The Untruth of an Indian Majority
Rakesh Mani April 23, 2006
#141 Posted by pmishra2 on April 25, 2006 9:44:38 am
#130 majumdar
Ashoka`s Edicts on Religion (300BC):
[quote]
Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, honors both ascetics and the householders of all religions, and he honors them with gifts and honors of various kinds.[22] But Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, does not value gifts and honors as much as he values this -- that there should be growth in the essentials of all religions.[23] Growth in essentials can be done in different ways, but all of them have as their root restraint in speech, that is, not praising one`s own religion, or condemning the religion of others without good cause. And if there is cause for criticism, it should be done in a mild way. But it is better to honor other religions for this reason. By so doing, one`s own religion benefits, and so do other religions, while doing otherwise harms one`s own religion and the religions of others. Whoever praises his own religion, due to excessive devotion, and condemns others with the thought ``Let me glorify my own religion,`` only harms his own religion. Therefore contact (between religions) is good.[24] One should listen to and respect the doctrines professed by others. Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, desires that all should be well-learned in the good doctrines of other religions.
Those who are content with their own religion should be told this: Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, does not value gifts and honors as much as he values that there should be growth in the essentials of all religions. And to this end many are working -- Dhamma Mahamatras, Mahamatras in charge of the women`s quarters, officers in charge of outlying areas, and other such officers. And the fruit of this is that one`s own religion grows and the Dhamma is illuminated also.
[quote]
Ashoka`s Edicts on Religion (300BC):
[quote]
Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, honors both ascetics and the householders of all religions, and he honors them with gifts and honors of various kinds.[22] But Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, does not value gifts and honors as much as he values this -- that there should be growth in the essentials of all religions.[23] Growth in essentials can be done in different ways, but all of them have as their root restraint in speech, that is, not praising one`s own religion, or condemning the religion of others without good cause. And if there is cause for criticism, it should be done in a mild way. But it is better to honor other religions for this reason. By so doing, one`s own religion benefits, and so do other religions, while doing otherwise harms one`s own religion and the religions of others. Whoever praises his own religion, due to excessive devotion, and condemns others with the thought ``Let me glorify my own religion,`` only harms his own religion. Therefore contact (between religions) is good.[24] One should listen to and respect the doctrines professed by others. Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, desires that all should be well-learned in the good doctrines of other religions.
Those who are content with their own religion should be told this: Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, does not value gifts and honors as much as he values that there should be growth in the essentials of all religions. And to this end many are working -- Dhamma Mahamatras, Mahamatras in charge of the women`s quarters, officers in charge of outlying areas, and other such officers. And the fruit of this is that one`s own religion grows and the Dhamma is illuminated also.
[quote]
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#142 Posted by rakeshmani on April 25, 2006 9:54:02 am
Re: # 121
Sir,
I`m pretty surprised with your observations of Hindi in Chennai. I`m originally from Chennai and if there`s anything to be said about the Tamilians feelings about Hindi... it was made pretty obvious during the anti-Hindi riots. The Tamils, especially, are fiercely proud of their language and heritage.
Just because some can speak a little bit, doesn`t make Hindi the national language. It just goes to show that people will learn to speak Hindi if it provides them added economic opportunities. And since money and power have been concentrated in Hindi-speaking areas historically, people have found it essential to learn this language. They don`t do it out of choice.. or even any love for Hindi.
Sir,
I`m pretty surprised with your observations of Hindi in Chennai. I`m originally from Chennai and if there`s anything to be said about the Tamilians feelings about Hindi... it was made pretty obvious during the anti-Hindi riots. The Tamils, especially, are fiercely proud of their language and heritage.
Just because some can speak a little bit, doesn`t make Hindi the national language. It just goes to show that people will learn to speak Hindi if it provides them added economic opportunities. And since money and power have been concentrated in Hindi-speaking areas historically, people have found it essential to learn this language. They don`t do it out of choice.. or even any love for Hindi.
#143 Posted by masanamuthu on April 25, 2006 9:54:50 am
einsteinwallah:
I`m digressing from the main point of this article.. this is mostly about religion and not language..
How do you define a national language? You cannot define it as the language of native speakers of that language when their number exceeds 50 percent. But it should be properly be defined as the language which would be understood by majority even though many of them are not native speakers of that language. Most of us who have earned a higher degree in any field in India in English medium can speak very good English even though this English may be full of errors. Among educated class English is lingua franka. Among rest, Hindi is lingua franka. Trust me Hindi *is* national language. Locals may be offended if spoken to in Hindi because of their misplaced insistence that every outsider who comes to their region should learn local language. They may feign ignorance of Hindi but most of non-hindi people understand Hindi.
I think you are wrong here.. the statement above (bolded) does not make any sense. `National` language is not needed for a diverse country like India. We need a link language and English serves fine.. And your assumption about ``Hindi`` serving as ``lingua franca`` for uneducated makes no sense.. I think you are talking about the North Indians whose languages closely resemble Hindi. If you look at the census figures of the southern Indian states for the people`s knowledge of Hindi you would be surprised..
I`m digressing from the main point of this article.. this is mostly about religion and not language..
How do you define a national language? You cannot define it as the language of native speakers of that language when their number exceeds 50 percent. But it should be properly be defined as the language which would be understood by majority even though many of them are not native speakers of that language. Most of us who have earned a higher degree in any field in India in English medium can speak very good English even though this English may be full of errors. Among educated class English is lingua franka. Among rest, Hindi is lingua franka. Trust me Hindi *is* national language. Locals may be offended if spoken to in Hindi because of their misplaced insistence that every outsider who comes to their region should learn local language. They may feign ignorance of Hindi but most of non-hindi people understand Hindi.
I think you are wrong here.. the statement above (bolded) does not make any sense. `National` language is not needed for a diverse country like India. We need a link language and English serves fine.. And your assumption about ``Hindi`` serving as ``lingua franca`` for uneducated makes no sense.. I think you are talking about the North Indians whose languages closely resemble Hindi. If you look at the census figures of the southern Indian states for the people`s knowledge of Hindi you would be surprised..
#144 Posted by swarrier on April 25, 2006 10:23:48 am
Rakesh
[[Just because some can speak a little bit, doesn`t make Hindi the national language. It just goes to show that people will learn to speak Hindi if it provides them added economic opportunities. And since money and power have been concentrated in Hindi-speaking areas historically, people have found it essential to learn this language. They don`t do it out of choice.. or even any love for Hindi. ]]
When people make a decision to learn Hindi because of acquiring money and power they do it out of choice. Nobody is coercing them. Coercion is when you are forcibly made to learn Hindi for every job in the private and public sector in all parts of India. The same can be said for any language. I have seen Sikhs and Parsis in Ernakulam speak fluent Malayalam, and Gujaratis in Coimbatore speak impeccable Tamil. If you deem it necessary, you will learn.
Do we need a national language? I don`t know. We need a link language though. Otherise we will have people like Mulayam Singh Yadav who sent K Karunakaran a communication in Hindi. Karunakaran responded by sending a reply in Malayalam. I don`t know if this is true. But I`ve heard it told and I do not find it difficult to believe.
End of digression.
[[Just because some can speak a little bit, doesn`t make Hindi the national language. It just goes to show that people will learn to speak Hindi if it provides them added economic opportunities. And since money and power have been concentrated in Hindi-speaking areas historically, people have found it essential to learn this language. They don`t do it out of choice.. or even any love for Hindi. ]]
When people make a decision to learn Hindi because of acquiring money and power they do it out of choice. Nobody is coercing them. Coercion is when you are forcibly made to learn Hindi for every job in the private and public sector in all parts of India. The same can be said for any language. I have seen Sikhs and Parsis in Ernakulam speak fluent Malayalam, and Gujaratis in Coimbatore speak impeccable Tamil. If you deem it necessary, you will learn.
Do we need a national language? I don`t know. We need a link language though. Otherise we will have people like Mulayam Singh Yadav who sent K Karunakaran a communication in Hindi. Karunakaran responded by sending a reply in Malayalam. I don`t know if this is true. But I`ve heard it told and I do not find it difficult to believe.
End of digression.
#145 Posted by bharath on April 25, 2006 10:42:18 am
Re: # 134
sajid11_in
>>>>So I urge all of you, rather than pointing fingers, lets all point tio the simillarities. we can accede that Paki`s are a nation, and they should accede that they are not going to take any more bites out of our land. That should bring about peace<<<<
Sajid:
I share your sentiments, except I only wish things are that simple.
Just retaining the territories , and having thier own lives it seems
will not seem to resolve the problems. Besides they havent agreed
to your proposal on ``retaining territories``.
India should not become permanet member of security council,
if India increases its defence budget from 2.5 % to 2.75% it
is intimidating, it is Indian hegemony... one never heard
of Pak civil nuclear requirments until India signed one; then it
needs a package deal. In summary India should not
achieve and do things which it believes it deserves
based on its size and economy all because a much
smaller country seeks parity.In other words ``I have no life
and I won`t let you have a life``
meanwhile terrorism continues.....
sajid11_in
>>>>So I urge all of you, rather than pointing fingers, lets all point tio the simillarities. we can accede that Paki`s are a nation, and they should accede that they are not going to take any more bites out of our land. That should bring about peace<<<<
Sajid:
I share your sentiments, except I only wish things are that simple.
Just retaining the territories , and having thier own lives it seems
will not seem to resolve the problems. Besides they havent agreed
to your proposal on ``retaining territories``.
India should not become permanet member of security council,
if India increases its defence budget from 2.5 % to 2.75% it
is intimidating, it is Indian hegemony... one never heard
of Pak civil nuclear requirments until India signed one; then it
needs a package deal. In summary India should not
achieve and do things which it believes it deserves
based on its size and economy all because a much
smaller country seeks parity.In other words ``I have no life
and I won`t let you have a life``
meanwhile terrorism continues.....
#146 Posted by rakeshmani on April 25, 2006 11:42:36 am
Re: # 144
True. English is the ``linking`` language of India.
But that still doesn`t make Hindi the national language.
End of digression.
True. English is the ``linking`` language of India.
But that still doesn`t make Hindi the national language.
End of digression.
#147 Posted by ijaz_gul on April 25, 2006 11:42:52 am
Dost,
This is a part of my Thesis.
``Whatever the case, with time, Kautilya has begun to find more universal relevance and acceptance. Like Clausewitz who was dealt an early blow by those who misinterpreted, misquoted and misunderstood him, his treatise has been often called Kautilianism, which signifies ``skill in stratagem, dexterity in intrigue and policy``. The craze in theatre loving Bengalis to watch Dwijendralal Roy`s Chandragupta, the stage play of nineteen thirties and forties, portraying a scheming and cantankerous Brahmin as Kautilya adds to these distortions``.
``Kautilya over the passage of time has come to be associated with the phrase, `My friend`s enemy is my enemy and my enemies enemy is my friend`. In order to solve their equations, it is not uncommon for students of Algebra to relate the friend to the positive and enemy to the negative value. Usually wrongs in politics are aptly related to Kautilyanism; the mother of all evils. Writers on international politics when writing on South Asia make a liberal use of this Kautilyan saying as a fait accompli for `Checkerboard Diplomacy`. Worse, many who have never read a word of his treatise liberally opine that according to Kautilya, two wrongs can be fused into a right, and know by heart this algebraic equation. Little do they realise that by saying so they have embarked on an extremely controversial subject``.
``Michael Handel considered Carl Von Clausewitz to have brought a Copernican Revolution, by his emphasis on centrality of politics in war. Perhaps he was two millennium late, as Kautilya had already done so in his treatise, The Arthashastra``.
``Kautilya has often been compared with Machiavelli. However, this comparison is always limited to the Prince and Discourses. His comparison with `The Art of War` is rather negligible. His only comparison to Clausewitz is a passage by Jawaharlal Nehru in The Discovery of India. Nowhere does any objective comparative study of relevance exist``.
I hope it hurts no one`s ego. least that of Bharath.
Cheerios
This is a part of my Thesis.
``Whatever the case, with time, Kautilya has begun to find more universal relevance and acceptance. Like Clausewitz who was dealt an early blow by those who misinterpreted, misquoted and misunderstood him, his treatise has been often called Kautilianism, which signifies ``skill in stratagem, dexterity in intrigue and policy``. The craze in theatre loving Bengalis to watch Dwijendralal Roy`s Chandragupta, the stage play of nineteen thirties and forties, portraying a scheming and cantankerous Brahmin as Kautilya adds to these distortions``.
``Kautilya over the passage of time has come to be associated with the phrase, `My friend`s enemy is my enemy and my enemies enemy is my friend`. In order to solve their equations, it is not uncommon for students of Algebra to relate the friend to the positive and enemy to the negative value. Usually wrongs in politics are aptly related to Kautilyanism; the mother of all evils. Writers on international politics when writing on South Asia make a liberal use of this Kautilyan saying as a fait accompli for `Checkerboard Diplomacy`. Worse, many who have never read a word of his treatise liberally opine that according to Kautilya, two wrongs can be fused into a right, and know by heart this algebraic equation. Little do they realise that by saying so they have embarked on an extremely controversial subject``.
``Michael Handel considered Carl Von Clausewitz to have brought a Copernican Revolution, by his emphasis on centrality of politics in war. Perhaps he was two millennium late, as Kautilya had already done so in his treatise, The Arthashastra``.
``Kautilya has often been compared with Machiavelli. However, this comparison is always limited to the Prince and Discourses. His comparison with `The Art of War` is rather negligible. His only comparison to Clausewitz is a passage by Jawaharlal Nehru in The Discovery of India. Nowhere does any objective comparative study of relevance exist``.
I hope it hurts no one`s ego. least that of Bharath.
Cheerios
#148 Posted by ijaz_gul on April 25, 2006 11:42:57 am
Dost,
This is a part of my Thesis.
``Whatever the case, with time, Kautilya has begun to find more universal relevance and acceptance. Like Clausewitz who was dealt an early blow by those who misinterpreted, misquoted and misunderstood him, his treatise has been often called Kautilianism, which signifies ``skill in stratagem, dexterity in intrigue and policy``. The craze in theatre loving Bengalis to watch Dwijendralal Roy`s Chandragupta, the stage play of nineteen thirties and forties, portraying a scheming and cantankerous Brahmin as Kautilya adds to these distortions``.
``Kautilya over the passage of time has come to be associated with the phrase, `My friend`s enemy is my enemy and my enemies enemy is my friend`. In order to solve their equations, it is not uncommon for students of Algebra to relate the friend to the positive and enemy to the negative value. Usually wrongs in politics are aptly related to Kautilyanism; the mother of all evils. Writers on international politics when writing on South Asia make a liberal use of this Kautilyan saying as a fait accompli for `Checkerboard Diplomacy`. Worse, many who have never read a word of his treatise liberally opine that according to Kautilya, two wrongs can be fused into a right, and know by heart this algebraic equation. Little do they realise that by saying so they have embarked on an extremely controversial subject``.
``Michael Handel considered Carl Von Clausewitz to have brought a Copernican Revolution, by his emphasis on centrality of politics in war. Perhaps he was two millennium late, as Kautilya had already done so in his treatise, The Arthashastra``.
``Kautilya has often been compared with Machiavelli. However, this comparison is always limited to the Prince and Discourses. His comparison with `The Art of War` is rather negligible. His only comparison to Clausewitz is a passage by Jawaharlal Nehru in The Discovery of India. Nowhere does any objective comparative study of relevance exist``.
I hope it hurts no one`s ego. least that of Bharath.
Cheerios
This is a part of my Thesis.
``Whatever the case, with time, Kautilya has begun to find more universal relevance and acceptance. Like Clausewitz who was dealt an early blow by those who misinterpreted, misquoted and misunderstood him, his treatise has been often called Kautilianism, which signifies ``skill in stratagem, dexterity in intrigue and policy``. The craze in theatre loving Bengalis to watch Dwijendralal Roy`s Chandragupta, the stage play of nineteen thirties and forties, portraying a scheming and cantankerous Brahmin as Kautilya adds to these distortions``.
``Kautilya over the passage of time has come to be associated with the phrase, `My friend`s enemy is my enemy and my enemies enemy is my friend`. In order to solve their equations, it is not uncommon for students of Algebra to relate the friend to the positive and enemy to the negative value. Usually wrongs in politics are aptly related to Kautilyanism; the mother of all evils. Writers on international politics when writing on South Asia make a liberal use of this Kautilyan saying as a fait accompli for `Checkerboard Diplomacy`. Worse, many who have never read a word of his treatise liberally opine that according to Kautilya, two wrongs can be fused into a right, and know by heart this algebraic equation. Little do they realise that by saying so they have embarked on an extremely controversial subject``.
``Michael Handel considered Carl Von Clausewitz to have brought a Copernican Revolution, by his emphasis on centrality of politics in war. Perhaps he was two millennium late, as Kautilya had already done so in his treatise, The Arthashastra``.
``Kautilya has often been compared with Machiavelli. However, this comparison is always limited to the Prince and Discourses. His comparison with `The Art of War` is rather negligible. His only comparison to Clausewitz is a passage by Jawaharlal Nehru in The Discovery of India. Nowhere does any objective comparative study of relevance exist``.
I hope it hurts no one`s ego. least that of Bharath.
Cheerios
#149 Posted by bharath on April 25, 2006 11:52:02 am
re#148 >>>>`Checkerboard Diplomacy`. ....
I hope it hurts no one`s ego. least that of Bharath.
No it doesn`t actually!
Other checkerboard diplomacies are being effectively used.
If not effective more will be invented.
A-spot aka Karzai insults
B-spot (u know that well!)
C-spot :decreasing the water flow in Chenab.
You name it.
Cheerios:)
I hope it hurts no one`s ego. least that of Bharath.
No it doesn`t actually!
Other checkerboard diplomacies are being effectively used.
If not effective more will be invented.
A-spot aka Karzai insults
B-spot (u know that well!)
C-spot :decreasing the water flow in Chenab.
You name it.
Cheerios:)
#150 Posted by tahmed32 on April 25, 2006 3:04:29 pm
ijaz gul #147 That doesnt add too much on what Kautliya wrote and his impact on chandragupta maurya. I humbly await feedback (even if it is to tell me that you dont have any views on them) on my questions in #129. Cheers. :-)
#151 Posted by anil on April 25, 2006 5:09:41 pm
Re: # 144
India, like Switzerland, does not need a national language.
In my view in another 25 to 50 years, there would be two main languages in India - North Indian ishstyle English, and Southie yestyle English. I have seen the evolution of Hindi over the last 40 years, especially the last 15 years the evolution has been remarkable.
Bollywood, Chennai wood, and ``IT jee ka Mandir`` will take of this fusion, and all other languages will remain regional.
Anil Kapuria
India, like Switzerland, does not need a national language.
In my view in another 25 to 50 years, there would be two main languages in India - North Indian ishstyle English, and Southie yestyle English. I have seen the evolution of Hindi over the last 40 years, especially the last 15 years the evolution has been remarkable.
Bollywood, Chennai wood, and ``IT jee ka Mandir`` will take of this fusion, and all other languages will remain regional.
Anil Kapuria
#152 Posted by anil on April 25, 2006 5:09:49 pm
Re: # 144
India, like Switzerland, does not need a national language.
In my view in another 25 to 50 years, there would be two main languages in India - North Indian ishstyle English, and Southie yestyle English. I have seen the evolution of Hindi over the last 40 years, especially the last 15 years the evolution has been remarkable.
Bollywood, Chennai wood, and ``IT jee ka Mandir`` will take of this fusion, and all other languages will remain regional.
Anil Kapuria
India, like Switzerland, does not need a national language.
In my view in another 25 to 50 years, there would be two main languages in India - North Indian ishstyle English, and Southie yestyle English. I have seen the evolution of Hindi over the last 40 years, especially the last 15 years the evolution has been remarkable.
Bollywood, Chennai wood, and ``IT jee ka Mandir`` will take of this fusion, and all other languages will remain regional.
Anil Kapuria
#153 Posted by anil on April 25, 2006 5:42:10 pm
Re: # 142
Rakesh:
So right you are. I have a personal experience in Chennai (those days Madras) of money makes people talk. In late 80s I was in Chennai, and had taken a taxi to go to meet someone from my hotel, Taj Coromandel (?). The taxi driver when I reached the destination, would only talk in Tamil, no English no Hindi. I cold not eve find out the fare amount that I must pay. In exasparation, I told him in Hindi that I will pay twice of what he is asking.... in a flip he started speaking in tooti-phooti Hindi, and I did pay him twice what he was asking.
Betterment more than business is the reason for all of us to learn something new, be it English, Hindi or anyother language. My niece is married a Tamil Brahmin, and has become quite proficient in understanding Tamil. They live in Bangalore, and had met each other when her husband lived in Delhi.
Anil
Rakesh:
So right you are. I have a personal experience in Chennai (those days Madras) of money makes people talk. In late 80s I was in Chennai, and had taken a taxi to go to meet someone from my hotel, Taj Coromandel (?). The taxi driver when I reached the destination, would only talk in Tamil, no English no Hindi. I cold not eve find out the fare amount that I must pay. In exasparation, I told him in Hindi that I will pay twice of what he is asking.... in a flip he started speaking in tooti-phooti Hindi, and I did pay him twice what he was asking.
Betterment more than business is the reason for all of us to learn something new, be it English, Hindi or anyother language. My niece is married a Tamil Brahmin, and has become quite proficient in understanding Tamil. They live in Bangalore, and had met each other when her husband lived in Delhi.
Anil
#154 Posted by anil on April 25, 2006 6:17:55 pm
Re: # 148
Ijaz Gul Sahib:
Is it possible to read you M.Sc. thesis on Kautilya`s Arthashastra?
Anil Kapuria
Ijaz Gul Sahib:
Is it possible to read you M.Sc. thesis on Kautilya`s Arthashastra?
Anil Kapuria
#155 Posted by bharath on April 25, 2006 6:47:46 pm
Anil Kapuriaji,
refer to my post #138 and then read the news item
below. You need text books on Pakistan ideology studies,
your other request here may be misplaced.
Warm regards,
Tuesday April 25, 2006:09 PM
Pak textbooks deride Hindus as astute, sly, or manipulative
Lahore, Apr 25 (ANI): The National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP), a Catholic Church body in Pakistan, has said that the country`s media describe India as a `hostile neighbour`, and school textbooks teach the students that Hindus were backward and superstitious who assert their power over the weak, especially the Muslims.
``Government-issued textbooks teach students that Hindus are backward and superstitious, and given a chance, they would assert their power over the weak, especially, Muslims, depriving them of education by pouring molten lead in their ears. Pakistan Studies textbooks are an active site to represent India as a hostile neighbour,`` the report stated.
It added: ``The story of Pakistan`s past is intentionally written to be distinct from, and often in direct contrast with, interpretations of history found in India. From the government-issued textbooks, students are taught that Hindus are backward and superstitious.``
The report further said that students were being taught that Islam brought peace, equality, and justice to the subcontinent, ``to check the sinister ways of Hindus``. ``In Pakistani textbooks, Hindus rarely appears in a sentence without adjective such as politically astute, sly, or manipulative,`` the Daily Times quoted the NCJP report as saying.
The NCJP has come out with the report following an appeal from several minority communities that the media and educational boards were biased against them and that the federal government should take note of this seriously.
Quoting a news article, the report said: ``Textbooks reflect intentional obfuscation. Today`s students, citizens of Pakistan and its future leaders are the victims of these partial truths``.
They cited numerous several other media reports and content in textbooks in this regard, which suggested that the country`s socio-political system was against the minorities` interests and addressed them by derogatory terms.
The NCJP monitored four major national Urdu dailies from August to October 2005 and found extremely provocative news reports, statements and editorials against religious minorities including Christians, Hindus, Ahmadis and even Jews.
The Commission said that a common hate speech method is the use of derogatory terms for minorities. Citing examples, it said that Ahmedis are called `Qadiani` or `Mirzai` while Christians are called `Isai`. Until some years ago, these terms were not even considered derogatory, it added.
According to the paper, MP Bhandara, a parliamentarian belonging to a minority community, wrote a letter of protest to an editor of a national daily last year but it had no effect on the newspaper`s policy. (ANI)
refer to my post #138 and then read the news item
below. You need text books on Pakistan ideology studies,
your other request here may be misplaced.
Warm regards,
Tuesday April 25, 2006:09 PM
Pak textbooks deride Hindus as astute, sly, or manipulative
Lahore, Apr 25 (ANI): The National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP), a Catholic Church body in Pakistan, has said that the country`s media describe India as a `hostile neighbour`, and school textbooks teach the students that Hindus were backward and superstitious who assert their power over the weak, especially the Muslims.
``Government-issued textbooks teach students that Hindus are backward and superstitious, and given a chance, they would assert their power over the weak, especially, Muslims, depriving them of education by pouring molten lead in their ears. Pakistan Studies textbooks are an active site to represent India as a hostile neighbour,`` the report stated.
It added: ``The story of Pakistan`s past is intentionally written to be distinct from, and often in direct contrast with, interpretations of history found in India. From the government-issued textbooks, students are taught that Hindus are backward and superstitious.``
The report further said that students were being taught that Islam brought peace, equality, and justice to the subcontinent, ``to check the sinister ways of Hindus``. ``In Pakistani textbooks, Hindus rarely appears in a sentence without adjective such as politically astute, sly, or manipulative,`` the Daily Times quoted the NCJP report as saying.
The NCJP has come out with the report following an appeal from several minority communities that the media and educational boards were biased against them and that the federal government should take note of this seriously.
Quoting a news article, the report said: ``Textbooks reflect intentional obfuscation. Today`s students, citizens of Pakistan and its future leaders are the victims of these partial truths``.
They cited numerous several other media reports and content in textbooks in this regard, which suggested that the country`s socio-political system was against the minorities` interests and addressed them by derogatory terms.
The NCJP monitored four major national Urdu dailies from August to October 2005 and found extremely provocative news reports, statements and editorials against religious minorities including Christians, Hindus, Ahmadis and even Jews.
The Commission said that a common hate speech method is the use of derogatory terms for minorities. Citing examples, it said that Ahmedis are called `Qadiani` or `Mirzai` while Christians are called `Isai`. Until some years ago, these terms were not even considered derogatory, it added.
According to the paper, MP Bhandara, a parliamentarian belonging to a minority community, wrote a letter of protest to an editor of a national daily last year but it had no effect on the newspaper`s policy. (ANI)
#156 Posted by harimau on April 25, 2006 9:35:04 pm
The triumph of the Brain-Dead in India was the legislation making Hindi the ``National language``.
The ostensible reason was that as the language of the single largest plurality of people, it would enable them to conduct their business with the government.
The idiots who came up with this specious argument conveniently ignored the fact that you need to apply in writing if you are going to deal with the government, or for that matter, with any entity. And of course the greatest number of illiterates are to be found precisely in the so-called Hindi belt. Which meant that the average North Indian would require the services of a ``writer`` to write his petition in Hindi. Well, he could then have employed the writer to write his petition in English!
This was of course lost on the Brain-Dead legislators from North India who outnumbered the rest of India merely because of their pig-like breeding habits. The only happy outcome of this idiotic stand is that North India remains as backward as when the British left India.
Well, we in the South and the West do need chaprasis and cooks and Bihar and UP seem to be capable of supplying a sufficient quantity of them for the rest of India.
Way to go, mufukkas!
The ostensible reason was that as the language of the single largest plurality of people, it would enable them to conduct their business with the government.
The idiots who came up with this specious argument conveniently ignored the fact that you need to apply in writing if you are going to deal with the government, or for that matter, with any entity. And of course the greatest number of illiterates are to be found precisely in the so-called Hindi belt. Which meant that the average North Indian would require the services of a ``writer`` to write his petition in Hindi. Well, he could then have employed the writer to write his petition in English!
This was of course lost on the Brain-Dead legislators from North India who outnumbered the rest of India merely because of their pig-like breeding habits. The only happy outcome of this idiotic stand is that North India remains as backward as when the British left India.
Well, we in the South and the West do need chaprasis and cooks and Bihar and UP seem to be capable of supplying a sufficient quantity of them for the rest of India.
Way to go, mufukkas!
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