Restraint needed in the Bombay debris
[Note from Hindu Vivek Kendra: Once again we see so-called liberal publications blaming the Hindu's for the problems that have been inflicted on them by forces of Islamic terrorism. This is the classic attitude of dhimmitude, which extends even in their own countries, where they try to say that the roots of the terrorism is in the so-called poverty of the Muslims. Thus we have an absurd statement like; "Damaging too is that the country's 140m Muslims have not been lifted by India's rising economic tide." That is, it is the fault of the Hindus that the Muslims are poor, or that the Hindus have deliberately kept the Muslims poor.]
Even for a region pockmarked by blasts and shootings, the scale of the bombing of Bombay raises concerns about the stability of south Asia. The city port has been rocked by a series of explosions in the last few months, but Monday's attacks, which claimed more than 50 lives, were the biggest for nearly a decade.
In targeting India's bustling commercial capital, the bombers struck at the heart of a nation's economic renaissance. Those who planted the bombs were unperturbed that death would be spread among Bombay's Hindu majority and its sizeable Muslim minority. This at a time when India and Pakistan, whose enmity is rooted in a religious divide which has lasted the 56 years since the pair were separated at birth, were talking about peace. India's politicians have not emphatically pointed the finger of blame at Pakistan, but their words will have left few in doubt as to whom they hold responsible for the carnage.
There is no question that Pakistan is used as a base by bombers to launch attacks in Indian-administered Kashmir. In Pakistan, some have bent Islam to propagate hate - despite its message of peace. Similarly in India, Hinduism is being polluted by extremists. Last year's riots in Gujarat confirmed that anti-Muslim prejudice could murderously explode if tended to by religious bigots. The nation's history is also being rewritten in saffron ink - and being used to justify the razing of mosques on the grounds that they were built on Hindu temples.
India's democracy is being battered
by such forces. Damaging too is that the country's 140m Muslims have not
been lifted by India's rising economic tide. None of this justifies the
murder and mayhem. What both sides need to display is restraint. The thaw
in relations between Islamabad and New Delhi has only yielded tiny improvements
in relations - a bus service has restarted and diplomatic ties have been
restored. But the rapprochement will get nowhere if both sides do not break
free from the prison of the past. Both Pakistan and India will have to
move from trading insults and shells across disputed borders and become
serious about treading the road to peace. There will be elements in both
countries who will seek to derail any compromise or deal. Bombay's blasts
must be seen in this light. Leaders in both nations must stop envenoming
tongues and minds and offer a way, instead, to replace antipathy with amity.
Letter sent to Guardian UK
Dear Sir,
I am writing in response to edotorial/article "Prisoners of the past" (The Guardian, August 27, 2003). While trying to portray to be balanced, still you go on to blame India and Hindus for the deadly bomb blasts in Mumbai. And sadly whoever wrote the article is grossly ignorant of the basic facts about Hindus and Muslims in the Indian subcontinent, and about Islam in general.
About Islam the article says: "In Pakistan, some have bent Islam to propagate hate - despite its message of peace." Pray, please inform your readership where and which page does Islam -- the Koran, its only Holy Book -- calls for peace with other religions. Please do inform if even once does the Koran says "All religions are equal and good" or "it really does not matter what religion one follows as long as one does good deeds."
Please do mail me such quotes from the Koran.
I can quote numerous passages from the Koran that call for killing of those who don't believe in Islam.
The article goes on to say "Last year's riots in Gujarat confirmed that anti-Muslim prejudice could murderously explode if tended to by religious bigots" but fail to mention who started the cycle of hatred in India. India gave sanctuary to the persecuted of the earth from the Jews to Christians to the Parsis who were hounded from their homeland by the Muslims. Even the Muslims lived peacefully in India.
Sir, do you have any idea of how many million Hindus have been massacred by the Muslims in India. Pray please read "History of India as told by its own historians" (8 volumes) compiled by the officers of the British Empire -- Sir H M Elliot and John Dowson.
Please be informed.
The article further goes on to say "The nation's history is also being rewritten in saffron ink -- and being used to justify the razing of mosques on the grounds that they were built on Hindu temples." I used to have high regards for the profession of journalism. I used to think journalists are well informed and well read individuals. But I am beginning to have my doubts.
Sir, do you have any idea how many Hindu temples were demolished by the Muslims in India and mosques built in place? Of course how would you know? Evidently whoever wrote the editorial hasn't read Indian history.
Razing of one mosque has been converted into "razing of mosques." Had you read the above 8 volume compilation, you would have known the truth.
Regarding this mosque -- it was not mosques -- please look up your own countrywoman Annette Beveridge's translation of Baburbnama. She translated it in 1920s -- long before it was an issue of such proportions.
The editorial went on to disparage India for "Damaging too is that the country's 140m Muslims have not been lifted by India's rising economic tide." As if it is India's -- read Hindus' -- fault for the Muslims being poor and uneducated?
Let me quote the first paragraph of a report published in your newspaper of August 7, 2001:
"Latest government figures for 2000 showed 62% of Indians got five or more GCSE grades A to C, up from 38% in 1992. By contrast only 30% of Pakistanis and Bangladeshis earned five such grades, and only 37% of blacks."
I need not tell you that Pakistanis and Bangladeshis are equivalent to Muslims and Indians to Hindus. Is it also India's fault that the Muslims in the UK ar e fairing so bad as compared to the Hindus?
Other reports about the Muslims in the UK could not hidden from your paper. I need not go into them.
Sir, Pakistan, as its name implies is a pure country of the Muslims. Is the educational and economic condition of the Muslims in Pakistan any better than of the Muslims in India?
Let me tell of another instance of Muslims' education levels. Aurangzeb, the sixth Mughal emperor of India was a puritanical Muslim who is reported to have memorized the entire Koran. He had banned public practice of any religion other than Islam. He had issued orders to demolish every Hindu temple; and hundreds were demolished all across India -- but evidently your esteemed newspaper is not aware of this. But anyway, coming back to the topic at hand -- he also issued orders that in any position of head clerk and above, only Muslims should be employed. To his utter dismay he found there were not enough educated and qualified Muslims to fill the jobs. And, sadly, he had to agree to fill 50% of the jobs with the Hindus.
But your newspaper does not talk about this.
Sir, you are wrong when you say "This at a time when India and Pakistan, whose enmity is rooted in a religious divide which has lasted the 56 years since the pair were separated at birth". Muslim hatred of Hindus is much older, at least since 712 CE when Muhammad bin Kasim invaded Sind. His victory over King Dahir was followed by the three days of Hindu massacre. This was just first of the massacres that lasted for several centuries. The biggest was by Timurlang who massacred 100,000 Hindu prisoners in one day -- unsurpassable and unparalleled feat in the annals of world history. A fact he himself recorded in his memoirs.
Pray, please do read Elliot and Dowson before embarking upon another ill-informed article.
Sir, public gets its information from newspapers. Media is supposed to be the upholder of values, specially in democratic societies. We all look forward to informed and balanced stories for guidance and information.
Sir, to say the least, I was disappointed by this ill informed writing in your highly esteemed newspaper. No journalist, I had ever imagined could be so ill-informed.
There are other issues I could address but I will let them pass.
May I make a request -- please stop preaching to the Hindus. They have already been victims for centuries. Preach to the cause -- not to the effect.
Sincerely,
Vinod Kumar
USA