsoapatronofbothVODI270andDSNUK.271
Fromtheaboveexamples,itisclearthatmostoftheDalitorganizationscampaigningagainst
editsproposedbyHindugroupsintheCaliforniatextbookshavedirectconnectionswith
265
WrittenevidencesubmittedbyChristianAid,Page2,March2011,
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmselect/cmintdev/writev/616/616.pdf,accessedJuly8,
2011
266
267
InternationalConferenceonDalitChristianRights,VoiceofDalitInternational,Vol.1,Issue5,MayJune2006,
http://www.vodintl.org.uk/newslettersix.htm,accessedJuly8,2011
268
AnnualReportoftheDalitSolidarityNetworkUK,2007/2008,Page3,
http://www.dsnuk.org/DSNUK%20Review%2007%2008.pdf,accessedJuly8,2011
269
Ibid.
270
http://www.voiceofdalitinternational.org/vodi_patrons.html,accessedJuly8,2011
271
http://www.dsnuk.org/contactus.htm,accessedJuly8,2011
Page||68
variousChristianchurchesaroundtheworldandinIndia.Thisorganizationalnexusworks
closelytodemonizeHinduismandblameallsocialevilsofIndiaontoHinduism,andlobbyworld
governments(liketheUKgovernment)tointerfereintothedomesticaffairsofIndia.Hinduism
iscrucifiedastheeviloppressorandChristianityispositionedastheholyemancipator.
However,underthepretextoffightingforinequalityandinjustice,manyoftheseChurch
organizationsonlysupportDalitsthathaveconvertedtoChristianityorthosethatwillreadily
converttoChristianity.
Page||69
j)
Ekta
Ektawasoneofthe
organizationsthatissueda
jointpressreleasewith
FOSAdenouncingtheefforts
oftheHindugroupsto
portrayHinduisminthe
samemanneras
Christianity,Judaism,Islam
andotherreligions.
Interestingly,Ektaswebsite
describesthatitisona
temporaryhiatusand
urgesvisitorstogotothe
FOSAwebsite!272Isthere
nodifferencebetweenthe
Figure5 ResourcesSectionofEktasWebsite
twoorganizations?IsEkta
merelyashellorganizationrunbythesamepeoplethatarebehindFOSA,FOIL,etc.?
Theorganizationsgoalsfocuson[supporting]theartisticendeavorsofSouthAsiansinthe
literary,musical,performingandvisualarts;[providing]socialandeducationalservicestothe
SouthAsiancommunity;[supporting]charitableprojectsinSouthAsia;[collaborating]with
othernonprofitorganizationsforprovidingwidersupport.273However,Ekta,justlikeits
brethrenleftist/communistorganizations,focusesmostlyIndiaandtheevilsofHindusand
attemptstopromoteevents,documentaries,artistsandprojectsthatportrayIndiaand
Hinduisminaseriouslynegativemanner.Similarly,Ektaisverymuchassociatedwiththe
leftist/communistorganizationsandforumsthathavebeendiscussedsofarinthisreport.
UndertheResourcessectionofEktassite,(asshowninFigure5),onecanfindlinksto
organizationssuchasFOIL,FOSA,CampaigntoStopFundingHate,OrganizingYouth!,Coalition
AgainstCommunalism,RadDesiSummer,YouthSolidaritySummer,andmanyothers274.Ekta
alsohoststhewebsitesofCampaigntoStopFundingHate,OrganizingYouth!,YouthSolidarity
Summer,CoalitionAgainstCommunalism,etc.275.Similarly,ithoststhewebsiteofFOSA,
272
SeerightSidebaronEktaswebsite,http://www.ektaonline.org/index.shtml,accessedJuly9,2011
http://www.ektaonline.org/about/index.htm,accessedJuly9,2011
274
SeerightSidebarthatliststhevariousFOILandaffiliateorganizationshostedbyEkta,
http://www.ektaonline.org/resources/index.htm,accessedJuly9,2011
275
Ibid.
273
Page||70
discussedearlierandinChapter4,276aswellasthewebsitesofthecontroversialfilmmakers
AnandPatwardhanandRakeshSharma.277In1996,PatwardhandirectedamovietitledWeAre
NotYourMonkeys,whichtakesaseriouslybiasedviewoftheHindudeityLordRamaandthe
epicIndianepicRamayana.278
VinayLal,whowasdiscussedearlier,describesPatwardhanasprobablyIndiasmost
distinguished,andcertainlyoneofitsmostcontroversial,documentaryfilmmakers;hehasno
peeramongthoseworkinginthesocialisttradition.HeisconsistentlyIndiasrepresentativeat
documentaryfilmfestivalsaroundtheworld.279In1998,FOILsMirAliRazaandAmitava
KumarinterviewedPatwardhan,callinghimoneofIndiasdistinguishedfilmmakers.280One
canonlyimaginetheimpactofsuchmoviesandfilmmakersontheworldopiniononIndiaand
Hinduism.
Anotherdisturbingaspectisthattheseorganizationsputupthefarceofbeingseparatefrom
eachotherwhensigningpetitions,issuingpressrelease,organizingprotests,etc.Forexample,
in2006,FOSAandEkta,alongwithothergroupslikeCAC(discussedbelow),FeTNA,etc.fileda
BriefofAmiciCuriaeopposingtheHinduAmericanFoundationsdemandforpreliminary
injunctionagainsttheproposedtextbooksintheSuperiorCourtofCalifornia.281Inthislegal
document,FOSAandEktaappearedasseparateorganizations.However,thedomainname
searchforEktarevealsthatitwascreatedinOct2000andisregisteredunderFriendsofSouth
Asia!282Similarly,inseveralpressreleases,EktaandFOSAarelistedasseparate
organizations283inablatantattempttoinflateorganizationalrepresentationonparticular
issues.
k)
CoalitionAgainstCommunalism(CAC)
CACalsoissuedthepressreleaseagainsttheHindugroupsintheCalifornia.Accordingtoits
website,hostedbyEkta,CACwasformedintheSanFranciscoBayAreainDecember1992in
276
SeeCopyrightandHostingInformationatthebottomofhttp://www.friendsofsouthasia.org/,accessedJuly9,
2011
277
Ibid.274
278
http://patwardhan.com/films/wearenotyourmonkeys.htm,accessedJuly9,2011
279
VinayLal,AnandPatwardhan,http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/Culture/Cinema/AnandP.html,accessed
July9,2011
280
Ineversetouttobeaculturalactivist:AConversationwithAnandPatwardhan,
http://www.proxsa.org/resources/ghadar/v3n1/apinterv2.htm,accessedJuly9,2011
281
Seeacopyofthelegaldocumentat
http://www.friendsofsouthasia.org/textbook/Amicus%20Brief%20by%20South%20Asian%20Groups%20Apr%2017
.PDF,accessedJuly9,2011
282
Asperasearchofwww.ektaonline.orgathttp://cqcounter.com/whois/,accessedJuly9,2011
283
Seehttp://www.friendsofsouthasia.org/textbook/FOSA_CAC_LetterFeb20.htmland
http://www.friendsofsouthasia.org/textbook/FOSACACPressRelease.html,accessedJuly9,2011
Page||71
thewakeoftheBabriMasjiddemolitioninAyodhya284.ItswebsiteishostedbyEktaandalso
pointstothewebsitesofFOIL,Sabrang,FOSA,CampaigntoStopFundingHate,Organizing
Youth!,etc.285ThefrontpageofCACisstrikinglysimilartothatofEkta.Hence,CACappearsto
benothingmorethananothershadowyorganizationwithprettymuchthesamemembersand
leadersasthoseinEkta,FOIL,FOSA,etc.
284
285
Seethenoteatthebottomofthepagehttp://cac.ektaonline.org/about/,accessedJuly9,2011
http://cac.ektaonline.org/resources/,accessedJuly9,2011
Page||72
2) Individuals
a)
RaRavishankar
RaRavishankarissimplydescribedasaGraduateStudentatUniversityofIllinoisatUrbana
Champaign.However,RavishankarisaveryactiveandhatemongeringmemberofFOILand
haswrittenseveralarticlesdenouncingHinduismandHindusinFOILsmouthpieceGhadar.Ina
2004articletitledBrahmanisingtheDiaspora,RavishankarviewscelebrationoftheHindu
festivalofHoliwithsuspicionanddeemsitseeminglyinnocuouscelebration286,implyinga
sinisteragendabehindsuchcelebrations.RavishankarthenattemptstoanalyzetheHSCs
refutationofbiasedportrayalsofHinduisminAcademiaandanalternativeviewoftheAryan
InvasionTheory,andconcludesthatHSCleavesanoxioustrailthusestablishingthatfree
speech,eveninthenameofintellectualpursuitsremainsantitheticaltothedogmaofHindu
fundamentalism287.In2005,Ravishankardemoralizedmarriagesandclaimedthatmarryingis
tantamounttosupportingtheheterosexistagendaoftheUSstate288.
b)
AshiwiniRao
AshwiniK.RaoislistedasanAssistantProfessorofPhysicalTherapyatColumbiaUniversity.
Again,RaosCommunist/Leftistbackgroundiscompletelyleftout.RaoisamemberofFOIL.
Additionally,bothRavishankarandRaoarementionedseparatelyfromCSFH,asiftheyarenot
affiliated.RaowasoneofthemainCSFHcoordinatorsagainsttheattackontheyouthgroup
HinduStudentsCouncil289.RaoblamesDr.Kalyanaraman,awellknowncommunitymember
andanadvisorofoneoftheHindugroupsinthecampaign,forsendingantiDalithatemails,290
butdoesnotprovideanyevidenceofsuchanincident.Thisseemstobeasmearcampaign
againstDr.KalyanaramanandanattempttoportraytheseHindugroupsascomplicittowards
Dalithumanrightsviolations.Raocontinuesintheletterandchargestheorganizationsofa
purelysectarianpoliticalagenda,withlittleornoobjectivescholarshipofIndianorHindu
History.291However,RaoconvenientlyhidesFOILsownpoliticalandracistagendaandthe
286
RaRavishankarandShefaliChandra,BrahmanizingtheDiaspora,Ghadar,apublicationoftheforumof
inqualabileftists,Vol.7,June2004,http://ghadar.insaf.net/June2004/MainPages/Editorial2.htm,accessedJuly9,
2011
287
Ibid.
288
RaRavishankar,OntheMarriageQuestionanUppercasteBourgeoisPerspective,Ghadar,apublicationof
theforumofinqualabileftists,Vol.9,November2005,
http://ghadar.insaf.net/November2005/MainPages/MarriageQuestion.htm,accessedJuly9,2011
289
SeethePressReleaseUncoveringtheGlobalSangh,January17,2008,
http://hsctruthout.stopfundinghate.org/,accessedJuly9,2011.AshwiniRaoismentionedasoneoftheCSFH
coordinators.
290
SeetheletterwrittentotheCaliforniaBoardofEducationbyRaoat
http://www.friendsofsouthasia.org/textbook/LetterToCAStateBoard_AR.html,accessedJuly9,2011
291
Ibid.234
Page||73
lackofobjectivescholarshiponitsside.Inaddition,theCaliforniaBoardofEducationhadhired
Dr.ShivaBajpaioftheHistoryDepartmentatCaliforniaStateUniversity.292Dr.Bajpaihad
reviewedtheproposedchangesonbehalfoftheBoard,whichwereinitiallyacceptedbyit
beforethelaunchofFOILs/FOSAsspitefulcampaign.
RaoisalsoamemberofINSAF(InternationalSouthAsiaForum),whichdescribesitselfasa
coalitionofindividualsandorganizationsdedicatedtothepromotionofpeaceandsocialjustice
inSouthAsia.293However,INSAFalsohoststhenewsletterofFOIL,Ghadar.294TheFebruary
2006issueofINSAFsbulletincontaineddetailedinterviewswithChairmanPrachanda295,the
leaderoftheCommunistPartyofNepal(Maoist)aswellasadocumentfromComrade
Parvati,296justifyingthepeopleswarinNepal.
c)
ShefaliChandra
ChandraismentionedasanAssistantProfessor,HistoryandWomen'sStudies,Universityof
Illinois,UrbanaChampaign.HerFOILcredentialsareabsent.Chandraalsocoauthoredthe
2004FOILarticleBrahmanisingtheDiaspora,alongwithRavishankar.In2005,inanarticletitle
MarriageisUnethical,Chandracomesdownhardontheinstitutionofmarriageandsuggests
thefollowingtoherreaders:
Thelatecapitalist,imperialistworldcelebratesmarriage.Andmarriageisunethical.If
thereisone,reallypowerfulthingthatyoucando,curiouslyenoughwithouteven
havingtostepoutofthecomfortofyourbedroom,itistoopposemarriage.297
d)
AnganaChatterji
ChatterjisantiHinduandantiIndiaviewshavebeendiscussedinSection1.01.Shewasoneof
themajorbrainsbehindthecampaign.
e)
VinayLal
LalsideologicalleaningswerespotlightedinSection1.01.Lalwasamajorforcebehindthe
FOSA/FOILcampaign.
292
TheCaliforniaTextbookReviewScandal,http://www.capeem.org/aboutmore.php,accessedJuly9,2011
http://www.insaf.net/central/index.html,accessedJuly10,2011
294
Thewebsiteaddresshttp://ghadar.insaf.net/showsthatitishostedbyINSAF,accessedJuly10,2011
295
SeeInterviewwithChairmanPrachandaandPeoplesPowerinNepalADocumentfromComradeParvati.
http://insaf.net/central/bulletins/200602bull.html.INSAFBulletinNo.46,February2006.AccessedJuly21,2011
296
Ibid.
297
ShefaliChandra,MarriageisUnethical,Ghadar,apublicationoftheforumofinqualabileftists,Vol.9,
November2005,http://ghadar.insaf.net/November2005/MainPages/MarriageUnethical.htm,accessedJuly21,
2011
293
Page||74
Section2.09
NRIsUnintelligent,HinduExtremists;NotEnoughDrunks
FOILtakesaratherunkindviewtowardstheNonResidentIndian(NRI)communityinAmerica.
Insweepinggeneralizations,FOILisaudaciousenoughtolabeltheentirecommunityas
unintelligentsoulswhohavesoldthemselvestoCorporateAmericaandthosewhosupport
extremism.
First,letslookattheideaofmodelminoritysuicide298asproposedbyVijayPrashad.
AccordingtoPrashad,SouthAsiansaredisproportionatelysuccessfulinAmericanotbecause
theyareinherentlymoreintelligentorworkharder,butmostlybecauseofimmigrationlaw.299
Hethenaddsthatbetween1966and197783percentofIndianswhoimmigratedtoAmerica
enteredunderthecategoryofprofessionalandtechnicalworkers:about20,000scientistswith
Ph.D.s,40,000engineersand25,000medicaldoctors.300So,allthosescientists,doctorsand
engineersapparentlydidntneedtoworkhardaftercomingtoAmericaandwerenot
intelligentatall.Theymadenameandfamejustbythefacttheyhadgooddegreesandbythe
goodgracesoftheUSgovernment.Itcannotbethattheseintellectuals,understandingthe
hardshipsandobstaclesinIndia,arrivedintheUSinsearchofbetteropportunitiesandworked
theirwaytothetopbyutilizingtheirskillsandeducationalbackground.ItsasiftheUS
governmentautomaticallyplantedtheminguaranteedtoppostsfortherestoftheirlives.
Prashadlambaststheseintellectualsforaskingtheirkidstoworkhardandtogetabetter
education.ParentsaresettingupINS[ImmigrationandNaturalizationService]standardsfor
theirkids301,areferencetothe1960sopeningupofUSimmigrationforAsians.SouthAsian
youngpeoplewhodon'tconformtothemythdenytheirparentsaccesstothepowercenters
ofthecommunity:joiningthechamberofcommerce,becomingaleaderinthetempleor
headingacommunityorganization.302PrashadthereforeportraysNRIsaspowergrabbersand
seekersoffalsestatuses.And,iftheirkidsdontbecomethemodelminorities,theNRIswillnot
beinanyprominentposition.Theindividualtalents,leadershipskillsandbusinessacumenof
theseNRIsamounttonothing.WhileitistruethatyouthinIndianAmericancommunityface
enormouspressureattimesfromtheirparentstoconformtocertainvalues,togetagood
educationandexcelinvariousfields,itisnotfairtoassassinatethecharacteroftheentire
community.
298
SmashingtheMythoftheModelMinority,http://asiasociety.org/policypolitics/socialissues/human
rights/smashingmythmodelminority?page=0%2C1,accessedJuly11,2011
299
JohnBlake,SouthAsianAtlantansFeelBurdenofModelMinorityMyth,February3,2002,
http://www.modelminority.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=222:southasian
atlantansfeelburdenofmodelminoritymyth&catid=41:identity&Itemid=56,accessedJuly11,2011
300
Ibid.
301
Ibid.299
302
Ibid.299
Page||75
Similarly,settinghighstandardsofperformance,thoughagreeablebymost,canbevery
confining303,accordingtoPrashad.It'snothuman.It'sliketakingagroupofscientistsand
makingacolonyonMarsandpretendingthewholeworldshouldbescientists.Wherearethe
artists,thepoets,thedrunks?Whereiseverybodythatmakeshistorypossible?304IsPrashad
implyingthatthestandardsshouldberelaxedsuchthatIndianAmericankidsbecomethe
drunksofthesociety?Or,doesPrashadnotwantIndianAmericankidstobeinthefieldsof
science,technology,business,politics,law,etc.?Isentrepreneurshipfrownedupon?Prashad
seemstobeconvenientlyignoringthefactthatIndianAmericanshaveexcelledinmanyfields
besidesjustscience.
ThecontributionsandachievementsofIndianAmericansinvariousfieldsbesidesscienceare
wellknown.In1982,VinodKhoslacofoundedSunMicrosystems305,aworldfamouscompany
knownforthefamousJavaplatform.In1987,PresidentRonaldReaganappointedDr.Joy
Cherian,the1stIndianCommissioneroftheUnitedStatesEqualEmploymentOpportunity
Commission(EEOC).306In1989,RohitJagessarfoundedRBCRadio,thefirstAsianIndianradio
stationintheUS.307In1994,GuitaristKimThayil,ofIndianorigin,winsGrammyawardforhis
IndianinspiredguitarworkonthealbumSuperunknownbyhisbandSoundgarden.308In1999,
FilmmakerM.NightShyamalanentersfilmhistorywithhisfilm"TheSixthSense"becomingone
ofthealltimehighestgrossingfilms,worldwide.309In2001,ProfessorJamshedBharucha(born
inMumbai)appointedDeanoftheFacultyofArts&SciencesatDartmouthCollege,thefirst
personofIndiandescenttoserveasdeanofaschoolatanIvyLeagueinstitution.310In2001,
ProfessorDipakC.Jain(borninTezpurAssam,India)appointedasdeanoftheKelloggSchool
ofManagement,NorthwesternUniversity.311In2006,IndraNooyi(borninChennai,India)
appointedasCEOofPepsiCo.312ShealsoservesasamemberoftheboardsoftheInternational
RescueCommittee,CatalystandtheLincolnCenterforthePerformingArts,Trusteesof
EisenhowerFellowships,andcurrentlyservesasChairmanoftheU.S.IndiaBusinessCouncil.313
314
In2007,VikramPandit(borninMaharashtra,India)wasappointedasCEOofCitigroup .He
alsoservesontheboardsofColumbiaUniversity,ColumbiaBusinessSchool,theIndianSchool
303
Ibid.299
Ibid.299
305
SeetheachievementsofvariousIndianAmericansathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_American,accessed
July11,2011
306
Ibid.
307
Ibid.305
308
Ibid.305
309
Ibid.305
310
Ibid.305
311
Ibid.305
312
Ibid.305
313
Ibid.305
314
Ibid.305
304
Page||76
ofBusinessandTheTrinitySchool.315In2008,TreasurySecretaryHenryPaulsonappointed
NeelKashkariastheInterimU.S.AssistantSecretaryoftheTreasuryforFinancialStability.316In
317
2008,RajChettywasappointedasprofessorofeconomicsatHarvardUniversity .Atthattime,
hewastheyoungestperson(ofage29)toeverreceivetenureofprofessorshipintheHarvard
Economicsdepartmentandoneofthetop8youngeconomistsoftheworld.In2009,President
BarackObamanominatedRajivShah,M.D.asthenewheadofUnitedStatesAgencyfor
InternationalDevelopment.318In2010,PresidentofHarvardUniversityCatherineDrewGilpin
FaustappointedNitinNohriaasthe10thdeanofHarvardBusinessSchool.319SanjayaMalakar
wasafinalistonthesixthseasonoftheshowAmericanIdol.320KarshKaleisawellknown
Indianproducer,composerandmusicianwhohasperformedwithtopartistsoftheworld,
includingZakirHussain,Sting,PaulOakenfold,RaviShankar,etc.321KalPenn,whoserealname
isKalpenSureshModi,isawellknownIndianAmericanactorinHollywood.322Heisnotason
ofarichdoctor,butofafragranceevaluatorforaperfumecompanyandofanengineer.323In
early2009,PennwasofferedthepositionofAssociateDirectoroftheWhiteHouseOfficeof
PublicEngagementintheObamaadministration,whichheaccepted.324PadmaLakshmiisthe
famousIndianAmericanmodel,actressandcookbookauthor.JhumpaLahiriisthefamous
IndianAmericanauthorofbookslikeInterpreterofMaladies(1999)andTheNamesake
(2003).325Theformerwonthe2000PulitzerPrizeforFiction.
OnecansimplyconductaquickwebsearchtounderstandtheachievementsofIndian
Americans.Thelistisincrediblylonganditcoversalmosteverymajorfield,fromscience,
technologyandmathematics,tobusiness,law,politics,andliterature,art,music,etc.Reducing
theabilitiesofIndianAmericanstoamerepolicyquirkishighlysuperficial.
JasonRichwineoftheAmericanEnterpriseInstituteinWashington,inwritingaboutthesuccess
ofIndianAmericanimmigrants,saysthateducationandculturecantakepeopleonlyso
315
Ibid.305
Ibid.305
317
Ibid.305
318
Ibid.305
319
Ibid.305
320
SeethelistofvariousIndianAmericanathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_Americans,accessedJuly
11,2011
321
SeetheentryonKarshKaleinWikipediaathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karsh_Kale,accessedJuly11,2011
322
SeetheentryonKalPenninWikipediaathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kal_Penn,accessedJuly11,2011
323
Ibid.
324
Ibid.322
325
SeetheentryonJhumpaLahiriinWikipediaathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jhumpa_Lahiri,accessedJuly11,
2011
316
Page||77
far.326Accordingtohim,intelligencehasalotmoretodowithsuccess.Hecitesa2003New
ImmigrantSurveyofbasiccognitionwhichwasadministeredtochildrenofarrivingimmigrants.
Hedescribestheresultsofthesurveyasfollows:
Whenstatisticaladjustmentsareusedtoconvertthebackwarddigitspanresultstofull
scaleIQscores,IndianAmericansplaceatabout112onabellshapedIQdistribution,
withwhiteAmericansat100.112isthe79thpercentileofthewhitedistribution.For
morecontext,considerthatAshkenaziJewsareafamouslyintelligentethnicgroup,and
theirmeanIQissomewherearound110.327
Thus,IndianAmericansexhibitsharpIQsandintellectualcapacityasagroup.Thisiscertainly
oneimportantreasonfortheirrisewithintheAmericansociety.
Twothingsareclearfromtheaboveexamples:1)whileimmigrationpoliciesofthe1960sand
todaymayhavehelpedbringintalentedIndianAmericansfromIndia,theascendanceofIndian
AmericanstothetopechelonofAmericansocietyisingreatpartduetotheirhardwork,values
andintellectualabilities;and2)IndianAmericansareinabroadrangeoffieldsbesidesjust
scienceandmedicine.
Furthermore,PrashadwantsSouthAsianstocommitmodelminoritysuicidebybeing
outspokenandindividualistic328However,itappearstheoutspokennessandindividualismis
tobedefinedbyFOILonlyandnotthecommunity.WhenNRIsspeakoutagainstthebiased
portrayalsofHinduisminacademiabyvariousscholarslikeWendyDoniger,PaulCourtrightand
othersdiscussedearlier,orwhenNRIs(includingCaliforniaparents)fightforanequalportrayal
ofHinduismin6thgradetextbooksincomparisontotheAbrahamicReligions,theyare
automaticallydeemedasHinduextremistsandYankeeHindutvavadis.
MathewandPrashadcommentfurther:
TheNRIsarecaughtinacontradiction.Atoneleveltheyyearntobewellintegratedinto
Americansociety,foritis,afterall,theAmericanDreamofatwocargarageandhouse
(adreammonopolised(sic)byWhiteAmericans)thatbroughtthemtothisland.At
anotherlevel,theyseektoretaintheiridentity,aneedthatisheightenedbythe
contradictionsofintegration.TheNRIsrelationtonationalismandidentityisnotjusta
326
JasonRichwine,IndianAmericans:TheNewModelMinority,February24,2009,Forbes.com,
http://www.forbes.com/2009/02/24/bobbyjindalindianamericansopinions
contributors_immigrants_minority.html,accessedJuly15,2011
327
Ibid.
328
Blake,Ibid.299
Page||78
productofthenationalistconstructionofIndiabyHindutvaideologues,butalso
continuouslymediatedbytheNRIslinktotheAmericanDream.329
Thus,theindividualisticexpressionofIndianidentitywithintheAmericansocietyisaproblem
forFOIL.TheidentificationwithIndiaasanancestrallandisautomaticallydeemedHindu
extremism.
WhenNRIsstartinternetgroupsorforumsthatcatertoaspecificsubsectionofthecommunity
ortoIndiaingeneral,thisisalsoaproblemforFOIL.AccordingtoMathewandPrashad:
Whilethenetsareoftenheraldedasfreespaces,theyarealsospacesofisolation.An
IndiarelatednewsgrouprarelyattractsanonIndian(ornonSouthAsian);aHinduism
relatedsiteattractsonlythoseinterestedinHinduismorforthatmatteraGujarati
SamajmailinglistonlyoccasionallycontainsnonGujaratis.Thus,theseisolatedsites
becomespawninggroundsforthetechnocratswhoneedtoreinventtheiridentityeach
nightafterhavingsoldtheirsoulstocorporateAmericaduringtheday.330
Hence,FOILtakesissuewiththefactthatIndia(orHinduismorGujarati)relatedgroupsor
discussionforumswillmainlyattractIndians(orHindusorGujaratis)andnotothers.Thatslike
sayingthatsportsdiscussionsandforumsshouldalsoattractnonsportsfans;musicdiscussions
andforumsshouldattractnonmusicfans;discussionsontheQuranandMohammedshould
attractnonMuslims;whitesupremacistdiscussionsandforumsshouldattractpeoplewho
dontbelieveinit.ItisironicthatFOILandtheiraffiliateshaveexactlythesametypeof
isolateddiscussionsandforumsthatfocusonMarxist/Communistviewsoftheworld,
demonizingtheIndianstateanddevaluingHinduism.
Inaddition,somehow,thesehobbiesandpassionsareconsideredneedstoreinventanidentity,
afterhavingsoldoursoulstoCorporateAmerica.Someonewhomakesanhonestlivingin
CorporateAmericawhiletakingthetimeabouttolearnaboutonesculture/religionorto
participateincausesrelatedtoonesculture/religionisconsideredtheslaveofimperialist
capitalism.ThesamepersonwhoworksforcorporateAmericaduringthedayandattends
communityreligiouseventsoratemplefunctionisconsideredasinnerthatsomehowneeds
toreconcileherguiltofbeingincahootswiththeseimperialistbourgeoisie.Onewonders
howFOILfeelsaboutorthodoxJewsoraboutMuslimswhoalsoworkinCorporateAmericaand
sometimespraywhileatwork.
WhenNRIsexercisetheirpoliticalcloutororganizethemselvesforcausesrelatedtoIndias
development,theireffortsarereducedtothoseoutofgreedandguilt.Or,theireffortsare
329
BijuMathewandVijayPrashad,TheSaffronDollar,http://www.proxsa.org/politics/hindutva/nridollar.html,
accessedJuly21,2011
330
Ibid.
Page||79
scrutinizedwithsuspicionbyFOILanditsaffiliates.Wealthynotbecauseofnaturalselection,
butbecauseofthestateselectionoftheU.S.,NRIengineers,doctorsandscientistslivedwith
theguiltthattheyhadabandonedtheirnationwhosetaxeseducatedthematleastinthe
IndianInstitutesofTechnologyandothersuchmajorresearchinstitutions.331Similarly,
[their]'patriotism'issimple:theyarejingoisticforwhomeverwillallowthemthefreedomto
makemoney.Whethersaffronorred/white/blue,thesecatsareheavilyintothegreen.332
Evenwithinthisspectrum,theNRIsarecriminalizedfurther.PrashadaddsAndwhatare
issuesthatmotivatedesis?Thingstodowiththe'homeland'orthingsthathavetodowiththe
exploitationandoppressionofdesisandothersintheU.S.333So,NRIsarenowaidingand
abettingtheexploitationandoppressionofpeople,perPrashad.AccordingtoFOIL,itisnot
possiblethattheNRIsholdsympathytowardspeopleofIndiabecausetheyrealizethe
challengesthatIndiafacesintermsofdevelopment,education,infrastructure,socialissue,etc.
Ononehand,FOILanditsaffiliatesdemonizeNRIsandespeciallyHindusfortheevilsofthe
castesystemandnotraisingtheirvoicesagainstpovertyandlowercastepeople.Ontheother
hand,ifanNRIdonatesmoneyorvolunteersforacausethatisIndiacentricincludingtheones
thatFOILdemonizesherfor;shecannotbesincereaboutit.Isacauseonlyvalidwhenit
resonateswithFOILanditsaffiliatesandtheirideologies?
PrashadandMathewdescribesocial,culturalandreligiouseventsheldbyNRIsaspartofan
extremistscheme.YankeeHindutvaoperatesthroughmultipleorganisational(sic)forms,
includingGitareadinggroups[emphasisoriginal],mahilasabhas[emphasisoriginal],temple
basedfunctionsandpujas,informalbabysittinggroups,culturaleventsofvariouskindsand
summercamps.334Hence,groupsthatgettogether,readtheGitaanddiscussitsphilosophy
arelabelasYankeeHindutvavadisorYankeeHinduextremists.Similarly,templeeventsand
ceremoniesareconsideredthebreedinggroundsforHinduextremism.MahilaSabhas
(gatheringofwomen)areextremistsandsoarebabysittinggroups!
Similarly,accordingtoFOIL,NRIshaveanextremelynarrowmindedviewofIndiaandits
culturalanddontunderstandthevariousnuancesthatgoalongwiththem.Thisisapparently
duetotheresultoftheirnarroweducationinIndia.[The]NRIspresentthemselvesasa
culturalcommodityeventhoughtheythemselvescametotheUSwithoutextensivetrainingin
theartsoftheirownculture(thatis,duringtheirnarrowmindedandextensiveeducationin
thepostcolonialeducationalsystemofIndia,theynevergainedthenuancedideaoftheir
culturalhistory).335ItisworthwhiletonotethatmanyofthehistorybooksinIndiahavebeen
331
VijayPrashad,CounteringYankeeHindutva,FrontlineMagazine,Vol.19,Issue25,December720,2002,
http://www.hindu.com/fline/fl1925/stories/20021220005302800.htm,accessedJuly21,2011
332
Ibid.298
333
Ibid.298
334
Ibid.329
335
Ibid.329
Page||80
writtenbyMarxist/LeftisthistorianslikeRomilaThapar.So,FOILspositionhereisobfuscating.
Ontheonehand,theychidetheNRIforstandingupagainstbiasedportrayalsofIndiaand
Hinduism.Then,theydisapproveoftheireducationaltraininginIndia,evenwhenmostofitis
basedonMarxist/Leftisttextbooks.WhatisFOILsideaofIndianculturalhistorythen?
Insummary,FOILportraysNRIsasagroupofgreedy,unintelligent,extremistlunaticsthatare
slavesoftheimperialistcapitalismofAmerica.TheseNRIshaveexperiencedsuccessduetothe
goodgracesoftheAmericangovernment.Theyapplyenormouspressureontheirchildren,
confinethemtonarrowcareerpathsanddontletthembecomethedrunksofthesociety.
WhileFOILencouragesindividualisticexpressionsofidentity,itreprimandstheNRIsfor
consideringIndiaastheirancestralhomeland,andraisingtheirvoicesagainstinjusticeandbias
inthemedia,academiaorinotherareas.ForumsandorganizationsstartedbyNRIsarelabeled
asisolatedspacesthatreallyexistasaneedtoreinventonesidentityafterslavingawayduring
thedayinCorporateAmerica.NRIactivisminthepoliticalarenaisnotconsideredsincereand
isaresultofsomeunderlyinggreed;inessence,theyaresupportingoppressionofpeopleinUS
andIndia.Socialandreligiouseventssuchaswomensgatherings,babysittinggroups,temple
ceremoniesandcelebrations,etc.areconsideredthebreedinggroundsforextremerightwing
activities.And,NRIssenseofhistoryandculturalknowledgeisshallow,evenwhenitisbased
onthewritingsofpopularMarxist/LeftisthistorianslikeRomilaThapar.
Page||81
Section2.10
Community
IndianIndependenceHegemonicVisionofNational
OnAugust15,1997,Indiacelebrated50yearsindependence.Theyearwasmarkedwithhuge
celebrationsandjoyousoutpoursfromallaroundtheworld,includingofcourse,India.India
receivedthenotesfromalmostallthecountriesintheworldandfrommajorleaders,spiritual
personalities,mediaandfilmpersonalities,industrialicons,etc.
However,FOILwasnotinthesamemood.Inanarticleentitled50Year?,FOILfeltthatthe
paradesandcelebrationswereattemptstoattemptstosuturehegemonicvisionsofnational
community336anditiscrucialtounderscorethelimitsofnationalidentificationinthevaried
andparticularformsofviolenceanddeprivationinflictedonbodiesnamedSouthAsian337In
otherwords,isFOILimplyingthatvisionofIndiaisthatofhegemony?IsFOILsayingthatthe
hegemonicmajorityofIndiaissuppressingsomepoorminoritypopulation?Someanswers
areprovidedinthearticle.Itmentions:theequationofnationandcommunitywiththestate
canmakeuslessmindfulofstateviolenceagainstSouthAsians338.Yet,thefocusisIndia.FOIL
spotlightstheatrocitiesoftheIndianarmedforcesinKashmir.Itelaborates:InKashmir,the
Indiangovernment'sarmingofparamilitarygroupsisresponsibleforsummaryexecutionsand
tortureofitssubject(ed)peoples,aswellelectionrelatedintimidationofvoters,contributingto
themilitarizationoflifeinthatregion339.Onewouldexpectthatiftalkisofmilitary
oppressionshouldincludebothIndiaandPakistan,sincebotharepartofSouthAsia.Sadly,the
biasisstrongagainstIndia.Inthesamearticle,FOILcontinuestohighlightundemocratic
measuresofthegovernment.Theeconomicreformsof1990arealsodenouncedintypical
Communistdislikeofcapitalism.FOILasserts:Economicliberalizationwiththeinterestsof
capitalatthecenterandtheconcomitanterosionoflaborrightsindicatethestate'scomplicity
infurtheringhumanbondageandexploitation.340
Inothersectionsofthearticle,FOILreferstomanyevilsofindependentIndia,suchasthe
rightsforGaysandLesbians,BabriMasjidRiots,theBombaycommunalriotsof1993(afterthe
embassybombingsbyterrorists)andofgoodHinduwivesbeingburntfordowry.And,when
itdiscussestheformationofaUniformCivilCodeinIndiaitcautionsagainstinsidiously
[reasserting]HinduBrahminicalhegemony.Thus,timeandagain,thenegativesofIndiaare
onlyslappedontoHinduismandtheproblemsofSouthAsiaonlyoccurinIndia.When
discussingtheUniformCivilCode,FOILdeliberatelyignorestheMuslimPersonalShariahLaw
336
BijuMathewetal,50Years?,Ghadar,apublicationoftheforumofindianleftists,Vol.1,No.2,November26,
1997,http://www.proxsa.org/resources/ghadar/v1n2/edit.html,accessedJuly21,2011
337
Ibid.
338
Ibid.336
339
Ibid.336
340
Ibid.336
Page||82
andbodiessuchastheAllIndiaMuslimPersonalLawBoardthatworktoadministeraseparate
personallawforMuslimsinIndia.OneoftheobjectivesoftheBoardis[to]constitutea
permanentstandingcommitteecomprisingUlemaandlegalexpertstostudylaws,rules,
regulationsandcircularsissuedbythecentralandstategovernmentsandothergovernmental
andsemigovernmentalagenciesortheBillsintroducedintheParliamentandstatelegislation
fromthepointofviewoftheirimpactontheMuslimPersonalLaw.341Inotherwords,the
BoardaimstoreviewlawssetbythegovernmentandseewhethertheyareinlinewithMuslim
ShariahLawornot.Suchreviewsbyaparticularreligiouscommunityshouldnotbefavoredin
atrulysecularandpluralisticcountry.OneshouldnotbesurprisedifFOILandother
leftist/communistorganizationsareoutragedifaHinduPersonalLawBoardwasformedtodo
thesame.
FOILseemstoforgetthat1997alsomarkedthe50thAnniversaryofPakistansindependence.
SincePakistandeclareditselfanIslamicnationandpursuedadecidedlyIslamiccourseinits
politicalandsociallifesincethe1980s,HindusasaminorityinPakistanhavehadconsiderably
fewerprivileges,rightsandprotectionsincomparisontominoritiesinIndia,which
constitutionallyavowsitselfsecularandgivingofequalrightstoitsreligiousminorities
includingtheMuslim,ChristianandSikhcommunities.342Culturalmarginalization,
discrimination,economichardshipsandreligiouspersecutionhaveresultedinmanyHindus
convertingtootherreligions(Islam,Christianity).343BecauseHindusarenotPeopleofthe
BooklikeChristians,theyhavegenerallybeengivenfewerrightsinformally(defacto)bythe
Muslimmajoritythanthecountry'sChristiansevenifdejureHindushaveequalrightsunder
thelaw.344In2008,AliEteraz,writingfortheGuardianinanarticleentitledProtecting
PakistansHindus,givessomedisturbingstatistics.Accordingtosomesources,atthefounding
ofPakistan,Hinduscomprisednearly15%ofthecountry'spopulationandnownumberbarely
2%.Manyhaveleft,manyhavebeenkilled,andmanyhaveconvertedtootherreligionsto
protectthemselves.345InJuly2010,around60membersoftheminorityHindusinKarachi
wereattackedandethnicallycleansedfollowinganincidentwhenaHinduyouthdrankfroma
watertapnearanIslamicmosque.346In2011,anarticleinIndiaTodaymagazineprovidedgory
detailsofthesituationofHindusinPakistan,fromkidnapping,gangrapingandforced
conversionsofyounggirls,tostatesanctionedrevisionsofPakistanihistorytokillingsofHindus
341
SeetheentryontheMuslimPersonalLawBoardinWikipediaat
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_India_Muslim_Personal_Law_Board,accessedJuly21,2011
342
SeetheentryonHindusinPakistaninWikipediaathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism_in_Pakistan,
accessedJuly21,2011
343
Ibid.
344
Ibid.359
345
AliEteraz,ProtectingPakistan'sHindus,April11,2008,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/apr/11/protectingpakistanshindus,accessedJuly21,2011
346
Ibid.342
Page||83
underblasphemylaws.QaswarAbbas,writinginIndiaToday,sharesthatinoneincident,a
17yearoldgirlwasgangraped(sic)inNagarparkerareawhileinanotherincident,a15yearold
girlwasallegedlyabductedfromAakleevillageandforcedtoconvert.TheAakleeincident
promptedaninstantmigrationofabout71HindufamiliestoRajasthan.MembersoftheHindu
communityinKotritowninSindhprovincerecentlyprotestedagainstthekidnappingoffour
teenagers,Anita,Kishni,AjayandSagar.347
MarviMemonofthePakistanMuslimLeagueQuaid(PMLQ)andoneoftheonlylawmakersto
standupforHindus,describesthesituationinherownwords:
Thetragedyisthatasaresultofthesekidnappings,manyHindufamilieshavemigrated
toIndia.Afterall,itisbettertoliveinanothercountrythaninperpetualfearinPakistan.
IthasbecomeroutineforHindustobehumiliatedatthehandsoftheinfluentialMuslim
communityinPakistanYearsofkeepingalowprofilehaveaffectedthesenseof
identityoftheHindus.Theyhavebecomeapeoplewithoutatrueidentityifthereisno
awarenessandconcernfortheHindusofPakistan,theywillremainavoicelesspeople
andeventuallyceasetoexist.348
Hindus,Christians,Buddhistsandotherminoritieshavebeentargetsofnumerousrapes,
killings,abductions,etc.inBangladeshaswell.
AnyonewhopointstotheatrocitiesofHindusisautomaticallylabeledasHinduChauvinistor
HinduExtremistbyFOIL.DoHindusnotmatter?IfIndiawasfoundedonahegemonicvision
ofnationalism,PakistanandBangladeshareshiningexamplesofreligiousandcultural
hegemonyatitsworst.
347
QaswarAbbas,SoftTargetinPakistan:Abduction,oppressionandforcedconversionisfateofHindusinPak,
May30,2011.IndiaToday,onlineedition,http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/story/hindusinpakistanvictimsof
abductionforcedconversionsandoppresion/1/138751.html,accessedonJuly15,2011
348
Ibid.
Page||84
ChapterIII.
AGraphicalIllustrationoftheConnectionsbetween
LeftistOrganizations
Figure5mapsouttheinterconnectionsofleftist/communistorganizationsandhowtheyareall
ultimatelyconnectedtoFOIL.Theinformationhasbeencompiledfromtheindividualwebsites
aswellasfromWhois.net.AllthewebsitesareregisteredtoindividualswhoareFOIL
members.Forexample,RajasekharRamakrishnan,anoldtimeFOILmemberandSecretary
TreasurerofSINGHFoundationistheregisteringagentforFOILswebsiteaswellasthoseof
SACW,INSAFandSINGH.Similarly,AkhilaRaman,anotherFOILmemberistheregistering
agentforCSFH;FOSAmemberRamkumarSridharanistheregisteringagentofYSS,theYouth
WingofFOILaswellthatasofEkta.
ThefigurealsoshowsthatthewebsitesofFOILaffiliatesareinturnhostedbyotherFOIL
affiliates.Forinstance,EktahoststhesitesofCSFH,FOSA,CAC,NRISAHI,AnandPatwardhan,
RakeshSharma,andOrganizingYouth!(associatedwithYSS).
Manyofthelinksoneachofthewebsitesarebrokenorpointbacktothesamewebsites.For
example,www.foil.orgpointstowww.proxsa.org(asofJuly21,2011).Inthesamemanner,
www.ektaonline.orghasanoticesayingEKTAistemporarilyonhiatus.Werecommendyou
visitFriendsofSouthAsiahttp://www.friendsofsouthasia.orginthemeantime.(asofJuly21,
2011)349
ItisimportanttounderstandthatFOILanditsaffiliatesusedubiousmethodswhenfightingfor
issues.Theyusethenamesofallofthesepseudoorganizationswhensigningpetitions,letters
ofprotests,etc.,thuscreatinganimpressionofalargenumberoforganizations.Inreality,as
Figure5shows,allofthesepseudoorganizationsareregisteredtoahandfulofpeopleand
consistofthesameindividuals.
Table1providesaddressesandotherregistrationdetailsforthevariouswebsitesshownbelow.
349
SeeRightSidebarAnnouncementathttp://www.ektaonline.org/index.shtml,accessedJuly21,2011.
Page||85
Figure6FOILsNetworkofWebsitesAnIllustration
Source:Whois.NetandIndividualWebsites
Page||86
Table1RegistrationInformationontheWebsitesofFOILanditsAffiliates
Website
www.proxsa.org
www.Insaf.net
www.sacw.net
www.singhfoundation.org
www.youthsolidarity.org
www.stopfundinghate.org
Organization
CreatedOn Registrant
ForumofInqualabi
Rajasekhar
Leftists
3Jun99 Ramakrishnan
InternationalSouth
Rajasekhar
AsiaForum
21May01 Ramakrishnan
Rajasekhar
SouthAsian
CitizensWeb
29Oct03 Ramakrishnan
Rajasekhar
SINGHFoundation
2Dec99 Ramakrishnan
YouthSolidarity
Summer
CampaigntoStop
FundingHate
www.ektaonline.org
EKTA
FriendsofSouth
www.friendsofsouthasia.org Asia
CoalitionAgainst
Communalism
NonResident
Indiansfora
Secularand
HarmoniousIndia
www.ektaonline.org/nrisahi (NRISAHI)
cac.ektaonline.org
Registrant
Registrant
Address2
Address3
630West168St. NewYork,NY
RoomBox121
10032
RoomPH1530
10032
RoomPH1530
10032
RoomPH1530
10032
RamkumarSridharan c/oSanJosePeace 48S7thSt.,Suite

7Mar04 FriendsofSouthAsia andJusticeCenter 101
TheCampaignTo
15Aug02 FriendsofSouthAsia StopFundingHate P.O.Box20136
SanJose,CA
95112
Stanford,CA
94309
RamkumarSridharan c/oSanJosePeace 48S7thSt.,Suite

5Oct00 FriendsofSouthAsia andJusticeCenter 101
3375Homestead
22Jan02 A.H.Cemendtaur
EnergySolutions RoadSuite61
SanJose,CA
95112
SantaClara,
CA95051
RamkumarSridharan c/oSanJosePeace 48S7thSt.,Suite SanJose,CA

95112
RamkumarSridharan c/oSanJosePeace 48S7thSt.,Suite SanJose,CA

95112
Source:WHOIS.NETandIndividualWebsites
Registrant
Address
Columbia
University
Columbia
University
Columbia
University
Columbia
University
Page||87
ChapterIV.
OrganizationsintheCommunist/ChristianMissionary/
IslamistNexusTheirActivities,PositionsandAgenda
WhilethereportsofaroffersdetailedanalysisoftheviewsandactivitiesoftheForumof
InqualabiLeftists(FOIL)andtouchesuponsomeoftheiraffiliateandsisterorganizations,the
followingsectiondelvesintogreaterdetailsonvariousorganizationsandentitiesthatarepart
ofthenexusshapingantiHinduandantiIndiaworldviews.
(a) CampaigntoStopFundingHate(CSFH)
CSFHhasbeendiscussedatseveralplacesinthereport.FAQsonthewebsitedescribeisatasa
diversegroupofpeopleofIndianoriginlivingandworkinginIndiaandtheUnitedStates350.
However,thediversityslimitedmembershipincludesindividualswhoarereallyFOILmembers
andmembersoforganizationsaffiliatedwithorstartedbyFOIL.Asdiscussedinthereport,
CSFHsmembersincludethefollowing,amongothers:BijuMathew,VijayPrashad,AliMir,
VinayLal,Balmurli
NatrajanRa
Ravishankar,
AshwiniRao,
AnganaChatterji,
RajaSwamyand
SamipMallick.In
addition,asshow
inFigure7,CSFHs
websiteishosted
Figure7ScreenshotofCSFHWebsitewhichshowsthesiteishostedbyEkta
byEktaonline.org,
ashadowyorganizationdiscussedearlier,whichinitselfisregisteredtotheorganizationFOSA.
CSFHandFOSAusedtosharethesamemailingaddressinStanford,CA.351Furthermore,the
PublicationSitessectionofitswebsite,besidesselfpromoting,listsahostofleftist/communist
groupsitessuchasSabrangCommunicationandPublishing(India)352(apartnerofCSFH),The
SouthAsianCitizensWeb(France)353(anotherpartnerofCSFH),AllianceforaSecularand
DemocraticSouthAsia354,CoalitionAgainstCommunalism355(startedbyFOILandCSFH
350
http://www.stopfundinghate.org/faq.html,accessedJuly22,2011
SeeHarshKapoorsannouncementsonthedistributionlistofINSAF.TheJanuary27,2002PressReleasetitled
PEACEDEMONSTRATORSURGEINDIA&PAKISTANTORESUMEDIALOGUElistsAkhilaRamanandothersunder
thecontactinformationandtheaddressofFriendsofSouthAsiaasP.O.Box20136Stanford,CA94309.
http://insaf.net/pipermail/sacw_insaf.net/2002/001296.html,accessedJuly22,2011
352
http://stopfundinghate.org/resources/FEH.htm,accessedJuly22,2011
353
Ibid.
354
Ibid.352
351
Page||88
members),ProgressiveSouthAsianExchangeNet(PROXSA)356(whichisthemainsiteofFOIL),
DissidentVoice357,etc.Itisalsoimportanttonotethatthesepartnersandaffiliatesproduce
theanalysisofCSFHwordforwordontheirwebsite,withoutforanyfurtherreviewor
critique;thisquestionstheobjectivityofsuchorganizationsandoutlets.Itisatacticfollowed
byFOILanditsaffiliatesonmanyreportsandissues.ChapterVprovidesexamplesofsuch
collaborationingreaterdetail.
CSFHclaimsitsgoaltobeasfollows:Weareboundbyonecommongoal:anIndiawithout
hatred,wherepeoplearenotpersecutedbecauseoftheirfaithorpoliticalbeliefs.358Yet,their
campaignsaretargetedonlytowardscultivatinghatredforHindusandHinduism,asillustrated
bytheviews,writingsandpoliticalleaningsoftheorganizationsmembers.Persecutionsand
conversionofHindusarenotontheirradar.
(b) FriendsofSouthAsia(FOSA)
FOSAwasonethemastermindsbehindthesuccessfulcampaigninsupportofnegativeand
factuallyinaccurateportrayalsofHinduisminCaliforniatextbooks.Unfortunately,the
organizationsnameisironic.ItfocusesondelegitimizingtheIndianstatewhilealsoblaming
thePakistanigovernment.ThecriticismofPakistanismuchmilderincomparisontothat
awardedtoIndia.In2001,oneofFOSAsfoundersandthemainorganizer,AliHasan
Cemendtaur,whoisalsolistedastheregistrantforthegroupswebsite,wroteanarticletitled
WhatIndiaMustDo,IfPeaceful,rebukingtheIndiangovernmentforcreatingwarhysteria.
ArguingfortheseparationofKashmirfromIndia,CemendtaurcompletelyfocusesontheIndian
sideofKashmirwhileconvenientlyforgettingaboutPakistanOccupiedKashmir.Headvises
Indiatoproveherselfcleanbyandapeacefulcountrybydoingthefollowing:
ToshowtheworldhercleanhandsIndiashouldenacttheUNresolutionof1948and
holdaplebisciteinKashmir.Theresultofthatplebiscitewouldprovethatpeopleof
KashmirloveIndiaandthesocalledKashmiriseparationmovementisinfactacreation
ofPakistan.Thisinturnwouldexposethe'terrorist'natureofPakistantotheworld.And
thatwouldreally'teachPakistanalesson.'359
NoticethattheargumentofplebisciteonlyappliestotheIndiansideandnotPakistaniside
accordingtoCemendtaur.Similarly,thefourwarsfoughtbyIndiaandPakistanwereall
355
Ibid.352
Ibid.352
357
Ibid.352
358
Ibid.350
359
A.H.Cemendtaur,WhatIndiaMustDo,IfPeaceful,updatedonDecember31,2001,
http://www.paklinks.com/gs/pakistanaffairs/22863anindiansayswhatindiamustdoifpeaceful.html,accessed
July21,2011
356
Page||89
initiatedbyPakistan.CemendtauralsoblamestheIndiansforPakistansunwillingnessor
inabilitytocrackdownonterroristorganizations.AccordingtoCemendtaur,thebellicose
attitudeoftheIndianleadershipismakingitharderforPakistantocrackdownonthe
organizationssuspectedofterrorism.360
CemendtaurissupportiveofthecreationofPakistanandsympathizeswiththeleaders,saying:
IunderstandthattheleadersoftheMuslimLeaguedidn'twanttoseetherightsofthe
MuslimstrampledinaunifiedSouthAsiaundertheguiseofdemocracy.361So,therightsof
Muslimsareoktofightfor,whiletherightsofHindusdontseemtomatterasmuch.
AkhilaRamanisanotherprominentmemberofFOSAandFOIL.Ramanalsosupportsthe
breakawayofKashmirfromIndiaandissilentonthesamefromPakistanorfromChina.
In2007,RamanwroteanarticletitledKashmir:TerrorismorFreedomMovement?,deeming
KashmirterrorismasagenuinefreedomstrugglegoingonagainsttherepressiveIndianState
bytheKashmiris362TheentirearticleisablamegameagainstthecruelIndianarmyandthe
IndiangovernmentsbetrayaloftheKashmiripeople.NodiscussionisaccordedtoPakistan
OccupiedKashmirorthepieceofKashmirinpossessionofChina.
(i) ActivitiesofFOSAPromotingISIAgents,AmongOtherThings
Anorganizationsviewsandpositionsareshowcasedbytheeventsitholds,thespeakersit
invites,thepositionsittakes,etc.Thissectionprovidesanoverviewoftheseasitappliesto
FOSA.ManyeventsorganizedbyFOSAareroutineIndiabashingandHindubashingevents.
In2003,FOSA,alongwithAnganaChatterji,organizedadiscussiononKashmiratUniversityof
Berkeley.OneofthemainspeakersoftheeventwasDr.GhulamNabiFaifromtheKashmiri
AmericanCouncil.363OnTuesday,July19,2011,theFederalBureauofInvestigationoftheUS
arrestedFaionchargesofbeinganagentofthePakistanispyagencytheISI.NeilMacBride,the
USAttorneyintheEasternDistrictofVirginia,infilingthecharges,accusedFaiofadecades
longschemewithonepurposetohidePakistansinvolvementbehindhiseffortstoinfluence
theU.S.governmentspositiononKashmir.364MacBridealsomaintainedthat[his]handlersin
360
Ibid.
A.H.Cemendtaur,ASouthAsianHistory(19472047),
http://www.boloji.com/index.cfm?md=Content&sd=Articles&ArticleID=3629,accessedJuly21,2011
362
AkhilaRaman,Kashmir:TerrorismOrFreedomMovement?,March22,2007,
http://www.countercurrents.org/kashmirraman220307.htm,accessedJuly21,2011
363
PeopleforPeaceinKashmir,AProgressiveDiscussionForumOnKashmir,
http://www.countercurrents.org/kashmirraman280803.htm.AccessedJuly20,2011
364
CharlesSavageandEricSchmitt,PakistansMilitaryPlottedtoTiltU.S.Policy,F.B.I.Says,TheNewYorkTimes,
onlineedition,July19,2011,http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/20/us/politics/20agent.html.AccessedJuly20,
2011
361
Page||90
PakistanallegedlyfunneledmillionsthroughtheKashmirCentertocontributetoU.S.elected
officials,fundhighprofileconferencesandpayforothereffortsthatpromotedtheKashmiri
causetodecisionmakersinWashington.365Similarly,theFBIstatedthatgroupsobjectivewas
topersuadetheUnitedStatesgovernmentthatitwasinitsinteresttopushIndiatoallowa
voteinKashmirtodecideitsfuture.366
Furthermore,oneKashmiriforumaccusedAkhilaRamanandAnganaChatterjiofholdinga
highlybiasedsessiononKashmir.SomeprominentKashmiriactivists,includingthosewhose
familieshavesufferedasaresultofongoingterrorisminJammuandKashmirStateofIndia,
werekeptawayandnotallowedtoparticipateinasignificantmanner;afterprotesting,one
personwasgivenonlytwominuteswhiletheotherwasgiventwentyseconds.367AkhilaRaman
wasaccusedofadefinitetiltandmisstatementsinherslideshowattheForum368.Hertheory
thatMaharajaHariSinghwasabrutalrulerandtheMuslimsweresubjectedtoatrocitieswas
vehementlychallenged.369
OnJan24,2004,FOSAorganizedaneventtitledSecularism&DemocracyinIndia:The
ChallengesAhead370.ThekeyspeakersincludedAsgharAliEngineerandAnganaChatterjiand
wascosponsoredbyCoalitionAgainstCommunalism(CAC),SouthAsianProgressiveAction
Collective(SAPAC),NonResidentIndiansforaSecularandHarmoniousIndia(NRISAHI),Indian
MuslimCouncil(IMC)andIndianMuslimReliefCommittee(IMRC).Interestingly,no
mainstreamHinduorIndianorganizationswereinvitedtoorcosponsoredthisInteractive
Discussion.ThereportalreadydiscussedChatterjispositionsandideologicalleanings.And,
onecanseetheeventwascosponsoredbyFOILsaffiliatesincludingFOSA.Theactivitiesand
viewsofIndianMuslimCouncil(nowknownasIndianAmericanMuslimCouncil)andothersare
discussedfurtherinthissectionofthereport.
In2002,FOSAorganizedseveralIndiaPakistanPeaceVigilsinattempttoraiseawareness
aboutthedangersofanuclearwarbetweenthetwocountries.TheeventsfeaturedAshish
Chaddha371,ShaliniGera372.GeraandChaddhaaremembersofFOIL.373Geraisthemain
organizerofCoalitionAgainstCommunalism,anaffiliateofFOILandFOSAandwroteanarticle
inTehelkamagazineblastingtheeffortsofHindusgroupstogetafairportrayalofHinduismin
365
SavageandSchmitt,Ibid.
SavageandSchmitt,364
367
http://host.kashmirtelegraph.com/1003/one.htm,accessedJuly9,2011
368
Ibid.
369
Ibid.367
370
Seeeventannouncementathttp://www.friendsofsouthasia.org/events/,accessedJuly21,2011
371
HinaWyne,GLOBALVIGILSFORPEACEBETWEENINDIAANDPAKISTANCONTINUEINBAYAREA,April27,
2002,http://www.friendsofsouthasia.org/press/releases/042702.htm,accessedJuly21,2011
372
Ibid.
373
AnivarAravind,FOILLettertoCPI(M),December6,2006,http://www.mail
archive.com/greenyouth@googlegroups.com/msg01102.html,accessedJuly21,2011
366
Page||91
Californiatextbooks.374SheisalsoaspokespersonforCSFH,alongwithAnganaChatterji,and
AliMirRaza.375
OnAugust2010,FOSAinvitedHarshDobhalforadiscussiononHumanRightsinIndia376.
Accordingtotheannouncement,HarshDobhalisthe[ManagingEditor]ofCombatLaw
(www.combatlaw.org),abimonthlyjournalfromIndiathatservesasthevoiceoflawyersand
socialactivistswhoformthecuttingedgeoflegalactivisminIndia377.CombatLawisa
Maoist/Communistleaningpublicationthatagreeswiththephilosophyoftheviolentand
terroristNaxalmovementinIndia.Inthe2006edition,ColinGonsalves,onetheeditorsand
foundersofCombatLawissympathetictotheNaxalitesandstatesthefollowing:Today,the
Naxalitesdo,byuseofforce,whattheStatelegislatureandjudiciaryoughttobedoingby
takingrecoursetotheConstitutionofIndia.378Gonsalvesstatesfurther:
Naxalismthenisthenaturaloutcomeoftheglobalisationprocess,whichisolates,
impoverishesandmarginalisesthemajorityoftheworkingpeopleandpushesthem
inexorablytowardsrebellion.Theverynatureofcapitalismandtheimperativesof
globalisationcreatemilitantssuchastheNaxaliteswhoseeforceastheonlywayto
defendtherighttolife.379
TheMaoists,withthehelpofPakistaniInterServicesIntelligence(ISI),havebeenattemptingto
establishlinkswithNaxalitegroupssuchasthePWG[Peoples War Group]andtheMCC[Maoist
CommunistCentre]byusingtheSiliguricorridorinWestBengal.380Suchlethalpartnershipis
seriouslyunderminingtheinternalsecurityofIndia.Gonsalves,inhisarticle,hailstheMaoist
overthrowoftheNepalesegovernmentandsuggeststhatIndiashouldlearnfromNepal.381
CombatLawaddressestheChairmanoftheCommunistPartyofNepal(Maoist)PushpaKamal
DahalPrachandaasComrade382,apopularCommunistsalutation.Prachandabecamethe
374
ShaliniGeraandGirishAgrawal,Hindutvagoestoschool,TehelkaMagazine,onlineedition,February4,2006,
http://www.tehelka.com/story_main16.asp?filename=op020406Hindutva_goes.asp,accessedJuly21,2011
375
SheismentionedasaspokespersonofCSFHinapressreleasedatedDecember13,2002,at
http://stopfundinghate.org/resources/news/121302SFHPressRelease.htm,accessedJuly21,2011
376
AtalkbyHarshDobhal,August8,2010,
http://www.sanjosepeace.org/calendar_event.php?eid=20100723091522132,accessedJuly22,2011
377
Ibid.
378
ColinGonsalves,ConstituentAssemblyorCounterRevolution?,CombatLaw,Vol.5,Issue4,September
October2006,Page13,http://combatlaw.org/wpcontent/uploads/combatlaw_volume5_2006/September
October2006_nepal.pdf,accessedJuly22,2011
379
Ibid.
380
CommunistPartyofNepalMaoist(IncidentsinvolvingCPNM),
http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/nepal/terroristoutfits/index.html,accessedJuly22,2011
381
Gonsalves,Ibid.,11
382
SeePage16CombatLawat,http://combatlaw.org/wp
content/uploads/combatlaw_volume5_2006/SeptemberOctober2006_nepal.pdf,accessedJuly22,2011
Page||92
NepalesePrimeMinisterin2008,afterleadinganundergroundmilitantcommunistmovement
formorethantwodecades.WhattheMaoistscalledtheirpeople'swarhadleft13,000
peopledead,tensofthousandsdisplacedandmuchofthecountry'sinfrastructure
destroyed.383
DobhalisalsotheSecretariatoftheIndependentPeoplesTribunal(IPT)andin2010published
areporttitledReportofIndependentPeoplesTribunalonHumanRightsViolationsinKashmir.
ThereportblastedtheIndiangovernmentforongoinghumanrightsviolationsagainstpeople
ofJammuandKashmir.Accordingtothereport,[the]tribunalwitnessedtestimoniesfromall
sectionsofKashmiri[emphasisoriginal]society,includingvictims,theirfamilymembers,social
activists,journalistsandacademicians.384However,amannerthatisroutineamongstFOIL
anditsaffiliates,theIPTonlyblastsIndiansecurityforces.OnewouldexpectDobhaland
others,whoarekeyorganizersoftheTribunalandHumanRightsLawNetwork385,todiscussthe
securitysituationinPakistanOccupiedKashmirorthesituationofSikhsandHindusinthe
KashmirValley.However,thatiscompletelyabsentfromtheiranalysisandreports.
TheHumanRightsLawNetworkfollowsasimilarapproachinexposingtheviolentabusesof
minoritiesbyHindusandtheIndianStateasthevariousChurchsupportedDalitand
Leftist/Communistorganizationsdiscussedthroughoutthereport.Infact,someofthedonors
andpartnersoftheHumanRightsLawNetworkincludeEvangelischerEntwicklungsdienst
(EED),ChristianAid,ChurchsAuxiliaryforSocialAction,DanChurchAid,etc.alongwithseveral
Europeangovernmentagencies.386
FOSAorganizedtheSouthAsianHumanRightsFilmFestivalonthe61stAnniversaryofIndian
andPakistaniIndependence387.Itscheduledaseriesoffilmscreeningsrelatedtohumanrights
abuseinSouthAsia.Notsurprisingly,oneofthekeyspeakerswasHarshMander,whoroseto
famefollowingthe2002GujaratriotswhereHindusandMuslimswerekilled.However,
ManderissolelyfocusedonhighlightingtheatrocitiesagainstMuslimswhileignoringthe
humanrightsofthe58Hindus,includingwomenandchildrenthatwereburntalivebyaMuslim
mob.FOSA,FOILandotherslikeMandereasilydismisstheseHindus,includingchildren,as
Fascistsandthereforeseemtoimplythattheirlivesarenotimportantsomehowin
383
MaoistleaderbecomesNepalesePM,August15,2008,http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7563816.stm,
accessedJuly22,2011
384
ReportofIndependentPeoplesTribunalonHumanRightsViolationsinKashmir,February2021,2010,page
8,http://www.iptindia.org/wpcontent/pdf/report/ipt_report%20on%20kashmir.pdf,accessedJuly21,2011
385
SeeeventannouncementtitledAnInformalMeetingandDiscussionwithHARSHDOBHALat
http://www.friendsofsouthasia.org/,accessedonJuly21,2011
386
Afulllistofdonorsisavailableat
http://www.hrln.org/hrln/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=675&Itemid=289,accessedonJuly
21,2011
387
SeeEventPostingathttp://www.friendsofsouthasia.org/,accessedonJuly21,2011
Page||93
comparisontothoseofMuslimmen,womenandchildren.Onebegstoaskhowlittlechildren
turnintoFascistsautomaticallyandcanthusbesidelined.Inanycase,KrishenKak,aretired
IndianAdministrativeServicesofficer,filedacomplaintagainstManderin2003withthePress
CouncilofIndiaforMandershighlyirresponsibleandrumorfilledarticleHindustanHamara
(TimesofIndia,March2002).TheCouncilsInquiryCommittee,noted:
Thearticleatseveralpointsreiteratedrumours(sic)thatwerebeingcirculatedatthe
relevanttime.Thetruthfulnessofthefactsmentionedthereinhadnotbeenestablished
atanypointoftimetillthenbutShriManderhadchosentobasehisviewsand
sentimentsonthem,andputpentotheopinionthusformedbyhimitwasexpectedof
theauthorasaresponsibleservingofficeraswellasoftherespondentpaperofrepute
likeTheTimesofIndiatobemorerestrainedandcircumspectinpronouncinga
denouementofthewholesysteminacommunallysurchargedatmosphere.388
Thus,Manderspenchantforpumpingupthefactswasacknowledgedbyanindependentbody.
Sadly,majormediaoutletslikeTimesofIndiacarriedMandersarticlewithoutregardto
journalisticobjectivity.
In2007,FOSA,PakistanisatStanford,CenterforSouthAsia(Stanford),andSanskritico
sponsoredaneventcalledTheKashmirIssue60YearsLater:RethinkingTheKashmirConflictA
conversationwithBeenaSarwarandHumaDar389.WhilethePakistaniperspectivewasclearly
represented,nomainstreamorcampusIndianorganizationwasinvitedtorepresenttheIndian
sideofthestory.Inaddition,SarwarisafamousPakistanijournalistwhileDarisaPhD
CandidateinSouthAsianStudiesatUCBerkeley390.In2008,Dar,alongwithAnganaChatterji
andothers,wrotealettertotheUNOfficeoftheHighCommissionerforHumanRights,
highlightingtheHumanitarianCrisisinJammuandKashmirandblastedtheIndiangovernment
forallegedhumanrightsviolations.ThelettersproKashmirIndependencestanceis
highlightedwhenChatterji,DarandotherscoverupKashmirterrorismasaproindependence
struggleinKashmir391whiledeemingIndiancounterinsurgencyoperationsasgraveabusesof
humanrightswithsocial,economic,psychological,political,andenvironmental
consequences392.OthersignatoriesoftheletterincludeAmitavaKumar,akeymemberof
388
ArvindLavkare,OneWayStreet,November18,2003,http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/nov/18arvind.htm,
accessedJuly22,2011
389
Ibid.387
390
SeetheeventannouncementonStanfordswebsiteathttp://events.stanford.edu/events/113/11355/,
accessedJuly22,2011
391
SeethePressReleasetitledHumanitarianCrisisinJammuandKashmir,August12,2008,postedonSouth
AsiaCitizensWeb,anaffiliateofFOIL,http://www.sacw.net/peace/kashmir12Aug08.html,accessedJuly22,2011
392
Ibid.
Page||94
FOIL393,SunainaMairawhousedtocoordinateyouthactivitiesofFOIL394,SnehalSinghaviand
manyothers.
Ina2002interviewonHardballwithChrisMatthews,Singhaviwasexposedforsettingabiased
agendaforhiscoursecalledThePoliticsandPoetryofPalestinianResistance.Thecourse
descriptionstatedthatittakesasitsstartingpointtherightofPalestinianstofightfortheir
ownselfdetermination.Conservativethinkersareencouragedtoseekothersections,395thus,
discouragingdiverseopinionsonthePalestinianconflict.IncallingoutSinghavi,Matthews
mentionsthat[in]apublicuniversity,[Singhaviis]acceptingstudentsonthebasisoftheir
politicalpointofviewandrejectingothers.396Civilrightsandfreespeechadvocatesreacted
strongly,calling[Singhavis]statementschilling,andsayingthatsuchrestrictionsdonot
belonginauniversity,especiallyonesupportedbypublicfunds.397
FOSAorganizedapaneldiscussiontitledSELFDETERMINATIONINSOUTHASIA:SouthAsia's
StruggleagainstUSledImperialismfeaturingVijayPrashad,AnganaChatterji,AbdulNayyar,
andSnehalShingavi398.Thepoliticalandideologicalagendaofthismeetingisblatantlyclear
notonlyfromthelineupofspeakersbutalsobythediscussionsfocus.Accordingtotheevent
announcement,thepanelistdiscussed:
Thepeople'sstruggleagainstproimperialistIndianelites;theimplicationsofthelatest
nucleararmstradeagreementbetweenIndiaandtheUSonthepeopleofIndia,
Pakistan,SriLanka,andtherestofSouthAsia,especiallywomen;theroleofSouthAsia
inUSimperialistambitions;theotheropportunitiesthispresentstobuildIndian
communismandfighttheagendaoftheglobalrulingclass399.
Thus,IndiansarelabeledasproimperialistsservingtheirUSmastersandtheKashmiri,Maoist
andNaxalterroristactivitiesarelabeledasthepeoplesstruggles.Similarly,accordingtothe
393
KumarislistedastheFOILpointpersonforanyoneinterestedinwritingleftist/communistleaningarticlesto
majorIndiannewspapers.SeetheNovember1,1998issueofGhadarat
http://www.proxsa.org/resources/ghadar/v2n1/foil.html,accessedJuly22,2011
394
Mairaislistedasacontactpersonfororganizingyouthactivitiesthroughsolidaritytrainingprograms.Seethe
November1,1998issueofGhadarathttp://www.proxsa.org/resources/ghadar/v2n1/foil.html,accessedJuly22,
2011
395
HardballInterviewwithSnehalShingavi,May9,2002,http://www.campuswatch.org/article/id/49,accessed
July22,2011
396
Ibid.
397
TanyaSchevitz,CrampedspeechatUCBerkeley/Teacherwarns'conservativethinkers',May10,2002,
http://articles.sfgate.com/20020510/bayarea/17543159_1_ucberkeleyfreespeechmovementstudents,
accessedJuly22,2011
398
Seetheannouncementathttp://www.friendsofsouthasia.org/events/selfdeterminationpanel/,accessedJuly
22,2011
399
Ibid.
Page||95
discussion,oneisledtobelievethattheimperialistoppressionofIndiaandUSpresentsan
excellentopportunityforCommunismtosavethepeoplefromtheirhorrors.
Thus,onecaneasilyseeFOSAsproseparatistleaningsviasponsorshipofsucheventsand
speakers.
FOSAalsohostedFOILcofounderBijuMathewatStanfordinAConversationwithBIJU
MATHEW.MathewwashailedasaLaborOrganizer,AntiWarActivistandauthorofTaxi!Cabs
andCapitalisminNewYorkCity400butthereisnomentionofthefactthatMathewisatheco
founderofFOIL.
400
SeeEventAnnouncementathttp://www.friendsofsouthasia.org/,accessedJuly22,2011
Page||96
(c) AssociationforIndiasDevelopment(AID)
AIDwasstartedin1991byagraduatestudentfromUniversityofMaryland.Theorganization
describesitselfasavolunteermovementpromotingsustainable,equitableandjust
development.AIDsupportsgrassrootsorganizationsinIndiaandinitiateseffortsinvarious
interconnectedspheressuchasagriculture,energy,education,health,livelihoods,natural
resourcesincludinglandandwater,women'sempowermentandsocialjustice.401AIDaimsto
bringaboutpositivesocialchangewithinIndiabyaddressingthevarioussocioeconomicissues
atthegrassrootslevel.Thus,onecansurmisefromsuchstatementsthatAIDisapoliticaland
secularandfocusessolelyontheunderprivilegedcitizensofIndiaregardlessoftheirreligiousor
politicalaffiliations.Infact,itispreciselysuchstatementsandportrayalsthatattractseveral
wellmeaningvolunteersanddonorstoAID.Strikingly,somewelldocumentedevidence
presentedbelowfromAIDsownvolunteersandsourcesdemonstratesthatAIDsupports
Marxist/Communistorganizations(somewithknowncriminalactivities)andideologyinthe
nameofdevelopment.ItisevenmoredisturbingthattheselinkshavebeenremovedbyAID
fromitswebsitetohidetheseconnections.
The50BlockPlan(forTamilnadu)wasaprojectsponsoredinpartbyAIDinTamilnadu,up
economicallyselfreliantTamilNaduScienceForumunitsin50blocksinthestateofTamil
Nadubytheendof2001.402ThefocusofactivitiesofTamilNaduScienceForum(TSF)was:to
supportcreditcooperatives;librariesandinformationcentersandHealthinterventionsor/and
interventionsforuniversalizingelementaryeducation.403However,indevelopingthelibrary
centers,AIDisveryselectiveonwhomthelibraryshouldbelinkedto.Itasserts:Asapolicy
encouragelibrariesonlywherelinkedtosuchanactivityortoanactive
TNSF/AIDWA/DYFI/PWAgrouporactivist.404
Whoarethesegroups?AIDWA,orAllIndiaDemocraticWomenAssociation,isthewomens
wingoftheCommunistPartyofIndia(Marxist)(CPIM).BrindaKarat,theveteranCommunist
leaderandmemberofCPIM405andformerGeneralSecretaryofAIDWAforseveralyears406,
gavethekeynotespeechatthe25thAnniversarycelebrationofAIDWA.DYFI,orDemocratic
YouthFederationofIndia,istheyouthwingofCPIM.407OnthedeathofveteranCommunist
401
http://www.aidindia.org/main/,accessedJuly13,2011
The50BlockPlan(ForTamilnadu),http://www.geocities.com/aid_india_info/doc1.pdf,page1,accessedJuly
13,2011
403
Ibid.
404
Ibid.402,page2
405
SeeentryinWikipediaonBrindaKaratathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brinda_Karat,accessedJuly13,2011
406
SeethepressreleasebyAIDWAonits25yearcelebrationat
http://aidwaonline.org/content/aidwa_speaks/present_topics.php?refid=asp007,accessedJuly13,2011
407
WriterthreatenedbyCPIMyouthactivists,IndoAsianNewsService,January10,2010,http://www.india
forums.com/news/politics/221043writertheatenedbycpimyouthactivists.htm,accessedJuly13,2011
402
Page||97
giantandleaderJyotiBasu,theCentralExecutiveCommitteeofDYFIissuedapressreleaseand
homage,expressingitsprofoundgriefatthepassingawayofoneofthetallestleadersofthe
CommunistMovementofIndia408.Furthermore,itsalutedthememoryofComradeJyoti
Basu.409Similarly,homageshavebeenpaidforotherCPIMleaderssuchasHarkishanSingh
SurjeetandpledgingthatbothDYFIandSFI(StudentFederationofIndia)willalwaysupheld
(sic)theideologyandprinciplesforwhichcomradeSurjeetdedicatedhislifeRedSaluteto
ComradeHarkishanSinghSurjeet.410SFIisthestudentwingofCPIM(nottobeconfusedwith
theyouthwing).In2008,DYFIcalledforanimmediateresignationofPrimeMinister
ManmohanSinghforsigningthenucleardealwiththeUnitedStates,callingitamisdemeanor
[that]wasaseriouscompromiseonIndiasforeignpolicyandon[its]Nationalsovereignty.411
DYFIisalsoknownforitsabuseoflawandorderthreateningindividualswhospeakoutagainst
itsactivities.In2008,fouractivistsofDYFIandthreemembersofCPIMweretakeninto
custodybypoliceinKeralaforsubstanceabuse.Whenbroughttothepolicestation,they
abusedtheSubInspector.412In2010,DYFIthreatenedfamousfictionwriterandcolumnistPaul
Zachariahafterhemadesomeremarkscriticizingthegroup.Accordingtothewriter,heytook
awaythecarkeyandpushedhimaround,threateninghimthatifheeverdaredtostepinto
Payyannuragain,hewouldnotgobackalive.413
DharamSingh,writingforIndiaHeraldinthewakeofthe2005Tsunami,outlinesseveral
criminalandshockingactivitiesofDYFI:
InNovember,2004,eightDYFIactivistswereconvictedandsentencedtolifefor
murderingaRashtriyaSwayamsevakSangh(RSS)activist.InAugust,2003,DYFIactivists
wereinvolvedinviolentincidentsinKerala,e.g.stonepeltingpolice,bombingoffices,
etcInMay,2002,DYFIcadresbeatuparespectedteacherinWestBengal.InJanuary,
2002,DYFIworkerswerearrestedinconnectionwithviolencebetweentworeligious
408
DYFIHOMAGETOCOMRADEJYOTIBASU,http://www.dyfi.in/content.php?action=press
detail&press_id=25&title=Press%20Release,accessedJuly13,2011.
409
Ibid.
410
DYFIandSFIPAYRESPECTFULHOMAGETOCOMRDEHARKISHANSINGHSURJEET,August1,2008,
http://www.dyfi.in/content.php?action=pressdetail&press_id=7&title=PressRelease,accessedJuly13,2011
411
PMSHOULDRESIGNIMMEDIATELY,September8,2008,http://www.dyfi.in/content.php?action=press
detail&press_id=15&title=Press%20Release,accessedJuly13,2011
412
DYFI,CPI(M)activistsbooked,TheHindu,onlineedition,May26,2008
http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/26/stories/2008052651520300.htm,accessedJuly13,2011
413
Writerthreatened(sic)byCPIMyouthactivists,IndoAsianNewsService,January10,2010,
http://www.indiaforums.com/news/politics/221043writertheatenedbycpimyouthactivists.htm,accessedJuly
13,2011
Page||98
communitiesinKeralathatresultedinthedeathsof5people.InAugust,1997,over400
DYFIvolunteerswentonarampageinChennai,stoningbusesandlootingshops.414
Singh,inthesamearticlepointsoutSFIspositionsonvariouscriminalandantinational
matters:
InDecember,2004,SFIvotedagainstaresolutioncondemningChinaforrepeatedly
showingArunachalPradeshasnotbeingapartofIndiaattheJawaharlalNehru
UniversityStudentUnionmeeting.InAugust,2002,SFIcadresbeatupstudents
belongingtoRabindraBharatiUniversityforbeinginappropriatelydressed.InJuly,
2002,SFIstudentswereallegedlybehindanarticleappearinginacollegemagazinein
KeralathatpraisedOsamabinLadenasthecrusaderofthepoorMuslimstheworld
over.InSeptember,2001,31SFIactivistswerearrestedonchargesofpublicproperty
destruction,unlawfulassemblyandviolationoftheExplosivesAct.InNovember,1996,
SFIworkersmurderedseveralBJPandABVPworkersinKeralaafterafriendlyleftist
stategovernmentcametopower.415
AIDhasoftenclaimedthatitdoesntfundtheactivitiesofDYFI.However,theirclose
associationwithDYFIwasagainhighlightedbyajournalistAmitVarma.In2005,Varma,writing
anarticleinRediff,praisedAIDsworkandmarkedthatDYFIsuffersfromthedrawbackofnot
havingahighprofileand,consequently,havingratherlowfunds.ButAIDtakescareofthat.416
In2005,FerozMehdi,writingforaCanadiannewspapercalledAlternativesonatourofareas
hitwiththeTsunami,describesmeetingwiththedirectorofAIDIndiaMr.M.A.Devdas.He
elaboratesonthestrategicpartnershipbyvariousCommunistorganizationsandAID,as
follows:
ThegroupsassociatedwiththeCPMandtheAllIndiaPeoplesScienceMovementhave
reachedastrategicalliancewithAIDbyimplementingreliefmeasuresandtakingupmid
andlongtermrehabilitationwork.Whilethematerialpurchaseandconstructionis
donebyAID,thehumanpowerisprovidedbyoverathousandvolunteersoftheAIPSN
[AllIndiaPeoplesScienceMovement],SFI(StudentFederationofIndia),DYFI
(DemocraticYouthFederationofIndia),AIDWA(AllIndiaDemocraticWomens
Association)andTNSF[TamilNaduScienceForum]itself.417
414
DharamSingh,AIDing&abettingcommunists,http://indiaherald.com/aidingabettingcommunistsp608
1.htm,IndiaHeraldaccessedJuly13,2011
415
Singh,Ibid.
416
AmitVarma,Thiswillalsoslipawayfrompublicmemory,January3,2005,
http://in.rediff.com/news/2005/jan/03amit3.htm,accessedJuly13,2011
417
FerozMehdi,TamilNaduinthewakeofTsunami,January20,2005,page2,
http://www.geocities.com/aid_india_info/doc37.pdf,accessedJuly13,2011
Page||99
And,whoistheAlternativesnewspaperassociatedwith?AWhois.Netsearchconductedon
August06,2005revealedthatthewebsiteoftheCommunistPartyofIndia(MarxistLeninist)
wasregisteredunderAlternativeswiththeaddressas3680,rueJeanneMeance,Montreal,
QUEBEC,H2X2K5,CA418Thus,theconnectionbetweenAIDandvariousCommunist/Marxist
partiesturnsouttobemuchstrongerthanAIDwouldlikeitsdonorsandvolunteerstobelieve.
Onecanarguethatduringtimesofdisaster,everyoneshouldforgettheirpolitical/religious
ideologiesandworktogether.However,ifsuchconnectionswerefoundbetweenHinduaid
organizationsandpartiesliketheBJP,theCommunist/Marxistorganizationslistedinthisreport
wouldhaveraisedahugeoutcryandaccuseIndiancharitiesoffascismorcommunalismor
fundinghatred(astheydidwithIDRF).
Lastly,PWAorProgressiveWritersAssociationisanorganizationofMarxist/Communistwriters
andpoets.Itwasstartedin1936bythreemembersoftheCommunistPartyofIndia.419PWAs
politicalviewsarehighlightedattheir13thAnnualNationalConference,heldintheyear2003.
Duringtheconference,theydeclared:[the]gravestthreatthenationwasfacingtodaywas
the`fascistmenace':ofHindutvaatthenationallevelandthewarmongeringAmerican
imperialismattheinternationallevel.Andifyouseeclosely,theculturalnationalismofthe
Hindutvabrigadewashandingloveswiththeforcesofimperialism420
In1999,AIDsDallas,TexasChapter,draftingitsAugust1st1999meetingminutes,discussed
updatesofvariousprojects.Inoneoftheproposalssubmittedtopurchasesomecamcorders
andotherrecordingequipment,BalajiSampath,oneofthekeyAIDvolunteersinIndiaseems
particularlydisturbedatwatchingtheDeepaMehtamovie1947Earth.Hethenconnects
partitioneventsshowninthemoviewiththedangersofHinduRashtra(nation)andhowthis
willsoonleadtoafascistIndia(thestandsofpeople[especially]middleclassisbecoming
crystallizedveryfast).Whenhistoryreviewsourrole,itwillholdusresponsiblefornothaving
preventedit.421Hegoesonfurthertoexplainhowheplanstousethecamcorders.Oneofhis
thoughtsistotakeshotsofpartition,offascisminGermanyandcomparethetwoandpoint
towardsthecommunaldangerhauntingIndia422Thus,mixedinwithdocumentariesabout
ruralprogramsanddevelopmentprojects,AIDsvolunteerscreatevideotoheightencommunal
tensionsandblackballtheentiremiddleclassHinducommunityinIndia.ItisasifHindusare
theonlyonesandalwaysresponsibleforcommunaldiscordinIndia.Judgedbytheviewsof
418
http://www.geocities.com/aid_india_info/AID_DOC.html#dyfi_lib,accessedJuly13,2011
PriyamvadaGopal,AForgottenHistory,OutlookIndiaOnlineedition,December6,2007
http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?236191,accessedJuly13,2011
420
Rallyingaroundforissues,TheHinduonlineedition,April17,2003,
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/04/17/stories/2003041701300200.htm,accessedJuly13,2011.
421
EquipmentPurchaseProposalAIDIndia,Page20,http://www.geocities.com/aid_india_info/doc2.pdf,
accessedJuly13,2011
422
Ibid.
419
Page||100
AID,HindusaresolelyresponsibleforthepartitionofIndiaandthemassiveriotsthattook
placeafterwards.
Anothercorrespondencehighlightedinthesamemeetingminutesisaboutwhichbooksto
purchaseforkidsinIndia.Sampathcautionsaboutbuyingsecondhandbooksfromstores,
sayingto[never]purchasechildrensbooks(storybooks,etc)itisnoteasytotellwhichis
usefulandwhichisnot.423Sampath,however,recommendsaseriesofbooksthatAID
volunteersneedtopurchase:
b)Purchaseallthefollowing:(firsttwoverygoodanduseful)
>Allbooks(multiplecopiesok)byMichealApple,IvanIlich(DeeschoolingScoeity(sic)
andAfterDeschooling),PhilippeAries(SocialhistoryofChildhood),JohnHolt,Maria
Montessori,Danger:School,andallbooksoneducationalexpts(theonesthatfight
againstthesystemofeducation,notforit)intheUS.
>AllCartoonBooksintheBeginnersseriesMarxforbeginners,Budhhafor
Beginners,Trotskyforbeginners,Einstienforbeginners,Totstoy(sic)forbeginners,
Freudforbeginners,Leninforbeginners,Ecologyforbeginners,etc.424
Thus,Marxist/CommunisteducationbooksarecleverlymixedinwiththeworksonEinstein
andBuddha.ItisimportanttoaskwhyAIDisdictatingeducationthatisinfluencedbya
particularideology.
ThePennStateChapterofAIDpublishedareportbyBalajiSampathabouthisworkin1997
through1999.Underthesection,IdeologicalandAwarenessWork,Sampathisveryclearabout
hisMarxist/Communistworldview:Theideasofpower,politics,hegemony,social
consciousness,howpeoplethink,struggle,Marxistanalysistechniques,etcthatIhavelearnt
arenowapartofme.425Similarly,inthereportSampathalsohighlightedhiseffortsintheUS
organizationalsideandhowhetriedtobringgreaterinteractionwithAsha(AshaforEducation,
discussedbelow)andILP(IndiaLiteracyProject)throughjointprojects,reviewsandjoint
articlesgettingthemtointeractmoreoftenandonmorethingsbecausefundementally(sic)
theyarenotverydifferentandhaveaverysimilarvolunteerbase.426Indeed,Sampath
providesseveralexamplesofpartnershipsbetweenAIDandAshainthearticleaswellasinthe
meetingminutesofDallasAIDchapterdiscussedabove.
423
Ibid.421,Page21
Ibid.421,Page21
425
BalajiSampath,MyWorkReportFromAugust1997August,1999,page37,
http://www.geocities.com/aid_india_info/doc33.pdf,accessedJuly13,2011
426
Ibid.,Page38
424
Page||101
(i) OtherActivitiesofAID
BesideshaveconnectionswithviolentCommunistorganizationsinIndia,someofAIDs
activitiesintheUSalsobearcloseexamination.ThisisextremelyimportantbecauseAIDs
majordonationsarepaidbyAmericandonorswhowouldbalkiftheyaremadeawareofAIDs
Communistconnectionsasdiscussedaboveaswellastheactivitiesthevariousactivities
discussednext.
AIDhasorganizedseveraleventswithFOSA,asdiscussedearlier.Theseeventshavefeatured
membersofFOILsuchasBijuMatthew,VijayPrashad,AnganaChatterjiandmanyothers.
In2003,AIDorganizedaneventattheUniversityofMinnesotatitledViolenceandReligious
Extremism:ReflectionsontheHumanConditioninthe21stCentury.427Themainspeakerofthe
eventwasnoneotherthanFOILsVinayLal.Moredisturbingly,oneofcosponsorswasthe
controversialIslamicorganizationCouncilonAmericanIslamicRelations(CAIR).WhyisCAIRso
controversial?DanielPipesoftheMiddleEastForumpointsoutthatin1998,CAIRdemanded
theremovalofaLosAngelesbillboarddescribingOsamabinLadenastheswornenemy,
findingthisdepictionoffensivetoMuslims.428Similarly,accordingtoPipes,[the]convictionof
theperpetratorsofthe1993WorldTradeCenterbombing[CAIR]deemedatravestyofjustice.
TheconvictionofOmarAbdelRahman,theblindsheikhwhoplannedtoblowupNewYorkCity
landmarks,itcalledahatecrime.429PipesfurtherpointsoutthattheSanRamonValley
Herald[reportedthat]CAIRChairmanOmarM.AhmadtoldacrowdofCaliforniaMuslimsin
July1998,Islamisn'tinAmericatobeequaltoanyotherfaith,buttobecomedominant.The
Koran...shouldbethehighestauthorityinAmerica,andIslamtheonlyacceptedreligionon
earth.430Accordingtoa2004articleintheNationalPost,CAIR'sfirstexecutivedirector,
NihadAwad,publiclydeclaredhimselfasupporterofHamasata1994forumatBarry
UniversityinFlorida.431Similarly,accordingtotheNationalPost,RandallToddRoyer,a
communicationsspecialistatCAIR'sWashingtonheadquarters,pleadedguiltyinJanuary,2004,
tobelongingtotheKashmiriLashkariTaibi(sic)terroristgroupandillegallyacquiringfirearms
andexplosivesinordertotrainforterroristmissionsagainstIndia.Hewassentencedto20
yearsinprison.432DoesAIDnotknowthesepubliclyavailablefactsordoesitblindlyignore
these?
427
http://www.geocities.com/aid_india_info/aid_cair.JPG,accessedJuly13,2011
DanielPipes,CAIR:Moderatefriendsofterror,April22,2002,http://www.danielpipes.org/394/cair
moderatefriendsofterror,accessedJuly13,2011
429
Ibid.
430
Pipes,Ibid.428
431
DavidFrum,TheQuestionofCAIR,November23,2004,http://www.aei.org/article/21599,accessedJuly13,
2011
432
Ibid.
428
Page||102
Inconclusion,AIDsCommunist/Marxistconnectionsaremorethanjustcasualorcoincidental.
AIDseemstowearthegarbofnonpolitical/nonideologicaldevelopment.Yet,theexamples
abovepointoutthefactthatAIDisworkinghandinglovewithvariousCommunist/Marxist
organizationsintheUSandinIndia.Someoftheseorganizationshavebeenfoundguiltyof
criminalactivitiesaswellasopenlyadvocateviolence.Furthermore,whyisAIDworkingwith
questionableIslamicorganizationsknownfortheirantiUSremarksandterroristlinks?
Page||103
(d) AshaforEducation
AshaforeducationclaimstobeasecularorganizationdedicatedtochangeinIndiabyfocusing
onbasiceducationinthebeliefthateducationisacriticalrequisiteforsocioeconomic
change.433Onsurface,Ashasactivitiesseemtomainlyfocusonprovidingbasiceducationto
underprivilegedkidsinIndia.SuchmissionresonatesverywellwiththeIndianAmericanand
HinducommunitiesbecauseoftheirnaturalinclinationtosupportthedowntroddeninIndia
andtohelpshapeabrighterfutureforIndia.EvennonIndianAmericandonorsareattracted
toAshascauseandcontributeinmanyways.Infact,Ashaisveryfamousforholdingvarious
fundraisers,awarenessevents,etc.tohighlighttheneedsofdestitutechildreninIndia.One
wouldexpectthatsuchanoblepurposedorganizationstaysawayfrompoliticalissuesand
issuesnotrelatedtoeducationofkidsinIndia.OneofAshaspressreleasesstatesthatthe
organizationdoesnothaveanypoliticalorreligiousaffiliations,neitherdoesitendorseor
supportanypoliticalorreligiousactivities.434However,theinformationpresentedbelow
challengessuchclaimsandcastsashadowofdoubtonAshasintentionsandoutwardimage.
AshawascofoundedbySandeepPandey,thenastudentatUniversityofCaliforniaat
Berkeley.435Pandeyhasbeeninseriouscontroversysurroundinghispoliticalandideological
ties.In2002,PandeywasoneofthekeyspeakersattheseventhPartyCongressofthe
CommunistPartyofIndia(MarxistLeninist).ThethemeoftheeventwasRedResistanceto
SaffronSubversion.Duringtheevent,Sandip(sic)Pandeystressedtheneedofunityof
revolutionarycommunist[organizations]likeCPI(ML)andsocialmovementstotakeonfascist
danger.436CharacterizingtheUSledinvasionsofAfghanistanandIraqasthegreatestthreat
toworld[peace],adraftoftheconferencereportconcludedthat[using]thehorrificeventsof
September11inNewYorkasanexcusetopursueitslongplannedimperialistagendathe
UnitedStateshasbeenwagingnothingshortofaterroristwaronaglobalscale.437The
reportstresseda12pointdemocratic[program]tointensifyworkerpeasantstruggles,
strengthenthemilitantmobilisation(sic)[emphasisadded]oftheruralpoorandsharpenanti
fascistantiimperialistresistanceoftheIndianpeople.438CPI(ML)isnotoriousforuseof
violentideologytoachieveitsmeans.CPI(ML)advocatedarmedrevolutionanddenounced
433
http://www.ashanet.org/index.php?page=aboutashamission,accessedJuly13,2011
http://www.ashanet.org/pandey/clarification.html,accessedJuly13,2011
435
SandeepPandey:ProfileofanActivist,http://www.ashanet.org/pandey/profilesandeep.html,accessedJuly
13,2011
436
SeventhPartyCongressPledgestoIntensifyRedResistancetoSaffronSubversion,
http://www.cpiml.org/liberation/year_2003/january/feature.htm,accessedJuly13,2011
437
Ibid.
438
Ibid.
434
Page||104
participationintheelectoralprocess.439CPI(ML)sawNaxalbari[theNaxaliteterroristuprising]
asthesparkthatwouldstartanewIndianrevolution,andthemovementcametobeknownas
'naxalites'.440ThepartygotmoralsupportfromChina,whichactivelyencouragedtheattempts
ofCPI(ML)tolaunchrevolution.441Therefore,thecallformilitantmobilizationofthepooris
nosurprise.
Indeed,inthesame2002eventofCPI(ML),thepartyhonoredthekinof1000Naxalites
knownas'comrademartyrs',fromBiharwhohavebeenkilledoverthelastthreedecadesof
thepeasantstruggle.442SeveralprominentsocialactivistssuchasMahashwetaDevi,
ArundhatiRoy,SandeepPandey,RajinderSachar,PrafulBidwai,andAnandPatwardhan
attendedtheopeningsessionofthecongress.443
PandeyfindsPakistantobemoreopentodialogueonKashmirandaccusingIndiaofcross
borderterrorism.In2004,Pandey,inaninterviewwiththeMilliGazette,aleadingIndian
Muslimnewspaper,calledPervezMusharraf,theformerMilitaryGeneral/PresidentofPakistan
moreforthcoming444andthatIndiawasevadingthatquestionbyaskingPakistantofirst
stopcrossborderterrorism.445Hefurtherstressedthatterrorismhappensfromboth
sides.446Similarly,speakingonnucleardisarmament,PandeyfoundthePakistanigovernment
tobemoreaccessibleandopentodialoguethanIndiangovernment.447
AshacameoutwithapressreleasetoclarifythestancestakingbyPandeyandclaimedthat
someofhisstatementshavebeenquotedoutofcontext,resultinginmanyinquiriestoAsha
forEducationforclarification.448However,theabovestatementsareverbatimfrom
interviewsandconferencereportsandarenottakenoutofcontextormisused.
OnMay22,2004,AshasStanfordchapterinvitedBalajiSampath,akeymemberofAIDthat
wasdiscussedearlier,andKalpanaKarunakaran,anotherAIDmember,togiveatalkontheir
workwithAIDIndia.Theeventsummaryreadasfollows:BalajiisanAIDJeevanSathi[i.e.life
timecompanion/member].HehasbeenworkingwithAIDIndiasince1997andbeforethatwas
439
SeetheentryonCommunistPartyofIndia(MarxistLeninist),inWikipedia,Wikipedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Party_of_India_%28Marxist%E2%80%93Leninist%29,accessedJuly13,
2011
440
Ibid.
441
Ibid.439
442
AnandMohanSahay,CPIMLfactiontohonourkinof1000Naxalites,November15,2002,
http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/nov/15naxal.htm,accessedonJuly13,2002
443
Ibid.
444
INTERVIEW:SandeepPandey:KashmirisforKashmirisonly,January2004,TheMilliGazette,Vol.5,No.2.
Page3,archivedathttp://www.geocities.com/aid_india_info/doc18.pdf,accessedonJuly13,2011
445
Ibid.
446
Ibid.444
447
Ibid.444
448
Ibid.434
Page||105
partofAIDUSA.BothBalajiandKalpanahavealsobeenworkingwiththeTamilNaduScience
Forum.Theywillsharetheirstoriesandexperiences.449Interestingly,itseemsthateitherAsha
neglectedtocheckthepoliticalandideologicalviewsofSampathandAIDorthatitknowingly
wentaheadandinvitedSampath.
OnJune13,2001,AshasStanfordChapterhostedatalkwithSandeepPandey,titledTalkwith
AshafounderSandeepPandey.450
Asha,inassociationwithFOSAandAID,organizedanevencalledNeoliberalDestructionsATalk
byP.SainathandAlexanderCockburn.CockburniscoeditorwithJeffreySt.Clairofthetwice
monthlymuckrakingnewsletterCounterPunch451.Cockburnisaprominentradicalleftwing
journalistandwriterandhisCounterPunchhasfeaturednumerousarticlesbyVijayPrashadof
FOIL.Furthermore,Cockburn,inthepast,openlygavecredencetoreportsthatJewsspread
anthraxintheU.S.andthatIsraelwaspartofaconspiracytotoppletheWorldTradeCenter.452
CockburnswebsiteranapiecebyShahidAlam,atenuredprofessorofeconomicsat
NortheasternUniversityinBoston,titledPovertyFromtheWealthofNations.Alamargued
thatthe9/11attackswereanIslamistinsurgency,theattackersbelievingthattheyarefighting
astheAmericanrevolutionariesdidinthe1770'sortheirfreedomanddignityagainstforeign
controloftheirlands.453
In1998,Chingari,agroupassociatedwithandendorsedbyFOIL454,organizedtheEyeonIndia
Series.SometopicsoftheseminarincludedElections'98:EvolvingFacesoftheIndian
Democracy;Kashmir:ADialog;Religion,CasteandPower,etc.455BijuMathewofFOILwasthe
keyspeakerofthesessiononReligion,CasteandPower.456VidhiParthasarathyoneofthe
coordinatorsofAshaMadison,expressedgreatexcitementabouttheeventand[offered
Ashashelp]toprovidevolunteersupportaswellas[their]helpinnetworkingwithotherlocal
/nonlocalinterestgroupsonthisevent.457
449
SeetheeventlistingtitledTalkwithBalajiSampathandKalpanaKarunakaran,
http://www.ashanet.org/stanford/events/talks.html,accessedJuly13,2011
450
SeetheeventlistedtitledTalkwithAshafounderSandeepPandey,
http://www.ashanet.org/stanford/events/talks.html,accessedJuly13,2011
451
Seetheeventlistingathttp://www.friendsofsouthasia.org/events/sainath/,accessedJuly13,2011
452
StevenPlaut,Cockburn'sCockroaches,February16,2005,
http://www.www.jewishpress.com/printArticle.cfm?contentid=17360,accessedJuly15,2011
453
Ibid.
454
Chingariislistedasoneamongotherleftist/communistorganizationsinGhadar,FOILsNewsletter
http://ghadar.insaf.net/links.htm,accessedJuly15,2011
455
http://www.ashanet.org/madison/docs/mail/asha/0118.html,accessedJuly15,2011
456
Ibid.
457
Ibid.455
Page||106
In2002,membersofAshaDCjoinedFOILandAIDandorganizedarallyagainstGujaratPrime
MinisterNarendraModi.FOIL,initsmonthlymouthpieceGhadar,describestheformationofa
coalitionbetweenAsha,FOIL,AIDandotherorganizationstoworkonvariousissues,asfollows:
ThesuccessoftherallyhaspromptedtheestablishingofaDCcollectivetodealwith
issuesofconcerninSouthAsia.Wehaveheldthreemeetings,withtheobjectiveof
creatingalooseandbroadbasedcoalitionofgroupssuchasFOIL,AID,AAA(Aligarh
AlumniAssociation),AssociationofIndianMuslimsofAmerica,ASHAforEducation,and
concernedindividuals.Theaimistosupporteachother'sactivitiesintheDCarea,as
wellastoworkonafewspecificcombinedactivitiessuchasfundraisingforGujarat
victimsandtrackingcivillibertiesviolations.Thenetworkofgroupsandindividualswill
crosspublicizeeffortsonthemessuchasfundamentalism,liberalization,and
nuclearizationinSouthAsia.458[EmphasisAdded]
TheaboveparagraphclearlydemonstratesAshaspartnershipwithIslamicorganizationsand
communist/leftistorganizationsonnoneducationrelatedissues.
KaleemKawajaofAssociationofIndianMuslimsofAmericawasinthenewsforhisnowfamous
articlecalledBrother,canyouspareatearforTaliban(TheMilliGazette,Vol.3,No.5).Inthe
article,writtenaftertheUSdefeatedtheTalibanregimeofAfghanistanin2001,Kawajais
generallysympathetictowardsandsorryfortheTaliban.HedescribesthedefeatoftheTaliban
asanendtoanotherboldattemptofMuslimstoassertthemselvesandtheIslamicvaluesin
theirowncountry.459PaintingwesterncountriesasenemiesofMuslims,Kawajalamentsthat
[it]wasfoolhardynaivettethatmade[theTaliban]ignorethemanyplansoftheenemiesof
Muslimswhowerelookingforanopportunitytoexploitanyloopholetoransacktheglobal
Muslimcommunity,especiallytherecentremarkablegrowthofMuslimcommunitiesin
Westerncountries.460Similarly,KawajaagainpaintsWesterncountriesliketheUSasenemies
oftheMuslimcommunityandconcludesthat[even]atthelastminute[theTaliban]hadan
opportunitytotakeactionsthatcouldhaveavertedthepunitiveconfrontationthatWestern
countriesweretryingtoimposeontheglobalMuslimcommunity.461Speakingonapanel
discussiononIndianMuslimsinWashington,Kawajaexaggeratedthelargescaleviolence
againstMuslimsandthetheconnivanceofthegovernmentmachinerywiththeHindufanatic
458
AshwiniTambeandAparnaDevare,OrganizingagainstExtremism:FindinganIdiom,July21,2002,Ghadar,a
publicationoftheforumofIndianleftists,Vol.5,No.2,
http://www.proxsa.org/resources/ghadar/v5n2/organizing.html,accessedJuly13,2011
459
KaleemKawaja,BrothercanyouspareatearforTaliban,TheMilliGazette,Vol.3,No.5,
http://www.milligazette.com/Archives/01032002/0103200254.htm,accessedonJuly13,2011
460
Ibid.
461
Kawaja,Ibid.459
Page||107
marauders,inthelastfiftyyears462Duringthepaneldiscussion,Kawajaappealedtothe
MuslimsinAmericatourgetheirsenators&congressmentopayattentiontothe50yearlong,
continuedoppressionofMuslimsinIndia.463So,throughoutIndiasindependence,Muslims
havejustbeenoppressedandkilledbythegovernmentwhichhasbeenrunbyHindufanatics
forthelastfiftyyears!
Duringthesameperiod,onJuly21,2002AshaorganizedACommunityMeetingonthe
SituationinGujarat&CommunalHarmonyinIndiawithShabnamHashmiofSahmat,464with
theorganizationsmentionedabove.Whilethiswassupposedtobeacommunitymeeting,it
wasinevitablyaHinduandGujaratibashingeventwithnomainstreamIndian,HinduorGujarati
organizationpresenttoofferitsopinionsonthehorribleeventsofGujarat.SAHMATstandsfor
SafdarHashmiMemorialTrustandiscloselyconnectedtotheCommunistPartyofIndia
(Marxist).TheJanuary2006articleinPeoplesDemocracy,theofficialmouthpieceofCPI(M)
offersaRedSalutetoComradeSafdarHashmiandtalksabouthowthefirstdayoftheyearis
observedbynumeroustheatregroupsasadayofpayinghomagetoSafdarHashmi,street
theatreactivistandcommunist.465Thepapergoesfurtherandmentionsthataftertheplay,
BrindaKarat,PolitBureauMemberoftheCPI(M),whowasthemainspeaker,praisedHashmi
andhisideals.466VijayPrashad,thecofounderofFOIL,providesfurtherinsightsintoHashmis
ideologicalleanings.Inhisarticle,SafdarHashmiAmarRahe(LongLiveSafdarHashmi)!
CommunistCulturalActivisminIndia,PrashadconsidersHashmiastheembodimentofthose
communistvalueswhichshapedhiscraftthatofculturalactivistandstreettheatreartist.467
Although[Hashmi]wrotebooksforchildrenandcriticismoftheIndianstage,hewillbe
rememberedbestforhisworkwithJanNatyaManch(People'sTheatreFront)whichwas
formedin1973asanoutgrowthoftheIndianPeople'sTheatreAssociation(IPTA)andwhich
becamecloselylinkedtotheCommunistPartyofIndia(Marxist)[CPM]duringthe1970s.468
PrashadevenaddsthatSafdar'sdeathledtotheformationoftheSafdarHashmiMemorial
Trust(SAHMAT)whichattemptstofurtherprogressive[readCommunist/Marxist]values.469
Thus,HashmisandSAHMATsCommunistvaluesandbeliefsarebroughttolightinthese
eulogizingarticles.A2002articleinOutlookIndiamagazinealsomentionsthatSAHMATwas
462
KaleemKawaja,PaneldiscussiononIndianMuslimsinWashington,
http://www.milligazette.com/Archives/15072002/1507200233.htm,accessedJuly14,2011
463
Ibid.
464
Seereferencetotheeventathttp://www.onlinevolunteers.org/gujarat/events/hashmi_event.htm,accessedon
July14,2011
465
SudhanvaDeshpande,SalutingTheMemoryOfComradeSafdarHashmi.PeoplesDemocracy,Vol.XXX,No.
02,January2006,http://pd.cpim.org/2006/0108/01082005_janam.htm,accessedJuly14,2011.
466
Ibid.
467
VijayPrashad,SafdarHashmiAmarRahe(LongLiveSafdarHashmi)!CommunistCulturalActivisminIndia,
http://www.proxsa.org/culture/safdar.html,accessedJuly14,2011
468
Ibid.
469
Prashad,Ibid.467
Page||108
foundedwiththeblessingsoftheCPI(M)andthatShabnamHashmiwasamemberoftheCPI
(M)470.Similarly,a2002onlinearticleinthenewspaperTheHindupointedoutthatHashmis
SAHMATandtheCommunistPartyofIndia(Marxist)sharedthesameofficesinNewDelhiand
wereevictedbytheDirectorateofEstatesundertheUnionMinistryofUrbanDevelopment.471
ItisalsoimportanttoknowthatShabnamHashmialsohelpedwiththehighlyinaccurate
libelousandoutofcontextreportsthatattemptedtodestroytheHinduyouthgroupHindu
StudentsCouncilintheUS.472
In2004,AshaforEducationsBayAreaChapterscosponsoredatalkbyDr.MallikaSarabhaion
CommunalHarmonyandtheRoleofCivilSociety.Theeventsdiscussioninevitablyfocusedon
the2002GujaratriotsandtheroleofHindus.However,Sarabhaihasbeenremarkablysilentor
haspaidlipservicejustlikeotherprogressivesonothermajorriotsandhumanrightsissues
inIndia.Furthermore,thelistofcosponsorsincludedAssociationforIndia'sDevelopmentBay
AreaChapter(AID),CoalitionAgainstCommunalism(CAC),IndiaLiteracyProject(ILP),Indian
MuslimCouncil(IMCUSA)andIndiansforCollectiveAction(ICA).473Thereporthasalready
discussedthecloseassociationsofFOIL,FOSA,EKTAandCAC.Similarly,IndianMuslimCouncil
workscloselywithFOILanditssisterorganizationsandhashostedvariousFOILmembersas
expertsonIndiaandHinduismatitsevents.MoreinformationaboutIMCanditsconnections
withFOILisprovidedfurtherinthereport.
(i) AshaandtheNaxalTerroristConnectionsSympathizingandFunding?
TheNewsletterofAshaCornell,Compassion,highlightssomeoftheothernoneducation
relatedactivitiesthatAshaengagesin:
Onthesocialissuesinitiative,wehostedascreeningofthemovieHazaarChaurasiki
Ma,highlighting(sic)theissueoftheNaxalitemovementinIndia.Thiseventwas
attendedbyAshamembersandothersinterestedinthematterpresented.Onaslightly
largerscale,weparticipatedinanAshawideinitiativebysettingupaphotoexhibition
toraiseawarenessabouttheNaxalitecrisisandviolationsofhumanrightscurrently
occurringinChattisgarhasaresultoftheactionsofbothNaxalitesandthestate
supportedSalwaJudum.Earlierin2009,wehostedascreeningofthemovieResilient
470
StrayingFromTheCause,OutlookIndiaonlineedition,Jan01,1997,
http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?202765,accessedJuly14,2011.
471
GauravVivekBhatnagar,CPI(M),SAHMATlefthomeless.TheHindu,onlineedition,February6,2002,
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2002/02/06/stories/2002020606000100.htm,accessedJuly14,2011
472
SeeeventannouncementtitledTheUsesandMisusesofReligion:Lessonsfrom20yearsofAntiCommunal
ActivismbyShabnamHashmi,March7,2008,http://southasiaalliance.org/index.cfm?sectionID=4,accessedJune
28th2011
473
Seeeventannouncementathttp://www.ashanet.org/stanford/events/talks.html,accessedJuly14,2011
Page||109
RhythmsADalitStoryandadiscussionontheCasteSysteminIndiaPastand
Present.InFall2009,SandeepPandey,oneofthefoundersofAshawhoisnowa
grassrootslevelsocialactivistinIndia,paidusavisit.Inanopen,informaldiscussionhe
sharedwithushisexperiences,givingusaninsightintosomeofthechallengesand
successstoriesofhisworkinIndia.474
Infact,thenewsletterhastwoarticlestalkingabouttheNaxalitesituationandtheChattisgarh
governmentsresponse.One(onPage15),comparedtheNaxalitesituationinChattisgarhto
thefictitiousNavipeopleshowintheHollywoodmovieAvatar.RajendraNarayanan,the
authorofthearticleassertsthat[launching]the'OperationGreenhunt'andcallingNaxalites
thegravestsecuritythreatjustreeksofthegovernmentcorporatenexustofurthertheirneo
liberalagendaasopposedtoaddressingmorefundamentaldevelopmentconcerns.475Thus,
governmentactionagainstaragingnationalsecuritythreatisreducedtoaneoliberalagenda.
ThisstatementsoundsdrasticallysimilartostatementsmadebyFOILandotherfellow
Communists/Marxists.
ItisunclearhowsympathyforandpoliticsaroundtheterroristNaxalitesequatetoproviding
foreducationinIndiaorhowAshastillclaimsthatitdoesntassociatewithanypolitical
ideology.
OnJuly11,2007,CNNIBNrananarticletitledSpecialInvestigation:Naxalstakehawalaroute
toterror,whichdescribeshowtheterroristNaxalsintheIndianstateofBiharusetheinformal
moneytransfersystemcalledHawalatofinancetheiractivitiesundertheradar.Accordingto
thearticle,DwarkoSundrani,whorunsanNGO,SamanvayaAshraminBodhgayaadmittedto
the[linksbetweenNGOsandNaxals]:Naxalsoftenapproachusformoney,butweprovide
themfood,clothingandshelteraswebelieveintheconceptofhridayparivartan(changeof
heart).Theywantedmetobuildtubewellsintheirvillage.Wegotitdone.476Thus,such
NGOsopenlyfundprojectsforNaxalsandsupportthemwithfoodandotherbasicneeds.
Ashaswebsitedescribesatotalof$6500sentfromStanfordUniversity($2000),NorthCarolina
StateUniversity($1500)andUniversityofBerkeley($3000).477DoAshasdonorsknowthatthis
moneywassenttoanNGOthatisinvolvedwithNaxalterrorists?
TheaboveexamplesprovideevidenceagainstAshasclaimsasanonpoliticalorganizationthat
focusesoneducationofunderprivilegedchildreninIndia.ThespeakersthatAshatendsto
474
Compassion,Volume6,Spring2010,Page6,
http://www.ashanet.org/cornell/newsite/Newsletters/newsletter_10.pdf,accessedJuly21,2011
475
Ibid.,Page17
476
AnitaSinha,SpecialInvestigation:Naxalstakehawalaroutetoterror,IBNLiveonlineedition,July11,2007,
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/naxalstakethehawalaroutetoterror/445983.html,accessedJuly21,2011
477
SeeProjectDetailsathttp://www.ashanet.org/projects/projectview.php?p=157,accessedJuly21,2011
Page||110
inviteareundoubtedlyassociatedwithCommunist/MarxistorIslamicideologyandpoliticsthat
hasoftenendorsedviolenceasameansofresistance.Similarly,thespeakersarethemselves
biasedintheirviewsofHindus.Itclaimsthattheviewsofoneman(i.e.SandeepPandey)do
notinfluenceAshasworkortheorganizationsoverallideology.However,whydoesAsha
insistoninvitinghimtoitseventtotalkabouthisexperienceandnewprojectsthatheis
workingon?478Whenoneperson,whoisalsothefounderoftheorganization,isreveredso
much,hisidealsandhisviewsareboundtoimpacttheworkoftheorganization.IsAshaready
todissociatewithpeoplesuchasPandeyandSampath?IsAshareadytostopassociatingwith
AID,FOIL,FOSAandothers?AreitsAmericandonorsawareAshasovertlypoliticalanddubious
affiliations?
478
Ibid.473
Page||111
(e) SINGHFoundation
SINGHFoundationisthefundraisingarmofFOIL.ThewordSINGHshouldnotbeconfused
withtheSikhlastname.ItstandsforSecularIndia'sNationalGrowthandHarmony479and
accordingtotheorganization,wasstartedinmemoryofalateleftistRaghuvanshPrasad
Singh.480OutofthefourboardmembersoftheFoundationtwoareFOILmembersand
foundersOneoftheVicePresidentsisFOILcoFounderBijuMathewwhiletheSecretary
TreasurerisDr.RajasekharRamkrishnan,whoislistedastheregistrantfortheFOIL,SACW
(SouthAsianCitizensWeb)481andINSAF(InternationalSouthAsiaForum)482websites.INSAF,
asmentionedbefore,alsohostsFOILsmouthpieceGhadar.AbhaSur,theotherVicePresident
ofSINGHisaFOILmemberandthemainorganizeroftheAllianceforaSecularandDemocratic
SouthAsia,483anotherFOILaffiliate.TheAlliancehasinvitednotedMarxist/Communist
individualssuchShabnamHashmi484andhistorianKNPannikar,whoisalsoaTrusteeofANHAD
(ActNowforHarmonyandDemocracy)485,anorganizationheadedbyHashmi.
Accordingtothewebsite,theFoundationaimstopromotesecularism,economicgrowthand
socialharmonyinIndiaandmoregeneralinSouthAsia.486Theyalsosponsortoursof
prominentIndianstopromotesecularismandtoleranceamongSouthAsiansintheUS.487
And,theysupportgrassrootsNGOsinIndiaandothercountrieswhosharetheirmissiongoals.
Hence,oneisledtobelievethattheFoundationfightsforsecularismandpromotesgrownin
Indiaandotherneighboringcountries.WhiletheFoundationhasgivenafewgrantsto
organizationsinBangladesh,thebulkofthesponsorshipgoestoindividualsandorganizations
whoarestronglybiasedagainstHindusandevenIndia.Theseindividualsandorganizations
havebeensetupsolelytodemonizeHinduismagainstIslamspecificallyandhighlighttheIndian
stateasanoppressorofminorities.
479
http://www.singhfoundation.org/index.html,accessedJuly15,2011
http://www.singhfoundation.org/rpsingh.html,accessedJuly15,2011.
481
BasedonaWHOISsearchat
http://www.betterwhois.com/bwhois.cgi?verification=2111&domain=sacw.net&submitbtn=Continue,accessed
June20,2011
480
482
BasedonaWHOISsearchathttp://www.Whois.Net/whois/insaf.net,accessedJune20,2011
AbhaSurislistedasthemaincontactforAllianceForADemocraticAndSecularSouthAsiainthelistof
CommunityOrganizationshere.http://www.copperpages.com/indiacurrents/default.asp?na=6_45_0_U.S._21,
accessedJune20,2011
484
Ibid.472
485
Seehttp://roshandsouza.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=69545,accessedJune20,2011
486
http://www.singhfoundation.org/activities.html,accessedJune20,2011
487
Ibid.
483
Page||112
TheFoundationwasstartedin1993andreceiveditstaxexemptstatus(501(c)(3))inearly
1994.488[It]hassponsoredtoursbyAnandPatwardhanandRakeshSharma489,controversial
filmmakerswhosefilmsactuallyinflamecommunaltensions.Inaddition,asnotedbefore,
PatwardhanmadethemovieWeareNotYourMonkeys,whichtakesahighlybiasedviewofthe
HinduepicRamayana.Similarly,besidesgivingmoneytoPatwardhanandSharmapersonally,
theFoundationhasalsogivenmoneyandsupporttoHarshKapoorforwebdocumentationin
France.490WhoisHarshKapoor?HeisanoldtimeFOILMember,asmentionedinthe
November1,1998issueofFOILsmouthpieceGhadar.491KapoorisalsotheforcebehindSACW
(SouthAsianCitizensWeb)since1996492,whosewebsitesregistrantisthetreasurersecretary
ofSINGH,Dr.RajasekharRamkrishnan.KapoorsSACWwasoneofthemainauthorsofthe
libelousandhighlybiasedreportontheIndianAmericancharityIndiaDevelopmentandRelief
Fund(IDRF)493.CanitbethatSINGHalsoraisedmoneytosponsorthishatefulandhighlyoutof
contextreportaccusingNRIsandHindusoffundinghatefulactivitiesinIndia?
(i) SINGHFoundationandtheCenterfortheStudyofSocietyandSecularism(CSSS)
TheSINGHFoundationisasponsoroftheCentrefortheStudyofSocietyandSecularism
[CSSS]inMumbai,producingperiodicanalyticreportsoncommunaltensionsandconflicts.494
ThisisyetanotherNGObasedinMumbaithatattemptstoportrayHindusasoppressorsand
againstminorities(readMuslimsandChristians)anddemonizetheIndianstateasperpetrator
ofhumanrightsviolationsagainstminorities.Itdoesproduceanalyticreportsoncommunal
andsocialissuesinIndia.However,thereportsandworkshaveaslantalwaysagainstHindus
andtheIndiansociety.AlltheproblemsofIndiatodayareblamedonHinduismandthatall
communaltensionsinIndiaaretheresultofHindufascistsinIndia.
IntheDecember2010January2011timeframe,theCSSSsponsoredaninternshipprojecton
StatusofWomeninIndia:ProblemsandConcerns,whichfeaturedaseriesoflectures,
discussions,fieldworkandwatchingdocumentariesfromvariousfilmmakers.Thoughthe
interneescamefromHindu,MuslimandChristiancommunities495,theprogramsprimarily
488
http://www.singhfoundation.org/rpsingh.html,accessedJune20,2011
Ibid.486
490
Ibid.486
491
http://www.proxsa.org/resources/ghadar/v2n1/foil.html,accessedJune20,2011
492
SeereferencetotheoldSACWpage,whichusedtobehostedatwww.mnet.fr/aiindex.Thelatterwasreferred
tointheNovember1,1998issueofGhadar,giveninFootnote504.AlsoseeHarshKapoorsnoteat
http://insaf.net/pipermail/sacw_insaf.net/2002/001552.html,accessedJune20,2011
493
SeeKapoorsnoteannouncingthereportathttp://insaf.net/pipermail/sacw_insaf.net/2002/001553.html,
accessedJune20,2011
494
Ibid.486
495
StatusofWomeninIndia:ProblemsandConcernsInternshipProject(December2010January2011),
Page23.http://www.csss
sla.com/Status%20of%20Women%20in%20India%20Internees%20report%5B1%5D.pdf,accessedonJune22,2011
489
Page||113
highlightedissuesfacedbyMuslims.Forexample,internsweresentoutforanempirical
surveyofMuslimfamilieslivingintheslumsofBehrampada,PipeLineandKherwadiwithapre
designedquestionnaire.Suchsurveyenabledtheinterneestounderstandtheproblemsofthe
poorfamiliesinamegacitylikeMumbai,bothintermsoftheamenitiesandinthefaceoftheir
religiousaffiliation.496Fromthedescription,itimpliesthatonlyMuslimsarepoorandtheyare
marginalizedbecauseoftheirreligiousaffiliations.And,theproblemsofIndiansociety,
especiallythoseofwomenandminorities,arearesultofHinduoppression.Thereport
preparedbyoneoftheinternshighlightshowsuchmisleadingprogramstranslateintothe
indoctrinationofhatredtowardsHinduism.Areportfiledbyoneoftheinternsstartwiththe
followingbackground:
TheoriginoftheIndianideaofappropriatefemale[behavior]canbetracedtoManuin
200BC:byayounggirl,byayoungwoman,orevenbyanagedone,nothingmustbe
doneindependent,eveninherownhouse.497
Thereportcontainsseveralinaccuratestatementsandcontradictionsbythewriters.For
example,thewritersmentionthat[the]systemofPurdah[veil]wasprevalentamongroyal
families,noblesandmerchantprinceclassespriorto[emphasisadded]theadventofMuslims
andspreadtootherclassesalso.498Yet,furtherinthereport,theauthorssaythatPurdahwas
adistinctfeatureofMuslimwomen499
Intheentirereport,allatrocitiesagainstwomen(Sati,femaleinfanticide,etc.)areblamedon
HindutextsandHindupractices.And,[the]Britishinfluencehadaverydeepimpressionon
themindsofIndianleaderssuchasRajaRamMohanRoy,IshwarChandraVidyasagar,Swami
DayanandSaraswati,SwamiVivekananda,MahatmaGandhi,JawaharlalNehru,andmany
others500So,Hindusarenotcapableofinitiatingtheirownreformsandtheeffortsof
importantHinduleadersarereallyaproductofforeigninfluence!
Similarly,inthesectionofIslaminIndia501,thestatusofwomenisdealtwithrelativesoftness
andhighlightshowwomenofroyaltysuchasBabursdaughterGulbadanBegum,authorofthe
HumayunNamahwasthefirstMughalwomantodocumentthesocialrealitiesofMuslim
women[and]ZebunNissa,EmperorAurangzebseldestdaughter,wasaneminenttheologian
andpoet.502Pertheanalysisofthereport,therewerenoeducated,independentHindu
womenthroughouttheentirehistoryofHindus.Suchanalyticalconclusionsorderivations
496
Ibid.
Ibid.495,Page6
498
Ibid.495,Page12
499
Ibid.495,Page16
500
Ibid.495,Page17
501
Ibid.495,Page6
502
Ibid.495,Page16
497
Page||114
soundawfullysimilartothosededucedbyFOILanditsmembers.Inthesamemanner,the
sectiononMuslimWomensRightsinMuslimPersonalLawsaysthataMuslimmarriageis
contractualinformbecauseitmakefreeconsentofthepartiesanessentialelementforits
validityIslamiclawgivesthewomananimportantroleathomeandinthesociety.The
Prophetbothbyexampleandpreceptencouragedtheinstitutionofmarriageandrecognizedit
asthebasisofsociety.503Thus,Islamiclawsareshownasmuchmoreprogressiveandopen
mindedincomparisontoHindulaws.Furtherinthereport,thesectiononStatusofwomenin
IslamstatesthatIslamhasadoptedaquitesimple,naturalandjustapproachaboutwomen
andframeditsrealisticrulesaccordingly.504Suchblatantlybiasedportrayalsclearlyshowthe
agendaoforganizationsliketheCSSS.CansuchNGOspreachcommunalharmonyandpeace
whiletheyareindoctrinatingtheyouth(Muslim,HinduandChristian)intolearningthat
HinduismisevilandIslamispure?
InApril2011,CSSSheldaWorkshoponPeaceandCommunalHarmony.Dr.AliAsghar
Engineer,theChairmanofCSSS505andaspeakersponsoredfrequentlybyFOIL,FOSAand
SINGHintheUS,conductedasessiononMeaningofCommunalismanditsDevelopment,
whichdealtoriginanddevelopmentofcommunalisminIndiancontext.506Giventheinherent
biasofCSSS,onecanonlyconcludethatthissessionfocusedonHinducommunalismrather
thantakingamoreholisticviewofcommunalismingeneral.RamPuniyani,amemberof
CSSS507spokeonTerrorisminIndiaandReligionandPoliticsinIndia508.Accordingtothe
report,Puniyanidemystifiedthepopularconceptsrelatedwithterrorism[andthe]communal
forcespropagandatotagterrorismwithoneparticularreligiouscommunity509Needlessto
saythatPuniyanissessionwasloadedwithantiHinduremarksandtheconspiracyofHindus
tolabelallMuslimsasterrorists.ItisalsoimportanttonotethatPuniyaniisanaffiliateofFOIL
andhaswrittenarticlesontheFOILwebsiteslikePROXSA510andSACW511.InSeptember2001,
PuniyaniwroteanarticleonFOILswebsiteonthereasonsbehindtheterroristattackonthe
UnitedStates.HeessentiallysympathizeswiththeterroristsandconcludesthatAmericahadit
503
Ibid.495,Page34
Ibid.495,Page37
505
http://www.csssisla.com/governingbody.htm,accessedJune20,2011
506
WorkshoponPeaceandCommunalHarmony,April2011,http://www.csssisla.com/VaranasiPCR011.htm,
accessedJune20,2011
507
Ibid.505
508
Ibid.506
509
Ibid.506
510
See,forexample,TacklingTheTerroristMenace.Sept.2001.http://www.proxsa.org/resources/9
11/index.html.AccessedJune20,2011;SeeHindutvaOffensiveSocialRoots:Characterisation
http://www.proxsa.org/politics/hindutva/rampun1.htmlAccessedJune20,2011
511
R.RPuniyani,HindutvaOffensiveSocialRoots:Characterisation,
http://www.proxsa.org/politics/hindutva/rampun1.html,accessedJune22,2011;
RamPuniyani,WhatdoHinduspiritualleaderstalkwhentheymeet?,February20,2009,accessedJune22,
2011
504
Page||115
coming.HepraisesCubandictatorFidelCastroandagreeswithhisviewsthatAmerican
establishmentitselfhasgivenencouragementandevensponsoredterroristgroupsindifferent
countriesatdifferenttimes.512Interestingly,Puniyanicanonlyfindonepraiseworthyvoiceof
restraintamongallthepeopleandleadersoftheworldtheCommunistdictatorCastro.
Puniyaniconsiderstheterrorists,TalibanandAlQaedaasdisadvantagedgroupsandopines
that[surely]thepresentdastardlyactofterroristsisasadreminderthatevendisadvantaged
groups,whoarenowhereequaltothemightofthemostpowerfulnationcanoccasionally
puncturethehighhandednessofbullies.513Thus,accordingtoPuniyani,theattacksof911
arereallyoutofdesperationandretaliationagainstthebullyUnitedStatesandhavenothing
todowithfundamentalistviewsofIslam.
PuniyaniisalsosuspiciousofagatheringofmajorHinduspiritualandcommunityleadersthat
calledforanendofJihadaswellasdiscriminationagainstHindus.Talkingaboutonesuch
gathering,Puniyanifeelsthattheyusesaffroncolortohidetheirsectarianideasandnarrow
politicsinthenameofreligion.514WhileMuslimreligiousclerics,scholarsandteacherscan
cometogethertotalkaboutpoliticalrightsofMuslimsaswellasdiscriminationagainst
MuslimsandpressuretheIndiangovernmenttoaddresstheissuesfacedbyMuslims,Hindu
spiritualandcommunityleaderscannotdosoandaredemonizedasfascistsandsectarian.
AccordingtoonepresscoverageoftheAllIndiaAntiTerrorismConferenceorganizedbyIslamic
MadrasasAssociation,[the]gatheringalsosoughttoheightenthefeelingsofMuslimshaving
beenthevictimsofhistoricaldeprivation,worldwideoppressionanddiscriminationbythe
Indiangovernment.515But,PuniyaniandhisLeftist/Communistcolleaguesdonotcritically
analyzesuchgatheringsandareobsessedwithHindusonly.
OnJune20,2011,PuniyaniwroteanarticleeulogizingthecontroversialpainterM.F.Hussain,
whodiedonJune9,2011.PuniyanicalledhimthemostcelebratedpainterofIndia,[with]a
thoroughIndianandunderstandingHinduculturemuchmorethananyofhisdetractors.516
M.F.HussainwasthecontroversialpainterthatmadenudepaintingsofIndia(i.e.BharatMata)
andvariousHindudeities.WhilemanyinIndianmediaignoredthesentimentsofHindusand
denouncedthemasHinduchauvinists,itisimportanttonotethatHussainpaintedGoddess
Durgainsexualunionwithatiger,GoddessLakshmisittingnakedonLordGaneshashead,
512
RamPuniyani,TacklingTheTerroristMenace,September2001,http://www.proxsa.org/resources/9
11/Puniyani0109terroristmenace.html,accessedJune21,2011
513
Ibid.
514
RamPuniyani,WhatdoHinduspiritualleaderstalkwhentheymeet?,February20,2009,
http://www.sacw.net/article676.html,accessedJune22,2011
515
JPSharma,TheMessageFromDeoband,http://www.sify.com/news/ThemessagefromDeoband
imagegallerymindspeakjdqo8ocbcac.html#galname,accessedJune22,2011
516
RamPuniyani,M.F.Hussain:VictimofIntolerance,June20,2011,
http://twocircles.net/2011jun20/mf_husain_victim_intolerance.html,accessedJuly25,2011.
Page||116
GoddessSaraswatiplayingtheSitarnaked,andanakedSitasittingonRavanasthighs,among
others.517ThisisincontrasttopaintingofMotherTeresa,hisownmother,Muslimladies,his
owndaughter,Muslimpoets,etc.whomhepaintedfullclothed518.Inanotherinstance,
HussainpaintedafullycladMuslimKingnexttoaNakedBrahmininthesamepainting.519This
clearlyshowsthelateartistsinherentbiasagainstthingsHindu.
BesidesSINGHFoundation,someofthedonorsofCSSSincludeFordFoundationNewDelhi,
BreadfortheWorldGermany,MisereorGermany,HeinrichBollFoundationGermany,
ActionAidNewDelhi,CMCNetherlands,DCANewDelhi.520.BreadForTheWorldorBrot
521
frdieWeltisaChristianorganizationbasedinGermany .Itsnotonlyinthebusinessof
distributingbreadaspartofitsmissionbasedonChristianvalues.Accordingtotheirsite,
[the]wordBreaddoesnotonlyrefertofood.MartinLutherinterpretedtherequestfordaily
breadintheLordsPrayerasarequestforeverythingneededtokeepbodyandsoultogether
likefood,drink,clothes,shoes,housing,farms,land,cattle,moneyandproperty.522Thus,the
organizationappliesProtestantprinciplesandengagesinprovidingeverythingtothepoorof
theworldbesidesjustbasicfood.Theyalsogiveassistancetovictimsofhumanrights
violations.523ThispatternisquitesimilartootherChurchorganizationssupportinghuman
rightsviolations,particularlyinheathenrichcountrieslikeIndia.And,whoarethedecision
makersinthisorganization?AlldecisionswithregardtoprojectapplicationsreceivedbyBrot
frdieWeltaretakenbytheCommitteeforEcumenicalService,whichsimultaneouslyserves
astheAllocationCommitteeforBrotfrdieWelt.Its17membersarenominatedbythe
DiakonischeKonferenzoftheProtestantChurchinGermany(EKD)inagreementwiththe
CounciloftheEKDandthemanagingbodiesoftheFreeChurches.524Theorganizationis
directlyaccountabletotheProtestantChurchofGermany.
Similarly,MISEREORistheGermanCatholicBishops[Organization]forDevelopment
Cooperation525,anotherChristiancharitableorganization.And,ChristianAid,theUKbased
Christiancharity,wasdiscussedearlierinthereport.
SINGHFoundationalsoprovidesfinancialsponsorshiptowhatitdeemsfledglinggrassroots
groupsintheSouthAsianCommunityintheUnitedStates.526Apparently,itcanonlyfind
517
SeeacomparisononHindupaintingsandotherspaintingsbyHussainputtogetherbyHinduJagrutiSamiti.M
FHussain'sHypocrisy,http://www.hindujagruti.org/activities/campaigns/national/mfhussain
campaign/intro.php#1,accessedJuly25,2011
518
Ibid.
519
Ibid.517
520
http://www.csssisla.com/ourdonors.htm,accessedJune21,2011
521
http://www.brotfuerdiewelt.de/english/index.php,accessedJune21,2011
522
Ibid.
523
http://www.brotfuerdiewelt.de/english/index_3381_ENG_HTML.php,accessedJune21,2011
524
http://www.brotfuerdiewelt.de/english/index_3383_ENG_HTML.php,accessedJune21,2011
525
http://www.misereor.org/aboutus.html,accessedJune21,2011
Page||117
threefledglinggroupsYouthSolidaritySummer(YSS)527,theyouthwingofFOIL,3rdINew
York528,anotherFOILassociatedgroupandPROXSA529,whichisanothernameforFOILitself.
Aretherenoothernonpoliticalgrassrootsorganizationsthatareworthwhiletoreceivemoney
fromSINGH?ThisgoestoshowfurtherthattheFoundationisnothingbutachannelforFOIL
anditspartnerstoraisemoneyinsupportoftheirpoliticalandideologicalwork.
526
http://www.singhfoundation.org/activities.html,accessedJune22,2011
Ibid.
528
Ibid.527
529
Ibid.527
527
Page||118
(f) SabrangCommunicationsPrivateLimited
SabrangCommunicationsPrivateLimitedisaMumbai,IndiabasedorganizationrunbyTeesta
SetalvadandherhusbandJavedAnand,alongwithamagazinecalledCommunalismCombat.530
Theorganizationseekstotoprovideinformationon,[analyze]andexposethemachinationsof
communalpoliticsinIndia,onthesubcontinentandabroad531Ostensibly,Sabrangstandsfor
forequalrespecttoallreligionsbut[is]opposedtothecynicalmanipulationoffaithinthe
pursuitofpower532andisthereforeopposedtobothmajorityandminority
communalism.533However,itappearsthatSabrangisabsolutelyinfatuatedwithHindu
CommunalismandhasdedicateditselftoaruthlesspursuitofHindusinthewakeofthe
Gujaratriots.In2003,Setalvad,alongwithAdmiralL.RamDas,receivedtheStaines
InternationalAwardForReligiousHarmonybyTheInternationalCouncilofEvangelical
ChurchesforhavingchampionedthecauseofsecularIndiaandhavebeenheroicpromotersof
religiousharmony.534Theawardwasestablishedin2000andwasawardedforthefirsttimeon
11thApril2000,toArchbishopAllendeLasticofNewDelhi,(India)thePresidentofCatholic
BishopsConferenceofIndiaandDr.JohnDayalof(India)journalistandNationalConvenor(sic)
ofUnitedChristiansForumforHumanRights535TheawardwassetupinmemoryofAustralian
MissionaryGrahamStaineswhowasburntdownalongwithhistwosonsbyamobwhileona
missioninatribalarea.JohnDayalisaknownChristianactivistwhoroutinelydemonizes
HindusandHinduism.HeisalsotheSecretaryGeneraloftheAllIndiaChristianCouncil
(AICC)536,whichisthelargestallianceinIndiaofChurchbodiesandChristianentitiesthatare
activelycarryingoutChrist'ssacrificialmission.537TheAICCalsoworkswithnotedantiHindu
organizationsliketheDalitFreedomNetwork538,whoseviewswerediscussedinSection2.08.
SetalvadsbiographyonthewebsiteoftheInternationalCouncilofEvangelicalChristians
highlightsherobsessionwiththeHinduRight:Fromthelateeighties,thevisibleemergence
ofthefanatic,HindurightbecamefrighteninglyvisibleHatespeechandhatewriting,more
andmore,waspublishedinthemainlinemediawithoutawordofeditorialcensure.Monitoring
thiskindofhatepoliticshasbeenmyprofessionalconcernandcommitmentoverthepast
530
http://www.sabrang.com/contactus.htm,accessedJune23,2011
http://www.sabrang.com/aboutus.htm,accessedJune23,2011
532
Ibid.
533
Ibid.531
534
StainesInternationalAwardForReligiousHarmony,http://www.evangelicalcouncil.org/news_events1.html,
accessedJune23,2011
535
http://www.evangelicalcouncil.org/teesta.html,accessedJune23,2011
536
SeecontactinformationonthepressreleaseentitledHatecampaigninrunuptoNarmadaKumbhcreates
scareamongMPChristians,datedFebruary4,2011,
http://indianchristians.in/news/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=4674,accessedJune23,2011
537
http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/1462/112/,accessedJune23,2011
538
Ibid.SeesectioncalledCompositionandAffiliation
531
Page||119
decade.539Similarly,SetalvadsdecisiontolaunchCommunalismCombatisalsoexplained:
Theexperienceof199293[theRamJanmabhumi/BabriMasjidriots]ledtoadissatisfaction
withthemainstreamIndianmediathattackledtragedies,sensationsorcommunalcrises
onlywhentheyhappened.Thereislittleinclinationtoexamineprocessesandthefalloutof
majorsocialupheavalsandtrends.HencethedecisiontolaunchCommunalismCombatalong
withcolleague,JavedAnand.540So,SetalvadfeltthattheentireIndianmediamachinerywas
againsttheMuslimsinIndiaduringthe19921993riotsandSetalvadsmagazinewouldactas
theirsolevoice.Furthermore,accordingtothesite,Setalvadsresearchhasinvolvedexposing
thefindingsofjudicialcommissionriotspostIndependencethatrevealastrongantiminority
mindsetandacollusionofHindufanaticparties.541Fromallofthis,itisquiteclearthat
SetalvadssolefocusistohighlightthehumanrightsviolationsagainstonlyMuslims,women
andDalitsbyfanatic,uppercasteHinduswhoruntheentireIndiangovernment.
SabrangalsostartedKHOJ,aseculareducationprogramfor
kidsinMumbai.Aman,aprojectofKHOJisprojectedasan
olivebranch542ofKHOJtolinkkidsfromIndiaandPakistan.
InNovember2002,followingcomplaintsmadebyindividuals
totheGovernmentofIndia,Setalvadremovedacontroversial
logo(Figure8)thatshowedamutilatedpictureofIndia
againstastrikinglyaccuratepictureofPakistan.543Curiously,
thelogo,whichwasontheirwebsiteforfiveyears,was
createdbyastudentatBombayInternationalSchool,oneof
theschoolsthathosttheAmanproject.Thelogoannexesthe
KashmirpartofthestateofJammuandKashmirandmerges
Figure8Apicturedesignedby
itintoPakistan.PartsofNortheastIndiaarealsomissing.
astudentinTeestaSetalvads
And,PakistanisshowasamuchbiggercountrythanIndia.
program
SinceAugust,1994,TeestaSetalvadandotherconsultant
volunteershavebeenengagedinaweekly,oneperiod[program]withstudentsofstandard
V,VI&VIIoftheBombayInternationalSchool.544So,ineightyearssincetheinvolvementin
theprojectattheschool,Sabranghasbeenunsuccessfulinteachingfifth,sixthorseventh
gradeIndiankidshowtodrawavisiblyaccuratemapofIndia.
539
Ibid.353
Ibid.353
541
Ibid.353
542
Ibid.353
543
SeethesectiontitledChildEducation,Sabrangstyle:theCartographicProdigiesoftheBombayInternational
School.http://www.geocities.com/charcha_2000/essays/sabrang_co.html,accessedJune23,2011
544
Ibid.
540
Page||120
SabrangsSetalvadandAnand,facingaseriousfinancialcrunch,appealedtotheirreadersinthe
UStodonatetothemaround$20,000throughtheSINGHFoundation,545whoseactivitieswere
discussedintheprevioussection,becauseUSbaseddonationsaretaxexemptandcanalsobe
matchedormultipliedviacorporatematchingprograms.Sabrangwasalsothecoauthorofthe
biasedreportontheIndianAmericancharityIDRF,alongwithFOILandFrancebasedSACW,the
organizationstartedbyFOILmemberHarshKapoor.546
In1999,SetalvadsCommunalismCombatacceptedabout$1.5Croresfrompoliticalparties
suchastheCongress,CPI,CPMandabouttenprominentindividuals547torunaseriesof
massiveadcampaignsagainsttheBJPandlabelingthemasHindufanaticsthatarehighly
biasedagainstwomen.Speakingtomedia,Setalvadsharedherthoughtsonthecampaign:
Butwecansaythattheadcampaignwasabletopointoutsomeoftheideologicalpreceptsof
theSanghParivar.WewereabletocreateawarenessoftheRSSandthefreedommovement,
theRSSandGandhi,theRSSandKashmir,aboutVajpayee'sroleinthefreedomstruggle.548
Sheevenadmittedthat[Sabranghas]beenmakingpoliticalstatementsoverthepastsix
years.549ThisshowsthatSabrangispoliticallyinvolvedwiththeCommunistPartiesaswellas
Congressandsupportstheirideologicalmotivations.SuchstancespunctureSabrangs
credibilityandimageofobjectivity.Moreover,didSabrangevercomeoutwithadsagainstthe
Congressforitsroleinthe1984SikhRiots?Or,didSabrangeverpublishanadinaWestBengal
orKeralanewspaperblastingtheCommunistpartiesfortheirroleintheNandigramviolencein
2007?SomeexamplesofkillingsbyCommunistpartymembersareasfollows:
ThreepersonswerekilledanddozenssustainedbulletinjuriesafterCPMcadresopened
fireontwounarmedpeacerallies[organized]byBhumiUchchedPratirodhCommittee
(BUPC)onSaturday550
TheBuddhadebBhattacharjeegovernmentsarmedattempttoreclaimNandigramran
intowavesofresistancefrontedbywomen,leadingtothedeathsofatleast14people
inpolicefiring.WardmasteroftheTamlukhospital,AtalBehariJana,said11bodies,
545
VarshaBhosle,FrontLines,http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/nov/29varsha.htm,November29,1999,
AccessedJune23,2011
546
SeeCopyrightnoticeunderthereportheadingTheForeignExchangeofHate:IDRFandtheAmericanFunding
ofHindutva,http://www.proxsa.org/newsflash/index.html,accessedJune23,2011.
547
MeherPestonji,Anyoneinvolvedinsecularactionisgoingtobetargeted,
http://web.archive.org/web/20021217191815/http://www.humanscapeindia.net/humanscape/hs1199/hs11997t.
htm,accessedJune25,2011
548
Ibid.
549
Ibid.
550
RakeebHossainandDrimiChaudhuri,CPMcadreskill3inNandigram,HindustanTimes,onlineedition,
November10,2007,http://www.hindustantimes.com/NewsFeed/westbengal/CPMcadreskill3in
Nandigram/Article1257122.aspx,accessedJune25,2011
Page||121
includingthatofawoman,borebulletinjuries.Mostinjurieswereeitherinthestomach
orchest551
IncontrasttothemassoutrageexpressedtowardsHinduextremismorRightWing
extremism,SetalvadhasbeenrelativelymuteontheNandigramissue.Isitbecausesheis
politicallyandideologicallyalignedwiththeCommunistpartiesandisthereforecomplicitwith
thesetypesofrabidhumanrightsviolations?Or,isitbecausethisissuedoesntexposeHindu
fascismandisthereforenotimportantenoughforSabrangsbusiness?
(i) SetalvadandtheCookingUpofFacts
Setalvadhasbeenaccusedofmanufacturingliesandexaggeratingscenariosrelatedtothe2002
Gujaratriots.In2009,[referring]toanotherinstancethatexposedtheCitizensforJusticeand
Peacesmuchtrumpetedcharges,[SeniorAdvocateRohtagi]saidthe[SpecialInvestigation
Team]founduntrueallegationaboutagangrapeofapregnantwomanKauserBano,whose
stomachwasallegedlypiercedbyswordandherfoetus(sic)killed.552TheSpecial
InvestigationTeamwasledbyformerCBIDirectorRKRaghavanandiscomprisedofformer
DGPCBSatpathyandthreeseniorIPSofficersGeethaJohri,ShivanandJhaandAshishBhatia.
IthadbeenaskedtodotheenquiryintopostGodhrariotincidentsinGodhra,GulbargSociety,
NarodaGaon,NarodaPatiyaandSardarpura.553
In2010,SashikantPatil,oneoftheindividualsaccusedinthe2002Gujaratriotsandwhohas
beeninjailsincethen,approachedtheSupremeCourttoprosecuteSetalvadoncountsof
perjury.Intheapplication,PatilallegedSetalvad,whoheadstheNGO,CitizenforPeaceand
Justice,cookedupthestoryandmadeanallegedrapevictimoftheriottofileafalseaffidavit
beforetheapexcourt,whichshedeniedinherstatementbeforeSITonMay20,2009,thatshe
wasraped.554Anothercoverageprovidesthefollowingdetailsofthesamecase:
TheincidentwasofNarodaGaon,whereanallegedrapevictimfiledanaffidaviton
November15,2003,intheSupremeCourtandprovidedadetailedaccountofheragony
andinjustice.TheaffidavitwasfiledbyNanoomiyaRasoolmiyaMalek,therapevictims
neighbour(sic)whoclaimedtobeaneyewitness.ButlaterinherstatementtoSITon
May20,2008,thevictimdeniedbeingrapedanddisclosedthatTeestatookher
551
RedhandBuddha:14killedinNandigramreentrybid,March14,2007,
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070315/asp/frontpage/story_7519166.asp,accessedJune25,2011
552
AbrahamThomas,Gujaratriotmythsbusted,http://dailypioneer.com/169490/Gujaratriotmyths
busted.html,April14,2009,accessedJune23,2011
553
Desh,PseudoSecularismandTeestaSetalvad'sCookingupSkills,April27,2009,
http://www.drishtikone.com/node/8047,accessedJune23,2011
554
GujriotsaccusedmovesSCforprosecutingTeestaforperjury,October18,2010,
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/gujriotsaccusedmovesscforprosecutingteestaforperjury/699232/0,
IndianExpress,onlineedition,accessedJune23,2011
Page||122
signatureontheaffidavitsbutdidnotrevealtoherthecontents.TheeyewitnessMalek
toochargedTeestaoftamperingwithhisstatement.Hesaid,Atthetimeofdraftingthe
affidavit,IinformedTeestaSetalvad,whorunstheNGO,nottomentionthesaid
incorrectfactinmyaffidavitandIstronglyobjectedagainstthesame.555
InAprilof2011,oneofthekeywitnessesintheBestBakerycaseoftheGujaratriotsallegedto
theMumbaihighcourtthatshewasluredandmisguidedbysocialactivistTeestaSetalvadto
givefalsetestimonyagainst17accused,ofwhomaMumbaispecialcourthasconvictednineto
lifeimprisonment.556Inherpetition,YasmeenbanoShaikhsaidthatshemadeafalse
depositionagainsttheaccusedandidentifiedthemfalselyatthebehestandadviceofTeesta
Setalvadonlyinthefalsehopethatthesocialactivistwouldhelpherfinancially.557
Setalvad,alongwithherNGOCitizensforPeaceandJusticeandtheNGOSAHMAT(whichis
headedbyShabnamHashmi),lashedoutatthemediaandcalledthereportsoftheSpecial
InvestigationTeam(SIT)findingsirresponsiblereportage558andthatitwasNOT[emphasis
original]anotepreparedbySIT559.Notsurprisingly,thisrebuttalandotherpressreleases
preparedbySetalvad,SAHMATandothers,werehostedonwebsiteofSouthAsiaCitizensWeb
(SACW),whichisheadedbyFOILmemberHarshKapoor.
DhananjayMahapatraofTimesofIndia,respondingtothechargesbySetalvad,thenpublished
asubsequentrebuttaltoSetalvadsclaimsandshowedthathiscoveragewasbasedonSITs
findingsandthatthenewspaperhadacopyofthereport.Mahapatra,quotingdirectlyfrom
theSITreport,providesvariousexamples:
Page9oftheSITreportontheGulbargaSocietycarnageonFebruary28,2002,says:
Insistenceof19witnessestotakeonrecordtheirsignedstatementswhichaccordingto
themwerepreparedbySmtTeestaSetalvadandadvocateTirmiji'thereferencehere
istowitnessesgivingsignedcomputerised(sic)statementswhichwerenotacceptedby
theinvestigatingofficer(IO)asunderSection161theofficerisrequiredtowritethe
statementofwitnessesafterinterrogatingthempersonally
555
AbrahamThomas,PunishTeestaforperjury,GodhraaccusedtellsSC,October19,2010,
http://www.dailypioneer.com/290445/PunishTeestaforperjuryGodhraaccusedtellsSC.html,accessedJune23,
2011
556
HetalVyas,Gujarat'sBestBakerycase:Teestaforcedmetolie,saysWitness,April30,2011,TimesofIndia,
onlineedition,http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/20110430/india/29490452_1_specialcourtzaheera
shaikhlifeimprisonment,accessedJune24,2011
557
Ibid.
558
SeeCJPsRebuttalonMediaCoverageofSupremeCourtProceedings,April13,2009,
http://www.sacw.net/article827.html,accessedJune28,2011
559
Ibid.
Page||123
Thereportalsosays(page8)theallegationaboutthethenAhmedabadpolice
commissionerCPPandeyvisitingGulbargaSocietyat10.30amandassuringpolice
protectiontoMuslimsbutnotfollowingitupwaswrongashewasprovedtohavegone
toSolaCivilHospitaltotakecareofthedeadbodiesofSabarmatiExpressarson
victims.560
Thus,asseenfromtheaboveexamples,Setalvadhasbeenseriouslyaccusedofbendingfacts
andofmanufacturingliestogrosslyexaggeratetheincidentsoftheGujaratriots.Furthermore,
shefaceschargesoflyingtothecourt,whichifvalid,maysentenceherforyearsinprisonifnot
forlifetime.Inaddition,shehasattemptedtomalignindependentmediareportersthathave
broughtstoriesagainsther,asseenfromtheexampleoftheTimesofIndiareporter.
OnFriday,May27,2011,SACW,thewebsiterunbyFOILmemberHarshKapoor,postedaPress
Release,alongwithapersonalappealfromTeestaSetalvad,announcingtheFormationof
CommitteefortheDefence(sic)ofTeestaSetalvadandJusticeinGujarat561.Accordingtothe
pressrelease,TheCommitteewouldundertakeappropriateactionsandactivitiestoseethat
neitherTeestaSetalvadnoranybodyelseisvictimizedforworkingforthecauseofjustice.The
committeewouldalsodefendthehumanrightsofvulnerablesections,andwouldinclude,but
notbelimitedto,monitoringcasesslappedonTeestaSetalvad,tostandinsolidaritywithher,
tobringoutdetailedfactsbeforethepeoplepertainingtothisselectivevictimizationofTeesta
SetalvadandthosefightingforthecauseofjusticeinGujarat.562Inotherwords,this
committeeplanstocounterfindingsbyindependentbodiessuchastheSpecialInvestigation
Teamandallegethehandofcommunalforcesbehindthisevidence.Moreover,judgedbythe
angrytoneofthePressRelease,thecommitteewillundoubtedlyuseeverymeans,political,
ideologicalorotherwise,toexertitsinfluenceinsupportofSetalvad.
Thecommitteecomprisesofthefollowingindividuals,amongothers:Dr.AsgharAliEngineer
(whoisthechairmanoftheNGOCSSS,discussedpreviously),RomilaThapar(theMarxist
historiandiscussedinthereportearlier),IrfanHabib(anotherprominentMarxisthistorian),
RamPuniyani(alsoassociatedwiththeNGOCSSSandFOIL),andIrfanEngineer(alsopartofthe
NGOCSSS).563OnewonderswhyhistorianslikeThaparandHabibareonacommitteeinvolved
inalegalbattleforahumanrightsactivist.Itwillalsobeintriguingtoobserverwhetherthe
560
DhananjayMahapatra,ReportbasedonSITfindings,April16,2009,TimesofIndia,onlineedition,
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/ReportbasedonSITfindings/articleshow/4407437.cms,accessedJune
28,2011.
561
FormationofCommitteefortheDefenceofTeestaSetalvadandJusticeinGujaratPressRelease,May23,
2011,http://www.sacw.net/article2113.html,accessedJuly19,2011
562
Ibid.
563
Ibid.561
Page||124
SINGHFoundationandotherFOILorganizationsraisemoneyintheUStoassistSetalvadinthis
legalbattle.
(g) IndianAmericanMuslimCouncil(IAMC)
IAMC,formerlyknownasIndianMuslimCouncil(IMCUSA),isanotheraffiliateofFOIL.IAMC
considersitselftobethelargestadvocacyorganizationofIndianMuslimsintheUnited
States564.TheorganizationfightsfortheinterestsandconcernsofIndianMuslimsintheUS
andinIndia.WhileIAMCstandsforpluralism,tolerance,andrespectforhumanrights565and
toprovideincreasinginterfaithandintercommunityunderstandingintheUnitedStates,with
particularfocusontheIndianDiaspora,566itsactivitiesroutinelydemonizeHindusandIndiaby
showingbothasoppressorsofMuslims,ChristiansandDalits.Furthermore,undertheveilof
interfaithandintercommunitydiscourse,IAMCinvitesindividualsknownfortheirbiased
viewsofHinduismandIndia.HindusandIndiaareautomaticallyrenderedguiltyofcrimes
againstMuslims,ChristiansandDalits,whileanyterroristattackinIndianeedstobecarefully
analyzedbeforeblamingIslamicterrorists.
Dr.OmarKhalidiwasoneofthecofoundersandaformerGeneralSecretaryofIAMC.567
KhalidiconsideredtheArchaeologicalSurveyofIndia,theofficialarchaeologydepartmentof
India,asHandmaidensofHindutva568thatmanufacturesdubiousevidenceinsupportof
claimsthatnumerousmedievalmonumentswerebuiltuponHindu,JainandBuddhisttemples.
Thus,whentheASImakesimportantdiscoveriesandunearthsfreshevidencethatsupports
destructionofimportantHindu/Buddhist/JainsitesbyMusliminvadersandkings,Khalidi
blamesthemforbeingbiasedagainstMuslims.
AccordingtoKhalidi,BritishIndianMuslimslacksignificantpoliticalunitypartlybecausemany
weremarginalizedathome,andpartlyduetothereplicationofhomeidentitiesbasedon
regionalcultureandsectarianaffiliation.569Thus,accordingtoKhalidi,IndianMuslimsare
facingsomesortofidentitycrisisandlackofpoliticalwillintheUKduetotheirrepression
backinIndia.IdentityandotherproblemsarethustobetracedbacktoandblamedonHindu
extremistsrunningIndia.KhalidiurgedBritishIndianMuslimstoovercomethisandunitefora
564
http://iamc.com/about/,accessedJuly20,2011
Ibid.
566
Ibid.564
567
SeereferencetoKhalidiintheIAMCpressreleaseentitledIAMCNewJersey2011RepublicDayEvent,
January30,2011,http://iamc.com/chapters/newjersey/2011republicdayevent/,accessedJuly20,2011
568
OmarKhalidi,ASIisthehandmaidenofHindutva,October1,2010,
http://news.rediff.com/column/2010/oct/01/columnasiisthehandmaidenofhindutvawritesomarkhalidi.htm,
accessedJuly20,2011
569
OmarKhalidi,Crescentobscured:IndianMuslimsinBritain,September8,2010,
http://twocircles.net/2010sep08/crescent_obscured_indian_muslims_britain.html,accessedJuly20,2011
565
Page||125
greaterpoliticalclout.Alas,KhalidiandotherswillquicklycensureHindusofsomesortof
rightwingconspiracyiftheyorganizesuccessfullyinIndia,UKortheUS.
In2009,KhalidiwroteanarticleinOutlookIndiamagazinecalledWhyIndiaIsNotASecular
State.ThearticlelaidouthighlyselectiveexamplestoconcludehowtheIndianstateactually
privilegesHinduismoverotherreligionsandreligiouscommunities.570KhalidicallstheIndian
ConstitutionasaconcernoftheBrahminestablishment571andthinksthat[the]motiveof
theconstitutionwriterswasobvious:topreventtheconversionofDalitstoChristianityor
Islam,toreformHinduismtomakeitpalatabletotheformeruntouchables.572Hethengoes
onandwriteshowChristianmissionsandchurcheshavebeenunderattacksincedecades573
andhow[hundreds]ofmosquesareinillegalpossessionnationwideincludinginNewDelhi,
wherescoresareoccupiedbythecentralgovernment.574Similarly,heselectivelydescribes
discriminationagainstMuslimsinemployment,armyaswellasinthegeneralcultural
atmosphere.AccordingtoKhalidi,[the]banoncowslaughterdeprivedthousandsofbutchers
theirlivelihoodevenasitstolemillionsofpoortheironlysourceofinexpensiveprotein.Cow
maybesacredtotheuppercastes,butnotsototheChristians,Dalits,andMuslims.575Will
KhalidisaythesamethingifporkisbannedbycountriesintheMiddleEast?Infact,
importationorconsumptionofporkisseverallyrestrictedinIslamiccountriessuchasIran,
SaudiArabia,Pakistan,etc.becauseitisforbiddeninIslam.
MohibAhmad,founderofIndianMuslimsBlog,offersarebuttaltoKhalidisarticleinOutlook.
AhmadstatesthatKhalidiselectivelypicksandchoosesdotstocreateanuglypictureandthen
presentsitasreality.ItisasifDr.Khalidihascomeupwithachecklistofcarefullydrawnitems
thathekeepscheckingtillhereachestheconclusionthatIndiaisnotsecular.576Ahmadcites
thatDr.KhalidiquotesHinduMarriageAct(1955)tobuttresshisclaimforlegislative
preferenceshowntoHinduism.Inreality,someofthebiggestcriticsoftheActwere
conservativeHindus,includingRashtriyaSwayamsevakSangh(RSS),leaders.IftheActwasjust
anattempttocooptSikhs,JainsandBuddhistsintothefoldofHinduism,asDrKhalidisuggests,
wouldntHinduleadershavewelcomeditwithopenarms?577
570
OmarKhalidi,WhyIndiaIsNotASecularState,OutlookIndia,onlineedition,January29,2009,
571
Ibid.
572
Ibid.570
573
Ibid.570
574
Ibid.570
575
Ibid.570
576
MohibAhmad,India,Secularism,Whatever,OutlookIndia,onlineedition,February6,2009,
577
Ibid.
Page||126
OntheissueofculturalandracialdiscriminationarguedbyKhalidi,Ahmadsharesthefollowing
thoughts:
IndianMuslims,byanystretchofimagination,arenotinthesamediscriminatory
situationasblackswereinUSA.ThecommunitywoulddowellnottopayheedtoDr.
Khalidiwho,insteadofencouragingthemtostrivefortheirrights,ifandwhendenied,
withinademocraticsetup,iscuriouslybentonprovingthattheydonthaveachance
anyway.Dr.KhalidisessayisanaffronttoallthoseIndianswhoarefightingforthe
rightsoffellowIndiansincludingthoseIndianswhosufferedinDelhi1984andGujarat
2002everydaytomakeIndiaabettercountry.Itisaninsulttomillionsandmillionsof
MuslimslikemygrandfatherwhochosetostayinIndiabecausetheybelievedinthe
ideaofIndia.578
KhalidialsoconvenientlyignoresthefactthatDr.BhimraoAmbedkar,anuntouchableandone
ofthemostimportantpersonalitieswhofoughtagainstdiscriminationanduntouchabilityin
Indiansociety,wasoneofthefoundingfathersofIndiaandadrafteroftheIndianConstitution.
However,KhalidisagendaisclearinthatheismerelyinterestedinapejorativeviewofIndia
andHinduism.
(i) BiasedStancesofIAMC
IAMCisorganizingamulticitytourofHarshDobhalofHumanRightsLawNetwork(HRLN),
discussedinChapterIV,PartbforvariouslecturesanddiscussionsonMuslimsandtheCriminal
JusticeSysteminIndia.DobhalsMaoist/CommunistconnectionsaswellasChristiandonors
werealreadybroughttolightinChapterIV.DobhalsHRLNisalsowellknownforitslopsided
approachtohighlighttheevilactsofHindusandtheIndiangovernmentagainstminorities.In
fact,theeventannouncementontheIAMCwebsiteposesthefollowingquestions:Whether
[overrepresentationofMuslimsinIndianjails]istheresultofprofilingbylawenforcementor
thelackoflegalrepresentationforMuslims?Orisitareflectiononsocietalproblemsindealing
withclassandreligion?579Hence,theeventhasaprejudicedagendafromthebeginning
overrepresentationofMuslimsinIndianjailsiseitherduetodiscriminationbylawenforcement
duetolackoflegalrepresentationorduetosomediscriminationbasedonclass/religionbythe
uppercasterightwingrulersofIndia.Itcannotbeduetootherfactors.Forexample,as
OmairAhmad,aMuslimauthorandactivistpointsout,onereasonformoreMuslimsinjailsis
thattheMuslimpopulationofIndiaisconcentratedinfourstatesUttarPradesh,Bihar,West
BengalandAssam,whichaccountfor21%ofconvictedprisonersand42%ofundertrials(sic)in
578
Ibid.576
579
SeeeventannouncementtitledHarshDobhalLectureonMuslimsandtheCriminalJusticeSysteminIndia,
July20,2011,http://iamc.com/,accessedJuly21,2011.
Page||127
Indiajails.580Thus,theMuslimpopulationisconcentratedinthestateswheremorepeoplego
tojailingeneral.AhmadalsoremarksthatproportionatelymoreMuslimsareadjudged
innocentthanHindus(whoseundertrial(sic)toconvictratiois:69.6%to70.7%andeven
Christians(whoseundertrial(sic)toconvictratiois3.8%to4.2%).581However,giventhe
biasedbackgroundofDobhal,itwontbesurprisingifsuchfactsareneverdiscussed.
OnJuly13,2011,IAMCissuedaPressReleaseregardingthebombblastsinMumbai.Whileit
condemnedthebombblasts,italsocalleduponeveryonetorefrainfromarushtojudgement
(sic)untiltheresultsoftheinvestigationareknown.Severalbombblastsinrecentyears,ledto
innocentyouthfromaspecificcommunitybeingthrownintoprison,andstillstrugglingto
securejustice,evenaftertherealmastermindsconfessed.582Thisisafairstatementasnoone
shouldprejudgecrimesuponaparticularcommunity.However,IAMCisnotsolenientwhenit
comestoblamingtheHindus.OnJune30,2011,IAMCissuedaPressReleasecondemningthe
intimidationofANHAD,theNGOstartedbyShabnamHashmiandwhosetrusteesinclude
HarshManderandKMPannikar.IAMCblindlypronouncestheotherside(i.e.thegovernment
officialsofthestateofGujarat)guiltyofharassmentandcallsitacharacteristicoftotalitarian
regimesinotherpartsoftheworld.583Italsogoesontomentionthatsuchintimidationis
unfortunatelypartofanalarmingtrendofharrassment(sic)ofhumanrightsdefenderssuchas
TeestaSetalvad,BinayakSenandFr.CedricPrakash.584Thereporthasalreadyhighlighted
TeestaSetalvadsfalsitiesandunlawfultactics.FatherCedricPrakashisaJesuitpriest
operatingasahumanrightsactivistinGujarat.Prakashisapopularfacewithinvariouscircles
thatroutinelyholdIndiaguiltyofoppressionofChristians,MuslimsandDalits.Prakashisalso
knownforexaggeratingfactstofithisagenda.Forexample,inAugust2010,Prakashsubmitted
awrittentestimonialtothecontroversialUSCommissiononInternationalReligiousFreedom.
Inthisstatement,heintentionallyliedthatmorethan2000Muslimshavebeenkilled585in
theriotsofGujarat.Officialgovernmentrecordsandevenreportsbyindependentbodiesshow
thatthenumberwasbetween1000and2000people,andnotallwereMuslims.Prakash,who
claimstochampionhumanrightsandfreedomofallreligions,586ignoresthefactthatthe
numberincludedover200Hindus;also,some59Hindus,includingwomenandchildren,were
580
OmairAhmad,CounterView:AFewMyths,FewerFactsaboutMuslims,August16,2007,
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/arejoinderafewmythsfewerfactsaboutmuslims/469453.html?xml,accessedJuly
21,2011.
581
Ibid.
582
IAMCCondemnsBombBlastsinMumbai,July13,2011,http://iamc.com/category/pressrelease/,accessed
July21,2011.
583
IAMCCondemnsIntimidationofHumanRightsOrganizationANHAD,June30,2011,
http://iamc.com/category/pressrelease/,accessedJuly20,2011.
584
Ibid.
585
RecentCommunalViolenceinGujarat,India,andtheU.S.Response:FR.CEDRICPRAKASH,SJPrepared
Testimony,http://www.uscirf.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1802,accessedJuly21,2011
586
Ibid.
Page||128
burnttodeathinGodhra,andthisincidentsparkedtheriotsinGujarat.Whileitissadthatmay
Muslimswerekilledinthe2002,whydoPrakash,Setalvad,Hashmiandotherhumanrights
activistsignoretheplightsofHindus,includingwomenandchildren?Arelittlechildren
consideredfascistHindusandthereforedispensable?Furtherstill,whyaretheyreporting
blatantlyfalseinformation?
InApril2006,IAMCcreatedaSpecialDigestonthecorruptionwithintheBJPGovernment,
titledCorruption,ScamsandScandalsoftheBJPGovernment.587TheDigestcontainsalitany
ofarticles,opinions,etc.ofthevariouscorruptionissuesduringtheBJPGovernmentsreignin
India.Asexpected,thecoveragehasaclearpoliticaltilt.Moreover,someofthemajorarticles
arewrittenbynoneotherthanVijayPrashadandBijuMathewofFOIL(HindutvaForaFew
DollarsaDay)588andHarkishanSinghSurjeet,theformerGeneralSecretaryoftheCommunist
PartyofIndian(Marxist)(BJPsCorruptFaceOnceAgainBared,CorruptionChargesAgainstBJP
GovtTheDayofReckoningisNotFarAway)589
TheBJPlostthenationalelectionsagainsttheCongressin2006.TheCongressGovernmenthas
beeninpowerinIndiasincethelastfiveyears.Unfortunately,theIAMC,whoconsidersitselfa
defenderofIndiasfreedom,democracyandpluralism,hasnevercomeupwithsuchaDigest
oranyspecialcoverageofthemassivecorruptions,humanrightsviolationsorotherissues
undertheCongressgovernment.Considerthe2Gspectrumscandalof2010,oneofthelargest
scandalsinIndiashistory:[ComptrollerandAuditorGeneralofIndia],thestateauditor
estimatedIndiamayhavelostupto$39billioninrevenueequivalenttothedefence(sic)
budgetduetoviolationsduringtheallocationprocess.590WhatabouttheCommonWealth
Gamesscandal,whichwasamajorembarrassmentforIndiaontheworldscene?Whatabout
theAdarshHousingSocietyscam,whichledtotheresignationoftheCongressChiefMinisterof
MaharashtraAshokChavan?WhatabouttheOilForFoodProgramscandalinvolvingCongress
ministerNatwarSingh?WhatabouttheBoforsScandalinvolvingmajorbigwigsofthe
CongressGovernmentsuchasRajivGandhi?OnNovember19,1991,SchweizerIllustrierte,one
ofthemostpopularSwissmagazinesdeclared,afteraninvestigation,thataccordingtoRussian
spyagendaKGBsrecordsSoniaGandhithewidowoftheformerPrimeMinisterRajivGandhi
wascontrollingsecretaccountwith2.5billionSwissFrancs(equalto$2.2billion)inherminor
sonsname.591Similarly,theKGBrecordsalsoindicatedthattheGandhifamilyhasaccepted
587
http://iamc.com/newsdigest/bjp_corruption/,accessedJuly25,2011
Ibid.
589
Ibid.587
590
C.J.KuncheriaandDeviduttaTripath,Whatisthe2Gscandalallabout?,April25,2011,
http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/04/25/idINIndia56552020110425,accessedJuly25,2011
591
S.Gurumurthy,Zerotolerance,secretbillions,http://expressbuzz.com/opinion/columnists/zerotolerance
secretbillions/236261.html,January3,2011,accessedJuly25,2011
588
Page||129
politicalpayoffsfromtheKGBaclearcaseoftreasonbesidesbribe.592TheCongress
Governmenthasalsohadmoreindictmentsofthehighestcabinetofficialsthananyother
governmentinthehistoryofIndia,includingtheBJP.
IAMCssilenceregardingtheCongressGovernmentindicatesthatitispoliticallybiasedandnot
apatrioticIndianorganization.Coulditbethat,sincetheCongressGovernmentisgenerally
sympathetictoMuslimsandChristians,anyofitswrongdoings,nomatterhowbig,canbe
ignoredattheexpenseofpoorpeopleinIndia?DoestheIAMCnotcarethatwhenbillionsof
IndianrupeesarerobbedawayfromIndia,poorpeople(bothMuslimsandHindus)bearthe
biggestbrunt?Or,doestheIAMCnotcareaboutpoorMuslims?
Inyetanotherexampleofclearbias,onJune16,2011,IAMCissuedapressreleasecondemning
thekillingsofvillagersinForbesganjintheIndianStateofBihar.IAMCscautionarystatement
asseenintheJuly13thpressreleaseregardingtheMumbaiblasts,isabsentinthispress
release.Instead,IAMCimmediatelyblamesthisincidentonthepropagandaagainsttheregion
launchedbytheBJPandABVP593anddecidesnotthewaitforanyjudicialinquirytodetermine
whetherthiswasaclearcaseofcommunaltensionsorcorporategreed.
592
Ibid.
IAMCCondemnsMassacreofInnocentVillagersinForbesganj,Bihar,June16,2011,http://iamc.com/news
digest/iamcweeklynewsroundupjune20th2011/,accessedJuly25,2011.
593
Page||130
ChapterV.
TheCongregationoftheNexusIllustrationsofAnti
Hindu/AntiIndiaEventsandPartnerships
WhilethisreporthasprovidedextensivedetailsoftheAntiHindu/AntiIndiaactivitiesand
viewsthatarecoordinatedbythenexus,belowarespecificexamplesthatillustratetheagenda
ofthenexustopromotetheseviewsandinfluencepublicopinionaswellaspolicymaking.
(a) 2003IAMCConvention
In2003,IAMCorganizeditsfirsteverconventioninWashington,D.C.Intheconvention
announcement,IAMCnotedthatanimpressivearrayofspeakersfromvastlydiverse
backgroundswillassembletoholdgroundbreakingdiscussionsonissuesrelatedtohuman
rights,sectarianviolence,militantnationalismandsocialamityinIndia.594Besidesthelackof
anyspeakertoexpresscounteropinions,thedubiousdiversityofthespeakerscanbeseen
throughtherosterofspeakerswhoattended.Accordingtotheconventionannouncement,the
prominentspeakersincluded,amongothers:Fr.CedricPrakash,PrafulBidwai,Dr.LiseMcKean,
Dr.KPSingh,Dr.AnganaChatterji,SmitaNarula,P.D.John,Dr.HariSharma,andRaju
Rajagopal.595
ThereporthasalreadydiscussedCedricPrakashandAnganaChatterji.And,Dr.HariSharmais
thePresidentoftheInternationalSouthAsiaForum(INSAF),whileRajuRajagopalisthe
PresidentofCoalitionAgainstCommunalism(CAC),accordingtotheconvention
announcement596.BothINSAFandCACareFOILsaffiliatesandhavebeendiscussedatvarious
pointswithinthereport.
(i) PrafulBidwai
PrafulBidwaiisaleftwingpoliticalactivistinIndiaandfoundermemberoftheCoalitionfor
NuclearDisarmamentandPeace597HeisalsoaFOILaffiliatesandhaswrittenseveralarticles
onFOILswebsite598andwhosearticlesarerecommendedbySACWandotherFOILsister
organizations.Bidwai,instronglycriticizingtheUSpreparationtogotowarwiththeTaliban
594
IMCUSAtoholdfirsteverconventionofitskindonIndiarelatedissues,http://iamc.com/pressrelease/imc
usa_to_hold_first_ever_convention_of_its_kind_on_indiarelated_issues/,June23,2003,accessedJuly25,2011
595
Ibid.
596
Ibid.594
597
http://www.prafulbidwai.org/index.php?pages/AboutPrafulBidwai,accessedJuly25,2011
598
See,forexampleOrganizedLabourhttp://www.proxsa.org/economy/labor/orglabr.htmlandSept11,2011
CNDPStatementhttp://www.proxsa.org/resources/911/CNDP0109statement.htm,accessedJuly25,2011
Page||131
governmentandtheAlQaeda,issuedanotecondemningsuchunilateralaction599andthat
IndiashouldnotbeapartytosuchunilateralUSaction,whiledeploringtheVajpayee
government'swillingnesstocompromiseIndia'ssovereignty.600Bidwaialsoblindlyendorsed
thehighlybiasedreportcompiledbyCampaigntoStopFundingHateontheIndianAmerican
charityIDRF,claimingthatthecharitydivertedmoneytofinanceviolentactivitiesinGujarat
state,whichinearly2002witnessedapogromofMuslims.601Bidwai,inlinewiththewhole
nexus,ishighlyselectiveinhisanalysisaboutthe2002riotsaswellasabouttheCSFHreport
itself.
(ii) LiseMcKean
MalhotraandNeelakandandocumentLiseMcKeanshatredtowardsHindusandIndiaintheir
newbookBreakingIndia.WheneverthereisunrestinIndia,sheshowsupasacommentator
toeducateAmericanaudiencesaboutwhatiswrongwithIndianculture.602Inherbook,
DivineEnterprise:GurusandtheHinduNationalistMovement,sheassociateseverythingeven
remotelyconnectedwithHinduspirituality(suchasacementadvertisementfeaturingayogi)to
theominousimageofHindunationalism.603McKeandoesntevensparethewellrespected
DivineLifeSocietyinRishikesh,India.Accordingtoher,TherespectabilityoftheDivineLife
Society,nolessthansensationalization(sic)ofguruscandalsandhumansacrifice,however,
tendstoobfuscatetheproblemthisbookaddresses:therelationofgurus,religious
organizations,andritualstocircuitsofpoweranddominationinIndia.604Sheseeseven
MahatmaGandhiasbelongingtothelineageofHindunationalists.605Sheresonateswiththe
ChristianRightsdemandthatUSforeignpolicyshouldbebasedonprotectingthespecific
interestsofnonHindusinIndia.606
599
SeePrafulBidwai,Sept11,2011CNDPStatement,http://www.proxsa.org/resources/911/CNDP0109
statement.htm;andPrafulBidwai,FlawedbidtowoooverseasIndians,
http://stopfundinghate.org/resources/news/012103AsiaTimes.htm,January21,2003,accessedJuly25,2011.
600
Ibid.
601
PrafulBidwai,FlawedbidtowoooverseasIndians,
http://stopfundinghate.org/resources/news/012103AsiaTimes.htm,accessedJuly25,2011
602
603
Ibid.
604
AccordingtoquotationfromMcKeansbook,asnotedbyMalhotraandNeelakandan,258
605
MalhotraandNeelakandan,Ibid.602
606
MalhotraandNeelakandan,Ibid.602
Page||132
(iii) KPSingh
KPSinghisaDalitactivistinIndiawhoworkswithChristianRightWingandMissionary
OrganizationstomalignHinduismandIndia.HeisalsoassociatedwithPIFRAS(PolicyInstitute
forReligionandState)ofWashington,DC.607PIFRASisknownforitsRightWingChristian
leaningsandhasorganizedseveralconferenceaimedathighlightinghumanrightsissuesin
IndiawithastrongbiastowardsChristianevangelicaleffortsinIndia.In2002,atasymposium
onSouthAsiaorganizedbyPIFRAS,Singhmadeahighlyunsubstantiatedclaimthatsince
Indiasindependence,aboutthreemillionDalitwomenhavebeenrapedandonemillionDalits
havebeenkilled.608In2004,ontheeveofIndiasGeneralElections,PIFRAS,alongwiththe
CenterfortheHistoryofReligiousandPoliticalPluralism(UniversityofLeicester,England)
organizedapaneldiscussiononIndiasNationalElectionsandUSForeignPolicyInterests,
whereMarxisthistorianRamPuniyaniwastheinvitedspeakeralongwithMr.JohnPrabhudoss,
executivedirectorofPIFRAS.ThemainpositionpresentedwasthatIndiasfortymillion
ChristiansarethreatenedbyHindustategovernmentsthathavepassedlawstohold
evangelismaccountableforcoercion.609
In2008,SinghwasoneofthemainorganizersoftheInternationalConventionofDalitsand
MinoritiesinNewYorktodiscussproblemsfacedbyIndianminoritiesandDalitsandfind
amicablesolutions,610yetanotherexampleofcollusionbetweenvariousplayersinthehighly
popularantiIndia/antiHinduworkspace.TheconferencealsofeaturedTeestaSetalvadasone
ofthemainspeakerswhospokeoncommunalcombatinthevillagesandhumanrights.611
EzraSargunam,theheadoftheEvangelicalChurchofIndia,wasalsoakeyspeakeratthe
conference612.SargunamisanaggressiveevangelicalinIndiaandisthevisionarybehindthe
movementtoevangelizeandplantchurchesamongallofthepeoplegroupsofIndia.613Tosee
theremarkableprogressofSargunam,asof2010,[theECIhas]plantedover3,000churches
acrosstheIndiansubcontinent.Theyhaveconsistentlydonethisattherateof3churchesa
weekwithagoalofonechurchaday!614CitingSargunamsideathatChristianforms
607
Seethesymposiumprogramandexcerptsat
http://www.pifras.org/Programs/Past_Programs/Sumposium_report/Symposium_speeches/KP_Singh/kp_singh.ht
ml,accessedJuly25,2011
608
609
Ibid.
610
SeeannouncementintheYahooGroupsIndiaUnitybySingh,http://groups.yahoo.com/group/india
unity/message/25406,accessedJuly25,2011
611
SeetheNewsAnnouncementoftheConventionathttp://www.ambedkartimes.com/the_news.htm,accessed
July25,2011
612
SeemainpicturefeaturingSargunamandothersinthearticleHistoricDalitMuslimConventioninNewYork,
July17,2008,accessedJuly25,2011
613
http://www.jlwilliams.org/partners/full_entry/asia_india__ezra_sargunam/,accessedJuly25,2011
614
Ibid.
Page||133
culturallyappropriateintheHinducontextmustbeallowedtotakeroot,theGreaterAtlanta
ChristianSchool,initsstudyofHinduism,quotesSargunamassaying:Christmustincrease,
ChristianitymustdecreaseAChristianitywhichiscloselyidentifiedwiththeWestmustbe
eventuallyshippedbacktowhereitcamefrom.615In2003,Sargunam,afterreturningfroma
conversioneventinPatna,India,hadthefollowingtosay:
IjustreturnedfromPatna,India,andamsendingthispraisenotefromCalcutta,en
routeChennai."Butthespectacularbaptismaleventthathasdwarfedtheotherstook
placeinPatna,wherewehadinalltwobatchesof135convertsbaptizedintheriver
GangesintheveryHolyriver,wheremillionsoftheidolanddemonworshipping
pagansgoeveryonceinawhiletohaveaholydip.[emphasisadded]616
(iv) P.D.John(JohnPrabhudoss)
P.D.JohnisactuallyJohnPrabhudoss,theExecutiveDirectorofPIFRAS.Inthe2002PIFRAS
symposiumonSouthAsia,Prabhudoss,inhisopeningremarks,comparestheconflictsinIndia
tothoseoftheMiddleEast,SierraLeone,CentralAfrica,Kosovo,ChechnyaandEast
Timor,617thusequatingIndiawithsomeofthemostcruelandviolentregionsintheworld.In
thesameremarks,PrabhudossprovidesaquickoverviewofIndiaanditscultureinaclassic
whitemansburdenstyleinwhichIndia,beforetheBritish,wasawildanduncivilizedsociety
[whose]populationwasoverwhelminglypoorandilliterateand[whose]culturalantecedents
didnotappearpropitiouseither.618Itwas(andremains)oneofthemostdeeplyhierarchical
societiesintheworld,which,accordingtosome,hadlittleconceptionoftheegalitarianismand
individualismthoughttobenecessaryforafunctioningliberaldemocracy.619Thisleadsthe
audiencetothinkthattheBritishprovidedtheonlyefficientsystemofgovernanceacrossallof
India.Thelegendarylocalsystemsofgovernanceaswellasthoseoflargemonarchiesare
completelydiscounted.PrabhudossalsodismissesfactthatIndiawasoneoftherichest
countriesintheworldwithavastspiritualandreligioustraditionbeforethearrivalofthe
British.Indiansocietywasabeaconofinterreligiousharmonyeonsbeforethearrivalofthe
whitemanfromEurope.
615
Hinduism,TheGreaterAtlantaChristianSchool,
http://www.greateratlantachristian.org/NetCommunity/Document.Doc?id=4775,page51
616
V.V.S.Sarma,ChristianInvasionofIndiaCaseStudyofAndhraPradesh,
www.indrajaveda.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/indcrusade.doc,accessedJuly25,2011
617
OpeningRemarksbyPDJohn
http://www.pifras.org/Programs/Past_Programs/Sumposium_report/Symposium_speeches/PD_John/pd_john.ht
ml,accessedJuly25,2011
618
Ibid.
619
Ibid.617
Page||134
Similarly,PrabhudosssubscribestotheAryan/Dravidiandivisionsandstatesthat[the]
geographicregionsofIndiaarelinguisticallyandculturallydistinct.Therearemorethana
dozenmajorlanguages,groupedintothoseofDravidianSouthIndiaandIndoEuropean(or
Aryan)NorthIndia.620ThisisagainanattempttoshowthatIndiansocietyisahodgepodgeof
identitieswithnocommonthreadsbindingthemindnumbingdiversityofthepopulace.His
stancesoundsverysimilartothosetakenbyeurocentricphilosophers,academicsand
statesmeninnineteenthcenturyEurope.
Prabhudossspeechisalsocenteredontheagendatolookatallconflictsfromareligiouslens
andtoespeciallyhighlighttheHinduviolenceinIndia.Hisspeechispepperedwithsuch
points.AsiftoshowsomethingnegativeaboutHindus,hestatesthatIndiaisessentiallya
secularstateinspiteofanoverwhelming[emphasisadded]Hindupopulation.621Thus,that
overwhelmingHindupopulationisnaturallyanoppressorofminorities.Hethengoesonto
highlighttheatrocitiesagainstChristiansinIndiaandhowthethenBJPgovernmentwasona
fullscaleassaultonthereligiousminoritiesinIndiauntiltheIndianAmericanChristian
organizationsintheUSgottogetherandmadealotofnoiseaboutit.622Similarly,Christian
churchinstitutionsandtheChristianpopulationarepayingthepricefor[thesilenceand
inactionoftheUnitedStates]eventoday.Manystatesarepassinglawswiththehelpofthe
Hinduradicalparties,whicheffectivelybanallconversionsfromHinduismtoChristianity.623
Thus,PrabhudossadvocatesUSinterventioninIndiasinternalmatters,especiallythoserelated
toevangelicalChristianwork.Prabhudossiseffectivelylobbyingtoensureafreereignfor
evangelicalsintheiraggressiveanddeviouseffortstoconvertHindustoChristianity.Heeven
blamestheproHindulobbyinWashington624foraidingandabettingHinduradicalsinIndia
andtwistingUSforeignpolicyagainstIndia.Bythesametoken,howwouldPrabhudossfeelif
someonestatesthattheUnitedStatesisanoverwhelminglyChristiancountry;and,sincethere
havebeenincidentsofviolenceagainstminoritiesbyWhiteSupremacistsaswellaslackof
reservationforreligiousminorities,Russia,SaudiArabia,ChinaandIndiashouldintervenein
itsinternalmatterstoensuretherightsofminorities?Or,howwouldtheUnitedStates
governmentfeelaboutasymposiumorganizedbyPrabhudossonsuchatheme?
620
Ibid.617
Ibid.617
622
Ibid.617
623
Ibid.617
624
Ibid.617
621
Page||135
HisopeningremarksarethenfollowedwithspeechesbyotherslikeRep.JoePitts,whohas
strongrightwingevangelicalconnections.625Thesamesymposiumfeaturedspeakerssuchas
JohnDayal,KPSingh,LiseMckean,BishopPercyFernandez,theGeneralSecretaryofthe
CatholicBishopsConferenceinIndiaandmanyothersknownfortheirstrongChristian
evangelicalconnectionsaswellasthosewithprejudicedviewsoftheIndiaandHinduism.626
ThesymposiumalsofeaturedanexhibitbyShabnamHashmi627.
In2003,PIFRAS,theFederationofIndianAmericanChristianOrganizationsofNorthAmerica
(FIACONA)andNRISAHI,aFOILsisterorganization,invitedpeaceactivistNirmalaDeshpandeto
talkaboutinterreligiousharmony.Notsurprisingly,thissessionwasalsogearedtowards
showingHindusasoppressorsofminorities.ItisdisturbingthatMs.Deshpandebelievedthe
FOILpropagandathatUSbasedNRIsarefundinghatredinIndia.Onbeingaskedaboutthe
reportedflowoffundsfromsectionsoftheIndianDiasporacommunityintheUStogroupsin
Indiafomentingreligioushatred,shesaid,inhervisittovariouscitiesintheUSshewas
speakingtotheIndiancommunityonsuchproblems.628Onewondersifsheactuallyreadthe
halfbakedFOILreportonIDRForwhethershewasgoingbythewordsofFOIL,PIFRASand
others.OnewouldexpectsomeonelikeMs.Deshpandetohavedoneherownresearchtohear
bothsidesofthestorybeforelabelingsuchcharitableworksasproblems.
Interestingly,PrabhudossisaMemberatLargeofFIACONA629andJohnDayaloftheAllIndia
ChristianCouncilwhowasdiscussedearlier,isontheAdvisoryBoardofFIACONA630.FIACONA
subscribestothemythofSt.ThomasarrivalandmartyrdominIndia.Accordingtoitswebsite,
underthesectionofthehistoryofChristianityinIndia,FIACONAstatesthat[thedawnof
ChristianitytoSouthAsiadatesbacktothearrivalofSaintThomastoKodungallurinKeralain
52ADandestablishmentoftheSevenChurches.HereturnedtoMylapore,Chennaiin72AD
whereheattainedmartyrdom.631Thisisadeliberateattempttoestablishtheantiquityof
ChristianityinIndiacontrarytoknownfacts.
625
SeereferencestoPittspoliticalpositionsandaffiliationsathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_R._Pitts.For
example,heisanevangelicalChristianwhohasopposedtheremovaloftheTenCommandmentsfromtheChester
CountycourthouseandhasbeenthechairmanoftheValueActionTeam,agroupofRepublicansthatcoordinate
legislationwiththeChristianRight.AccessedJuly25,2011
626
SeetheSymposiumScheduleathttp://www.pifras.org/Programs/Past_Programs/Symp2002/symp2002.html,
accessedJuly25,2011
627
Ibid.
628
http://www.pifras.org/Programs/Past_Programs/Desh_bio/desh_bio.html,accessedJuly26,2011
629
http://www.fiacona.org/information.php?page=executive,accessedJuly21,2011
630
Ibid.
631
http://www.fiacona.org/information.php?page=history,accessedJuly21,2011
Page||136
(v) SmitaNarula
SmitaNarulaisaprofessorofLawandaFacultyDirectoroftheCenterforHumanRightsand
GlobalJusticeattheschoolofLawatNewYorkUniversity.632Shehaswrittenextensivelyonthe
atrocitiesagainstChristiansandDalitsinIndiaandtakesapejorativeviewonHinduism.She
considerscasteasadefiningfeatureofHinduism633inherbookBrokenPeople:CasteViolence
againstIndiasUntouchables(HumanRightsWatch,1999).Herwritingsandtestimonials
serveasammunitionformanyChristianorganizationsthatdisguisethemselvesasfightersof
Dalithumanrights.Forexample,theInternationalDalitSolidarityNetwork(IDSN)andNarulas
CenterforHumanRightsandGlobalJustice(CHRGJ)haveissuedseveralreportsandstatements
togethertohighlighttheatrocitiesonDalitsinIndia,NepalandotherSouthAsiancountries.634
IDSNbelievesthatequatingcastewithracewillopenthefloodgatestointernational
interventionsinIndiasinternalaffairsthatwouldhelpChristianconversions,anditmakesthe
falseclaimthatIndianChristianitydoesnotsufferfromcastebiases.635In2007,pressuredby
thesustainedantiIndiacampaigning,theUNselectedIndiaasthefirst[emphasisauthors]
countrytobereviewedforhumanrightsviolations.636IDSNworkedwiththeCHRGJand
NationalCampaignforDalitHumanRightsandothersorganizationsliketheLutheranWorld
FederationtosubmititsownreportonIndia.637
NarulaisalsoaffiliatedwiththeIndianInstituteofDalitStudies(IIDS),alongwithDavidHaslam
oftheDalitSolidarityNetworkofUK.638MartinMacwan,ofDalitShaktiKendra,discussedin
Section2.08istheFoundingDirector,ChairmanandPermanentTrusteeofIIDS.639Macwanis
alsotheNationalConvenorfortheNationalCouncilofDalitHumanRights(NCDHR),640also
632
http://www.chrgj.org/about/staff.html,accessedJuly25,2011
SmitaNarula,Brokenpeople:casteviolenceagainstIndia'suntouchables,HumanRightsWatch,1999,Page
24,
http://books.google.com/books?id=Kd28Ay09adgC&pg=PA196&lpg=PA196&dq=Smita+Narula+hinduism&source=
bl&ots=NqOLwzWMme&sig=_lOjSt8EclgEg0TmSxiLuXbHSgY&hl=en&ei=dd4uTvj_G8SugQePm9WRAQ&sa=X&oi=bo
ok_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CDgQ6AEwBTge#v=snippet&q=Hinduism&f=false,accessedonlineonJuly
25,2011
634
SeealistofpublicationsatIDSNswebsiteathttp://www.idsn.org/newsresources/publications/,accessedJuly
25,2011
635
MalhotraandNeelankandan,310
636
MalhotraandNeelankandan,Ibid.
637
MalhotraandNeelankandan,Ibid.635
638
SeelistofAcademiciansAbroadat
http://www.dalitstudies.org.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75&Itemid=80,accessedJuly25,
2011
639
SeelistofBoardofTrusteesat
http://www.dalitstudies.org.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68&Itemid=105,accessedJuly
25,2011
640
SeesignatoriesofLETTERFROMNCDHRat
http://wcar.alrc.net/mainfile2.php/Urgent+Appeals/37/?print=yes,accessedJuly25,2011
633
Page||137
discussedinSection2.08.In2001,MacwanwrotealengthylettertotheUNsThird
ParticipatoryCommitteetoWorldConferenceAgainstRacismandarguedforequatingcaste
discriminationtoracismandthuscalloutIndiasrecordagainstracialprejudice.641
ShealsoparticipatedintheDFN[DalitFreedomNetwork,discussedinSection2.08]briefing
beforetheUSCongress,underaresolutionintroducedbyrightwingTrentFranks(whoison
theDFNboard),askingtheUSgovernmenttopressureIndiaoncastediscrimination.642
(b) 2005IAMCConvention
In2005,IAMCorganizeditsthirdannualconventioninDetroit,Michigan.Thelistofspeakersat
theconventionincludedFr.CedricPrakash,OmarKhalidi(whoisintroducedasIndianMuslim
HistorianandScholaratMIT),andBijuMathew,RajuRajagopal(whoisintroducedasbelonging
toanorganizationcalledPromiseofIndia),JohnPrabhudoss,LiseMcKeanandmanyothers.643
CongressmanJohnConyers,whogavethekeynotespeechandacceptedtheMalikAlShabazz
AwardfromIAMC,equatedthestruggleofIndianMuslimsandotherpersecutedminoritiesin
IndiatothatoftheCivilRightsmovementledbyMartinLutherKing,Jr.644.Thisisyetanother
attempttosuperimposeraciallybaseddiscriminationinUSontotheinternalissuesofIndia
andfollowsthesamepatternofdemonizingHindusandIndiaasthatfollowedbythe
CommunistandChristianorganizations.Khalidi,inthesameconventiondeclared:Whatis
goodforIndiaisgoodforIndianMuslimsandWhatisgoodforIndianMuslimsisgoodfor
India.645However,suchstatementsarenotconsideredcommunalbyIAMCoranyofthe
CommunistandChristianorganizationssincetheydidnotcomefromaHindu.HadaHindu
leadermadesimilarcommentsrelatedtoHindusandIndia,sheorhewouldbelabeledas
chauvinistorfascistimmediately.BijuMathewwasgiventheTipuSultanAwardfor
courageouslyservingIndiaandIndiasinterests646whileRajuRajagopalwasgiventhe
BahadurShahZafarAwardforpromotingpluralismandcommunalharmonyinIndia647.
641
Ibid.
643
IMCUSArevealsanimpressivearrayofspeakersforitsthirdannualconvention,May9,2008,
http://iamc.com/pressrelease/_imc
usa__reveals_an_impressive_array_of_speakers_for_its_third__annual_convention/,accessedJuly26,2011
644
IMCUSAConventionAHugeSuccess,October7,2005,http://www.countercurrents.org/india
imc071005.htm,accessedJuly26,2011
645
Ibid.
646
IMCAwards,http://pakistanlink.org/Community/2005/Oct05/07/10.HTM,accessedJuly26,2011
647
Ibid.
642
Page||138
(c) 2008IAMCConvention
The2008IAMCConventionfocusedonthethemeofTheIdeaofIndia:Challengesand
Prospects.648However,theideawastocastIndiaandHindusagainasoppressorsof
minorities.InyetanotherblindattempttoequateclashesinIndiawithcivilrightsmovement
strugglesintheUS,CongressmanKeithEllisondescribedthestruggleofIndianMuslimsas
paralleltothestruggleofothergroupsinUnitedStateswhohavefoughtforcivilrights.649
Similarly,theconventionfeaturedvariousscreeningsofdocumentariessuchasImpunity:A
RoadblocktoJustice,EncounteredonSaffronAgenda?,andIntheNameofGod,along
withadocumentaryonDalits.650AnotherpanelonStrengtheningIndiasSecularDemocracy
featuredAnganaChatterjiandOmarKhalidi.651AnganaChatterjiwasthenawardedtheTipu
SultanAwardforCourageouslyServingIndia.652
Similarly,in2004,KaleemKawaja,whowasdiscussedinChapterIV,receivedtheTipuSultan
AwardforthesameserviceasChatterji.653
(d) 2010MITWorkshop
InAprilof2010,OmarKhalidiofIAMCorganizedahighlycontentiousworkshopatMITcalled
GroupViolence,Terrorism,andImpunityChallengestoSecularismandRuleofLawinIndia.
TheworkshopisanotherillustrationofhowvariousIslamic/Communist/Christianorganizations
worktoportrayportrayingIndiaasaseriousviolatorofhumanrightsofminorities,especially
Muslims,andtherulingHindusasperpetratorsofatrocitiesagainstMuslims,Christiansand
Dalits.Indiaslocal,stateandnationalgovernments,alldemocraticallyelected,arehence
draggedbythehairandlambastedinsuchworkshops.
Theintroductiontotheconferencestates:
Inrecentdecades,groupviolence,especiallycommunalviolence,hasbecomea
recurrentthemeinthelivesofIndiansinmanypartsofthecountry.Startingwiththe
Nellie,AssammassacreofMuslimsin1983,antiSikhmassacresin1984,communal
violencehascontinuedtochallengeIndiassecularcredentialsintheAyodhyariots
648
IMCUSANationalConventionaHugeSuccess;IdeaofIndiaThemeGripsAudience,June1,2008,
http://iamc.com/pressrelease/imcusa_national_convention_a_huge_success/,accessedJuly26,2011
649
Ibid.
650
Ibid648
651
Ibid648
652
Ibid648
653
IMCUSAannouncesannualawardsforexcellenceinservices,July20,2004,
http://iamc.com/conventions/imcusa_announces_annual_awards_for_excellence_in_services2/,accessed,July
26,2011
Page||139
(1992),Bombaybombblasts(1993),Gujaratpogrom(2002),andtheOrissariots(2008).
Thereisarisingphenomenonofterrorism,asseenintheMumbaiterrorattacks(2008),
whichleadtosocietalandStateresponsesthatcentrallychallengesecularismandrule
oflaw.Thereisadireneedtostudytheseformsofviolenceandtheimpunityenjoyed
byitsperpetrators.654
Theaboveparagraphisitselfanevidenceofthehighlybiasedagendaoftheworkshop.Whileit
istruethatalltheseeventsdidoccurinIndia,onlytheHinduatrocitiesarehighlighted.In
addition,thegovernmentcrackdownonJihaditerrorisminIndiaislabeledasachallengeto
secularismandruleoflaw.Thereisnomention,again,oftheinvolvementofMuslims,Islamic
terroristsorChristianMissionaries,intheseriotsandclashes.TheethniccleansingofKashmiri
Panditsinthelate80siscompletelyignored,alongwithChristianterrorisminNortheastern
India.Whilethe2002GodhrariotsareafavoritesubjectofthenexusofCommunists/Christian
Missionaries/Islamists,itseemstobeoblivioustoasimilarincidentin2003onMaradBeachof
theKozhikodedistrictoftheIndianstateofKerala.
On2May2003,intheearlyevening,eightHinduswerehackedtodeathbyaMuslim
mob[7]onthebeachafterreelingintheircatchfortheday.Thekillersthenescaped
intothelocalJumaMasjid,theMaradenquirycommissions(JusticeThomasPJoseph)
reportnotesthesubmissionofthenKozhikodePoliceCommissionerTKVinodKumar
thathundredsoflocalMuslimwomenconvergedonthemosquetopreventthepolice
fromenteringittocatchtheattackers[8].655
ThejudicialinquiryalsoimplicatedtheMuslimLeagueforitsclearroleintheMaradMassacre
andaffirmedaclearcommunalconspiracy,withMuslimfundamentalistandterrorist
organisations(sic)involved.656Curiously,thisincidentwasneverbroughtupbyhumanrights
activistssuchasSetalvad,Hashmiandmanyothers.Coulditbethatthiswasaclearimplication
ofaMuslimbodyversusaHindubodyandhencenotathreattosecularism?
Inanycase,theconferencefeaturedvariousantiIndiaandantiHinduspeakers,including
AnganaChatterji.657ChinnaiahJangam,anotherspeakerattheMITworkshop,discussedthe
atrocitiesonDalitsinIndia.Inthispaper,JangamblamesalltheDalitproblemsonHinduism
andaswellastheIndianstate.Infact,anabstractofhispaperstates:
654
GroupViolence,Terrorism,andImpunityChallengestoSecularismandRuleofLawinIndia:aWorkshop,
postedFebruary24,2010,http://indiaworkshopmit.com/,accessedJuly26,2011
655
SeetheWikipediaentryonMaradMassacrehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marad_massacre,accessedJuly26,
2011
656
RajeevPI,MaradreportslamsMuslimLeague,September27,2006,IndianExpress,onlineedition,
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/maradreportslamsmuslimleague/13497/,accessedJuly26,2011
657
http://indiaworkshopmit.com/speakers/anganachatterji/,accessedJuly26,2011
Page||140
ThereforethispaperfurthercomplicatestheroleofIndianstateanditsneutraland
secularroletounderstandtheculturalandideologicalrootsthatareentrenchedwithin
theHinduideologicalconsciousnesswhichtherebyinterprettheatrocitiesagainstDalits
asapartofthecasteHindusocialprocess[EmphasisAdded]ratherthanviolationof
fundamentalhumanrightsofitscitizens.658
MukulSinhawasanotherspeakerattheworkshop.SinhaisaGujaratbasedlawyerandisone
ofthefoundingmembersoftheJanSangharshManch.659Interestingly,in2005,hewas
awardedtheHumanRightsLawyeroftheYearbyCombatLaw.660CombatLawisthe
magazinerunbyHarshDobhal,whowasdiscussedinChapterIV.Sinhascommunistleanings
areclearasheadvocatestheurgentneedformassstrugglesagainstAmericanimperialism661
inIndia.SinhalashesoutagainstthehardworkingPatelcommunityofGujaratandthePatel
NRIcommunitiesoftheUSandUKandaccusestheentirecommunityofparticipatinginand
financinggenocidesonMuslims.Withoutaninklingofproof,Sinhastates:
[The]PatelsbegansponsoringanumberofHindureligiousoutfitsandbackingHindutva
organisationsinthestate,thuspresentingthemselvesasardentHindus,and,therefore,
ashighcastes.OneaspectofthatnewlyconstructedidentityassuperHinduswasa
deephostilitytowardsMuslims.Infact,thePatels,whocomprisemorethan30%ofthe
Gujaratipopulation,playedamajorroleinthe2002antiMuslimgenocide.662[Emphasis
Added]
Sinha,ina2007interviewwithYoginderSikand,anotheraffiliateofFOIL663,labelstheUSasan
imperialistnationwithabigotedviewofMuslims.SinhastatesthatthethenBJPgovernment
wasaslaveofAmericanimperialism.Theyareworkingintandemwithimperialistforces,
includingtheUSA,whoseperceptionsaboutMuslimstheyshareandwhoseeconomicagenda
ofsocalledliberalisation(sic),aeuphemismformarketfundamentalism,too,theysupport,
whileatthesametimepayinglipsympathytoswadeshi.664ItissurprisingthatMIT,which
itselfisaseatoffreemarketeconomy,allowssuchrabidantiAmericanideologuesany
platformwithoutallowingforanalternateopinion.
658
ChinnaiahJangam,abstractofCasteandCollectiveViolence:AStudyofAtrocitiesonDalitsinIndia.
http://indiaworkshopmit.com/speakers/chinnaiahjangam/,accessedJuly26,2011
659
http://indiaworkshopmit.com/speakers/mukulsinhaandnirjharisinha/,accessedJuly26,2011
660
Ibid.
661
Hindutvaforcesareboundtobecomemoreaggressive:MukulSinha,November30,2007,
http://twocircles.net/2007nov30/hindutva_forces_are_bound_become_more_aggressive_mukul_sinha.html,
accessedJuly26,2011
662
Ibid.
663
YoginderSikandandBijuMathew,StopFundingHate,August12,2005,
http://www.countercurrents.org/commmathew120805.htm,accessedJuly26,2011
664
Ibid.
Page||141
SinhaalsosharesthesamepenchantasSetalvadandothersforcookingupfactsanddeclares
thatthousandsofMuslimswerekilledinthegenocideof2002.665Asillustratedearlier,the
numberofMuslimdeathswascertainlynotinthethousandsandevenHindushaddiedduring
the2002Gujaratriots.
MeenakshiGangulystopicattheMITworkshopfocusedonTerrorismandCounterterrorismin
India:IllegalDetention,TortureandKillingsofTerrorSuspects.While,inherabstract,shestarts
offdiscussingterrorismandviolencefromvariousgroupsincludingMaoists,Hinduextremists,
andMuslimsextremists,herfocusquicklyshiftstocriminalizationofIndiangovernmentandits
treatmentofMuslims.ShesurmisesthatTheIndiangovernmentsresponse[toterrorism]
illustratesadisturbingtrend:gravehumanrightsviolationsarecommittedassecurityforces
attempttoidentifytheperpetrators.Abusesoccurateverystageoftheinvestigation.666
(e) CeaseandDESIstAcallfororganizingagainstUSImperialism
IntheNovember2005issueofGhadar,themouthpieceofFOIL,issuedaforacoalitionoflike
mindedCommunist/MarxistSouthAsiancomradesalongwithPalestinianandArab
organizationstorallyagainsttherabidimperialismbeingpracticedbytheUnitedStatesandits
allies,incensedbythefascistvoicesthatclaimtospeakfor[them]and[tohelp]buildthis
coalitionanddevelopingitsantiimperialistvisionandcampaign,andspecificallyintaking
urgentaction.667Thus,CeaseandDESIstwasacallforanyoneinterestedinantiAmerican
activitiesthatshowcasedtheUnitedStatesasanimperialistoppressor.
Interestingly,themeetingtobuildthiscoalitionwasjusthourspriortoandacrossthestreet
fromapanelentitledSelfDeterminationinSouthAsia668.ThispanelwasorganizedbyFOSA
andfeaturedVijayPrashadandAnganaChatterji,asdiscussedinChapterIV.Thus,FOIL
membersjoinedFOSAinthemeetingtoadvocateforseparationofKashmirfromIndia,asthe
firstactivityofthisnewlyformedcoalition.
Whowerethemembersofthiscoalition?TheAllianceofSouthAsiansTakingAction(ASATA),
andFriendsofSouthAsia(FOSA)arepartofthiscoalition669,accordingtothearticle.DESIst
alsohintsatthepossibilityofotherorganizationsthatmaybeapartoftheCoalitionbutcannot
bea[vehicles]ortheimpetusforthebuildingofaradicalantiimperialistSouthAsianantiwar
665
Ibid.679
MeenakshiGanguly.AbstractofTerrorismandCounterterrorisminIndia:IllegalDetention,Tortureand
KillingsofTerrorSuspects,http://indiaworkshopmit.com/speakers/meenakshiganguly/,accessedJuly26,2011
667
CeaseandDESIst:AnExperimentin(re)claimingaRevolutionaryAntiImperialistSpaceinSouthAsian
America,November2005,Ghadar,apublicationoftheforumofinqualabileftists,Vol.9,
http://ghadar.insaf.net/November2005/MainPages/desiST.htm,accessedJuly26,2011
668
Ibid.
669
Ibid.667
666
Page||142
movement670.Attheleast,DESIstreachedouttoamultitudeofbayareaSouthAsian
listservs(sic)andactivists,namelyAID[AssociationforIndiasDevelopment],ADP
[AssociationforDevelopmentofPakistan,aslistedonFOSAswebsite671],ASATA,FOSA,CAC
[CoalitionAgainstCommunalism],SACA[SouthAsiansforCollectiveAction,aslistedonEKTAs
website672],PBN[ProgressiveBengaliNetwork673].674Also,thecontactinformationforanyone
interestedinjoiningDESIstisgivenasDESIST[at]southasianprogressive[dot]org.675Thatemail
addressbelongstoSouthAsianProgressiveCollective(SAPC).Oneofthefewactivitieslistedon
thewebsiteisa2004Conference.Thelistoforganizersincluded:3rdIFilms;AllianceforSouth
AsiansTakingAction;AmericanMuslimVoice;AssociationforIndiasDevelopment[AID],Bay
Area;AssociationofSouthAsianPoliticalActivists;CoalitionAgainstCommunalism;Ekta;
FriendsofSouthAsia;Maitri;Narika;OrganizingYouth;SouthAsianDevelopmentAlternatives
Network;SouthAsianSisters;Trikone676Furthermore,theconferencewasorganizedatthe
CaliforniaInstituteofIntegralStudies677,whichisassociatedwithFOILmemberAngana
Chatterji.Hence,DESIstappearstobeaprojectofSAPC,whichinitselfisacoalitionofFOILand
itsaffiliatedorganizations.
Curiously,thedubiousnatureofthisconferenceisevidentfromtheannouncementaboutthe
agendaoftheconference.Theconferenceusedaflexibleformoffacilitationwheremostof
theagendaforthegatheringwillbecreatedbythosewhocomethatday.678
670
Ibid.687.SeetheReferencesection
FOSArecommendsADPasagoodNGOdoingdevelopmentalworkinPakistanandurgesdonorstocontribute
moneytoADP.http://www.friendsofsouthasia.org/events/SAquake/donate.html,accessedJuly26,2011
672
http://www.ektaonline.org/,accessedJuly26,2011
673
http://www.bengali.net/pbn/,accessedJuly26,2011
674
Ibid.687
675
Ibid.687
676
SeerightSidebarwithheading:Conferenceorganizedby,http://www.southasianprogressive.org/2004/,
accessedJuly26,2011,
677
Asmentionedintheconferencevenueannouncementathttp://www.southasianprogressive.org/2004/,
accessedJuly26,2011
678
Ibid.687
671
Page||143
(f) CoalitionAgainstGenocide
CoalitionAgainstGenocide(CAG)wasthebrainchildofIAMCintheaftermathofthe2002
Gujaratriots.Thisgroupisyetanotherexampleoftheclosecoordinationbetween
Communists/Islamists/ChristianorganizationstolobbygovernmentofficialssuchastheUS
StateDepartmenttointerveneinmattersrelatedtoIndia.Thecoalitionwassuccessfulin
lobbyingagainstthegrantingofvisatotheChiefMinisteroftheStateofGujaratinIndia,
NarendraModi.ThoughtheroleofMr.Modisinvolvementinthe2002Gujaratriotshasnever
beenestablishedandhehasinfactbeenclearedfromsuchchargesbyvariousindependent
investigations,thecoalitionmembershadalreadyimplicatedModirightattheonsetofthe
riots.TheUSStateDepartmentbuckledunderintenselobbyingbyIAMCandthecoalition
membersandrejectedModisvisa.
Accordingtothewebsite,theCoalitionAgainstGenocideincludesaspectrumoforganizations
andindividualsintheUnitedStatesandCanadathathavecometogetherinresponsetothe
Gujaratgenocidetodemandaccountabilityandjustice.679However,theideologicalleanings
andantiHindu/antiIndiabiasofthiscoalitionbecomeclearwhenoneperusesthelistof
memberorganizations.Thelistoforganizations,amongothers,includes:AllianceofSouth
AsiansTakingAction(ASATA),AssociationofIndianMuslimsofAmerica(AIM),Campaignto
StopFundingHate(CSFH),CoalitionagainstCommunalism(CAC),Ekta,FederationofIndian
AmericanChristianOrganizationsofNorthAmerica(FIACONA),ForumofInquilabi(sic)Leftists
(FOIL),FriendsOfSouthAsia(FOSA),IndianMuslimCouncilUSA(IMCUSA),InternationalSouth
AsiaForum(INSAF),NRI'sforSecularandHarmoniousIndia(NRISAHI),OrganizingYouth(OY),
PolicyInstituteForReligionAndState(PIFRAS),SouthAsianMagazineforActionandReflection
(SAMAR)[thesisterpublicationofFOILsGhadar]680,SouthAsianProgressiveActionCollective
(SAPAC),YouthSolidaritySummer(YSS),CouncilonAmericanIslamicRelations(CAIR),
Tikkun681.ChapterIIIhasalreadydemonstratedthatwhilemanyoftheseorganizationspose
asseparateentities,theyare,inreality,partofFOIL.Thus,FOILandIAMClistthese
organizationsinanattempttooverstatethenumberofcoalitionmembers.Furthermore,why
aremagazinessuchasSAMARlistedasorganizations?
Inaddition,thewebsitecontainsaPreviewtothemovieFinalSolution,byRakeshSharma,
whowasdiscussedinChapterIV.Furthermore,thesiteprovideslinkstoTeestaSetalvads
Sabrang(whichwasdiscussedinChapterIV,part(f))aswellasaPDFentitledConcerned
679
http://www.coalitionagainstgenocide.org/about.php,accessedJuly26,2011.
Ibid.687
681
SeetheListofCoalitionandSupportingOrganizationathttp://www.coalitionagainstgenocide.org/about.php,
accessedJuly26,2011.
680
Page||144
CitizensTribunalGujarat2002AninquiryintothecarnageinGujaratpublishedbyCitizensfor
JusticeandPeace682,alsoassociatedwithTeestaSetalvad.
Furthermore,aWhois.Netsearchofthedomainnameshowsthattheregisteredaddressisin
EllicottCity,MD.683IsitamerecoincidencethatKaleemKawajasAssociationofIndian
MuslimsinAmericaisalsolocatedinEllicottCity,MD?684
682
http://www.coalitionagainstgenocide.org/gujarat2002/modi.hate.speech.pdf,accessedJuly26,2011.
http://www.whois.net/whois/coalitionagainstgenocide.org,accessedJuly26,2011.
684
Seethelistingonhttp://www.manta.com/c/mm2p3yg/associationofindianmuslimsofamerica,accessedJuly
26,2011.
683
Page||145
Conclusion
ThereporthasbroughttolighttheextensivenetworkofIndianCommunist/Christian
Missionary/IslamistorganizationsworkingtogethertomalignHinduismandIndia.Thenexus
hasalsohaslinkstovariousindividualsandpoliticalgroupswithahistoryofcriminalactivities
orwhosupportviolentideologies.AsrecentlyasJuly19,2011,GhulamNabiSyedFaiofthe
KashmiriAmericanCouncil,whowasassociatedwithFOILsAnganaChatterjiandAkhilaRaman
aswellasFriendsofSouthAsia(FOSA),wasarrestedbytheFBIonchargesofoperatingasan
agentofthePakistanispyagency,theISI.TheFBIalsoprovidedevidencethatMr.Faiwas
fundedbytheISItoinfluenceUSpolicyonKashmiragainstIndia.Thisexamplefurthershows
thatoperatingunderthegarbofsecularism,humanrightsandminorityadvocacy,thisnexusis
attheforefrontofshapingmajorpoliciesagainstaswellasinfluencingworldviewonIndiaand
Hinduism.Accordingtoitspurview,Hinduismistobeseenasanoppressivereligionofthe
whiteskinnedAryanswhodestroyedthenativeculturesofIndia.Indiansociety,thus,hasno
continuityandnohomogeneitywhatsoeverandhasonlybeencivilizedbytheMughalsand
theBritish.Furthermore,Indiaisafragmentedentityheldtogetherbyrepressiveuppercaste
HindusthatruntheIndiangovernmentandareguiltyofcrimesagainstminorities,womenand
thedowntrodden.Hence,adireneedexistsfortheWest,ledbytheUS,UKandother
countries,tointerveneinIndiasinternalmattersandemancipatethedisadvantagedgroups.
Tosupportthesedangerousviewsandagenda,thenexusseeksoutselectivedatafromHindu
religioustexts,Hindusocialdynamics,etc.Itthenrecruitsindividualstoventureoutonfact
findingmissions,socialstudyprojects,etc.inIndiaandintheUStoprovideevidence
supportingitsagenda.WhilethenexusholdsuchapproachestoIslamandChristianityin
severedisdainandaccusesothersofIslamophobiaforinstance,Hinduismiscrucifiedinwhat
isareminderofNazieradepictionofJewsandJudaism.
AsillustratedinChaptersIandII,theIndianCommunistorganizationsandindividualsholda
pejorativeviewofHinduismandIndiaandusetheseviews,alongwiththeiracademicstatuses,
toroutinelyblastHindusandIndianorganizationsbothintheUSandinIndia.Anyonewho
proteststheirstrongholdandpointsouttheirfallacyisawardedlabelsofHinduextremist,
Hindufascist,etc.Furthermore,asdiscussedinChapterIIIandmanyotherplacesthroughout
thereport,theyoperateamultitudeofhollow,deceptiveorganizationstocreateanimpression
ofalargenumberofmainstreamorganizationsunitedagainstHindufascism.Inreality,these
organizationsandgroupsbelongtothesamepeopleorareregisteredtoeachother.
ChristianMissionaryandIslamistorganizations,withtheirownagendaofeliminating
pagans/infidels,reinforcetheeffortsandmotivesoftheseIndianCommunistsbyproviding
funding,recognitionandaccesstomainstreamAmericanaudienceandpolicymakers.Thisis
disturbingsincetheLeftintheWestisgenerallyatoddswiththeChristianRight.Theresult,
Page||146
then,isalethalconcoctionresponsibleforaparadigmshiftinthewayHinduismandIndiaare
studied,cataloged,discussedandviewed.ChapterIVillustratesthisbyananalysisofthe
organizationsandindividualsthatdestroyedtheattemptsofHindugroupsandparentsto
protestbiasedportrayalofHinduisminsixthgradeCaliforniatextbooks.Mostofthesame
playershavealsoattackedtheUSHinduyouthorganizationscalledHinduStudentsCouncilas
wellastheIndianAmericancharityknownastheIndianDevelopmentandReliefFund.Chapter
Vofthereportcontainsspecificinstancesofpartnershipsandbackslappingbetweennexus
memberstoholdIndiaandHinduismguiltyofcrimesagainstwomen,minoritiesandDalits.
WhilethenexuscreateshueandcryaboutinvolvementofHindusinthe2002Godhrariotsas
wellasthetyrannicalpracticesoftheIndianstate,itissurprisinglysilentongenocidesof
HindusinKashmirandBangladesh,killingsinareassuchasMaradBeachinIndiaaswellasthe
illtreatmentofHindusinPakistan.
Insummary,thisreportanalyzesthenefariousdesignsoftheIndianCommunist/Christian
Missionary/IslamistnexusandcallsontotheHinducommunityatlargetounderstandand
questionthemotivesofthesegroupsandindividuals.Itisalsoanattempttogeneratedialogue
anddebatesothatHindustakechargeoftheirownissuesandthewaytheyareanalyzedand
portrayedintheworld.Otherwise,itshouldnotcomeasasurprisetothethousandsofHindu
temples,organizationsandgroupsintheUSandinIndiawhenonedaytheworldwakesupand
declaresHinduismasaracistreligionsimilartoNazism;itshouldnotcomeasasurprisewhen
futuregenerationsdissociatethemselveswithHinduismbecausetheyseenothinggoodinour
heritageandphilosophy.
Page||147

Forum of Intentional Liars

Transféré par

Informations du document

Copyright

Formats disponibles

Partager ce document

Partager ou intégrer le document

Options de partage

Avez-vous trouvé ce document utile ?

Ce contenu est-il inapproprié ?

Droits d'auteur :

Formats disponibles

Forum of Intentional Liars

Transféré par

Droits d'auteur :

Formats disponibles

ForumofIntentionalLiars

RamkumarSridharan c/oSanJosePeace 48S7thSt.,Suite

RamkumarSridharan c/oSanJosePeace 48S7thSt.,Suite

RamkumarSridharan c/oSanJosePeace 48S7thSt.,Suite SanJose,CA

RamkumarSridharan c/oSanJosePeace 48S7thSt.,Suite SanJose,CA

Vous aimerez peut-être aussi