+- Forums (http://india-forum.com)
+-- Forum: Archives (http://india-forum.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=7)
+--- Forum: Trash Can (http://india-forum.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=20)
+--- Thread: The Great Indian Political Debate - 2 (/showthread.php?tid=758)
The Great Indian Political Debate - 2 - Guest - 09-27-2005
Mahabali,
Have you read anything about Sri Ramakrishna? If not, at least read a book called "The gospel of Sri Ramakrishna", where the author records his first hand observations on Sri Ramakrishna's life.
If you say you have read about him and still hold such views, then you will have to debate and defend your views. Because either you haven't understood what you read, or you have a hidden agenda, (or you have really some good reasons). The reasons(?) you provided in your post so far are infantile. So I do hope you have real solid reasons lined up.
And if you haven't read enough about him and still are ready to pontificate, then well, be ready to be pontificated upon.
P.S.
I am in a real dilemma after reading your post. I wish I had your ability to decide so easily whether someone is "mentally deranged" or "not a human". By applying your standards of reasoning(?) to your post, I can't decide whether or not you are "mentally deranged" or whether you are really a "human". If you could give some pointers as to whther you escaped from Ranchi or Agra recently or if some UFO dropped you on earth, then that would explain a lot.
The Great Indian Political Debate - 2 - Guest - 09-29-2005
(fwd)
"We are not ruling out the possibility of an alliance before the elections with Muslim or other minority political parties having secular and progressive credentials," Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said.
A political party of or for Muslims/a religious minority can be secular/progressive, but a political party of/for Hindus/the majority becomes "fundamentalist".
This is Nehruvian secularism.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->http://dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?main_variable=STATES&file_name=state1%2Etxt&counter_img=1
The Pioneer, Sept 24, 2005
<b>Poll time: Parties woo Muslims in Assam </b>
Syed Zarir Hussain/ Guwahati
Come elections and minority Muslims in Assam become the heartthrob of all political parties; this time too the scene is no different with Assembly polls scheduled for early next year.
Â
The ruling Congress in Assam has already sounded the poll bugle by hinting at the possibility of a pre-poll alliance with minority Muslim political parties.
"We are not ruling out the possibility of an alliance before the elections with Muslim or other minority political parties having secular and progressive credentials," Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said.
Muslims in Assam, who account for about 30 per cent of the State's 26 million people, have for decades been at the centrestage of electoral politics with the community holding the key in at least 40 of the 126 Assembly constituencies.
The Congress is worried this time with at least 12 influential linguistic and religious minority groups led by the Assam chapter of the Jamiat Ulema trying to float a political party.
The Muslims and the Bengali speaking linguistic minority voters in Assam have been traditional Congress supporters. The decision to form a political party by the minority groups in the State comes in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision in July to repeal the controversial Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act. The 22-year-old Act was replaced with the Foreigners Act of 1946.
Assam Jamiat Ulema president Badruddin Azmal has been on record saying religious and linguistic minorities in Assam will not vote for the Congress as the party failed to defend the IMDT Act from being repealed.
"Despite Azmal and few others trying to project we are anti-Muslim, I am sure the Congress party would be getting support from the minority voters than before as our Government have undertaken a slew of welfare and development schemes for the community," the Chief Minister said.
Barring the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), political formations like the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the AGP (Progressive) led by Prafulla Kumar Mahanta too are trying hard to enlist the support of the minorities in the upcoming elections.
"We have all along been espousing the cause of the minorities and really concerned about their welfare unlike the Congress who use the minority people as their vote bank and forget the community after elections," AGP president Brindaban Goswami said.
The Congress, however, rejects the AGP charges. "We are bringing out a white paper on the various development schemes taken by our Government for the welfare of the minority people," Gogoi said.
Â
For the next few months until the polls, minority leaders of all hues would be much sought after by the mainstream political parties. "Before every election, the minority parties and their leaders are much in demand and once the elections are over, all promises made by political parties disappear in thin air," said Habib Hussain, a Muslim youth leader. "Our community leaders should not fall in their trap this time," he warned. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The Great Indian Political Debate - 2 - Guest - 10-02-2005
Charade of minority-majority continues!
http://news.indiainfo.com/columns/guru/092...minorities.html
S Gurumurthy
September 28, 2005
"There is no majority in India. All are minorities among Hindus who are divided
on caste lines." This is not a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) lamenting about
disunity among Hindus.
"The word 'Hindu' conveys the image of diverse groups of communities living in
India". This is not a declaration of the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh)
about India's Hindu character.
"If claims of sections of Indian society to the status of 'minority' are
considered and conceded, there would be no end to such claims in a society as
multi-religious and multi-linguistic that India is". This is not an extract
from any resolution of BJP's (Bharatiya Janata Party) National Executive Meet.
"Commissions set up for minorities have to direct their activities to maintain
integrity and unity of India by gradually eliminating the minority and majority
classes". This is not a majoritarian wish list.
"The constitutional ideal is to create social conditions where there remains no
necessity to shield or protect the rights of minority". This is not the dream
of a constitutional idealist.
This is what the Supreme Court has said in a recent judgement on whether the
Jain community constitutes a national minority or not!
The Jain community had pleaded that it be regarded as minority under the
Constitution. Rejecting the claim unhesitatingly, the Court said Jains are
integral to the Hindu faith. It did not stop at that. It exposed the naked fact
that, there is an absence of a constitutional, political majority in India. It
said, "In a caste-ridden Indian society, no section or distinct group of people
can claim to be in majority". That is, according to the Court, Hindus are not a
majority.
Thus, we have the paradox of an ever-expanding list of minorities on the one
hand, and on the other, a non-existent majority! Yet, the Seculars keep warning
us about 'majoritarianism', threatening to extinguish all minorities, while the
highest Court says there is no majority in the country! The highest Court has
in effect lamented that we keep generating more and more minorities instead of
assimilating the existing ones.
Historically, how did the idea of minority and the demand for their special care
and protection originate in our Constitution? This is how, traced the Courtâ¦
The British attempt 'to form separate electorates' on the basis of population of
Hindus and Muslims led to a "demand for reservations of constituencies and
seats in the first elected Government to be formed in free India". "Resistance
to such demands by Hindu and some Muslim leaders ultimately led to partition of
India and formation of separate Muslim State", Pakistan, it added.
If it were a pre-Partition political paralysis, how did it get into our
Constitution, post Partition? This is how, "Against this background of
Partition, it felt necessary, to 'allay the apprehensions and fears' in the
minds of Muslims and other religious communities by providing them special
protection of their religious, cultural and educational rights", SC said.
Undeniably, such fears were deliberately generated among Muslims then, to
justify the Partition and the need for special protection for minorities in the
Constitution. But, even after Partition, this political distortion continued as
the seculars systematically kept alive this fear psychosis to further divide
the majority and minority, and also give political, constitutional legitimacy
to it.
It is in this context that the Court felt concerned about the trend among Hindu
communities to seek minority status for constitutional privileges. It warned,
"Many of them claim status as minority and expect protection from the state. If
each minority group fears the other group", the court added, that "would create
an atmosphere of mutual fear, distrust and pose a serious threat to the
integrity of our nation". It would "sow seeds of multi-nationalism in India",
it warned.
SC pointed out that, "The ideal of a democratic society, which has adopted right
of equality as its fundamental creed, should eliminate the majority and
minority concepts". The Court counselled the Minority Commission not to
proliferate, but instead prune the list of minorities, so that over a period
they 'are done away with altogether.'
Indeed, it is a profound judgement with letters worth of gold, yet there is not
a single article about it in the media or a sentence from the columnists. The
Secular megaphones are deafeningly silent. They would shout in chorus 'abide by
Court verdict' on, say, the Ram Temple issue. But will they ever say that the
profound words of the highest Court in this judgement should be respected,
accepted?
No, for if they do, their secular charade cannot continue. For them the
minorities have to be protected, even if majority does not exist or has to be
invented.
This is the Indian secular theatre, with more and more communities queuing up to
be listed as minorities, and no one willing to bear the cross of the majority.
Thus moves on a country full of minorities, each of them demanding only rights
and privileges, and with no political, constitutional majority on the other
side to bear the responsibility for the nation.
The Great Indian Political Debate - 2 - acharya - 10-05-2005
We have one more psec into Indian festival
Setting the tone for a `secular' Dasara
Special Correspondent
MYSORE: Dasara celebrations, which signify the victory of good over evil were inaugurated atop the Chamundi Hills on Tuesday. The 10-day cultural extravaganza will showcase "Brand Mysore" in all its glory.
Kannada litterateur Baragur Ramachandrappa set the tone for the celebrations with an incisive analysis of the metaphysical elements of Dasara and stressed the need to include contemporary and secular aspects in the celebrations without diluting their essence.
The inauguration of the celebrations witnessed a departure from tradition as Mr. Ramachandrappa did not light a lamp at the Chamundeshwari temple. He lit a lamp on the dais and pointed out the imperatives of accommodating individual beliefs as well as tradition and sentiments of the people in a democracy.
The Great Indian Political Debate - 2 - acharya - 10-05-2005
Benegal slams NDA for 'saffronising' Bollywood
Aligarh, Oct 5. (PTI):Bollywood reflected "saffron" agenda during the NDA regime popularising a misconception by tying Pakistan and Muslims on a single string, noted film-maker Shyam Benegal said here on Tuesday.
"Saffronisation of the polity during late 1990s was sharply reflected in popular Hindi cinema made in that period. Some of the Hindi films made during that period displayed an intransigence where Pakistan and Muslims are made synonymous," he said delivering the annual Sir Syed Memorial Lecture at Aligarh Muslim University.
Speaking on 'Secularism and Indian Popular Cinema,' he said, "nationalism and by implication secularism was considerably narrowed down and made an exclusive preserve of the Hindu Community."
"You can see this in J P Dutta's hit film 'Border.' Excessive jingoism is even more crudely depicted in another film Ghadar," Benegal, whose latest film on Subhash Chandra Bose created a controversy, said.
However, he said, the same period also gave rise to successful films like Lagan, Fiza and Bombay which equated an "inclusive secular unity with nationalism".
The film-maker, who was among the pioneers of new wave cinema in the country, said the horrific riots in Gujarat "aided by the non-action of the state" had threatened to dangerously divide the polity and entire edifice of the society.
Urging film makers to confront the challenges faced by Indian society, Benegal said, "imaging of the minorities in popular cinema constitutes an excellent barometer of the attitudes in the cinema. It can easily be considered the coal miners canary of Indian society."
u
The Great Indian Political Debate - 2 - Guest - 10-05-2005
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Benegal slams NDA for 'saffronising' Bollywood
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->Its other way round. Thats what one can expect from leftist, demonize majority everywhere.
The Great Indian Political Debate - 2 - Bharatvarsh - 10-05-2005
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Setting the tone for a `secular' Dasara<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This is secular inculturation into Hindu festivals to subvert and destroy our religion, there is nothing secular about Dasara, it is a Hindu festival and these secular traitors should be stoned.
The Great Indian Political Debate - 2 - shamu - 10-05-2005
Secularists and missionaries have been secularising Onam and Initiation of Education on Vijaya Dashami in Kerala. They were unique Kerala Hindu customs.
The Great Indian Political Debate - 2 - Guest - 10-05-2005
The "Saffronization" actually makes the casteism go away, (not propagate whatever tattva they talk about and scare people with), and hence "secular" parties are scared of it. It solves the rigid caste (birth based) inequities, it is a solution of hindus, by hindus for hindus.
<!--QuoteBegin-Mudy+Oct 5 2005, 07:01 AM-->QUOTE(Mudy @ Oct 5 2005, 07:01 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Benegal slams NDA for 'saffronising' Bollywood
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->Its other way round. Thats what one can expect from leftist, demonize majority everywhere.
[right][snapback]39034[/snapback][/right]
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The Great Indian Political Debate - 2 - acharya - 10-06-2005
Ideology alone is permanent
Prafull Goradia
On the occasion of the 89th birth anniversary of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee made an interesting observation on ideology. He felt that the RSS was somewhat rigid whereas, in his opinion, there should be no restriction on thinking.
He also believed that, with regard to ideology, there was no final principle and that it should be beneficial to humankind as a whole. Whether one can agree with the BJP leader or not, would depend on an analysis of what ideology is and its function in the context of the interest of the people it represents.
The word 'ideology' was coined in 1796 by French writer ALC Destutt de Tracy as a name for his own science of ideas. Tracy relied on John Locke and Etienne Bonnot de Condillac as well as on Francis Bacon's faith in the value of scientific knowledge. In other words, ideology is a theory of society - rather like Karl Marx's materialistic interpretation of history. Marxism is an example of ideology that represents the interest of the proletariat or the working class. Hindutva is another example of an ideology that should represent the interest of Hindus.
Circumstances change, as also do the allies and adversaries of a movement. Although Hindu interests have continually clashed with those of Muslim invaders since 712 AD, yet circumstances have varied depending on whether the ruler was Akbar, Aurangzeb or the East India Company. The situation also differed between the pre-partition decades and those after independence. Hindu interests, however, have not changed. While speaking on Article 19 (at present Article 25 on the freedom to propagate any religion) in the Constituent Assembly on December 3, 1948, Lokanath Misra called it the 'blackest part' of the Constitution. He went on to add that the freedom to propagate religion resulted in dividing India into two countries. He also opposed the declaration of Hindustan as a secular state, if it meant as an euphemism for the propagation of Islam.
<b>
BR Ambedkar also rejected the freedom of religious instruction, as he believed that in Islam no research or fresh study was permitted because Mohammad was considered the last prophet.</b> With the demand of reserving seats for Muslims, a virtual re-enactment of pre-partition days has begun. This only shows how enduringly important is the defence of Hindu interests.
For a comparison, protecting.employment and welfare is a permanent interest of workers, whether in pre-Marxist times, during the life of the red prophet or thereafter. Even after the demise of Communism in Europe, the workers across the world continue to have their employment and welfare as an ongoing interest to defend. How to defend and against whom are matters of circumstances as history unfolds.
The Vajpayee-led BJP has, however, abandoned some of Hindu interests. For example, its pledge to restore temples that were desecrated and converted into mosques. Their recovery is not only a Hindu right, but also a matter of justice. For a country that has already given up 30 per cent of its territory for the sake of giving Muslims a homeland, the perpetuation of Muslim loot of sacred Hindu property cannot be justified.
The BJP did not do anything, nor did it take any steps for the restitution of Ramjanmabhoomi. Although Hindus, Sikhs and Christians of Jammu & Kashmir were anxious to be integrated with the rest of the country, Article 370 was allowed to continue just for the sake of placating Muslim public opinion. An Indian, therefore, cannot acquire property in the State, but a Kashmiri can do whatever he likes in the rest of the country.
The introduction of Uniform Civil Code, which was also a part of the BJP manifesto, is an essential Hindu expectation. Why should members of one community have a right to polygamy and the procreation of children without number, whereas all the other Indians have been exhorted to limit their family to only two? <b>The message that comes clearly is that the BJP has confused ideology with opportunism, and the party is now justifying its appeasement of the NDA allies in the name of free thinking. </b>Whether the party was thrown out of power in the 2004 general election due to its opportunism or not, is a matter of opinion. But be that as it may, none of these factors justified the alteration of ideology in the name of fresh ideas.
The RSS has been lenient. It has not insisted on adhering to Hindutva. In fact, a number of its members, who are office-bearers of the BJP, allowed the party to abandon Hindutva at its chintan baithak held in Goa in August 2004. While the Sangh is correct in not interfering with the policies of a political party, it is not appropriate to allow a single party to enjoy a monopoly over RSS support. In fact, the pursuit of the Sangh should be to enable and encourage anyone committed to Hindutva in any political party. After all, its mission is to protect and promote Hindu culture and Hindu interests, and not to sponsor a single political party.
The Great Indian Political Debate - 2 - Guest - 10-10-2005
<!--QuoteBegin-Ashok Kumar+Sep 26 2005, 04:21 PM-->QUOTE(Ashok Kumar @ Sep 26 2005, 04:21 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->Mahabali,
Have you read anything about Sri Ramakrishna? If not, at least read a book called "The gospel of Sri Ramakrishna", where the author records his first hand observations on Sri Ramakrishna's life.
If you say you have read about him and still hold such views, then you will have to debate and defend your views. Because either you haven't understood what you read, or you have a hidden agenda, (or you have really some good reasons). The reasons(?) you provided in your post so far are infantile. So I do hope you have real solid reasons lined up.
And if you haven't read enough about him and still are ready to pontificate, then well, be ready to be pontificated upon.
P.S.
I am in a real dilemma after reading your post. I wish I had your ability to decide so easily whether someone is "mentally deranged" or "not a human". By applying your standards of reasoning(?) to your post, I can't decide whether or not you are "mentally deranged" or whether you are really a "human". If you could give some pointers as to whther you escaped from Ranchi or Agra recently or if some UFO dropped you on earth, then that would explain a lot.
[right][snapback]38829[/snapback][/right]
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Ashok,
Mentally deraged people are curable but there's no cure for "secular"-hoot-n-scoot artists.
The Great Indian Political Debate - 2 - acharya - 10-18-2005
Send this Article to a Friend
<b>V.P. Singh in favour of AMU's minority status</b>
"The fact that AMU is an aided institution does not dilute its minority character"
ALIGARH: Former Indian Prime Minister V.P. Singh said on Monday that denying minority status to Aligarh Muslim University on the ground that it is an aided institution was ``unconstitutional''. He favoured enactment of a law to accord such a status to it if the Supreme Court ruled otherwise. ``The mere fact that the AMU is an aided institution in no way dilutes its minority character. Any such conclusion will negate the spirit of Article 30 (2) which prevents States from discriminating against any institution on the basis of religion or language,'' Mr. Singh said while addressing the Sir Syed Day Commemoration celebrations in the University campus here.
"No discrimination"
The Constitution, Mr. Singh said, lays down that ``the State shall not, in granting aid to educational institutions, discriminate against any educational institution on the ground that it is under the management of minority, whether based on religion or language.'' Strongly advocating the need for preserving and protecting the minority character of AMU, Mr. Singh said the Supreme Court has held that in the name of providing aid, minority institutions cannot be taken over by the government''.
``Thus, the mere fact that AMU is an aided institution in no way dilutes its minority character,'' he said in the backdrop of the recent Allahabad High Court ruling revoking the institution's minority character. Hopingss that the apex court would take a ``favourable'' view in this regard, he said ``if by any chance there is a setback at that State, then the government should be prepared to make necessary amendments in the law for preserving and protecting minority institution status.''
Justifying the recent move of AMU to provide 50 per cent reservation to Muslims in post-graduate medical courses that led to fresh litigation on the count, Mr. Singh said AMU's decision to reform its admission policy was aimed at protecting minority rights in national interest. ``It was against this constitutional backdrop and the proven educational backwardness of Muslims, that the AMU decided to reform its admission policy," he said.
The former Prime Minister urged the AMU community not to be disheartened by recent developments. ``I am sure that the University will try its best to preserve its unique minority character. The entire nation is with you,'' he added. - PTI
The Great Indian Political Debate - 2 - Guest - 10-18-2005
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->V.P. Singh in favour of AMU's minority status<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I still wonder why people like him get cured from even cancer when real nice people die with disease.
The Great Indian Political Debate - 2 - acharya - 10-25-2005
`<b>Needed, a new proletarian front to fight communalism'</b>
Staff Reporter
`Communal forces are trying to distort history'
K.N. Panikkar
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Noted historian K.N. Panikkar on Monday said communalism has been able to penetrate the working class organisations in the country by taking advantage of the latter's cultural shortcomings.
Battle
Communalism cannot be fought on the political front alone. It needs to be tacked in the realm of ideas and in the realm of culture. No single proletarian organisation can carry forward this multi-faceted battle against communalism and the most recent threats posed by the forces of globalisation. So a new umbrella organisation, representing all facets of life and a new leadership, is needed to fight communalism and globalisation on all fronts, he said.
<b>
Dr. Panikkar was speaking after releasing the Malayalam translation of Communist Party of India (Marxist) central committee member Sukomal Sen's book `Working Class of India: History of Emergence and Movement' at a function organised by the Kerala NGO Union here.</b>
Globalisation
Today, globalisation is driving workers away from the workplace. The forces propagating the consumerist culture by trying to inculcate in the working class, a middle class way of life need to be resisted. <b>It is heartening to note that working class organisations are beginning to realise the need to fight communalism and globalisation at the same time.</b>
History books
Communal forces are also trying to distort the history of the people of this country by negating the role of the working class in the freedom movement. <b>"In the history books written for schoolchildren by these communal forces, you will not find any reference to the working class," he said. There exists a pressing need to reclaim the history of the people from the clutches of communal forces.</b>
Books such as the one written by Mr. Sen can go a long way in helping the working class reclaim history from the communal forces.
<i>
Mr. Sen's book is authoritative and seminal in two ways; one because its assertions are based on verifiable documents and secondly because the book uses fundamental Marxian principles to provide an interpretation to the events it chronicles. The book shows how the nation-wide strikes called by the working class were attempts at taking forward progressive politics in the country.</i>
"Sen's book should be translated in more Indian languages. I have also asked today's organisers to ensure that in the next few months widespread discussions are held based on this book. Moreover, it would be useful if an abridged edition of this book was published," Dr. Panikkar added.
CITU general secretary P.K. Gurudasan received the first copy of the book.
Mr. Sen was also present on the occasion.
<img src='http://www.hindu.com/2005/10/25/images/2005102518140301.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
The Great Indian Political Debate - 2 - Guest - 10-25-2005
<b>Secularism: A Conspectus of its Consequences</b>
Adity Sharma
October 23, 2005
IndiaCause
The Great Indian Political Debate - 2 - Guest - 10-31-2005
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>For Indiaâs survival Hinduism has to prevail</b>
By Alexander Zinoviev
Organiser, October 23, 2005
In Europe and all over the world nowadays it is very popular to speak and discuss about Indian culture, ancient Indian philosophy and the glorious past of the country. In everyday life Europeans constantly hear or read in the media about some new yoga seminar being organised, or about the appearance of a new guru in Western countries, drawing the public attention. They hear superlatives about ancient Indian culture over and over again from different places and in different contexts.
But what is worth so much activity, so many words, and do they really help people understand the actual state of modern Hinduism and the challenges that stand before it? I would sayânot at all!
The truth is that the situation of modern Hinduism, of all India, is far from perfect. In fact, it is alarming, if not altogether catastrophic. Even if some Indiansâthe so-called âsecularistsââdo not realise that, it is more than obvious that Hinduism is fading in obscurity, its relative influence in Asia is decreasing with every month, with every day. Perhaps we are living at the last centuries of Indian civilisation and the situation of todayâs Hindus is very similar to the Iranians from the late Zoroastrian age or Ptolemaic Egypt. Drastic steps must be undertaken very soon, or Hindus will share the fate of these great nations of the past.
Whatâs the problem?
About one thousand years ago, a horde of savage tribes rushed down from the wild Bactrian Mountains (modern Afghanistan) and occupied the Indus Valley, bringing a new aggressive religion of non-Indian originâIslam. In the course of the next centuries, this new religionâwith violence or persuasionâcontinuously expanded its territory and increased the number of its followers. In 1000 the relative share of Muslims in the Indian subcontinent was around zero per cent, in 1400 they were already around 3.5 per cent, in 1700, 10 per cent, in 1890 about 20 per cent, in 1945, 25 per cent, and now they are more than 31 per cent, or one-third of the population.
In this long process of Islamisation of India, two characteristic patterns can be distinguished. First, it is a slow process, and second, it is relentless. Unlike the Middle East and Iran, where this religion managed to very rapidly displace the local cults and traditions, completely stifling them for just several decades, in India the propagation of Islam was gradual, extended throughout many centuries, even a whole millennium.
But there is no place for illusions about the processes, taking place on the subcontinent. The truth is that, in India, Islam has never yielded a position once taken, it never withdrew from territories once conquered, and it spread out on the Indian subcontinent relentlessly, year after year, decade after decade, century after century, in what is maybe the most uncompromising, prolonged, and merciless expansion in the history of religions.
It looks like India and Hinduism are doomed, and there is nothing to be done against this unyielding conquest, this tireless offensive, there is no way to reverse things in their advantage. Indeed, if Islam continues to propagate with the same rateâto increase in numbers with 1-1.5 per cent per decadeâin the first half of the next century Muslims will already be the majority of Indian population. Secularists think that one or two hundred years are too big a period and there is no need to worry about the distant future. But the truth is that in terms of the five millennia of Indian history one or two centuries are nothing, they will pass in a blink. Men of wisdom in India say that the human soul is reborn in a new body every few hundred years. So, even in our next life, in our next reincarnation, India will have already ceased to exist.
My views may seem too pessimistic, but the picture is too grim. In fact, what I fear the most is that providence, the supreme spirit, or the force of history acts against Hinduism. Maybe the historical processes lead to such a state of things, when on the planet only the so-called âAbrahamicâ religions will continue to existâChristianity, Islam, and Judaism. Maybe the fact that the great religions of Egypt, Babylon and Persia died out a couple of millennia ago is not accidental. But I would like to believe Hinduism is too valuable for humanity, and sacred Indian books contain too much precious and unique knowledge that it will not sink in oblivion. Iâd like to believe that the principles of Indian philosophy and religion are much more in agreement with the needs for the future than any other religion in the world, in agreement with the tendency, known in Western countries as New Age. Itâs my deep belief that without India the world will sink in spiritual darkness and ignorance.
In this long process of Islamisation of India, two characteristic patterns can be distinguished. First, it is a slow process, and second, it is relentless. Unlike the Middle East and Iran, where this religion managed to very rapidly displace the local cults and traditions, completely stifling them for just several decades, in India the propagation of Islam was gradual.
So, what must be done in order to save Hinduism and stop the Islamic flood? There is only one way and it is called mass conversion of Muslims into Hinduism. If Hindus want to survive, they must convert. They must adopt the strategy of Catholic missionaries and Muslim mullahs. I donât mean only conversion of one-time Hindus that only recently adopted other religions. Hinduism must convert also people of non-Hindu origin. The fact that they live in India is enough because all Indians, notwithstanding their religious affiliation, had once had Hindu ancestors. If a problem arises, in which caste to enlist the newly converted Hindus, that can be determined by lots. This kind of assignment is by no means accidental; it can be regarded as the will of providence, the voice of fate, and it is not surprising that this method was so widely used in antiquityâin Greece and Rome.
There is another question: is it possible to convert Muslims into Hinduism? Because, as it is well known, the followers of this religion hold firmly to their principles, and it is very difficult to change their views. There is a theory that Muslims would never desert their religion, this is absolutely impossible. But this is just a myth. There is a good example from our recent past.
In one neighbouring country to RussiaâBulgariaâthere is area called Rhodopa mountain, populated with Bulgarian-speaking Muslims. Bulgarians, in principle, are Christians, pertaining to the Greek-Orthodox Church. But this very area is populated with Muslims due to the strong Turk influence in the past. In the 15th century Turks forced the local population to renounce Christianity and to adopt Islam as their religion, and defiance was brutally punished. When, in 1526, Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent began his campaign against Western Europe, he said: âI want my soldiers, in their way to Vienna, to pass through Muslim lands only, and this corridor to go up to the very Austrian border.â And his desire almost came true.
But what happened some ten years agoâin the mid-1990s? The local population in the Rhodope Mountains with Bulgarian ethnic consciousness, being well educated and well aware of their history, suddenly decided to re-embrace Christianity. A remarkable man came forward on the religious sceneâFather Boyan Saruev. With his charisma and his unique gift to persuade people, this man of great spiritual power succeeded in converting several hundred Muslims. For a period of seven or eight years between two and three thousand peopleâmainly from the young, educated generationâadopted the Greek-Orthodox creed. This event was so astonishing precedent that it stunned European public, and journalists from many countries came in person to see with their own eyes that it was true.
Obviously, the claim that Muslims can never be persuaded to adopt another religion is nothing but a myth. Under certain conditions, this is quite possible. Very soon such conditions will be present in India, too, because with higher education Muslims will realise that Hinduism is the innate religion of their native country, and Islam is an alien creed forcefully imported from outside. Similarly with the situation when, 600 years ago, during the Renaissance, Western Europeans realised that they were successors of ancient Rome and Greece, and embraced their culture, which for long centuries was being condemned by the Roman Catholic Church as âpaganâ and ânon-Christianâ, one day the Muslims on the Indian subcontinent will understand that they are inheritors of a great civilisation completely different from that of Arabs and the Middle East. This is a problem of education and knowledge.
(The writer is a Russian sociologist and works in Russian Academy of Sciences. He has been many times in India and interested in Indian culture. He has written this article exclusively for Organiser. He can be contacted at zinoviev555@yahoo.com)<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The Great Indian Political Debate - 2 - Guest - 10-31-2005
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>What India has to do for its survival </b>
By Alexander Zinoviev
Organiser, October 30, 2005
The second precondition for a successful mass conversion of Muslims to Hinduism is to ensure that enough talented Hindu preachers, men of exceptional charisma and sufficiently brave, take this difficult and important task. This mission can be carried out by people with great spiritual, even occult power, rather than by intellectuals. In India, there have always been all kinds of mystics, travelling philosophers, sadhus, gurus, yogis, fakirsâpeople with real supernatural power that the whole world admired from times immemorial. But where are they now, why are they asleep when their native country is in danger and needs them the most?
For what is worth the spiritual superiority of India over the whole world, if it cannot be used for its defence? One thousand years ago, in order to resist the Muslim conquest, Christian Europe created a remarkable institutionâthe Order of the Crusaders, the monk-warriors that opposed the Arabs in the conquest of the Holy Lands in Palestine.
Why do they not create in India an Order of Hermit-Warriors, of sadhu-preachers and warriors that would begin the fight against Islam? They would be a real invincible force. Their ancestors from the times of the Mughal Empire and the Bijnapur Sultanate demonstrated miraculous courage and resistance when Muslim rulers arrested and tortured them, burned them alive, broke their limbs and flogged them. The sadhus met these challenges with derision and contempt, without a trace of pain or fear in the eyes. They possessed such spiritual and occult power that the Muslim oppressors were helpless before them, and were stunned by their force.
Maybe the time has come for these people to emerge out of their isolation in the Himalayan caves and to use their talents in the battle against Islam. To work for oneâs own salvation, for oneâs own moksha, is a worthy task, but a selfish one as wellâbecause it is a thousand times worthier to fight for the salvation of oneâs own country when it is in danger.
And so, for decades and centuries, thousands of preachers, missionaries and converters must concentrate in cities, towns and villages in India and Bangladesh, and try to convert as many Muslims as possible to Hinduism. That will be a struggle for every Indian village, for every family, for every single person. It will not be easy and, probably, there will be many casualties, but it will be worth the cause.
In most countries religious parties are supported by nearly 30-40 per cent of all the followers of this religion. In India 40 per cent of all Hindus would mean 30-35 per cent of the whole population, and this is about three times more than the 13 per cent Muslim electors in the country. With such a distribution, all political parties in India, including the Congress Party, would favour Hindu political slogans and would build an image of strong defenders of the Hindutva principles.
The success of this whole campaign must not rely on the government. The initiative, as well as the financing, must come from below, from the very societyâbecause, if the Indian society itself does not feel the need of it, the campaign will fail in its very beginning.
There is a strong criticism towards the BJP, especially its leaders, that since the last election they began to openly court the Muslim minority in order to benefit politically. This criticism towards the BJP is more than justified but, on the other hand, the whole Indian nation is to be blamed for the new orientation of this party, because in the recent election Hindus failed to demonstrate a religious political vision.
If there was a sufficiently numerous class in India, hard and systematically supporting the cause of Hindutva, politicians would not have to court the Muslim minority. In most countries religious parties are supported by nearly 30-40 per cent of all the followers of this religion. In India 40 per cent of all Hindus would mean 30-35 per cent of the whole population, and this is about three times more than the 13 per cent Muslim electors in the country. With such a distribution, all political parties in India, including the Congress Party, would favour Hindu political slogans and would build an image of strong defenders of the Hindutva principles.
Exclusive to Organiser
But unfortunately, most Hindus cannot make the difference between religion and politics, and have secularist views. Unlike most Muslim countries, where Muslim fundamentalist parties are usually winning the elections, in India the religious slogans are not very popular in campaigns. Secularism and the lack of political thinking are the main problems for modern India.
Secularism is the main cause for the biggest absurdity in modern Indian historyâthe birth-control programme. This enterprise is the strongest factor for the immense growth of the Islamic society in India in the last 50 years, and very soon, it must be, if not completely abolished, at least strongly reducedâotherwise Muslims will certainly become a majority on the subcontinent. If the birth-control programme is abolished, it will not cause famine, as this did not happen in Pakistan although, after Pakistani independence, its population has grown twice as fast as Indiaâs, and the climate of this country is drier and less generous than in India. Moreover, the progress of science and technology greatly enhanced the potential for food production all over the world.
Third, for social and cultural reasons, the population growth in India, as in all other countries, will inevitably go down even without birth-control programmes. There is no need for this process to be additionally and artificially stimulated by the government.
Of course, the abolition of birth control in India must be carried out very carefully and without being proclaimed too loudly. If that becomes an official policy, the media will run amuck about it; and if the real reasons behind this measure come to be known this can lead to dangerous reactions from Pakistan and Bangladesh, which will also terminate their modest birth-control programmes. That is why action must be undertaken very discretely and quietly. The easiest way is to reduce considerably the financing and subventions for this programme, to stop most of the school programmes, and to limit the propaganda for two-children families in the media. As a reason for these measures, it can be pointed out that population growth in India is no more so high as before and therefore the government has other, more important social priorities that require economies from the budget.
As for the Hindu middle class, it must adopt a fertile line of behaviour following the example of the Jews in Israel, i.e. to orient towards multi-child families. Since the demographic situation in India and Israel is pretty much alike, and the enemy of both the nations is the same.
(The writer is a Russian sociologist and works in Russian Academy of Sciences. He has been many times in India and is interested in Indian culture. He has written this article exclusively for Organiser. He can be contacted at zinoviev555@yahoo.com)<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The Great Indian Political Debate - 2 - Guest - 11-02-2005
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->http://www.hindu.com/2005/08/16/stories/2005081605520500.htm
<b>Haj: Union Cabinet enhances subsidised travel quota</b>
Special Correspondent
All applicants from the State may be able to join pilgrimage; first flight on December 10
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: All the applicants for Haj this year will be able to undertake the pilgrimage following the enhancement of quota by the Union Government.
The Union Cabinet decided two days ago that the total number of pilgrims permitted to subsidised travel be increased from 82,000 to one lakh.
-------
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The Great Indian Political Debate - 2 - Guest - 11-02-2005
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/854931.cms
<b>Dump the Haj subsidy</b>
EDITORIAL
TIMES NEWS NETWORK [SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2004 12:00:55 AM]
     Â
The government should dump the Haj subsidy, rather than expand its benefit to income-tax payers, as proposed by minister of state for home Sriprakash Jaiswal.
     Â
A secular State has no business subsidising religious pilgrimage. Further, it offers no real benefit to Muslim pilgrims - the 'subsidised' rate they pay is probably higher than what commercial operators would charge for an assured supply of such large volumes of travellers.
   Â
At the same time, the subsidy patronises the pilgrims and becomes an instrumentality of votebank politics. The only gainers from the subsidy are the votaries of communal politics.
Indira Gandhi introduced the Haj subsidy as a temporary measure after the oil crisis of the '70s and it should have been phased out a long time ago.
........
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The Great Indian Political Debate - 2 - Guest - 11-18-2005
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Secularism is like an out-of-shape hat
Dr P.C. Alexander
http://www.asianage.com/
The report in newspapers last week about a CPI(M) leader's grievance that the LJP and its allies were splitting the "secular" vote in Bihar and thereby helping the "communal" forces, reveals how confusing the concept of secularism has become in our country now.
Let us look at the various claims about "secularism" and their inherent contradictions. The LJP alliance which is accused of helping the "communal" forces consists mainly of Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP and the CPI, both of which are seen by the common people as secular parties. The term communal forces obviously refers to the NDA which consists of the JD(U) and the BJP.
Since no one seriously questions the secular credentials of the JD(U), the reference must be to the BJP. But the BJP claims that its brand of cultural nationalism is the authentic version of secularism and that what other parties claim as secularism is "pseudo secularism." The Congress and the CPI(M) which claim to be the strongest champions of secularism are partners in an alliance led by the RJD whose publicly announced election strategy is the forging of an alliance, known as the "MY," between the Muslims and the Yadavs. RJD's allies appear to be having no inhibitions in accepting the "MY" alliance as secular in spite of it being based on both religious and caste loyalties.
The LJP which is accused of splitting secular votes claims that it is more secular than its rival RJD, since it has pledged that it will ensure that a Muslim is appointed as chief minister of the state if it wins the election. It sees no contradiction between its insistence on having a Muslim chief minister and its claims about being secular at the same time. Both the RJD and the LJP seem to believe that their well publicised support to a religious minority in the elections is itself proof of their secularism, though this adds a strange dimension to the concept of secularism.
Thus we see very confused and self-contradicting versions of secularism, each party claiming its own brand of secularism as the most authentic. <b>The famous saying of a British political philosopher that "socialism is like a hat which has lost its shape because everyone wears it" now seems to apply equally to secularism in India.</b>
In order to understand how much the concept of secularism has got distorted in the last five and a half decades after Independence, it will be useful to refer briefly to the background of it being accepted as an essential ingredient of the nation's political philosophy in the early decades of the 20th century. The first occasion when secularism came to be formally accepted by people in India was when the committee appointed by the Indian National Congress under the chairmanship of Pandit Motilal Nehru submitted its report in 1928 giving a clear and comprehensive definition of the concept.
The Nehru report stated that "there shall be no state religion for the Commonwealth of India or for any province in the state, nor shall the state directly or indirectly endorse any religion or give any religion any preference or impose any disability on account of religious beliefs or religious status." It further stated that "no person shall by reason of his religion, caste or creed be prejudiced in any way in regard to public employment, office or power or honour and the exercise of any trade or calling." It was this concept of secularism which led the way to the further elaboration of secularism through Article 15 and Articles 25 to 30 of the Constitution and the inclusion of these Articles as part of the fundamental rights of the citizens.
As everyone knows, the Constitution which was adopted by the Constituent Assembly had not specifically used the words socialism or secularism; these words were added to the Preamble of the Constitution only 26 years later through the 42nd Constitutional Amendment of 1976. The concept of secularism as the basis of national integration and unity was already inherent in the various provisions of the Constitution and its special mention in 1976 was intended only to highlight the nation's continuing commitment to it. It may be noted that secularism accepted by India was different in its content and objectives from what was known by secularism in the western countries. In these countries the problem was one of strengthening the authority of the state through completely severing its links with the ecclesiastical establishment.
The Church had played a dominant role for several centuries in its relations with the State and since such subordination to the Church was contrary to the principles of democracy, the State decided to shake off the tutelage of the Church completely. However several religious practices which are incompatible with the orthodox criteria of secularism still continue in some of the western countries particularly on occasions like the coronation of the monarchs. In England the monarch is still recognised as the head of the Anglican Church and the "defender of the faith" and the British people so far have not shown any inclination to have a clean break with the Church in this respect. In contrast, the concept of secularism adopted by us was based on the principle of total separation of religion from the management of the affairs of the State and was intended through such separation to promote national integration and unity in a multi-religious and multi-lingual country like India.
Unfortunately, the trend during the last five and a half decades of our Independence has been favouring the divisive forces in the society rather than the forces of integration and unity. The greatest distortion of the concept of secularism in India has been the dominance that caste has been allowed to acquire in electoral politics.
While we may claim that we have been trying to keep religion out of politics, we have to admit that there has not been even a feeble attempt to keep caste out of politics. Today caste has become the most important determinant in electoral politics. Everyone knows that the main criterion for selection of candidates for contesting elections is the caste composition of the constituency rather than the suitability of the candidate. Appeals for votes are blatantly made in the name of caste and sub-caste loyalties and often people are told that unless they cast their votes for their own caste members, they will never be able to have a share in power.
During elections even threats are issued of social boycott and other such penalties if they do not vote for the candidates from their own castes. Very often the slogan of "social justice" is raised in order to justify the use of caste in elections, though social justice actually means elimination of discrimination and injustice based on caste. Some people may argue that caste is a reality in Indian social life and therefore it cannot be kept out of electoral politics. But religion is also very dear to most people in India and we have at least acknowledged the use of religion in elections as an offence deserving severe punishment.
Elections are no doubt indispensable for democracy, but if elections are influenced mainly by considerations of caste, such a democracy cannot be considered as a government genuinely representative of the people.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->