11-10-2003, 02:07 AM
Kaushal:
I'm sorry to be disagreeing with you about Cowasjee, but the man is is a rank opportunist, and his "truths" are very selective. He constantly bemoans the lack of Jinnah's "secularism" but has always availed himself of what islamism has to offer in pakistan.
The broader points of history also need addressed. I do not see the advent of Islam into India by more or by lesser barbaric means (it was not "peaceful" in Sindh, eg), as anything to accept for perpetuity. India has distinct home grown religious traditions ranging from animist beliefs, Jain, Budhist, Sikh and a variety of Hindu schools. All these are contrary to the exclusivist & aggressive theologies of the middle eastern judaic ideologies. Those ideologies need to be confronted in India (if not there, where?). Those ideologies need to be altered, their theologies undermined and finally absorbed into an ethos compatable with Indian traditions. This should be the take home lesson of history in India. This requires a massive non governmental effort, and it is necessary not just for theological reasons, but more importantly, for the long term security of India, whose people do not need to constantly look west for inspiration and guidance.
I'm sorry to be disagreeing with you about Cowasjee, but the man is is a rank opportunist, and his "truths" are very selective. He constantly bemoans the lack of Jinnah's "secularism" but has always availed himself of what islamism has to offer in pakistan.
The broader points of history also need addressed. I do not see the advent of Islam into India by more or by lesser barbaric means (it was not "peaceful" in Sindh, eg), as anything to accept for perpetuity. India has distinct home grown religious traditions ranging from animist beliefs, Jain, Budhist, Sikh and a variety of Hindu schools. All these are contrary to the exclusivist & aggressive theologies of the middle eastern judaic ideologies. Those ideologies need to be confronted in India (if not there, where?). Those ideologies need to be altered, their theologies undermined and finally absorbed into an ethos compatable with Indian traditions. This should be the take home lesson of history in India. This requires a massive non governmental effort, and it is necessary not just for theological reasons, but more importantly, for the long term security of India, whose people do not need to constantly look west for inspiration and guidance.