Comments on: History’s ghetto – (Geneva Camp, Dhaka)

By: Arohan

Arohan — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 18:25:16 +0000

well @dastagir the girl ishrat jahan from mumbai was killed along with terrorists and lashkar a toiba claimed that she was their activist

as far as RSS is concerned they demand that all Indians should think of themselves as Indians first and anything later. is it too much to ask for?
and if three countries are to be united then why insist on a loose center why not a strong center?

By: ray

ray — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:16:29 +0000

Hi ,

I was reading ur blog posts and found some of them to be very good.. u write well.. Why don’t you popularize it more.. ur posts on ur blog ‘Jahane Rumi’ took my particular attention as some of them are interesting topics of mine too;

BTW I help out some ex-IIMA guys who with another batch mate run http://www.rambhai.com where you can post links to your most loved blog-posts. Rambhai was the chaiwala at IIMA and it is a site where users can themselves share links to blog posts etc and other can find and vote on them. The best make it to the homepage!

This way you can reach out to rambhai readers some of whom could become your ardent fans.. who knows..

Cheers,

By: Vandana

Vandana — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:51:31 +0000

I see India breaking not along communal lines but regional lines.South breaking away from north etc……
Give some credit to an average Hindu.If it takes an organisation like RSS 60 years to get BJP into power in 6 out of 30 states then it says something about Hindus who number about 800 million in this country.
No matter how you put it and how you intellectualise it with data and incident details,your post betrays an undercurrent of that thinking that blights the thinking of all people in the sub continent.Everyone can think only along the lines of their community…you,I the guy next door.I am not blaming you but pointing out that the inability to think from the other’s perspective is absent in our make up.It is this which is exploited by SIMI,RSS,Al-Qaeda and every other party on this land.

By: Dastagir

Dastagir — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:14:28 +0000

Hatred in all its shades is bad, condemnable and despicable. Period. The point is : who is capable of “more” hatred. Its a quantifying thought. Amratya Sen had rightly said : “Who will benefit from these riots… Think… That will help identify the real perpetrators”. I dont want to take sides., but from the logical view-point, for the sake of argument… what are Indian Muslims getting… if they commit mass-murder ? Nothing. Infact their position will get weakened. However ELECTIONS are around the corner.. Shalinyas and Rath Yatra fetched it 150+ seats (from 2). That Yatra brought the BJP into power at the Center. Now it rules 6 states! Hindutva alone will not sell… so it will mix “insecurity” (created by blasts/ riots)… and sell itself as the PROTECTOR… Its a very ugly strategy. It will bring BJP into power., but it will destroy India (long-term). RSS is the largest terrorist organisation in the world. The dirty work it is doing… must be researched. Novels written.. movies made.. seminars held.. If anyone has time., read the RSS literature., read dainik sanatan prabhat published from maharashtra (www.sanatan.org); read http://www.hindujagruti.org.

Fanatics of all hues and shades are bad… BUT… no christian / muslim communal organisation has the reach / depth / resources of RSS ! It is the ability to create nuisance.. RSS tops in that.

Can that be stopped ? No. Beneath every Khaki Trouser / Pantaloon [Policeman], there is a Khaki Shorts / Chaddi [RSS-wallah]. The RSS hate-virus has permeated the Hindu Psyche. It will not rest until RSS takes hindus on a suicide ride and turns India into Afghanistan-II. It is Hindus like Nehru and Sarojini Naidu that BUILT / MADE India what it is today.

There were riots in Dhule, Maharashtra… Dhule-TV spread false news that Hindu girls were gang-raped by Muslim men… and that led to riots. Throwing beef in temples / garlanding Gandhiji’s statue at night with beef pieces / throwing pork in mosques… / throwing Gulaal on Namazis in Mosque/ Playing songs during friday prayers (in front of the mosque) / stories that hindu girls were abducted and raped /… false literature/ false hatred… these are old RSS tactics.

RSS men are being trained manufacturing Bombs ! (Sometimes by ex-servicemen). Research into this.. the reality of Malegaon Blasts.. Nanded Blasts.. Parbhani Blasts.. how RSS men were caught making bombs in Kanpur.. They are making bombs., wearing green kurta and skull caps and planting bombs… and seeing their good deed on TV. Within minutes., muslims are blamed ! and lo.. the real perpetrator never gets caught.

RSS is doing the dirty work in India. Muslims have nothing to gain from blasts / riots. They are the poorest community in India bothered about bread and butter issues. What do they gain by these blasts/riots ? Nothing. However., RSS has a MOTIVE… It can come to power. Elections are around… so the motive is clear. This cat and mouse game must end. If The Govt. of the Day wants to save India (and the IDEA of India., which is sound), it must act and save India from RSS.

Freedom of 100 people has to be curbed. They must be placed under home-arrest. Togadia / Singhal / Bal Thackerey / Raj Thackerey / provocative speakers / swamis / mullahs / bishops… must all rest within the confines of their homes.. .and not allowed to make provocative speeches / writings. Hate speech and false hate reporting (as happened in Dhule TV last week) must invite capital punishment.

If the Govt. cannot do it (for fear of losing Hindu votes) it is betraying the Idea of India. Every Hindu is Not RSS. The dirty work RSS is doing must be exposed to the avg. Hindu. There has to be open talk. RSS and hate speech must be banned. Same goes for any Mullah or Bishop. No one must be allowed to vitiate the atmosphere.

6 muslims were burnt alive in Vatoli village, Bhainsa, Adilabad.. .and please note… the media reported : A family of 6 Hindus burnt alive ! Is this reporting ? This is incitement to murder.

80 yrs of hard work by RSS has corrupted the Hindu Mind. 60 years of fanatic views has tainted the Pakistani Mind. I do not know what to say of the Bangladeshi mind… These people will NOT come together for the common-good of all. There is ego involved. There is beauty-contest mindset. Who will be No. 1. Why should i be no. 2 ?

I see genocides / ethnic cleansing of Muslims in India very clearly. I see a total break-down of order in Pakistan (ethnic strife/ crime / murder)… I see food riots in Bangladesh. That is their destiny… Thats why the British did what they did. India, Pak and Bangla are paying the price for their audacity asking Britain to leave…

Today we cannot mend.. cannot patch things up. The divide is too wide. The tearing too brutal.

By: Vandana

Vandana — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:05:42 +0000

Isn’t it strange that when the one nation went three seperate ways the violence has increased.In India you can blame the RSS(some real and some imagined) for the violence,but who is killing in Pakistan? Its muslim against muslim there.Makes one wonder how much of the problem is due to religion and how much about getting a bigger share of the economic pie.When survival is at stake then the ‘other’becomes an easy target.
America initiated the breaking of Iraq but as things worsened it became Iraqi Shia aginst Sunni,Muslim against Christian,Arab against Kurd. No religion in the world can curb these animal instincts that prevail when survival is threatened and man is pushed against a wall.And there are always politicians and other opportunist happy to encourage the mayhem on for personal gains/goals.
BTW spare a thought for Kasmiri Pandits and Godhra train victims also.One wrong does not make another right but one sidedness damages too.Especially if we are dreaming about a secular,united states of India.
Also will Pakistani Muslims who have forged an identity over 61 years as citizens of an Islamic state want to merge into a secular entity? Indian muslims would but I doubt the others would want to cede the control of religious state to a secular one.
And if RSS dreams of flying on chariots there are those who work towards turning India into a Dar -ul-Islam and those who want vatican to rule(American baptists money is playing havoc with demographics).There are enough zealots of all shades to keep the sub continent boiling for the forseeable future.

By: Dastagir

Dastagir — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 06:50:54 +0000

WHAT CAN NOW BE DONE ? In today’s newspaper I read about killings in Pakistan – then i read about Watoli Village, Bhainsa, Andhra Pradesh (bordering Maharashtra); where 6 Indians, i.e. Rahman Khan, a Tailor by profession, his wife and 4 kids were burnt alive by a Hindu Mob. (Durga procession and throwing Gulal on Friday Congregation in a mosque led to communal strife last week). There were 30 Houses in Watoli Village. 29 families had left for Bhainsa. Rahman Khan believed in secularism.. in the humanism of “man”.. in the ability of the Constitution of India., and the State.. and paid for his folly with his life. RSS goons entered the house… stuffed their mouths and tied their hands and burnt 6 Indians (Muslims) alive.. They locked the door from outside. Gujarat Experiment had entered Andhra Pradesh. After reading it, felt horrible, not to use stronger language.

Ideally, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh must become one entity / country / confederation whatever… A loose center, (finance / defence / telecommunications) with residual powers vested in the States / Provinces (Sarkaria Commission, i.e.). Only that will bring peace to the Sub-continent. Partition of India was an option that was tried, but failed to provide a solution. Infact it aggravated the situation.

Unfortunately, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh do NOT have the leadership., to sell this idea to their public and merge the 3 countries (artificial creations) into 1. If there can be Mergers in the Corporate Sector, why cant it be done, as all 3 countries are failing (or atleast under-performing). Merger of 3 into 1 would bring in economies of scale. Social Cohesion – and the Idea of “India” would be strengthened. United States of India would become a dominant power on the world-stage.

Pakistan is crumbling.. Bangladesh is imploding.. and India is being pushed by RSS to the brink. What right have fanatics (of any persuasion) got, to kill innocent people ? Murder cannot be allowed in the name of religion. Unfortunately, in case of mob-violence, the law is totally ineffective. Post 1947, we have witnessed thousands of riots… some names come to mind.. Ahmedabad 1969.. Bhagalpur.. Aligarh riots.. Hashimpura UP (The State.. i.e. the Police (PAC) kills 100+ muslim youth in cold blood.. Muradabad (Police-Muslim Riots).. Nellie Massacre.. Mumbai pogrom / genocide 1993 (Post Babri Masjid Demolition).. Ahmedabad (Post Godhra pogrom / genocide 2002).. the false encounters (Sohrabuddin.. an engineer in Mumbai.. a girl student from Mumbai). Vanzara Mindset has entered the Policeman’s consciousness. With politicians like Modi and policeman like Vanzara, how can law and order remain IMPARTIAL.

Once the IMPARTIALITY of the administration is compromised, merit is thrown to the winds. Merit is gone…

India, Pakistan and Bangladesh have to merge into 1 nation. Only that will bring in peace. Hindu-Muslim-Sikh-Christian-Parsis… are more aware today than 1947. Religion should be in the personal domain. The State should be secular… and treat all its citizens as equals (and tax them at standard rate). This is an academic suggestion.. However, ground reality is ugly. Watola Village, Bhainsa, Andhra Pradesh is the reality of today.. 13 October 2008.

Millions will die in genocides in India. RSS has decided to go in for ethnic cleansing of Indian Muslims. (One dead is one less). It took RSS, 80 years (1926-2008) to heat things up to a level they are today. Incite Hindu Youth to rape / kill and burn alive the Muslim… and consider it as a Service to Mother India.

RSS dreams of an age of flying chariots… an India where only Hindus reside.. the caste system strengthened.. A mindset contrary to the spirit of the indian constitution… but the indian constitution today is a creation on paper. It is very weak on the ground. It does NOT apply in the State of Guajrat. Banks, Govt. Offices, residences of Govt. Officials portray Hindu Dieties… Raj Bhavans, Official Residences in Secular India have small temples on their premises.. That is in stark contrast to India’s “academic” secular status.

Everyone must have the freedom to profess his religion and love its symbolism… however fanatics (of any religion) have no right to kill / burn alive.. innocent Indians.. and fellow citizens (who pray in a different way)..

By: Vandana

Vandana — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 04:28:31 +0000

It does not matter who is to blame more.Things happened that led to 1947.The question is where do the three countries go from here.Do we continue as three bitter foes,as uneasy neighbours or do we make a loose federation of three seperate nations?People have to answer this one.half of Bangladesh is pouring into India on a daily basis insearch of jobs ( and these are Muslims) so one must question this whole structure that exists today.Plainly religious identity as a base for country is no longer enough for the ordinary citizen of Bangladesh.he needs job and bread.How to improve living conditions of all three countries should be the aim.Jo hua 1947 mein cannnot be undone but maybe we can improve things for future generations.

By: Dastagir

Dastagir — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 12:02:07 +0000

Vandana : Very true.. Gandhi ji and Patel’s roller coaster of partition, amply partnered by Jinnah led to this man-made disaster. Who is more to blame ? History will bare truths. Maybe people themselves are bad with character flaws.

By: Vandana

Vandana — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 09:40:18 +0000

Gandhi ji and Patel’s “roller coaster”of partition was amply partenerd by Jinnah and his band too.Your comment would have been good to read but for the blatant blame heaping on to one side.Gandhi’s views on remodelling India post partition, were toxic as per you but what did Jinnah do?He dumped his life long secularity to plump for a Muslim state.In this blame game all are equally guilty and your comment does not reflect that.

By: Dastagir

Dastagir — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 08:33:55 +0000

Indeed, it was “Paradise Lost” ! Cabinet Mission Plan 1946 was the last attempt to save United India from the avoidable man-made disaster.

Basically a loose center, and residual powers with the states (Sarkaria Commission i.e. ) was the right strategy for the United States of India. But fears (real & imaginary); brandishing of swords / pistols / the threat of civil dis-obedience, mass movement, non-violent non-co-operation, social boycott (mobocracy i.e.), etc. vitiated the atmosphere. This is a long story, i can claim to say a few words on it having devoted 15 years exclusively on it. I say this much : India’s freedom struggle against the British, as it ripened, eventually became a battle-ground between Hindus & Muslims. Freedom took a back-seat. The Hindu position was (Gandhi ji’s world-view and he had his own reasons for it) that more imporant than getting political freedom from the British (India became free for the most part in 1935 itself after the Govt. of India Act 1935 came into existence); was : How to rid India of its “Muslim” influence. How to bring about a new hindu consciousness / symbology, totally free of Muslim influences. In short, a new world-view.. a revived total Hindu world-view. In United India, that was difficult. Hence partition (Gandhiji said : (on 1946 Cabinet Mission Plan) : “But this is worst THAN partition”). Muslims (for their part) wanted to evolve and develop an area based on their world-view. Hindus ( People NOT muslims, i.e…. Ambedkar was forced by Gandhi ji to agree including Harijans (Untouchables / Dalits), as part and parcel of the “Hindu Pie”… Gandhiji knew he could not match the intellectual stature of Ambedkar so he sought Tagore’s help.. He came from Bengal to pursuade Ambedkar ! End result : Poona Pact., wherein reservations for Dalits (Harijans.. as Gandhi ji called.. for root of the word please research.. it means… kids who do not know who his/her father is… Hence., Ambedkar protested over it and coined the word “Dalit”). Reservations / Quotas were agreed upon. In other words, reservations (jobs/benefits etc), were a price to given to Dalits, to KEEP them within the Hindu Fold.

So it was all very messy. Main reason was the fear communities had for each other… that one will engulf the other. Of course, being in power Britain played a dirty role widening communal divides…. It encouraged RSS and Hindu Maha Sabha (Madan Mohan Malaviya)… and right-wing elements within Muslims… side-lining SANE voices among both communities.

Bhulabhai Desai was the Leader of Congress in the Central Assembly (Indian Parliament, i.e.). He tried to keep India united until the end… Nobody remembers him today… There is only a road in Mumbai (Bombay) after him. Maulana Azad was the only person (stumbling block) in the way of the Partition Roller-coaster., driven by Gandhi ji and Sardar Patel. (Read Ayesha Jalal’s book… and a dozen others on subject… analyse what really happened). FEAR led to this man-made disaster. RIOTS that were unleashed by the RSS (Gurmukhteshwar etc), that shook India. Symbolic acts / statements of the Sikhs etc… In short., an ugly social environment. There was no time to reflect soberly. Britain PREPONED partition of India from 1948 to the summer of 1947… WHY ?

Partition (and the rivers of blood and tears that followed) was the price Indians were made to pay for asking Britain to leave. Britain played divide and rule; and the people themselves had a narrow world-view. Lack of education / awareness coupled with poverty. An environment of fear fuelled by rumours… Gandhi ji wanted to re-build India’s consciousness according to his world-view (which he presumed… and rightly presumed as the “Hindu World-view”). By Hindu World-view., he meant… something that is totally free of Muslim/Islamic symbolism !

60 years hence, in 2008., it all looks so naive… so childish… and so stupid. Hindu Pani.. Muslim Pani… at railway stations… Sikhs brandishing swords… the killings.. the murders.. the rapes.. the tears… the police looking side-ways… official media nobody trusts… To this date, Police and Public are alienated. Why ? Police remained “The State”.. (as they were during British Rule). Alienated from the populace.

Its a long story… a very painful one… it was primarily a man-made disaster. Of course, each party justified it with its own logic… but in the main…. United States of India would have been a great proposition. The full potential of the country was eternally damaged. In a United States of India, there would be no Taliban or RSS. The middle-ground (sane voices)… would have taken root… leading to more progress.. more light… more sanity.. and more peace.