M.J. Akbar in Deccan Herald:
“Dr Manmohan Singh said, on his return from France, that incidents in Orissa had shamed India before the world. That is important, but far less important than the fact that the violence in Orissa has shamed Indians in India….
“The Bajrang Dal’s violence in Orissa shames me because it represents the destruction of the idea of India as shared space for all faiths, with each Indian guaranteed equal rights. This too is a form of terrorism.
“It has been pointed out that some of the conversion literature distributed by missionaries — for instance, a booklet titled Satya Darshini, where remarks have been made about Urvashi, Vashistha and Lord Krishna — is offensive.
“If that is so, there is a democratic way of addressing such issues. Who gave any fundamentalist the right to rape and kill? Governments that have tolerated this will suffer not only the shame of present censure but also the whiplash of public anger in the next elections.”
Read the full article: Parallel streams of anger
Tags: Churumuri, Deccan Herald, Lord Krishna, M.J. Akbar, Sans Serif, Satya Darshini, Urvashi, Vashishtha
6 October 2008 at 8:48 pm
Mr. Akbar, aren’t you in a hurry to blame Bajrang Dal? People have fought wars for faith and destroyed civilisations too. Please tell me about the history of Christianity and Islam. I want to be educated along with my Bajrang Dal friends. Perhaps, we may reform after knowing how peace loving the other religions have been and how wrong we are to so that e can be hanged for the crimes of a few who have acted in the name of Bajrangis? Any true Bajrang Dal activist, as I know some of them would not ever rape or maim. Correct me if I am wrong. I am sorry but I am not a Bajrangi, nor am I a Bajrang Dal sympathiser, but I hear them out once in a while.
6 October 2008 at 9:40 pm
Shame on Bajrangdal/BJP/RSS/GSB/VHP , the rapists and murderers
6 October 2008 at 9:50 pm
Akbar Saab,
Our country has undergone transformation in the last 1000 years than in the last 5000 years.
What is hurting us the most is the transformation which has happened in the last 1000 years. It has often taken violent form’s either invasion for the save of drawing new geographic lines or change of faith.
Inspite of Nehru have written a book called “Discovery of India” and Gandhi’s “Experiments with Truth”, we find ourselves in the crossroads of because of many unfinished tasks.
I do condone violence, but our politicians have carefully cultivated “BANKS”. Taking law into your hands is one thing, but to re-draw the law everytime is another. We will not have seen big time politicians of today have emerged without violence as a method.
Only pre independence period is nostalgic, but post Independence we are a failed state. We have to accept the fact.
Name one political party which has not used violence to increase their vote bank share.
Everyone has practiced selective secularism. We are a democracy that makes the job all the more difficult. Democracy does listen to violence as it is also known as mobocracy.
Now the people of Kashmir are trying to protest peacefully for freedom, but a curfew is imposed. Now if the majority require a referendum, then does the state honour its right to the people.
The state has indulged in “Diplomatic and Verbal Terrorism” for 60 years. We see people getting killed and raped, but all those who are pure statistics. In a population of 1.3 Billion a revolution has to take place. A revolution can happen only if all are united. I guess we are not.
The Elite in this country has major access to all resources and it is the poor who are being trampled.
Religion is not a one way street to cure our ills. I guess we are responsible for a communal interpretation of our constitution. We made the mistake of including the word religion in our constituition and we are paying the price for it.
The is a long winded reply to the short question of why violence. I guess this will not end.
6 October 2008 at 10:10 pm
>>”If that is so, there is a democratic way of addressing such issues.”
oh yeah? now let’s see the govt., “democratically” handle those groups which came out with such literature before they talk of “democratically” banning VHP and BD. And if memory serves me right, wasn’t the Da Vinci Code fatwa-ed out before I could blink or you could clear your throat? And to think that it was a harmless book that was not banned even in America’s bible belt! I didnt see you raising your voice for “democracy” then! Poor.
6 October 2008 at 10:23 pm
The issue is simple and it is all about conversions. If Christians and Muslims want to see a peaceful and a progressive india they will not indulge in illegitimate conversion of poor and uneducated people.
I urge the govt of Karnataka to ban conversions and at the same time make sure minorities are protected.
6 October 2008 at 10:49 pm
Dude,
The wars happened in the 11th century. Guess your mind is still stuck in that phase.
What happened in Orissa makes India look like Pakistan and arent you ashamed that we are no different from Terrorstan?
6 October 2008 at 10:52 pm
Oh! I’m getting so tired of Hindu-bashing!
Does anyone remember….thebrutal killing of a Hindu leader (swamy) and four others by a group, which triggered the violence?
Does anyone remember how Catholic youth with the help from KFD thugs engaged in violence/riots in Mangalore last month?
Well, didn’t you see how christian dominated Bodo separatists massacred 30 plus Muslims yesterday?
No, No – keep blaming only one side like morons. What you essentially are doing is adding more fuel to the fire. Mahesh Bhatt, Kumaraswamy, Khage, Sonia Gandhi, MJ Akbar and all those – You all should be ashamed of yourself for creating so much tension between Hindus and minoity.
7 October 2008 at 1:17 am
MJ Akbar is losing it….his columns in the paper have of late, and especially on the communal issue’s he’s been writing about, been pretty vague. Setting off towards a point but never making it. And then on the TV, he seem as dense as lead. I have not been reading his editorial for long….has he always been this incisive and neutral?
7 October 2008 at 2:21 am
Usual drivel by Akbar
7 October 2008 at 2:45 am
I think the greater worry on Akbar’s brow is that Hindus nowadays, are reacting or rather, acting like “peace loving” minorities.
Good for them.
7 October 2008 at 6:45 am
Thanks to people like MJ Akbar, Congress will pay the same price as it did during Ayodhya Movement. Pro Jamia Nagar stance will cost Congress huge Hindu Vote. Strong stand against terrorists will cost Congress Muslim Vote.
All these were avoidable- all want rule of law. THE ONLY WAY CONGRESS CAN REVIVE ITSELF IS TO REMOVE ALL REFERENCES TO RELIGION FROM INDIAN CONSTITUTION AND STOP PLAYING MAJORITY – MINORITY game.
7 October 2008 at 6:53 am
A German doctor said, “That’s nothing, we can take a
lung out of one person, put it in another, and have him looking for work
in four weeks.”
A British doctor said, “In my country, medicine is so
advanced that we can take half of a heart out of one person, put it in
another, and have them both looking for work in two weeks.”
A Texas doctor, not to be outdone said, “You guys are
way behind. We took a man with no brains out of Texas , put him in the
White House, and now half the country is looking for work.”
Our PM loves him! Let us not face the same fate!
7 October 2008 at 8:15 am
I want to know whether only hindus/Bajrang dal activists are indulging in violence and christians and other minority communities are just keeping there fingers in the mouth and watching? If there is a violence both sides of the community hit at each other why talk only about Bajrang dal.
7 October 2008 at 8:50 am
Assam burns, but the home ministry is sleeping… from the ET
The Union home ministry is in touch with the state government on a regular basis but does not yet feel the need for any advisory or written communication to Assam chief secretary seeking ‘concrete steps’ as in the case of Orissa and Karnataka.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/Assam_toll_at_40_1_lakh_refugees/articleshow/3568132.cms
7 October 2008 at 9:07 am
How do we know that the Nun got raped by Bajrang Dal? Did they show identification papers that they were from Bajrang Dal?
Knowing that the Fathers/Bishops have been involved in rape of small boys and girls for the last 60-100 years, perhaps, some conniving Bishop took advantage of the situation and raped the Nun?
If anyone wants to disagree with me, then let them address the primary question of identifying the rapists as members of Bajrang Dal.
7 October 2008 at 10:22 am
We have seen the democratic way of addressing Taslima/Rushdie/Danish cartoon/Davinci Code by banning all of them immdtly. Going by this laws of democracy we should we have banned the “forced conversions” long time back. BTW I am no supporter of BD.
7 October 2008 at 10:40 am
Mr. Singh says christian killings has shamed india..! Killing of kashmiri pundits, mass forced conversion, killing RK Mutt swamy is not a shame..?
Mr Akbar… why are you in a hurry to blame some community here..? When indian X’tians protest against release of a “HOLLYWOOD” “FICTION” movie Da Vinci Code, its their right ‘coz their feelings are hurt. When Prophet Mhmd was potrayed wrongly in some “DANISH” news paper cartoon, indian muslims go on a rampage…. That’s acceptable ‘coz their ‘feelings’ are hurt. When hindu gods are potrayed as defamable object in a book, published by X’tian unit, who are into active conversion, HINDUS don’t deserve to protest..?!!! They don’t have feelings or what…? Noone feels shame when hindu’s are attacked..??!! Well… lets not talk about Mr Singh & his shameless team…..
7 October 2008 at 11:24 am
Akbar Sahib, you have produced a good article. But being a “secular” you have difficulty in accepting that the Satya Darshini can hurt the feelings of Hindus. Do hindus have a psyche and feelings too?
7 October 2008 at 11:44 am
Post independence, congress is making the vote bank out of minorities. Even the minority want to come of the tag of poor & minor, I am sure congress will never want them to. They keep reminding them that they are not equal. How come educateds like Mr Akbar don’t see this..?!
7 October 2008 at 2:07 pm
Crusaders should be banned
7 October 2008 at 2:42 pm
Wow!!!! just look at the lovely comments here…. another glorious example of the highly educated Hindu fascist having access to the internet and a computer! keep it up guys….more power to Hindu fascists!
7 October 2008 at 3:40 pm
Who India is a shared space for all faiths? That’s one wrong assumption.
First of all, the very concept of a “faith” is not necessarily central to the great religions of the Indian subcontinent. One need not have “faith” in anything, and still be a great Hindu. One need not have faith in the Saakaara or the Niraakaara Brahma, and still be a Hindu.
India is not a shared space for all the shit in the world. India is the shared space of only those great religions which were born on this soil, the only true religions which take man towards Mukti, towards Nirvana, towards Moksha.
Those irreligions which came here by way of murder, rape, terrorism and cheap gifts have no right to claim any of India as theirs. Visitors they are and visitors they should be regarded as. It’s high time Hindus realize that Hindus cannot answer murder, rape, terrorism and cheap gifts by way of high philosophy. By doing so, we are only refusing to fight the enemy on the same battleground. We should meet the enemy in the same battleground. When irreligious fools denigrate Krishna and Rama, we should denigrate Jesus and their saints. We can’t play Gandhi here and show our second cheek. We should cut the hand that slapped us in the first place. There is no other go.
7 October 2008 at 5:32 pm
Mr. MJ Akbar,
What would have been your reaction had the Satyadarshini targeted Islam!
7 October 2008 at 5:55 pm
Mr M J Akbar is a dotard!
Sir, i don’t intend to justify the violence, it is pathetic , but don’t be a hypocrite. Write about atrocities meted out to Kashmiri Pandits & countless murders that are happening just because a few people are “infidels”
7 October 2008 at 6:47 pm
@Anandatirtha
you speak with true aghori spirit. I totally agree with you. Those who are not hindus, should be totally exterminated. As you said, India is not a shared space for all the shit in the world.
India is unique and self sufficient. We can continue living without any external trade links as we did during Ramayana Era. In 2050 our population will reach 2 billion mark and the world will look at us with envy.
7 October 2008 at 7:04 pm
Religious zealots are deeply disturbed people whose sense of inferiority complex makes them to let out their frustrations known through blogs like this. Suggestions like killing people for not agreeing with our religious beliefs are absurd and the right place for people with these views is mental asylum
7 October 2008 at 9:33 pm
Manjeri R –
Madam’….nothing wrong in what Anandatirtha said.
If you read his post…you will notice that there is a “no first use” clause.
In fact, his prescription is healthy in the politically spineless atmosphere such as ours.
7 October 2008 at 9:40 pm
>>In 2050 our population will reach 2 billion mark and the world will look at us with envy.>>>
Statement of the day. You mean we simply don’t have any other skills??? Think man, who is going to feed the 2 billion who have multiplied like rabbits?
7 October 2008 at 11:31 pm
India was ruled by foreign powers for nearly 950 years, out of which 700 years were by Muslims. During this period no Hindu ruler stood up for freedom and the population was content. This shows that slavery was acceptable then. How many british were there in india when indian population was 350 million. 1:100000. Where was the hindu patriotism for 1000 years? How long will it take for muslims to reverse the ruling/ruled equation if they decide to do so.
People like Anandatirtha, Manjeri, Palahalli are cowards who can only yap on internet. We love peace as much as hindus. A day will come when minority decides ‘enough is enough’ and decides to retaliate.
8 October 2008 at 12:23 am
Peace,
Please read Indian History…no not the JNU manufactured Indian history, which says hindus were content during muslim rule and milk and honey flowed on the streets.
>>How long will it take for muslims to reverse the ruling/ruled equation if they decide to do so. >>
I guess the same amount of time it will take to breed and change the demographic pattern of India…and add to this illegal immigration from BDesh
8 October 2008 at 2:33 am
Dear “Peace”…Manjeri is on your side ;)
Per your propagandists…”Minorities” are already in “retaliation” mode…no?
Now the Hindu worm is learning to turn…bombs will be made…some will explode in our faces…but soon, there will be expertise…
Let the games begin?
8 October 2008 at 6:41 am
There were only two persons closeted in the house the Father priest and the Nun. It may have happened that they were caught napping in an uncompromising position. Was the Father priest examined by the medical / forensic experts soon after the incident for the presence of his pubic hair. He has even complained that he was also asked to rape the Nun! May be a cover – up.
8 October 2008 at 11:20 am
Manjeri,
You get me wrong. I never said we should not have trade links with outsiders. Of course we should have. But there is no need to prostrate before their religion.
We should go around the world and tell everyone in the world boldly that India is screwed up materially, but spiritually we have nothing to learn from anybody anywhere in the world. There is no give and take when it comes to spirituality. India has only to give.
However, when it comes to material wealth, there is need for give and take. We are the underdog there.
8 October 2008 at 11:48 am
Peace says “A day will come when minority decides ‘enough is enough’ and decides to retaliate.”…………..!!
Well… I guess thats what hindus are doing now…! they thought enough is enough & are now giving it back.
8 October 2008 at 2:58 pm
Why is churumuri silent about killing of Bodos in Assam? Is it because it in the furtherance of secularism that tribals be killed by the purveyours of “the religion of peace”? Shame on the upa bastartds..
8 October 2008 at 5:49 pm
a must read..
I Too Am Hurt Dear Father
http://desicritics.org/2008/10/06/051310.php
8 October 2008 at 11:19 pm
read my article on religious strife in India at http://soldierrecalls.blogspot.com. there may be more to it than meets the eye.
9 October 2008 at 12:24 am
MJ Akbar says “If that is so, there is a democratic way of addressing such issues. Who gave any fundamentalist the right to rape and kill?” Similar was the justified cry of other concerned citizens on the rape of the nun, allegedly committed by the Bajrang Dal activists (remember, they are NOT guilty until proven so – just extending the logic of Mushirul Hassan, Arjun Singh, and Amar Singh to this case – and these folks too deserve some legal aid – but NO university VC has so far come forward. wonder why?)
I wish to ask some questions to MJ Akbar, and all others who have expressed such concern for the stone pelting incidents in Karnataka, and more violent incidents in Orissa. Where were they when the Swami Laxmanananda (an 80+ year old, unarmed man), a Sanyasin (an old lady), and a few others were killed by Christian Maoists? I am deliberately using the religion of the Maoists, because Sabyasachi Panda made the claim before the media about the significant strength they get from Christian tribals and the killing was actually at the behest of them. So, a murder is owned up by the Maoist organization. What is the response of these human rights groups, so called secular intelligentsia? Remember, the swamy had been attacked even in Dec’07. This tells you the violent ways of these elements. What did the concerned citizens like MJ Akbar did at that time?
“In India, giving the right to proselytise others is like giving wolves and sheep the ‘equal’ liberty to eat each other” – Swami Dayananda Saraswati had said. Will the UPA politicians, and current breed of secular intellectuals call Dayanand Saraswati ji, a communal man?
The missionaries, and their agents work silently to change things slowly. Not for them the bam, bam methods of IM/SIMI. THE MISSIONARIES HAVE CHANGED THE NORTH EAST INDIA TO A CHRISTIAN MAJORITY REGION ALREADY. No one from the so called secular parties bothers to speak up for the fraud done on the tribals of North East. The rich cultural heritage of the tribals, and Hindus of this region is destroyed systematically.
IF TRULY SECULAR INDIANS, and HINDUS DO NOT WAKE UP NOW, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE VERY LATE FOR HINDUISM TO SURVIVE IN INDIA. THESE GROUPS ARE NOW BOLD ENOUGH TO DEMAND THE RIGHT TO CONVERT, BECAUSE THAT IS PART OF THEIR RELIGIOUS TENETS.
WHY SHOULD HINDUS BE SITTING DUCKS FOR SOMEBODY TO CONVERT THEM?
What action is the UPA proposing to take against the Naxals, the Maoists (who claimed they killed the swami at the behest of their christian followers)?
What action does it propose to take against NDFB, again a christian majority group, which has killed over 30 in 3 days in Assam? What action is proposed against Tarun Gogoi government?
We seem to have double standards for everything.
I wish to inform the danger of this behavior of the UPA. The more the UPA measures by the votes they gain of the minorities, the more they lose of the majority. Hindus are feeling that they are being treated shabbily by the UPA.
An encounter in which a police officer lays his life, is called ‘fake’ – just for the sake of Muslim votes. The police is put on the back foot. They are blamed if they are unable to prevent or catch. They are blamed if they fight it. Isn’t the media and these so called rights groups trivializing the fight against terrorists?
Where are we heading?
9 October 2008 at 1:26 am
@Naveen
We , the Hindu Facists,having access to the internet and a computer come to here and shed out our feelings and worry about our Nation.
While the likes of u (not necessarely u :-) )…will uses Internet/Computer for Planning Soft targets and cutting this Country of ‘Sin’ in to Pieces.
See, that is the difference
9 October 2008 at 4:20 pm
“Stop Religious Conversions in India. It’s the deadliest poison that ever sapped the fountain of truth”…………. NOw, now dont say Mahatma Gandhi never said this!
14 October 2008 at 3:17 am
The Hindu Reaction against Christian conversion activity has reached it’s high tide. Why does the Church act innocent ? If there is smoke,who set up the fire in the first place?
The Church should stop pretending that it can carry on with it’s conversions hideously and wake up one fine morning to find the Indian sub-continent following the “One True Faith”.In this case,the Hindu is not to blame.What do you expect the Hindus to do?
Let it not be forgotten that the Hindu civilisation has been at the recieving end for 2000 years.I am reminded of the Mughal Ruler who politely reminded the status of the Hindus to the British.”There is only one Law,that of the believers.Hindus have to be tolerated”.Their status was that of the zimmis,i.e, subhuman beasts to be tolerated till slaughter forced conversions to Islam.
As for the Christians, their only love is to convert the sub-continent to Christianity.But thay dare not teach their doctrines to the circumcised followers of Mahomet to quote Gibbon.
The Church and the Mosque recieve funding from external agencies.The Hindu is an alien in his own land. The VHP has now taken upon the task to rectify this policy imbalance.The Hindu has to come first.
Gujarat is the best example of the secularists prescription of the “vote-bank” gone all wrong,After all, the Hindus did vote as a single vote bank.If the cynical policies continue ,India will be lost to the secularists and their Congress toadies.
17 October 2008 at 10:38 pm
Lets not forge, the Orrisa issue started when a Hindu monk was killed.
Just as Gujarat riots happened after 56 Hindus were burnt alive.
Lets not blame the victims from retaliating.