Académique Documents
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1. Towards Anarchy 1
4. Terrorism Diary 4
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Editorial
TOWARDS ANARCHY
The agitation by the Gujjars of Rajasthan has raised some disturbing questions which
our political leaders and their advisers, the intelligentsia, and the media managers
must answer.
Does the government of India have any obligation to ensure that the rule of law prevails
in the country; that the citizens feel assured that their life and liberty are safe, and they
can go about attending to their normal chores without let or hindrance; and that those
who violate the law are duly prosecuted and punished if found guilty?
Should not those who incite their followers to attack the symbols of state, to disrupt
movement of the masses, to destroy public and private property, to commit mayhem
and to court death not be tried for sedition, abetting murder and other crimes of which
they are obviously guilty? And, should not those who inflict losses amounting to billions
of rupees on the nation’s economy be made to compensate the victims for the damage
they cause?
If one group is permitted to trample on the law exposing the state’s unwillingness or
impotence in the face of an open challenge to its authority, does it not mean
encouraging other groups to use the same methods for getting their demands
accepted?
Do the media, the intelligentsia and other opinion leaders not have the duty to educate
the general public about the destructive effects of the illegal means employed by
agitators on the peace, progress, economic and social well being and ultimately on the
very survival of the nation and to condemn severely the agitators and their abettors?
From a survey of the national scene at present it seems that the political parties
wielding power or sitting on opposition benches, the intelligentsia and the media
managers are all concentrating on furthering their own self interest without being
bothered about the impending disaster.
1
News
The PIL, filed by the Patriots’ Forum in Delhi state say that that it would focus on a particular
High Court in the first week of January 2008 area because the minority community reside
against the implementation of Sachar there? Can it say that it would spend more
Committee Report, was transferred on 27 money in that area?" the bench observed.
March 2008 by the Hon’ble CJ to a Bench
comprising of Justices TS Thakur and The government counsel contended that the PIL
Siddhartha Mridul. The case came up for was a politically-motivated one and the Court
hearing before this Bench on May 12, 2008. should refrain from deciding these issues."This
Senior Advocate Shri P.N. Lekhi, appeared both is a political issue which cannot be decided in
for Patriots’ Forum and Rashtriya Mukti Morcha the Court. It is to be decided by the people in
on whose behalf another PIL was filed by Shri election. The High Court had earlier imposed a
Ravindra Kumar. The Government was cost of Rs 50,000 for filing frivolous petition". He
represented by Additional Solicitor general also said the Centre was not providing any
PP Malhotra. reservation to minority community in jobs and
educational institutions and it was only trying to
Shri Lekhi argued that the Sachar Committee provide assistance to them for their uplift. He
Report was a blatant violation of the also said the benefit would given not only to the
Constitution. He dubbed it as an extension of the Muslim community but to other minority
Pakistan Resolution which had led to partition of communities also.
the country.
Senior advocate P N Lekhi, counsel for the
Addressing the Respondent, the Bench petitioners, objected to the government's
commented "You are trying to please one contention and said there was nothing called
community. Poverty is the common enemy. You minority community in the Constitution. "The
should fight against poverty rather than saying Constitution of India does not recognise any
that you would fight against poverty for one minority or subordinate segment of Indian
community only. This is where the rot lies." society as identifiably separate or a sociological
group...They (Muslims) cannot be labelled as a
"You are saying that more money to be spent for minority in the sense of a subordinate group".
one minority community. Should it not cut across
the caste and religion? Does the Sachar After hearing the contention of both the parties,
Committee say that facilities are available to the Bench was about to issue notice to the
other communities?" the Bench said, adding Centre but the move was strongly opposed by
"such issues should not be decided on the basis Malhotra. The Bench, however, objected to the
of emotions". stand of the government saying "it is a serious
matter. The area is grey and needs a proper
Representing the Government, Additional debate".
Solicitor General P P Malhotra denied that the
government was giving any special treatment to The Court finally passed the following order;
any community. "If out of five children, one is
neglected then can it not be provided the “Post the writ Petition for admission on 21st
special treatment?" he contended. August 2008 along with the application for
intervention filed by Akhil Bharat Hindu
The Bench, however, was not satisfied with the Mahasabha”.
contention and observed "does it mean that
drinking water facilities are available to the Background
majority community and no person from it live in
slums". "Under the Constitution, can a welfare It may be recalled that the Sachar Committee
2
had proceeded to give its report to the Based on Sachar Committee's
Government without giving a hearing to the recommendations the government has
Patriots Forum inspite of repeated requests by identified 90 minorities dominated districts and
the Forum. The Report of the Sachar Committee 338 minorities-centric cities / towns for speedy
was criticized by several analysts as being development overlooking the fact that there are
seriously flawed and the Committee was scores of majority dominated districts,cities and
accused of having reached unwarranted towns far less developed than the minority
conclusions by avoiding examination of dominated ones. Also lakhs of scholarships are
important but inconvenient issues relating to the to be given solely to the children of minority
real causes of Muslim backwardness, shutting communities whose parents have an annual
out data which would have proved that in many income less than 2.5 lakhs per annum (i.e.,
respects and in many areas the Muslims were Rs.20,833/- per month). But no Hindu child,
better off than Hindus and proceeding to even if his parents earn say 25,000/- per annum
produce the kind of report the Government (one-tench of 2.5 lakhs) is eligible for these
wanted it to give. The report gave publicity to the scholarships. Constitutional guarantees of
allegations made by champions of Muslim Equality, Justice and prohibition of religion
community and put the blame for Muslim based discrimination present no obstacles to
backwardness on the Hindu community and the the Government in its relentless pursuit of
Indian state. Muslim votes.
The police on Friday arrested 15 Hindu pilgrims injured,” said a source and added finally RAF
to Ganga Sagar but let go a Muslim mob, mostly had to be called in. “The police refused to lodge
CPI(M) supporters, who on Thursday night FIRs against the attackers who burnt down
attacked and burnt down an inn at Ganga Sagar three rooms rented by the RSS for pilgrims,”
Islands before assaulting local police men. said sources.
The crowd armed with sharp-edged weapons “What was more agonising was instead of
attacked the inn — near Kapil Muni temple — booking the offenders the police arrested the
and beat up pilgrims at around 7 pm, said police
victims. At least 15 of them were arrested and
sources. A few policemen deployed were also booked under non-bailable sections, BJP State
manhandled when they tried to intervene. Tapan secretary Rahul Sinha said. Meanwhile,
Ghosh and Sunder Das, both workers of Hindu thousands of BJP workers led by Sinha on
Sanghati, were also beaten up. The four-hour Friday staged a blockade at Esplanade in
ordeal continued till a larger contingent of police
Kolkata. Later, 526 of them were arrested and
force headed by the Kakdwip BDO and SDPO released later. “The Left Front Government has
arrived. become weak,” Sinha said, adding that the
CPI(M) is trying to appease the minority
The mob was led by Sheikh Ismail, a CPI(M) community by playing a “partisan game.”
member and chairman of the local panchayat,
police sources conceded but refused to arrest Source: http://islamicterrorism.wordpress.com/
the culprits. “Such was the condition that the 2008/06/14/373
pilgrims were trembling and even the BDO was
3
News
TERRORISM DIARY
TK SINGH
I ATTACKS IN J&K and two LeT militants were killed and 16 SF
personnel and two women were injured in a
March 6 Three members of a VDC day long gun-battle in an encounter in the
member’s family, including his father and Samba town of Jammu. Official sources
two minor daughters, were killed while the said that two militants wearing Army uniform
VDC member himself, Mushtaq Ahmed, intruded into the house of Hoshiar Singh,
was injured along with four other family general secretary of Indian National
members in a suspected grenade attack on Democratic Party, in Samba town at 5.58am
his house at remote Soni Top in the Handar (IST) by scaling the boundary wall. After
village of Reasi district killing Hoshiar Singh and his wife on the
spot, the militants subsequently moved
March 21 towards the Kaili Mandi area and took
Two children, playing near their house ,were hostage three women and two children. At
killed in a grenade explosion in the Gawari about 5pm, the SFs stormed the house
area of Doda district. Police suspected that where the militants were hiding and shot
the militants lobbed the grenade to avenge dead both of them.
the killing of four LeT militants earlier in the
same area.
II ATTACKS AND THREATS IN REST
March 23 OF INDIA
Three police personnel and a CRPF
constable died in an encounter with militants April 3
on the outskirts of capital Srinagar in which At least three persons, including a woman,
they succeeded in killing Abu Faisal of were killed in a bomb blast inside a house in
Pakistan, a ‘divisional commander’ of the the Siliguri district.
LeT.
April 11
April 4 Three persons were injured when two
Dead bodies of two constables of Police bombs exploded in quick succession near
Station Sogam who had been abducted at the Alipurduar rail station in West Bengal.
Surigam in the Kupwara district a day earlier
were, were recovered from Gujar Patti. May 10
Police said that the Imran Group of Al-Badr An explosion at the district court in Hubli in
Mujahideen had kidnapped and later killed Karnataka caused extensive damage to the
the constables. premises although no casualties were
reported. The explosive was placed under
May 3 the witness box of the JMFC court hall and
A group of three HM militants abducted two was reportedly detonated by a mobile
civilians, and a surrendered militant, from phone. Investigators claimed to have
their houses at village Kuchaal in the recovered the SIM card of the phone. The
Kishtwar district and subsequently killed Hubli-Dharwad Police Commissioner
them. Narayana Nadamani pointedout on the next
day (May 11) that as per preliminary
May 11 investigations, the May 10 explosion in the
Four civilians including Ashok Sodhi, chief district court in Hubli in Karnataka could be
photographer of Daily Excelsior two soldiers the handiwork of the LeT and the SIMI
4
May 12 number (129489) of the bicycle which was
A truck driver was killed and three persons planted at Choti Chaupad near Kotwali in
were injured when a bomb kept in a plastic Jaipur. The frame number of a bicycle
container hanging from a bicycle exploded recovered by the Rajasthan Police from the
near a tin shade alongside national highway spot is same, official sources said, adding
(NH) 31C in Barobisha of Alipurduar in West the e-mail was written on May 14 from a
Bengal. The tin roof of the shade was blown cyber cafe in Sahibabad in the outskirts of
off and a telephone pole against which the the national capital New Delhi. The e-mail id
bicycle carrying the bomb had been left was used was "guru_alhindi_jaipur@
badly damaged. Alipurduar Additional yahoo.Co.Uk", the sources said. The e-mail
Superintendent of Police S R Mishra said an said India should stop supporting the US in
unidentified extremist group had planted the the international arena, "and if you do
bomb. "We suspect that a timer was used to continue then get ready to face more attacks
set it off", he said. at other important tourist places".
5
News
Members of the Acharya Sabha Trust Board The Acharya Sabha expresses its dismay at the
took note of the cultural and religious religious and cultural deprivation that the
implications of the unfortunate events taking Tibetan people are facing. The Chinese heritage
place in Tibet. After a discussion the following and culture are themselves a symbol of human
Resolution was passed on behalf of the Hindu achievement. Similarly the ancient culture and
Dharma Acharya Sabha: heritage of Tibetan people are also precious for
humanity as a whole. The Acharya Sabha feels
" Members of the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha that it should be possible for these two peoples
noted with sorrow the violence which the to find an amicable way to safeguard the self
traditionally peace-loving people of Tibet and esteem, heritage and culture of the Tibetan
their religious leaders are encountering while people."
asking for religious and cultural autonomy for
their native land.
6
News
Pained by the unrelenting destruction of the Ganga River, especially by a series of dams in
its upper reaches, Dr G.D. Agrawal, India's pre-eminent environmental quality scientist
and a legendary Professor (and HoD) of Civil & Environmental Engineering at IIT-Kanpur
has decided to go on a fast-unto-death to oppose its continuing desecration. His conviction
that we are staring at an unprecedented ecological and cultural catastrophe comes from his
powerfully logical mind. Prof Agrawal’s critique of the proposed dams on the Bhagirathi
Riveris placed below;-
Today the very existence of the Ganges is threatened by multiple barrages and Hydro-
electric projects planned along its Himalayan stretch - the Bhagirathi. First the Tehri Dam
and Maneri Bhali were built. Next a series of dams are being built between the Gangotri
glacier and Uttarkashi. At these sites water shall be stored, then released periodically
through tunnels, at suitable locations where power houses will be built, back into the stream
channel. The same is repeated again (and again) further downstream. The result will be
that in long stretches and over considerable period of time, there shall be no flow in the
channel. THE GANGA WOULD RUN DRY. Commonsense indicates that such an
extensive tampering of a natural eco-system is bound to adversely affect its ecology and
very nature. Yet a series of projects are being planned and actively pursued unmindful of
the serious damage they are bound to cause. If these projects are allowed to come up the
GANGES as Indians have known it for centuries will cease to exist and will be replaced by a
series of reservoirs upstream of respective Hydro-electric projects.
7
News
"I started reading the various scriptures of At age 14, he made his first visit to a Hindu
the world," he said. He read the Bible, the temple — in Queens, N.Y. The temple was
Quran, ancient Buddhist texts. Finally, he filled with beautiful artwork and statues
read the Bhagavad Gita, a short book that is representing many Hindu deities, each of
one of the most revered of Hindu scriptures. whom is considered a different expression
of God.
"I felt I'd found what I was looking for," he
said. "It was absolutely stunning; I was
overwhelmed," Morales said. "I felt I was
The Gita tells the story of Arjuna, a warrior in leaving the world behind, entering a spiritual
India, who is caught up in a battle between world. I finally sat down in front of a statue of
members of his own family. In a crisis of Krishna, and in my own mind I said, `I'm
conscience, he turns to Krishna, an home. This will be my religion for the rest of
incarnation of God, for advice. Krishna gives my life.'"
Arjuna instruction and answers his
questions, providing a clear and logical Morales went on to study philosophy and
explanation of the three paths of yoga, or theology, eventually receiving a doctoral
union with God. degree with an emphasis on Hinduism and
Asian culture from the University of
The three paths — karma yoga (action), Wisconsin in Madison. He made several
gyana-yoga (knowledge) and bhakti-yoga trips to India, and in 1986, after living as a
(devotion) — form the basis for the practice celibate monk for six years, he was initiated
of Hinduism. As a young boy discovering as a Hindu priest.
them for the first time, Morales felt that they
gave the most understandable explanation Back in the United States, he became an
of the human situation and human beings' acharya, or teacher of Hinduism, and
relationship with God. adopted the Sanskrit name Sri Dharma
Pravartaka Acharya. The word "dharma"
"I was searching for a truth that was means natural law; his name literally means
universal, not just sectarian," he said. "I "one who sets the dharma in motion."
wasn't looking for faith; I was looking for
philosophy. It had to be universally Morales has become a widely recognized
applicable." Hindu teacher, especially through his Web
site, www.dharmacentral.com. He is
He went on to study more Hindu scriptures president of the International Sanatana
and soon discovered that there are so many Dharma Society.
Hindu texts that probably no one person has
read them all. Last fall, he became the resident acharya
(spiritual teacher) at the Hindu Temple of
"They were written over many hundreds of Nebraska in Omaha. He teaches several
8
different classes, including introduction to Anyone is welcome to come and learn."
Hinduism, a study of the Bhagavad Gita and
a youth class. He gives a spiritual talk prior On May 29, Morales will lead a ritual in
to Sunday worship at the temple and also Council Bluffs for 20 or more people who are
leads satsang (meditation and religious becoming Hindus. He estimates that about
discourse) sessions weekly in Omaha, and 1.5 million Americans nationwide have
once each month in Lincoln. converted to Hinduism.
9
Karnataka Elections
When Seshadri breathed his last, he was Shyama Prasad Mookerjee was born in Bengal
listening to the Sangh prayer – namaste sada and became the youngest ever vice-chancellor
vatsale matribhume (Salutations to thee, O of Calcutta University at the age of 33. He was a
beloved motherland...) But Vidhan Saudha was close friend of Kaji Nazrul Islam, helped him
never on their radar of achievements. Their when he needed most, was a part of the family of
mission was and remains a total transformation Rabindranath Tagore, became a legendary
of society into a proud, strong, self-reliant, figure in his life time, inherited a legacy Bengal is
knowledge reservoir with character which would justifiably proud of, and he died for Kashmir. His
lead Bharat, which is India, into the highest mysterious "death" in the jail of Sheikh Abdullah,
ranks of the comity of nations. Political power is in Srinagar on 23rd June 1953 raised questions
just one small step in that direction. that are still unanswered. The only reason for his
untimely death was his demand that Kashmir be
The people who remember their past have a assimilated in India like any other state. And
future. The saffron we see blooming in the South there should not be two flags, two constitutional
is powered with the ideas of a man whose birth provisions and two heads in relation to Kashmir.
anniversary would largely go unnoticed today. He was arrested for entering the valley without a
Veer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was the name permit, in his own country and jailed where he
of the man who shook Hindus from their met a sudden death.
lethargic and self-demeaning attitude and who
put the word Hindutva in vogue. Shyama Prasad's martyrdom too has added to
the saffron we see in Karnataka.
I remember Madhumangal Sharma who was
killed while reading a book by Pt Deen Dayal The Kothari brothers and others who died facing
Upadhyaya in his Imphal house. The day bullets brutal police repression in Ayodhya during their
pierced his heart, through the book, happened to satyagraha to demand a Ram Temple in 1990 is
be 11th February, 1995. It was also the martyrdom a scar on India's body that would hardly be
day of the author he liked most, Pt. Deen Dayal forgotten. The other side of the secular
Upadhyaya, who was murdered mysteriously on Talibanism creates ghettoes of Gulags and
11th Feb 1968 on a moving train. Siberia-ism for votebank politics. Hasn't the
accumulated angst against these
One could wonder in these times of extreme discriminations fuelled a change in the Indian
parochialism why a Manipuri in Imphal would be political scene? Remember the best of Indian
reading a book by a northerner? The same soldiers, editors and actors like Gen Candeth,
Manipur has banned all books of Hindi writers, Gen. Jacob, Girilal Jain and Victor Banerjee
Hindi movies, and finally the national anthem now. joined the saffron side in the aftermath of
Ayodhya. And who were those who died
The martyrdom of Pt Upadhyaya and demanding a ban on cow slaughter? Were they
Madhumangal and many others for a cause simply an expendable crowd of illiterate, empty-
energised a collective will to bring change in headed buffoons, trampling on other's rights in
10
times when editors love to write about conflicts and have proved that merger with the
restaurants serving the most tasty beef? nationalist cause is worthier than asserting
Those teachers and truck drivers and auto- parochial and smaller identities. It's also a
rickshaw owners who were killed in Kannur and verdict against hate and ideological apartheid.
Palakad just for wearing saffron have also Media with seculars of the red variety have
contributed to the Karnataka victory. turned saffron into a term of abuse and derided
its use as if belonging to saffron is a sin. Today
And those hundreds of highly qualified selfless with Karnataka, saffron rules over seven states
workers who lived and died anonymously for on its own. The red smart seculars, self-
seeing saffron bloom, did help in paving the way obsessed "upholders" of the peace marches
for the leaders who rule today with a broad smile and candle-burning rituals for Afzals and
on their faces, though they never aspired to betrayers of faith, find themselves completely
work for a political fortune. marginalized and shrunk. Naturally so. As the
grand Indian vision expands, the myopic market
Who were those workers who dedicated their managers of Marx and Macs will have to
lives for a cause that would never provide them squeeze into a smaller space.
comfort or fame? What was that magic bond that
bound them in a solidarity that would not be I have always maintained that the hate factor in
shaken under any circumstances. They first Indian politics is a contribution of the left and
fought the British, then the Communists and their alien thought processes. Swami Dayananda
political mates in Congress and progressed fiercely attacked the practice of idol worship
astoundingly well in spite of a collective media among Hindus but he was accommodated and
assault and opposition that would surpass every respected, not turned into an outcaste and
logic and sense of balance. Today the saffron fatwa-ed to death. Guru Nanak and Kabir
brotherhood is running the largest number of criticized ritualism and the blind faith prevalent
successful schools, has the highest number of among influential Hindus. But they were revered
service projects in slums and tribal areas across and adored. Hate and animosity on the basis of
the country from Port Blair to Leh and Naharlagun beliefs is alien to Hindus and was introduced by
to the Nilgiris, runs centres to train Scheduled those who are inherently intolerant to the
Caste youths as priests and computer engineers different viewpoint.
and provides the nation the sinews it needs during
any crisis. None will see these elements of fire There is no reason for the hate between various
and light but will only comment frivolously on the political parties in India – after all they all swear
electoral underpinnings and caste-religion to work for the good of India and Indians. The
equations. The saffron we see blooming over the polity must play on the foundation of a pan-
Vidhan Saudha in Bangalore is the result of a Indian vision. Programmes may differ but the
collective will engulfing the grand Indian picture fragmentisation must come to an end giving way
we worship as mother incarnate. to fraternisation. Seculars have so far invested
their pride in being backward, most backward
Those who occupy the plush chairs inside must and other backwards. Yet they call themselves
remember this and the responsibility that comes as most progressives. See what's happening in
along with wearing colour. The land of Hampi Rajasthan. A matter of pride?
and Basaveshwara and Kanak Dasa wants to
see that the polluted Kaveri (Cauvery) of public It's the dharma of all Indian political
administration, behavior and accountability be organisations to see that India prospers and
cleaned and Sanskrit and Sanskriti (culture) doesn't fall prey to divisive and mutually hateful
flowers unhindered. Always remember why policies to nurse vote banks. The nation must
Hampi was razed and for whom. Should the stand taller than the South Blocked ambitions.
children of that past forget their ancestors and
get glued to elements that negate the fragrance (The above piece is a slightly abridged version
of the land? Karnataka results have defied the of the article which appeared in the Times of
pettiness of the polity we had been witnessing India 28th May, 2008--Editor)
over water sharing and language–regional
11
Debate
12
forum, library, sounding board; it is also want to succeed. It has to be accepted that
used for spreading hate, planning attacks, beyond a point intelligence agencies find it
recruitment, messaging and training. Funds hard to share information about sources
are raised on the internet and e- mail with other agencies. This is a universal truth
addresses, account numbers and names and not India- specific. Inadequate
changed frequently. Al Qaeda (which is information leads to indiscriminate arrests
estimated to have 5,600 websites with 900 and creates more terrorists in almost the
added each year), Hamas, Hezbollah, same manner as a Predator attack does.
Lashkar- e- Tayyaba and Jaish- e- The citizen must be given the confidence
Mohammed have all used this technology. that the State is working for him and not at
B. Raman had warned in 2000 that the him; only then will he share information with
Pakistanis had launched aproject to the State. Governance has to improve —
systematically develop IT capability to vastly in some parts of the country, justice
reduce the gap between the non- Islamic has to be speedy and the writ of the state
and Islamic world. He wrote about a project must be visible. Our IT protocols have to be
called Operation Badar designed to provide tightened.
high quality low cost web application
education. The founder of this project was Publicity
Ziaullah Khan, resident in the US, who
wanted to raise 313 “Java Mujahedeen Publicity is oxygen to the terrorist’s cause
architects” spread all over the world and and he has to be starved of this. All of us,
10,000 developers. The battle of Badar was especially the media, have to ensure that in
the most important battle in the life of our reporting, the terrorist or his act is not
Prophet Mohammed who had only 313 lionised. The terrorist wins each time
warriors to fight the battle and later 10,000 gruesome pictures reach families in their
saint soldiers — Faran — (Muslim soldiers) homes as they sit down to watch their
had assembled to join Him in the march to favourite programmes on the box or read
Mecca. Whether this is just a Pakistani newspapers. The choice between what to
obsession with religious symbolism or it report and how is always going to be a
signifies battles of another kind, is difficult to difficult one. Describing him as a militant
say but it is also difficult to ignore, instead of a terrorist is to give him
considering the contribution the Pakistani respectability and calling him a fedayeen is
state has made to terror in India and to glorify a killer. Battling terror is going to be
globally. There is no magic solution for the long, hard and frustrating because the
various kinds of problems we have in India. terrorist is often one of us and does not wear
We need to strengthen existing counter a special badge.
terror bodies, including intelligence
agencies before creating new ones, if we Source; Mail Today 28 May 2008
Swami Vivekananda
13
Hussain's Paintings
Dear Mr. Tharoor, some body and praising his or her public
humiliation do not go hand in hand.
This letter has reference to your article Applauding the humiliation or dishonour of
written in support of the judgment passed in somebody is possible only when you have
favour of MF Hussain. no regards for the person who is being
dishonoured. Can you tolerate if your
I am an unknown Indian whose heart's every mother is painted in the nude in a vulgar
throb is meant for her mother-land and her pose and the painting is auctioned publicly?
culture. I feel myself extremely fortunate Certainly not- if you are a worthy son. But if
because I am born in India, the spiritual and you join the offenders who offend your
divine land where even gods aspire to be mother you certainly do not deserve to be
born as human beings, our scriptures certify. called a 'son'. Because a son will prefer to
It is my earnest wish to be born in this land die than to see his mother offended that too
birth after birth. I would rather prefer to be publicly. What to speak of praising the
born as a blade of grass in this country than offenders!
take birth in any other country as the most
affluent person of the land. My love for my My statement may appear like a personal
mother-land and my culture makes my heart attack. But I found no other way to convince
bleed whenever any disrespect is caused to you. One should talk to a person in the
my country or my culture. language he understands. And I think this is
the only language you might understand.
I had the misfortune of seeing the paintings
of M F Hussain in which he has painted Sita, You may have no respect for Bharat Mata
Saraswati, Durga, Ganga, Yamuna and and other goddesses and you may take
Bharata Mata etc. in awfully vulgar and pleasure in seeing them offended, but how
obscene poses. A person is pained when do you qualify to ask us to tolerate the public
the personalities he worships are dishonour of our mothers? I do not
disregarded, disrespected or ridiculed that understand what kind of tolerance it is when
too publicly. So I was pained and felt a mother is offended before a son and the
humiliated when I saw the paintings. son, in stead of protecting the mother's
honour should applaud the offender ?
Of course you might not have felt similar
pain to see the same and Hussain's Now a few questions about your tolerance
paintings might have amused you. That is and your advice for tolerance. Did you write
very natural. One feels the pain only when any article in support of Salaman Rushdie
he has respect for the personality who is when he was issued a death fatwa? Did you
disrespected. write in favour of the Danish cartoonist? Did
you condemn the fundamentalism when
From your writing it never appeared to me Taslima was hackled? To my knowledge
that you have any motherly regards for you did not. And I am sure you can never do
Ganga, Yamuna, Durga, Sita or Bharat it. BECAUSE, YOU FEAR FOR YOUR
Mata. Therefore you have no problem LIFE. You know what will happen to you if
whether they are worshipped or you write such an article in favour of the
dishonoured. Because, having respect for offenders of Islam and advise the offended
14
to tolerate the assault. But for you our case Time is the only witness to certify that
is different. You can rub salt to our injuries. Hindus are the worst sufferers who have
Because we are Hindus. You can teach us to suffered unthinkable tortures and
tolerate the insults of our mothers because humiliations for centuries after centuries in
you know no fatwa will be issued in your the hands of aliens. Now the same is being
name. Your behaviour, in plain words is repeated in newer forms in which our own
called "hypocrisy". brethren are proud accomplices.
With every passing day we are inflicted with But remember there is a limit to every thing.
a newer insult, a newer assault, a newer
injury on our hearts. And people like you flay Yours truly
us if we make the smallest complaint and Indulata Das
wince a little out of pain. Will you and your
group please let us rest in peace?
This is the first ever-mass conversion in the After the formal conversion ceremony, new
State. The reason for the Dalits to take such an H i n d u n a m e s s u c h a s Va l l i n a y a g i ,
action was the discrimination they continued to Mangayarkarasi, Arumuga Sundari, Abirama
suffer at the hands of upper caste Christians in Sundari, Vedhakani, and Sivaramalingam was
their respective parishes. given to the converts.
While the police claimed that only 296 Dalits In addition to the naming ceremony, the
converted to Hinduism, the HMK leader Arjun respective sect symbol depending on their past
Sampath said around 800 members from 185 allegiances - sacred ash for the Shaiviites and
families - 500 men, 220 women and 80 children the U-shaped tilak for the Vaishnavites were
took the decision. given out.
The Dalit Christians, were originally Hindus After the ceremony, the converts offered prayers
who had converted to Christianity five at the famous Swamy Nellaiappar -
generations back.The conversion ceremony Gandhimathy Ambal Temple in Tirunelveli Town.
started at 6 am with Ganapathy and
Sundarshana homams. A group of priests - It may be noted that the ceremony was originally
Sengol Athinam, Sankarananda Swamy, planned to be held at the Nellaiappar Temple but
Sadasivanandha and Ragavendra Swamy - the organisers had to change the venue after the
performed the rituals for the mass conversion. state government refused them the permission.
15
Remembering Savarkar
Veer Savarkar was among other things, an those living in tribes in primitive state. I do
outstanding exponent of Hindutva and not even despise any of them. I oppose
Hindu Nationalism. His views on Hindu- only that section of it vehemently which is
Muslim relations are relevant even today. oppressive and violent towards others."
Savarkar was among the rare Hindu Even as President of the Akhil Bharat
leaders who had studied Islam. While still Hindu Mahasabha, Savarkar declared,
in the Andamans, Savarkar had read the “Let the Indian State be purely Indian. Let it
Quran first in its English and subsequently not recognize any invidious distinctions
Bengali and Marathi translations. whatsoever as regards the franchise,
Responding to the opinion of his Muslim public services, offices, taxation on the
friends that the real beauty of the Quran grounds of religion and race. Let no
lies in its original, Savarkar asked them to cognizance be taken whatsoever of man's
read each page from the original and then being Hindu, Muhammedan, Christian or
translate it for his benefit into Hindi. As Jew. Let all citizens of that Indian State be
Savarkar describes, he heard them recite treated according to their individual worth
the Quran with great concentration and irrespective of their religious or racial
after keeping his mind clean and pure as a percentage in the general population
devout Muslim. In later life, Savarkar read (Presidential address to the 19th session
several books written by Western of the Hindu Mahasabha, Karnavati,
authorities on the Quran. Savarkar's deep 1937).
study of Islam is evident from his
numerous articles such as those on Kemal However, Savarkar was a hard-headed
Pasha, Khilafat movement and various realist. He observed, “ A Mohammedan is
Islamic sects. Savarkar had learnt to read often found to cherish an extra-territorial
and write Urdu. Thus, Savarkar's views on allegiance, is moved more by events in
Islam and Muslims are not those of an Palestine than what concerns India as a
ignorant bigot. Nation, worries himself more about the
well-being of Arabs than the well-being of
Savarkar believed in universal his Hindu neighbours and countrymen in
brotherhood of man. In his letter dated 06 India...” (ibid, 1937) “No realist can be
July 1920 he wrote to his brother from the blind to the probability that the extra-
Cellular Jail, " We believe in an universal territorial designs and the secret urge
state embracing all mankind and wherein goading on the Moslems to transform
all men and women would be citizens India into a Moslem State may at any time
working for and enjoying equally the fruits confront the Hindusthani State even under
of this earth and this sun, this land and this self-government either with a Civil War or
light, which constitute the real Motherland treacherous overtures to alien invaders by
and Fatherland of man. All other divisions the Moslems. Then again there is every
are artificial though indispensable." In his likelihood that there will ever continue at
book describing harsh prison life - My least for a century to come a danger of
Transportation for Life, Savarkar stated in fanatical riots, the scramble for services,
1923, "I have no hatred in my heart for Legislative seats, weightages out of
Muslim or Christian brothers or even for proportion to their population on the part of
16
the Moslem minority and consequently a is nothing else but the hankering of the
constant danger threatening internal Hindus after the Willow-the Wisp of a
peace.To checkmate this probability which Hindu-Moslem unity. The day we gave the
if we are wise we must always keep in view Mohammedans to understand that Swaraj
even after Hindusthan attains the status of could not be won unless and until the
a self-governing country, a powerful and Mohammedans obliged the Hindus by
exclusive organization of Hindudom like making a common cause with them, that
the Hindu Mahasabha will always prove a day we rendered an honourable unity
sure and devoted source of strength, a impossible. When an overwhelming
reserve force for the Hindus to fall back majority in a country goes on its knees
upon to voice their grievances more before a minority so antagonistic as the
effectively than the joint Parliament can Mohammedans, imploring them to lend a
do, to scent danger ahead, to warn the helping hand and assures it that otherwise
Hindus in time against it and to fight out if the major community is doomed to death,
needs be any treacherous design to which it would be a wonder if a minor community
the joint State itself may unwittingly fall a does not sell their assistance to the
victim” (Presidential address to the 21st highest bidder possible, does not hasten
session of the Hindu Mahasabha, Kolkata, the doom of the major community and aim
1939). to establish their own political suzerainty in
the land…Henceforth the Hindu formula
When Gandhi declared Hindu-Muslim for Hindu-Moslem unity is only this - 'if you
unity to be more important than Swaraj come, with you; if you don't without you;
itself and started granting ever-increasing and if you oppose, in spite of you - the
concessions to the Muslims, Savarkar Hindus will continue to fight for their
observed, “When will our unity-hankers National Freedom as best as they can'!
understand that the real question at the ”(ibid, Karnavati, 1937). Savarkar was at
root of this Moslem displeasure is not a his sarcastic best in exposing the cringing
word here or a song there! We would have attitude of the Provincial Congress
sacrificed a dozen songs or a hundred ministries in Central Provinces, Madras
words of our own free will if thereby we etc. before the Muslim League. Savarkar
could really contribute to the unity and said that the circulars issued by these
solidarity of Hindusthan. But we know the Governments before “the Tribunal of the
question is not so simple as that. It is the Moslem League” in substance pleaded
strife of different cultures and races and that “Sir, we have deprived the Hindus
nations and these trifles are but the everywhere of what is due to them and
passing and outward symptoms of this given Moslems overwhelmingly more than
malady deep seated in the Moslem mind. was due, oppressed the Hindus as best as
They want to brand the forehead of we could wherever the Moslems were
Hindudom and other non-Moslem pleased to demand it: So let the League be
sections in Hindusthan with the stamp of pleased, therefore, Sir, to certify that the
self-humiliation and Moslem domination Congress Ministries were truly impartial
and we Hindus are not going to tolerate it and perfectly National!!!” (ibid, Kolkata,
any longer not only in the interests of 1939)
Hindudom alone but even in the interest of
Indian nation as well...Let the Hindus Savarkar disagreed with the superstition
realize that the real cause of this mischief that the Muslim problem was a result of the
17
so-called British policy of 'Divide and aggression of the Muslims to be more
Rule'. Savarkar said, “The Congress dangerous than an armed invasion.
always used to fancy that the Moslems, if Dwelling on this issue in his 'Six Glorious
left to themselves would never have Epochs of Indian History', Savarkar said
indulged in any anti-national, ulterior, anti- that Islamic theocracy had claimed twenty
Hindu designs. The Moslems -including to thirty million Hindus over a thousand
Messers. Jinnah, Huq and Hayat Khan- years. Since then, small and large
were very simple-minded folk incapable of “Islamic lands” arose in every village, town
any political subterfuges and as devotees and province in India. Thus the Partition of
of Islam -peace and goodwill, had no Hindusthan into a Hindu half and a Muslim
aggressive political aims of their own half had started covertly at that time.
against the Hindus. Nay, even the Savarkar dubbed these small and large
Frontier tribes, the 'brave brothers Muslim lands as time bombs planted in the
Moplas', the Moslem populations in body politic of Hindusthan. Savarkar rues
Bengal or Sindh who indulge in such that the Hindu rulers, common folk and
horrible outrages against Hindus have no historians of that day failed to realize the
taste for it at all, nursed within themselves significance of these developments.
- but were almost compelled to rise and Savarkar notes that the Marathas did not
revolt against the Hindus by 'the third launch a religious counter-assault
party' the Britishers. When the British did (meaning bring about widespread re-
not step in, we Hindus and Moslems lived conversion) despite having the
together in perfect amity and brotherly opportunity and strength.
concord and Hindu-Moslem riots was a
thing simply unheard of. Thousands ofSavarkar's following words are prophetic
Congressite Hindus are observed to have
and worthy of emulation by present-day
been duped in to this silliest of political
leaders. He said, “…We must watch (the
superstitions. As if Mahamed Kasim, Moslem minority) in all its actions with the
Gazanis, Ghoris, Allaudins, Aurangzebs
greatest distrust possible. Granting them
were all instigated by the British, by this
on the one hand every equitable treatment
third party, to invade and lay waste Hindu
which an Indian citizen can claim on an
India with a mad fanatical fury. As if the
equality of footing with another, we must
history of the last ten centuries of sternly refuse them any the least
perpetual war between the Hindus and preferential treatment in any sphere of life
Moslems was an interpolation and a myth.
- religious, cultural or political. Not only
As if the Alis or Mr. Jinnah or Sir Sikandar
while we are engaged in our struggle for
were mere school children to be spoiled
liberating India but even after India is free
with the offer of sugar pills by the British
we must look upon them as suspicious
vagabonds in the class and persuaded to
friends and take great care to see that the
throw stones at the house of their Northern Frontiers of India are well
neighbours. They say, 'before the British
guarded by staunch and powerful Hindu
came, Hindu-Moslem riots were a thingforces to avoid the possible danger of the
unheard of.' Yes, but because instead of
Indian Moslems going over to the alien
riots, Hindu-Muslim wars were the order of
Moslem nations across the Indus and
the day (ibid, Kolkata, 1939). betraying our Hindusthan to our non-
Hindu foes” (Presidential address to the
Savarkar characterized the religious 20th session of the Hindu Mahasabha,
18
Nagpur, 1938). And again, “But towards without offering a solution. In the following
those Moslem States and tribes which remarkable passages, Savarkar exhorts
border our North-Western frontier our the Hindus thus, “It is not want of
policy cannot but be a guarded one. Their resources, Oh Hindus, which forces you to
tendency for centuries in the past had be so helpless and hopeless but it is the
been fanatically inimical towards the want of practical insight in political realities
Hindus and is likely to continue to be so for to know your resources; and the tact to use
at least a century to come. The Hindu them. You have lost the political eye
Sanghatanist party must always see that altogether” (ibid, Kolkata, 1939)… “The
this Frontier is garrisoned with belief in absolute non-violence
overwhelming Hindu troops and is never condemning all armed resistance even to
entrusted to Moslem ones. We will always aggression evinces no mahatmic
be ready to establish friendly contact with saintliness but a monomaniacal
those bordering States and shall give no senselessness!...I want all Hindus to get
cause for unnecessary strife but should themselves re-animated and re-born into
keep our forces there always in a state of a martial race. Manu and Shri Krishna are
war and vigilant to resist any sudden our law-givers and Shri Rama the
aggressive eruption on the part of those Commander of our forces. Let us re-learn
Moslem tribes or any threatened invasion the manly lessons they taught us and our
through the passes by any anti-Hindu Hindu Nation shall prove again as
alien army.” (ibid, Kolkata, 1939) unconquerable and conquering a race as
we proved once when they led us:
Savarkar cautioned the non-Muslim conquering those who dared to be
'minority' communities against joining the aggressive against us and refraining
Muslims in their dealings with the ourselves, not out of weakness but out of
Hindus.His earnest suggestion “to our magnanimity, from any unjustifiable
Christians, Jews, Parsees and such other designs of aggression against the
non-Moslem minorities would be that they unoffending” (Presidential address to the
should openly and definitely disown the 22nd session of the Hindu Mahasabha,
Muslim League designs, protest against Madura, 1940).
being bracketed with the Moslems under
the misleading and mischievous common Hindu society can disregard Savarkar's
term 'minorities', call upon the Moslem views on Hindu-Muslim relations only at its
League not to speak in general on their peril. In this, the year of his 125th birth
behalf…the Moslems will (then) find anniversary, the least the Hindus can do to
themselves singularly isolated and will be save themselves is to imbibe the words of
forced to cease to speak in the name of “the only Jew leader of the Hindus”.
'the minority problem' but will have to
shoulder by themselves the responsibility (The writer is a Pune-based
of their anti-National and fanatical claims.” endocrinologist, social activist and writer.
(ibid, Kolkata, 1939) He has contributed to the making of
www.savarkar.org)
Savarkar was not one to state problems
19
Heritage
20
5) Amtalikitasa upa[m]ta samkasam-rano converted to Vaisnava devotional practices -
- although he might have been the only one
6)Kasiput[r]asa [Bh]agabhadrasa tratarasa who erected a column, at least one that is
still extant. Certainly there must have been
7 ) Va s e n a [ c h a t u ] d a s e n a r a j e n a many others." (8)
vadhamanasa
It is also interesting to note that the
" This Garuda-column of Vasudeva (Visnu), Heliodorus column has other historical
the god of gods, was erected here by merits. Around the turn of the century, a
Heliodorus, a worshipper of Vishnu, the son number of Indologists (Weber, Macnicol,
of Dion, and an inhabitant of Taxila, who and others) had noted " points of similarity'
came as Greek ambassador from the Great between the Vaisnava philosophy of
King Antialkidas to King Kasiputra unalloyed devotion and Christian doctrine.
Bhagabhadra, the Savior, then reigning They had argued that Vaishnavism (worship
prosperously in the fourteenth year of his of Visnu and Krsna) must have been an
kingship." offshoot of Christianity, and cited the
1) Trini amutapadani-[su] anuthitani similarity between stories about Krsna and
about Christ to further support their claim.(9)
2) nayamti svaga damo chago apramado But the discovery of the inscription on the
Heliodorus column laid their speculations to
"Three immortal precepts (footsteps)..when rest. Here was conclusive archaeological
practiced lead to heaven-self restraint, proof that the Vaisnava tradition antedated
charity, conscientiousness." Christianity by at least two hundred years.
From the inscriptions it is seems clear The column also struck down another
Heliodorus was influenced by Vedic popular notion. For centuries it was a
principles that he could be considered to be common belief among scholars that India's
a Vaisnava, a follower or worshipper of orthodox tradition did not accept converts.
Visnu. Professor Kunja Govinda Goswami An Islamic historian, Abu Raihan Alberuni,
of Calcutta University concludes that who went to India in A.D. 1017, tried to
Heliodorus " was well acquainted with the explain in his book Indica why the Indian
texts dealing with the Bhagavat [Vaisnava] orthodoxy did not admit foreigners. Alberuni
relgion." (6) suggested that the practice developed only
after the Moslem incursion into India,
To our knowledge, Heliodorus is the earliest sometime after A.D. 674.(10) Antagonism
Westerner on record to adopt Vedic between the Moslems and Hindus seems to
principles. But some scholars, most notably be the main reason behind the non
A.L. Basham (7) and Thomas Hopkins, are conversion practice. For many centuries
of the opinion that Heliodorus was not the prior to Moslem presence, however, there
only Greek to adopt such principles. had been no bar to conversion into the
Hopkins, chairman of the department of orthodox fold, as attested by the Heliodorus
religious studies at Franklin and Marshall column.
College, has said " Heliodorus was
presumably not the only foreigner who Source: www.archaeologyonline.net
21
Heritage
Dear Mrs Soni, The main point to note in this list is that the
Indian advisors have only one
As one of the seniormost academic archaeologist’s name, i.e. of K K Bhan,
archaeologists of the country, I would be and similarly, the American list has one
failing in my duty both as a professional archaeologist in the form of M Kenoyer. I
archaeologist and as an Indian citizen if I further point out that Professor Kenoyer ,
do not draw your attention to the who had Professor Bhan as his Indian
implications of the proposal to establish a collaborator in his study of the beads of
centre for the study of the Indus Cambay, has excavated as a part of an
Civilization in Vadodara under the American team at Harappa in Pakistan
auspicies of the Global Heritage Fund, an and is known in print to have declared
American organization . Pakistan a secular country and the
Koran as a text providing inspiration to
The Indian members of its Senior Advisory look for (archaeological) ‘mounds’(
Board comprise the following persons : “Archaeology”, March-June issue, 2002,
pp. 19-21). I have also argued in one of
(1) Dr Kalpana Desai, Director of the my publications (“The Battle for Ancient
Chhatrapati Sivaji Maharaj Vastu India, an Essay in the Socio-politics of
Samgrahalaya, Mumbai (also listed as the Indian Archaeology” , Delhi, 2008, Aryan
Project Director); (2)Shri Hasmukh Shah, Books International, p. 96) that he has
a retired bureaucrat, (3) Shri Sunil Parekh, tried to give a Pakistani angle to the study
a former chairman of the Gujarat of the Indus Civilization by repeatedly
Confederation of Industries; (4) Dr Madhu calling it, wilfully and without any
Mehta, an architect in the Nirma justification, “ Indus Valley Civilization”.
University; (5) Dr Rumi Mistry, Technology The term implies that this civilization
Promotion Board, Vadodara, (6) was primarily limited to the Indus valley
Professor K K Bhan , an archaeology which is in Pakistan and undermines the
professor of the M.S,University of role of the hundreds of sites of this
Baroda; and (7) Shri Nitin Desai of a civilization that we have in our Panjab,
financial firm. Haryana, Gujarat and western Uttar
Pradesh.
As Dr Kalpana Desai heads a museum of
national importance in Mumbai, which Thus the first major point I am making
22
is that it would be impossible to argue that scholarly matter. It has always been
the proposed foreign-sponsored centre accompanied by political sub-texts of
for the study of the Indus Civilization in various kinds. For instance, the politics of
Vadodara has any substantive academic the study of the Indus Civilization has been
credential. discussed at length in my
aforementioned publication (pp. 51-102)..
The second point to be noted in this
connection is that this proposed ‘Centre’ is This civilization has had a very rich and
the first foreign-funded archaeological distinguished history of research in India,
institute in India, ostensibly to take care and in no way can a patriotic Indian like
of one of the most crucial dimensions of myself condone the idea of setting up a
our heritage. It has serious long-term foreign-funded institute for the purpose.
implications, and before the authorities
apparently decided to give it a green The Government of India followed, till
signal, the matter ought to have been recently, a fairly consistent attitude which
discussed openly and threadbare in the was commensurate with national interests
country’s professional bodies and regarding foreign participation in Indian
“Societies” of archaeology. Indian archaeology. The policy seems to have
archaeologists ought to have been given been abandoned in recent years, although
the opportunity of voicing their opinion even now, all applications for foreign
before the Government apparently collaborations should be subject to close
decided to ‘outsource’ as important a scrutiny by a separate review committee,
segment of the Indian past as the Indus taking into view a wide variety of
Civilization. professional issues, including the
background and history of research and
My third point in this connection is that publication of the applicants.
the study of the past is related to a range of
delicate issues, the most important of I do hope, Madam, that you will kindly look
which is the nation's sense of identity into the proposal of setting up this foreign-
based on that past. This sense of identity sponsored institute in Vadodara in detail,
is subject to manipulations of all kinds. The remembering all the time that the study of
way these manipulations take place, is, in the past is not as innocent as it appears on
fact, a matter of extensive enquiry as a the surface.
sub-branch of Archaeology - "socio- With best regards,
politics of the past". Yours sincerely,
23
From our Scriptures
[Of all the numerous and sublime scriptures of Sanatana Dharma, the most popular are
the two epics –Ramayana and Mahabharata, classified as itihaas (history). From times
immemorial, the two epics have served to convey to millions of ordinary Hindus the
core values of our religion and culture. Beginning with the current issue we shall try to
present, for the benefit of our readers, some gems from these masterpieces of
literature and spirituality.----Ed.]
24
handedly. Such kings get the highest 8. The heads, (ministers, officers), of the
position that may be available to a true Republic should work in unison in the best
sanyasin, (66/4-5). interest of the Republic as a whole. If they
are divided, they will form many
On Republics antagonistic groups (parties). The result
will be failure on every front and
6. Honourable (chosen) citizens lay down emergence of various evils. Well-wishers
righteous codes of conduct in the spirit of of the Republic should use their powers to
the Shastras. Providing suitable treatment crush leaders of separatist parties/groups,
to all and every one, they (Republics) (107/25-26).
make good progress, (107/17)
9. If the senior wise men ignore divisive
7. The distinguished (chosen) citizens elements, they result in disintegration and
punish even their sons and brothers if they ultimate death of the Republic, (107/27).
do any wrong. They provide them good
education and good training. After O n e w o n d e r s w h e n H i n d u
accomplishing their education and Dharmacharyas, Swamis and Priests will
training, they are suitably honoured and take note of the lessons of Rajdharma
given suitable postings. This way, the and make them also part of their sermons.
Republics make good progress, (107/18).
AND....
CHEERS TO RESERVATION......
25
Debate
26
sidelines of spiritualism they even indisputable Law for all Sufis. In other
participated in the nitty-gritty of governance words, the Sufism and the ulema represent
to help the Muslim rulers consolidate their the same two aspects of the Islamic faith
authority in the strife torn country. And which are universally accepted and obeyed
significantly, their participation in the affairs by all Muslims. By definition therefore Sufi
of the State was not conditional upon the masters could be no exception. The
Muslim rulers acting in a just and even renowned ninth century Sufi master, Al
handed manner. On the contrary, the Sufis Junaid, also known as “the Sheikh of the
invariably tried to help the Sultans in Way”, and widely revered as the spiritual
following the path shown by the Prophet and ancestor of Sufi faith, had categorically
the Shariah. Another important objective of proclaimed that for Sufis “All the mystic
the spiritual and mystic preachings of the paths are barred, except to him who
Sufi masters was to blunt the edge of Hindu followeth in the footsteps of the Messenger
resistance and prevent them from taking up (i.e., Prophet Muhammad) [Source: Martin
arms to defend their hearth and home, their Lings, What is Sufism, George Allen &
motherland and their faith, through the Unwin Ltd, London, 1975, p.101].
façade of peace and religious harmony.
The Naqshbandi Sufis had very close As pointed out by Reynold A. Nicholson in
relations with Jahangir and Aurangzeb. The the Preface to the famous tome, ‘Kashaf al
well known Sufi Saint of Punjab, Ahmad Mahjub’ (Taj & Co., Delhi, 1982). “no sufis,
Sirhindi (Mujadid) of the Naqashbandi order not even those who have attained the
(1564-1634) held that the execution of the highest degree of holiness, are exempt
Sikh leader Guru Arjun Dev by Jehangir from the obligation of obeying the religious
was a great Islamic victory. He believed and law”. In fact, the famous to me, ‘Kashaf al
openly proclaimed that Islam and Hinduism Mahjub’ written by Ali bin Al-Hujwiri, who
were antithesis of each other and therefore was also known as Data Ganj Baksh, was
could not co-exist Even the Chishti Sufi, widely regarded as the grammar of Sufi
Miyan Mir, who had been a friend of Guru thought and practice. Most Sufis have
Arjun Dev, later on turned his back on the invariably drawn on the contents of this
Sikh Guru when the latter was arrested by treatise for preaching the sufi thought (also
Jahangir and sent for execution. known as sufi silsilas). As already stated, on
page 140 of Kashaf al Mahjub Al Hujwiri
It may be recalled that the great Sufi master loudly proclaims that “the words there is no
of the eleventh century, Al Qushairi God save Allah are Truth, and the words
(A.D.1072) had unambiguously declared Muhammed is the Apostle of Allah” are the
that there was no discord between the aims indisputable Law.
of the Sufi ‘haqiqa’ and the aims of the
Sharia. The definition given by Al Hujwiri K.A. Nizami in his celebrated book, The Life
should be able to quell any doubt about the and Times of Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya
commitment of Sufis in upholding the (Idarah-I Adabiyat-i-Delhi, Delhi) has stated
supremacy of the Islamic faith over all other that the Auliya openly used to say that
religions. That dogma has been the key “what the ulama seek to achieve through
component of the philosophy of Sufism not speech, we achieve by our behaviour.” The
only in India, but across the world - from Auliya was a firm believer in the need for
India to Hispania (i.e., the Spain). The great unquestioned obedience of every Muslim,
Sufi master, Al Hujwiri, laid down the golden every Sufi, to the dictates of the ulema.
rule that the words “there is no god save According to K.A. Nizami, another Sufi saint
Allah” are the ultimate Truth, and the words Jamal Qiwamu’d-din wrote that though he
“Muhammad is the Apostle of Allah” are the had been associated with the Shaikh
27
Nizamuddin Auliya for years, “but never did philosophy and deeds, he emerges as a sufi
he find him missing a single sunnat …… ”. master who nursed a deep hatred against
The well known authority on Sufism, S.A.A. the infidel Hindus and showed utter
Rizvi has recorded in his book, ‘A History of contempt for their religious beliefs. As
Sufism in India’ that Nizamuddin Auliya elaborated by S.S.A. Rizvi in ‘A History of
used to unhesitatingly accept enormous Sufism in India, Vol. 1 (Munshiram
gifts given to him by Khusraw Barwar which Manoharlal, 1978, p. 117), there is a
implied that the Auliya was unconcerned reference in the book, Jawahar-i- Faridi, to
with the source of the gift, provided it was the fact that when Moinuddin Chishti
paid in cash. Yet the Auliya was a firm reached near the Annasagar Lake at Ajmer,
believer in the need for a Muslim’s where a number of holy shrines of Hindus
unquestioned loyalty and obedience to the were located, he slaughtered a cow and
ulema. As reiterated by K.A. Nizami, Auliya cooked a beef kebab at the sacred place
used to preach that the unbeliever is the surrounded by many temples. It is further
doomed denizen of Hell. In his khutba he claimed in Jawahar-i-Faridi that the Khwaja
would leave no one in doubt that Allah has had dried the 2 holy lakes of Annasagar and
created Paradise for the Believers and Hell Pansela by the magical heat of Islamic
for the infidels “in order to repay the wicked spiritual power. He is even stated to have
for what they have done”.It has been made the idol of the Hindu temple near
categorically stated on page 161 in the Annasagar recite the Kalma. The Khwaja
famous treatise, Fawaid al-Fuad, translated had a burning desire to destroy the rule of
by Bruce B. Lawrence (Paulist Press, New the brave Rajput king, Prithviraj Chauhan,
York, 1992) that the Auliya confirmed on the so much so that he ascribed the victory of
authority of the great Islamic jurist, Imam Muhammad Ghori in the battle of Tarain
Abu Hanifa, that the perdition of the entirely to his own spiritual prowess and
unbelievers is certain and that Hell is the declared that “We have seized Pithaura
only abode for them, even if they agreed to alive and handed him over to the army of
confess total loyalty to Allah on the Day of Islam”. [Source: Siyar’l Auliya, cited by Rizvi
Judgment. on page 116 of ‘A History of Sufism in
India’].
In the above mentioned treatise on Sufi
philosphy, Fuwaid al-Fuad, a very
Throughout the Muslim rule all Sufis
interesting instance of enslaving the kaffir enjoyed full confidence, royal favour and
Hindus for monetary gain has been cited patronage of the cruel Muslim rulers.
which shows how another Sufi, Shayakh Ali Though foolishly accepted as “secular” by
Sijzi, provided financial assistance to one of
most Hindus seeking spiritual solace after
his dervishes to participate in the lucrativebeing battered, bruised and marginalised,
slave trade. He had advised the dervish that almost all Sufi saints dogmatically followed
he should take “these slaves to Ghazni, the commandments contained in the Quran,
where the potential for profit is still greater”.
the Hadith and Sharia. Historians have
And it was confirmed by Nizamuddin Auliya recorded that many Sufi saints had
that “the Dervish obeyed”. Obviously accompanied armies of the Muslim invaders
therefore, neither spiritual ethics and nor to use their spiritual powers in furtherance of
justice to all, including the infidels, were the
Islam’s conquests. Not one of them raised
strong points of Sufi saints. even a little finger to forbid slaughter of the
innocents, nor did they question the
If the narrative of the preachings and acts imposition of jiziya by Muslim rulers. In fact,
of Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti of Ajmer are most of them guided the Muslim rulers in
taken as indication of his religious carrying forward their mission of conquest
28
and conversion by furthering their chieftains to marry their daughters to him so
campaigns of plundering the wealth of that they would become outcastes in their
Hindus of which many Sufis willingly partook own community. And the endgame of the
share. It was almost a taboo for Sufis, the Sultan could as well be that perhaps some
so-called saints, to accept a Hindu of the outcaste Rajputs might then opt to
ascending the throne of any kingdom during become Muslims.
the heydays of the Muslim rule.. In an
example narrated by S.A.A. Rizvi on page Unfortunately due to relentless colonization
37 of his well researched book, The of the Hindu mind during 1000 years long
Wonder That Was India (Vol.II, Rupa & Co, oppressive Muslim rule, the Hindu masses
1993, New Delhi) it is pointed out that when till date have failed to realize that the so-
the powerful Bengali warrior, king Ganesha, called Sufi philosophy of religious harmony
captured power in Bengal in the year 1415 is a one-way street. This trend of Hindus
A.D., Ibrahim Shah Sharqi, attacked his praying at tombs and dargahs has been
kingdom at the request of outraged ulema nurtured by the strong undercurrent of belief
and numerous Sufis of Bengal. In the in spiritualism among Hindu masses, even
ensuing strife, the leading Sufi of Bengal, educated classes. That is the crux of the
Nur Qutb-i-Alam, interceded and secured a matter. Deeply steeped in their traditional
political agreement to the benefit of the belief in spirituality and mysticism, the
Muslim community and satisfaction of Sufis. Hindus have developed the custom of
Under dire threat King Ganesha was forced visiting dargahs and continue to pray at the
to abdicate his throne in favour of his 12 tombs of Sufis, no Muslim, nor any Sufi, has
years old son, Jadu, who was converted to ever agreed to worship in a Hindu temple,
Islam and proclaimed as Sultan Jalaluddin - nor make obeisance before the images of
to the satisfaction of the Sufi masters. Hindu Gods and Godesses. For them it
Similarly Sultan Ahmed Shah of Gujarat would be an act of grossest sacrilege and
(1411-42), though a practitioner of Sufi unacceptable violation of the basic tenets of
philosophy, was a diehard iconoclast who Sufism. That is the truth about the Sufi saints
took delight in destroying temples, as stated and their philosophy of inter-religious
in the same tome, by S.A.A. Rizvi. The harmony.
Sultan also used to force the Rajput
Debate
The most interesting part of the Anti-Terrorism genuineness of the opening paragraph like the
Declaration issued by the Conference hosted by rest of the Declaration.
Darul Uloom, Deoband is the enunciation of the
virtues of Islam contained in the opening SOME DIFFICULT QUESTIONS
paragraph of the Declaration. Those having some
knowledge of Islam’s scriptures and history could Darul Uloom Deoband is unquestionably the
easily be left wondering whether this part of the most prestigious institution of Islamic learning in
declaration was a satirical interpolation by some India, something like Cairo’s AL AZHAR.
mischievous elements. However a visit to the However the sweeping claims that the
Darul Uloom website is enough to establish the Declaration makes in favour of Islam happen to
29
be so blatantly contrary to well known facts that Iran, Pakistan, Sudan etc. do not even remotely
they can not be passed over as just the clerics’ suggest “treatment of all mankind with equality,
rhetorical flourishes. What are these known mercy, tolerance, justice”. The notorious
facts forming such a serious challenge to the blasphemy laws of the Islamic Republic of
credibility of this part of the Declaration? These Pakistan are a thorough rejection of the
include (just to mention a few)—the actual commonly perceived notions of equality, justice
treatment of non-Muslims and minority Islamic or mercy.
sects by the State as well as the non state
practitioners of Islam, the historical experience TESTIMONY OF DEMOGRAPHY
of non- Muslims who were subjected to
invasions by Muslim conquerors, views One incontrovertible piece of evidence against
expressed by authoritative theoreticians of the Deoband Maulanas’ proclamation of the
Islam, the injunctions in the holy Quran, and compassionate, egalitarian, and just nature of
Sunnah etc. This is a vast field but for reasons of Islam is provided by the steady decline in the
space, the discussion here will be confined only population of non- conformists in Muslim
to the most significant points. majority countries. As is well known the
population of Hindus and Sikhs in what is now
CLAIMS MADE IN THE DECLARATION known as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
which was about 20% of the total in 1947 has
The Declaration claims that (i) Islam is the come down to about 1%. The continuing
religion of “mercy for all humanity”, the slaughter of Hindus was again confirmed by the
“fountainhead of peace, tranquility, security murder of Jagdish Kumar, a factory worker in
(ii) Islam makes no differentiation between Karachi, by a, crowd of Muslims in the presence
human beings on the grounds of caste and of policemen on 8 April 2008. The Christians
creed, (iii) " Islam has taught its followers to treat who had enthusiastically supported the demand
all mankind with equality, mercy tolerance, for creation of Pakistan have also been victims
justice”. (iv) Islam sternly condemns all kinds of of persecution by Islamic zealots. The Ahmadis
oppression, violence and terrorism”.(Emphasis (Remember Zafrullah Khan the first Foreign
added) Minister of Pakistan?) have not only been
declared to be non –Muslims but are liable to be
ISLAM AS PRACTICED BY MUSLIMS imprisoned just for claiming to be Muslims. Even
the minority Islamic sect of Shias (who are in
The first difficulty in accepting the Deoband power in adjacent Iran and whose leader
Declaration arises when one sees Islam in Khomeini heralded the Islamic revolution in
actual operation. The leaders (Osama bin Iran) have been fighting a bloody but losing war
Laden, Ayman Al Zawahiri, Khalid Sheikh against the majority Sunnis, some of whom want
Mohammad etc.) and the constituents groups the Shias too to be declared non –Muslims. Nor
(Al Qaida, Markaz Dawa Al Irshad , Lashkar-e- is the decimation of religious minorities confined
Toiba, Jaish- e -Mohammad, Harkat ul only to Pakistan. In what was earlier known as
Mujahideen etc) of the International Islamic East Pakistan and now known as the Islamic
Front for Jihad, and also smaller groups and Republic of Bangladesh the population of
individual followers across the Islamic world, all Hindus has come down from about 30% to
claiming to be the true representatives of Islam, about 9%. Even in the Muslim ruled state of
have long been using terrorism and violence as Jammu and Kashmir within the secular Republic
the instruments of Jihad against the perceived of India a systematic programme of religious
enemies of Islam including Jews, Christians, cleansing has resulted in the Kashmir valley
Hindus, Buddhists etc. The laws and regulations having been purged substantially of the Hindu
enacted and enforced by the Governments of Pundits. The same pattern can be seen almost
Muslim majority countries led by Saudi Arabia, all over the Islamic world.
30
I N D I A’ S E X P E R I E N C E O F I S L A M I C of Islam dealt with infidels in east and west with
CONQUERORS equal ferocity. The poet philosopher Allama
Iqbal, who still continues to have many admirers
Islam first came to India in the shape of Arab in India, extolled the role of Islam’s sword in
invasions of Sind around the time of Caliph several of his poems;
Umar (634-644 AD). The first 500 years saw
invasions by Muhammad Bin Qasim, Mahmood “teghon ke sae men ham pal kar jawan huey hain
Ghazanavi, etc. culminating in the conquest of khanjar hilal ka hai qaumi nishan hamara”
Delhi by Shahabuddin Ghori in 1192. India (Tarana-I-Milli)
remained under Muslim rule till the deposition of
Bahadur Shah Zafar by the British in 1857. “par tere naam par talwaar uthaee kisne…
Beginning with the defeat of Dahir’s forces at …………………………………………...
Debal in 712 AD Muslim victories were usually kaat kar rakh diye kuffaar ke lashkar kisne”
followed by slaughter of defeated troops and (Shikwa)
Hindu civilians, rape of Hindu women,
enslavement and forcible conversion of Hindu VIEWS OF AUTHORITATIVE ISLAMIC
men, women and children, destruction of SCHOLARS
temples, and imposition of religion based penal
taxes like the jaziya. A Muslim slayer of Hindus The claims of the Deoband Maulanas are also in
was exalted as a Ghazi. Many Muslim victors contradiction of the writings of some of the most
delighted in erecting towers made of skulls of highly regarded scholars of Islam. For example
the vanquished Hindus. The “History of India as the classical Muslim jurist al-Mawardi explains
told by Its Own Historians” by Eliot and Dawson the Islamic rules for infidels taken prisoner during
gives umpteen quotations from the writings of jihad campaigns: “As for the captives, the amir
the court historians of various Islamic rulers to [ruler] has the choice of taking the most beneficial
provide graphic details of the atrocities action of four possibilities: the first to put them to
perpetrated following each victory. According to death by cutting their necks; the second, to
Will Durant "The Islamic conquest of India is enslave them and apply the laws of slavery
probably the bloodiest story in history”. The fact regarding their sale and manumission; the third,
that none of the famous Hindu temples has to ransom them in exchange for goods or
survived Muslim rule in north India, the ruins of prisoners; and fourth, to show favor to them and
the Martand Temple in Kashmir, the still standing pardon them. Allah, may he be exalted, says,
carved columns (taken from destroyed Hindu 'When you encounter those [infidels] who deny
and Jain temples) of the Quwwat-ul-Islam [the Truth=Islam] then strike [their] necks' (Qur'an
mosque in the Qutub Minar complex , Mehrauli, sura 47, verse 4)”....Abu’l-Hasan al-Mawardi, al-
the ruins of the burnt down Nalanda university in Ahkam as-Sultaniyyah." [The Laws of Islamic
Bihar etc. etc. are not shining examples of the Governance, trans. by Dr. Asadullah Yate,
peacefulness, mercifulness and universal (London), Ta-Ha Publishers Ltd., 1996, p. 192.
egalitarianism of Islam. The slaughters, the
towers of skulls, the caravans of slaves, the EVIDENCE OF THE HOLY QUR’AN AND
harems full of captured women, have all SUNNAH
receded, away from public memory, into the
dark pages of history but the grand mosques According to the Holy Qur’an, those who do not
standing majestically over the sites where the believe in Allah, His Prophet and the Last Day
holiest Hindu shrines once stood at Mathura and will go to Hell to be roasted there in Fire forever.
Varanasi, continue to proclaim loudly the utter Allah has also commanded the believers to fight
untruth of the Maulanas’ protestations. the unbelievers till Allah’s religion prevails
everywhere. There are hundreds of Ayats in
The experience of the old Persian and Egyptian Quran containing such injunctions. A few
civilizations and of European countries invaded samples are reproduced below;
by Muslims was not much different either. In its
attempt to bring as much of the world as 2:161 "Those who reject Faith,
possible under the domain of Islam, the sword And die rejecting
31
On them is Allah’s curse, than one hundred years of age, both for
And the curse of angels, having written seditious poetry, are not
And of all mankind;” examples of Islam’s mercy. The Prophet’s
8:39 "And fight them on dealing with Jewish tribes of Madina area was
Until there is no more not kind either. The beheading of the entire
Persecution or oppression, male population of some 600-700 of Banu
And religion becomes Qurayza tribe after their unconditional
Allah’s in its entirety ” surrender is a prime example of Islam’s
8:67 “It is not fitting brutality.
For a Prophet
That he should have
Prisoners of war until WHY THE FALSE CLAIMS?
He has thoroughly subdued
The land. ” It is not that the venerable Maulanas who
9:5 “But when the forbidden months had assembled at Deoband and issued the
Are past, then fight and slay Declaration were unaware of the falsehood
The Pagans wherever you find them, of the claims they were making. Being
And seize them, beleaguer them, among the front rank leaders of the Faith,
And lie in wait for them and aware of the bad name that Islam was
In every stratagem (of war)” getting due to the actions of the Jihadi
9:29 “Fight those who believe not terrorists, they sought to serve the cause of
In Allah nor the Last Day,
Islam by using the Qur’an sanctioned
Nor hold that forbidden
By Allah and His Messenger, practice of Taqiyya (dissimulation) used by
Of Truth, (even if they are) many Islamic scholars and clerics as a tactic
Of the People of the Book, of outwitting opponents, avoiding
Until they pay the jizyah straightforward debate or deflecting
With willing submission, criticism by using obfuscation. The
And feel themselves subdued” Maulanas’ effort has apparently had some
98;6 “Those who reject(Truth), success also.
Among the People of the Book
And among the Polytheists, THE ISLAMIST NEWSPEAK
Will be in hell-fire,
To dwell therein (forever),
Some readers may recall that among the
They are the worst
many devices that the totalitarian state
Of creatures”
visualized in George Orwell’s novel “1984”,
[The Holy Qur’an Translation by Abdullah used to control the thinking of the subject
Yusuf Ali, Published by GOODWORD population was the evolution and use of a
BOOKS,1, Nizamuddin West Market, New new language called newspeak in which old
Delhi 110013] words like peace, freedom or equality took
on totally different new meanings. The use
The record of the sayings and the doings of of the words mercy, peace, justice, security,
the Prophet, the Hadis (or Sunnah) is believed equality, tolerance, oppression, violence
to have authority equal to that of the Quran.” etc. in the opening paragraph of the
The Prophet was the interpreter of the Deoband Declaration appears to be the
Qura’an and its living example.” A study of the Islamist version of newspeak.
Hadis reveals that the Prophet dealt with his
opponents not with compassion but with (The above is the concluding part of a two
ruthlessness. The killing, instigated by the part article which appeared in 'Defence
Prophet, of poetess Asma while suckling her Watch' April-May, 2008)
child in her bed, and of Abu Afak a poet more
32
Book Review
33
titled `Symbolism of Hindu Deities'. The Hindu view, ritualism creates a sacred
essence of Ramayana and the essence of environment, generates devotion for
Mahabaratha — the two great Indian epics _ worship and thereby helps a beginner to
have been beautifully summarized in Part III. concentrate his mind on worship, prayer
and meditation. A ritual is completely
Commonly asked questions with answers useless if performed mechanically without
pertaining to various aspects of Hindu understanding its meaning. For a ritual to
Religion have been included at the ends of be an effective tool in worship and
Part I through to Part IV. In order to broaden meditation, one must concentrate on the
the reader's understanding of the material meaning of the ritual while performing it.
presented, in Part V of the book, the author of However, everyone may not need this tool
this book has presented tables, appendices, of ritualism. In the advanced stages of
details about works cited together with one's religious life, there is absolutely no
suggested readings for higher studies, a need for religious rites or ceremonies. This
glossary and an appendix. position is beautifully stated in the following
words of the `Bhagvad Gita': `To the
In Chapter 14 of Part I titled `Deity Worship knower of truth, all Vedas are of as little use
and Ritualism', Bansi Pandit brilliantly sums as a small water-tank is during the time of a
up the position: `A human being cannot flood, when water is everywhere.'This very
conceptualize anything without some sort of a cardinal truth was also reiterated by
mental image. A Hindu associates his mental Swamy Vivekananda during the course of
image of the infinite attributes of the supreme a lecture in 1893 `It is good to be born in a
Lord with sacred images, called Deities, and Church but not to die there'
uses such images, as symbols to concentrate
his mind on the worship of the Lord. Just as we What India badly requires today is the
associate the idea of infinity with the image of reintegration of the ancient Hindu (Indian)
the blue sky, or the idea of holiness with a culture in the light of modern knowledge in
cross or a place of worship, a Hindu order to suit our present-day needs and the
associates the ideas of the attributes of the resuscitation of its fundamental values in
SUPREME LORD, such as omniscience, their pristine vigour. Viewed in this light,
omnipotence and omnipresence, with various `The Hindu Mind' by Bansi Pandit is a
sacred images and forms. Therefore, when a remarkable book which graphically brings
Hindu worships an image, he does not out into bold relief the fact that the Hindu
worship the inanimateness of the image, but Mind is not just a temple, it is a power
rather the holiness, sacredness, purity, station, a storage warehouse, a library, a
omnipresence, and omnipotence that are theatre, a museum, a hall of archives and
symbolized by such a sacred image.' above all a seat of self-government. In my
view this Guide-Book ought to be
Ritualism in Hindu religion has often been prescribed as a compulsory text book at
criticized by non-Hindus and sometimes by the graduate level in all the colleges of
pseudo-secular Hindus themselves. India and the world. The world we feel, is
Regarding the purpose or the scope of too much with us. Nothing would uplift or
ritualism, it should not be forgotten that its inspire us so much as the beauty and
practice is meant as a tool for a beginner in his aspiration which such books can teach.
(or her) religious life. In the predominant
34
THANK YOU READERS !
The inaugural issue of Bharat Speaks has V BALACHANDRAN (Retd. Spl Secy GOI)
received a welcome far exceeding our Mumbai
expectations. We are grateful to our “..the magazine has come out quite
esteemed readers in India and in the Indian well……”
Diaspora for their generous messages of
appreciation and support .We are B RAMAN (Retd Addl. Secy GOI),
particularly fortunate to have received the Chennai
blessings of Swami Dayanand Saraswati “…Great. Congratulations..”
for our amateurish venture. We would have
loved to reproduce all the messages from RAKHAL SAHA (LONDON)
our readers but space constraints have Congratulations on launching this timely
forced us to reproduce only a few words of paper.
appreciation from each message;
SURAJ SEHGAL (UK)
SWAMI DAYANANDA SARASWATI Excellent idea…Congratulations
“……I read a couple of articles in an e-copy
of "Bharat Speaks". This magazine fills up Narain Kataria (USA)
a need; congratulations.” …Excellent job..
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