Feroz M Kamal May 3, 1999
#56 Posted by narain on May 6, 1999 11:37:23 am
RE: Omar
You seem to be obsessed with the idea that the
AMU has been taken over by the BJP and assorted
Hindu riff-raff. I assure you that it is not
true. Of course since it is a central university,
and a centre of learning, there are people of all
religions who also go there. I don`t know if you
think that this is wrong, but it is bound to
happen in a pluralist society like India becoz
you cannot deny anyone the right to education on
the basis of religion. Despite this AMU retains
its character as the premier centre for higher
education among the muslim community in India. I
wish I could get my friend to write to you. He
studied in AMU for 6 years, and he can probably
give you a good idea of the situation there.
What you say about society being polarized along
religious lines is probably true. But ultimately
what matters is not whether people are prejudiced
or not, but whether they perceive these
prejudices as wrong and whether they try and
overcome them or not. I submit that in India this
is true on the whole. Of course people may have
their own weird notions, as you point out, but
society as a whole looks down upon such
discrimination, and has provided means for
recourse against it. Witness the active role
played by the minorities commission during recent
times. India may not be paradise yet, but it is
trying. And that is the muslim philosophy right?
``live and let live, but strive``
About your comments about muslims never being
able to live in peace with any other community,
without dominating them: I guess then, that with
such a ``tiger`` caged up in a secular cage,
america is a disaster waiting to happen. Perhaps,
Mr Omar, you think that the US is right in
thinking of Islam as its greatest enemy?
You seem to be obsessed with the idea that the
AMU has been taken over by the BJP and assorted
Hindu riff-raff. I assure you that it is not
true. Of course since it is a central university,
and a centre of learning, there are people of all
religions who also go there. I don`t know if you
think that this is wrong, but it is bound to
happen in a pluralist society like India becoz
you cannot deny anyone the right to education on
the basis of religion. Despite this AMU retains
its character as the premier centre for higher
education among the muslim community in India. I
wish I could get my friend to write to you. He
studied in AMU for 6 years, and he can probably
give you a good idea of the situation there.
What you say about society being polarized along
religious lines is probably true. But ultimately
what matters is not whether people are prejudiced
or not, but whether they perceive these
prejudices as wrong and whether they try and
overcome them or not. I submit that in India this
is true on the whole. Of course people may have
their own weird notions, as you point out, but
society as a whole looks down upon such
discrimination, and has provided means for
recourse against it. Witness the active role
played by the minorities commission during recent
times. India may not be paradise yet, but it is
trying. And that is the muslim philosophy right?
``live and let live, but strive``
About your comments about muslims never being
able to live in peace with any other community,
without dominating them: I guess then, that with
such a ``tiger`` caged up in a secular cage,
america is a disaster waiting to happen. Perhaps,
Mr Omar, you think that the US is right in
thinking of Islam as its greatest enemy?
#55 Posted by Truth on May 6, 1999 11:37:23 am
Omar wrote:
Unlike Hinduism which is more accepting of an ever increasing
number of truths, but preaches the inequality of man and the caste system. Islam seeks no compromises with false goddesses. Therein
lies the very real root of the dilemma faced by India. So, anyone gotta solution? Love to hear it.
Answer is very simple:
Individual salvation - the discovery of morality and truth by each and every human being with his conscience as guide. If that leads to Islam for an individual so be it. If it leads to the Bill of Rights and the US Constitution so be it. I dont believe that Islam ever asks a human being to stop thinking. Your so called contradiction between Islam and Hinduism is very superficial. Any religion that asks its adherents to stop thinking is no religion at all, it is a cult. I beliieve this appeal to free will and individual thought is fundamental to all religion including Islam and is the basis for the future of mankind, including India.
Unlike Hinduism which is more accepting of an ever increasing
number of truths, but preaches the inequality of man and the caste system. Islam seeks no compromises with false goddesses. Therein
lies the very real root of the dilemma faced by India. So, anyone gotta solution? Love to hear it.
Answer is very simple:
Individual salvation - the discovery of morality and truth by each and every human being with his conscience as guide. If that leads to Islam for an individual so be it. If it leads to the Bill of Rights and the US Constitution so be it. I dont believe that Islam ever asks a human being to stop thinking. Your so called contradiction between Islam and Hinduism is very superficial. Any religion that asks its adherents to stop thinking is no religion at all, it is a cult. I beliieve this appeal to free will and individual thought is fundamental to all religion including Islam and is the basis for the future of mankind, including India.
#54 Posted by RanaRansher on May 6, 1999 1:54:06 am
re:wasiq (caveat - this is a long one....)
I am glad you have at least tried to state WHAT the issues you think this article raises ? With all due respect I fail to see how you think this article is about Muslims in India and non-Muslims in Pakistan/Bangladesh. It does not even mention the condition of Muslims in Bangladesh or Pakistan. This article is an allegation of Hindus persecuting Muslims in India. In fact, it goes on to accuse a `Hindu state` of persecuting Muslims.
What numbers and facts do you need to disprove that ? With regards to first one of Hindus persecting Muslims by rioting, burning, etc. during Hindu-Muslim riots. Has he ever followed a riot in India. India is a big country. Society is very layered. Most of the riots are orchestrated by groups(mostly mohalla goons and/or political) on either side and affect the underclass, the most vulnerable group in every community. THe middle classes and upper classes are rarely affected. THere could be a riot in your town and you wouldn`t even know it. And these riots do not happen everyday, they have occured from time to time mainly when political issues have become flashpoints (last ones followed the Babri Masjid demolition and the Dawood Ibrahim bomb blasts). But when they do happen they get ample coverage on the news, media, etc. I have never seen an attempt to hide them. THe press is very free in India, too free I think. Now one could argue that there shouldn`t be such a difference in the security for the underclass and the upperclass (the communists do make that arguement). You could also argue that why are there riots in the first place. And, admittedly, that is something every Indian is grappling with. I don`t seek to make comparisons with Pakistan, but since you seem to think this issue is inherently related to Pakistan and Bangladesh in terms of comparing the plight of Muslims. Has anyone even attempted to document the riots in Karachi, Dhaka, Chittagong. I am sure you know about Karachi, but even Bangladesh doesn`t need religion as an issue to riot. I was in Bangladesh when a riot broke out when the lights went out during a World Cup Football game !
A riot is a break down of law and order. THere are unscrupolous people who exploit this. It is not a one sided affair as this author suggests. I am not condoning this behaviour on anyones part but without even as much as considering the other side(s) and making allegations against entire communities is ludicrous. India is vast. As you travel languages, culture, demographics change. There are towns and communities with substantial Hindu/Muslim communities which are living in harmony and have yet to be infected by the communal menace. A lot of people may even be living in towns but within their community/circle of friends/family they may not get affected at all. In fact, until Babri Masjid became such a political issue Ayodhya itself had seen no communal riots, not even during 1947.
The one point he does mention is that at times political parties themselves have been involved. Shiv Sena`s alleged involvement in orchestrating anti-Muslim riots in Bombay is hanging in a court in the form of Sri Krishna Report. One may argue justice is slow, but its slow for everybody. Other similar cases of Hindu (Kashmir, Himachal), Sikh (Delhi), Christian(Gujarat, Orissa) riot victims where political parties may or not even be involved are also pending. Now if you were to compare sectarian violence in Pakistan to communal violence in India you may have data you are looking for. Automatic weapons are not commonplace in India. COmparing these sort of numbers IMHO would be more menaningful.
Regarding the second allegation of a Hindu state oppressing its Muslims. I can safely say the author knows nothing about the Indian state. Indian polity has extremely diverse voices ranging from regional, caste/sectarian, Hindu nationalists, Ummah bigots, Sikhs, secular, communists, (yes Bengal and Kerala are communist !). THe recent co-alition consisted of many such voices. The BJP failed in all its recent attempts to introduce anything that was even slightly non-secular. These were numerous and it is all over the newspapers. Also the author has not even bothered to find out what the state says with regards to secularism and how it is institutionalised (check the track record over the last 50 years). Plus all the national debates that go on over every issue. THe author also ought to educate himself on the participation of Muslims in elections. There are a number of prominent Muslim leaders and Muslims (within regions, of course) are very united and endorse candidates enmasse. This makes their vote a vital vote-block for politicians.
Now a lot of the so called facts Omar presents are taken completely out of context to present his theories. Apart from being one-sided half truths a lot of those things have happened in completely different eras, political circumstances, different regions, etc. and are disparate. I am not sure how you can take a case where `law and order` breaks down, look at it just when it affected Muslims, and allege that the state is persecuting Muslims.
THe other outrageous issue this article raises is the lies about Assam. Their is a whole separatist movement that has started in Assam where the Christian majority wants to secede. The peoblem is that so many Bangladeshi illegal immigrants have changed the demographics. The Indian govt(various regimes) failed to prevent this. (I guess they chose not to shoot at them at the border!) THe census there is a touchy issue because local Assamese CHristians feel that they may not be a majority anymore. Afterall during partition this place had exchanged populations with Bangladesh and they now hold the Indian govt responsible for their plight. NOw how this is the fault of a supposed `Hindu State` I dont understand. Yes it is a problem, on one hand you have to appease the Christians who would rather secede and the Bangladeshi illegals. This stuff has been in the Indian news all over and many Pakistanis are even delighted at the prospect of Assam seceding, but this author seems to be in his own world (what with the green glasses). Maybe he should go around the big metros and check out Bangladeshis. And I really did not have a problem with bangladeshi illegals, until now, of course, cause now I have finally ratified the TNT ;-)
India has a lot of problems. But I don`t think you can claim that `as a Hindu state it oppreses its Muslims`. Justice is slow, there is a lot of political inertia, but such is the nature of democracy. The state of India, IMHO, (barring Indira Gandhis dark days) has not been authoritarian. It is not a Hindu state. It has been socialist, inefficient, corrupt, slow, secular, unstable, now its there now its not variety, and democratic (again barring Indira Gandhis 2 years of emergency).
I am glad you have at least tried to state WHAT the issues you think this article raises ? With all due respect I fail to see how you think this article is about Muslims in India and non-Muslims in Pakistan/Bangladesh. It does not even mention the condition of Muslims in Bangladesh or Pakistan. This article is an allegation of Hindus persecuting Muslims in India. In fact, it goes on to accuse a `Hindu state` of persecuting Muslims.
What numbers and facts do you need to disprove that ? With regards to first one of Hindus persecting Muslims by rioting, burning, etc. during Hindu-Muslim riots. Has he ever followed a riot in India. India is a big country. Society is very layered. Most of the riots are orchestrated by groups(mostly mohalla goons and/or political) on either side and affect the underclass, the most vulnerable group in every community. THe middle classes and upper classes are rarely affected. THere could be a riot in your town and you wouldn`t even know it. And these riots do not happen everyday, they have occured from time to time mainly when political issues have become flashpoints (last ones followed the Babri Masjid demolition and the Dawood Ibrahim bomb blasts). But when they do happen they get ample coverage on the news, media, etc. I have never seen an attempt to hide them. THe press is very free in India, too free I think. Now one could argue that there shouldn`t be such a difference in the security for the underclass and the upperclass (the communists do make that arguement). You could also argue that why are there riots in the first place. And, admittedly, that is something every Indian is grappling with. I don`t seek to make comparisons with Pakistan, but since you seem to think this issue is inherently related to Pakistan and Bangladesh in terms of comparing the plight of Muslims. Has anyone even attempted to document the riots in Karachi, Dhaka, Chittagong. I am sure you know about Karachi, but even Bangladesh doesn`t need religion as an issue to riot. I was in Bangladesh when a riot broke out when the lights went out during a World Cup Football game !
A riot is a break down of law and order. THere are unscrupolous people who exploit this. It is not a one sided affair as this author suggests. I am not condoning this behaviour on anyones part but without even as much as considering the other side(s) and making allegations against entire communities is ludicrous. India is vast. As you travel languages, culture, demographics change. There are towns and communities with substantial Hindu/Muslim communities which are living in harmony and have yet to be infected by the communal menace. A lot of people may even be living in towns but within their community/circle of friends/family they may not get affected at all. In fact, until Babri Masjid became such a political issue Ayodhya itself had seen no communal riots, not even during 1947.
The one point he does mention is that at times political parties themselves have been involved. Shiv Sena`s alleged involvement in orchestrating anti-Muslim riots in Bombay is hanging in a court in the form of Sri Krishna Report. One may argue justice is slow, but its slow for everybody. Other similar cases of Hindu (Kashmir, Himachal), Sikh (Delhi), Christian(Gujarat, Orissa) riot victims where political parties may or not even be involved are also pending. Now if you were to compare sectarian violence in Pakistan to communal violence in India you may have data you are looking for. Automatic weapons are not commonplace in India. COmparing these sort of numbers IMHO would be more menaningful.
Regarding the second allegation of a Hindu state oppressing its Muslims. I can safely say the author knows nothing about the Indian state. Indian polity has extremely diverse voices ranging from regional, caste/sectarian, Hindu nationalists, Ummah bigots, Sikhs, secular, communists, (yes Bengal and Kerala are communist !). THe recent co-alition consisted of many such voices. The BJP failed in all its recent attempts to introduce anything that was even slightly non-secular. These were numerous and it is all over the newspapers. Also the author has not even bothered to find out what the state says with regards to secularism and how it is institutionalised (check the track record over the last 50 years). Plus all the national debates that go on over every issue. THe author also ought to educate himself on the participation of Muslims in elections. There are a number of prominent Muslim leaders and Muslims (within regions, of course) are very united and endorse candidates enmasse. This makes their vote a vital vote-block for politicians.
Now a lot of the so called facts Omar presents are taken completely out of context to present his theories. Apart from being one-sided half truths a lot of those things have happened in completely different eras, political circumstances, different regions, etc. and are disparate. I am not sure how you can take a case where `law and order` breaks down, look at it just when it affected Muslims, and allege that the state is persecuting Muslims.
THe other outrageous issue this article raises is the lies about Assam. Their is a whole separatist movement that has started in Assam where the Christian majority wants to secede. The peoblem is that so many Bangladeshi illegal immigrants have changed the demographics. The Indian govt(various regimes) failed to prevent this. (I guess they chose not to shoot at them at the border!) THe census there is a touchy issue because local Assamese CHristians feel that they may not be a majority anymore. Afterall during partition this place had exchanged populations with Bangladesh and they now hold the Indian govt responsible for their plight. NOw how this is the fault of a supposed `Hindu State` I dont understand. Yes it is a problem, on one hand you have to appease the Christians who would rather secede and the Bangladeshi illegals. This stuff has been in the Indian news all over and many Pakistanis are even delighted at the prospect of Assam seceding, but this author seems to be in his own world (what with the green glasses). Maybe he should go around the big metros and check out Bangladeshis. And I really did not have a problem with bangladeshi illegals, until now, of course, cause now I have finally ratified the TNT ;-)
India has a lot of problems. But I don`t think you can claim that `as a Hindu state it oppreses its Muslims`. Justice is slow, there is a lot of political inertia, but such is the nature of democracy. The state of India, IMHO, (barring Indira Gandhis dark days) has not been authoritarian. It is not a Hindu state. It has been socialist, inefficient, corrupt, slow, secular, unstable, now its there now its not variety, and democratic (again barring Indira Gandhis 2 years of emergency).
#53 Posted by goyal on May 5, 1999 7:08:28 pm
FerozK (#53),
I agree that my entry in this discussion is certainly not polite. I have been a silent reader of Chowk for a long time and appreciated the open discussion taking place on this forum. However, for last few weeks, I got tired of reading Mr Mirza. Hence all this insistence for a debate.
I find that this was the best way of keeping Omars out of this board. A better way of ensuring this could have been more involvement of saner people (I include you in this list ..).
I hope that need for me to write those questions to Omars will disappear.
Regards
PS: I have read your articles and certainly appreciate your arguments, while reserving my right to differ at places.
Perhaps I will also try to write an article about my perception of my religion and what I percieve are the issues. Will wait for your inputs on that.
I agree that my entry in this discussion is certainly not polite. I have been a silent reader of Chowk for a long time and appreciated the open discussion taking place on this forum. However, for last few weeks, I got tired of reading Mr Mirza. Hence all this insistence for a debate.
I find that this was the best way of keeping Omars out of this board. A better way of ensuring this could have been more involvement of saner people (I include you in this list ..).
I hope that need for me to write those questions to Omars will disappear.
Regards
PS: I have read your articles and certainly appreciate your arguments, while reserving my right to differ at places.
Perhaps I will also try to write an article about my perception of my religion and what I percieve are the issues. Will wait for your inputs on that.
#52 Posted by OMAR1974 on May 5, 1999 7:08:28 pm
Truth is in the eyes of its beholders. Chowkie liberals, Bengalis, Pakistanis, West Pakistanis, Indians, Hindus, Sikhs, Paki Sikhs/Hindus, Moslems, Christians and all other groupings had better realize this lesson from reality fast if we are to make any headway. R.R again, commendable for trying on green glasses, my hats off to you and i mean that sincerely. Take off those ‘politically correct’ glasses and realize that the real world is POLARIZED. And it is a multi-polar reality. Neither can you approach truth through Green glasses or through safron tinted Red ones exclusively. So shed the Raybans already! I already warned the holier than thous about spreading their gospels of `truth` or prevailing orthodoxy. I thoroughly enjoy representing politically incorrect minority viewpoints that are exceedingly unpopular, anything unorthodox on Chowk shall find in me a momentary friend. Aye there`s the rub!
And for those who cannot even play upon a flute, they should have no illusions about ever playing upon me, or plucking out my mystery. There is offense Horatio, and much of it!
Omar Mirza
And for those who cannot even play upon a flute, they should have no illusions about ever playing upon me, or plucking out my mystery. There is offense Horatio, and much of it!
Omar Mirza
#51 Posted by OMAR1974 on May 5, 1999 7:08:28 pm
A Nursery Rhyme on politically correct Chowkie liberals
A little to the left
A little to the right
Tis well done
If we accomplish all without fright or fight
Never mind ugly truths
Never mind borrowed lies
Never mind uncomfortable sighs
Alls well that ends without a fright or a fight
By Omar Mirza
A little to the left
A little to the right
Tis well done
If we accomplish all without fright or fight
Never mind ugly truths
Never mind borrowed lies
Never mind uncomfortable sighs
Alls well that ends without a fright or a fight
By Omar Mirza
#50 Posted by OMAR1974 on May 5, 1999 7:08:28 pm
The insulated existence of chowkie liberals in cyberspace continues unabated and unfazed. Most debates by regular chowkie moderates are nothing more than a tempest in a teacup. The views propounded have little basis in mass political cultural realities, it appears these moderates are shy of reality, it is too brutal to discuss over tea and crumpets at 4:00pm, at the risk of offending other desi intellectuals so they steer a middle course in the safe political ‘center’ of moderation. As I stated succinctly enough earlier on, ‘no idea should ever really be accepted w/o a vigorous debate, relentless comment, criticism, opportunity for rebuttal and refutation.’ That obviously includes my ideas just as much as anyone else’s, including the proponents of secular utopia in India, who paint an overly rosy and serene picture of communal harmony, with the citizens of India enjoying both the fruits of democracy, and a quiet pastoral existence in utopia, picking daisies, singing joyful songs of freedom. Well, pardon me, if I was forced to enlighten them of other views of India, even views, ‘tinted by green glasses’. As for comparisons to Pakistan, I also stated with brevity (for that is the soul of wit) that I never called it, ‘an abode of heaven.’ It seems certain people don’t read carefully enough to pick up my subtle hints. It is why I have often taken recourse to using a sledgehammer. Of all inter-actors Rana Ransher has indeed made absolutely excellent criticisms of prevailing Muslim attitudes. These must be taken seriously. The ‘green glasses’ comments are particularly apt, to say the least, like AA, I too felt the incident with a neighbor of 15 odd years must have been galling. But that at least represents realistic communal reality in India. So don’t blame the messenger (moi), if you find the message unpalatable. As I also previously noted, ‘this (Indian Muslim Community) is no ordinary household cat, it is a tiger ...’, and when you have a tiger in your midst gentleman, do not be overly confident in the strength of your numbers. 9 people, 1 tiger (babbar-sher). What result? You tell me. So find a solution before it turns on you, because time is running out and that is obvious. That is the WHY of my motives. My language can both be verbally brutal into forcing a reality check, and as gentle as the caress of a rose’s petals when necessary.
And finally, the schools I have attended in life, and graduated from (which have influenced my outlook on life and made me a skeptic of all ‘truths’ presented with blatant biases), to put it mildly, are not exactly the nurseries and breeding grounds of fanatics. (grin) I told you all very early on when I started, that calling the views I propounded bigoted was no answer to the theory of incremental genocide and systematic victimization of the Muslim community in India that I proposed. It has been up to you to both refute it, and to remove this widespread, un-discussed perception. And if it is wrong, then disprove it by all means at your disposal, once and for all.
One View has it that:
--- Aligargh University was a symbol of Muslim India’s best. It has been taken over by BJP students and anti-muslim Hindu professors it seems, after reading this article. This is a definitive and open attack on a potent symbol of muslim identity, by the Indian government in its continuing attempt to submerge the separate muslim Indian identity into a common Indian identity based on citizenship alone, not religion. However, the BJP (with its vision of a national identity based on a shared religion) is now in the political center, and if Indian muslims continue to embrace the half open/half closed arms of Congress, they are walking into a baited trap, and being disarmed in the process.
--- I also note with increasing amusement, that now the Koran is being blamed for spreading the message of hate! Quite amazing. While I am not an expert in Hindu religious texts, I will repeat what an atheist Hindu professor once told me in private, and very forcefully stated about all religions being ‘barbaric’, Hinduism and Islam being no exception. He described in vivid detail a variety of barbaric punishments exhorted clearly in Hinduism, I was already familiar with those in Islam.
As for Islam, I think I hardly need to tender any apologies on its behalf, quite frankly it is seen by its followers and many impartial outsiders as the first harbinger of a Universal humanitarianism. That is one view, there is another of course which I could propound at length, but others will doubtless explore in future posts.
As for Islam I will make one pertinent note, there are 2 world views it incorporates. Dar ul Islam and Dar ul Harb. The ‘abode of peace’, and ‘the abode of war.’ Well the irony is that hardly any state in the Islamic ‘abode of peace’ is peaceful. Live and Let live, but Strive, is the message of Islam. It books no truths but its own, and those it declares as antecedent to it, in its self proclaimed line of succession. While Christians and Jews are granted tolerance WITHIN Muslim states, the existence of muslims in a non-muslim state in large numbers is never contemplated, and when historically it has occurred, for example Ghenghis Khan sacked Baghdad in 1258, it had been viewed as a disaster of unmitigated proportions particularly so, because it led to the rule of idolaters over large numbers of muslims. Yes, Islam, proclaims itself truth, but within the fold of that truth it preaches equality. Unlike Hinduism which is more accepting of an ever increasing number of ‘truths,’ but preaches the inequality of man and the caste system. Islam seeks no compromises with false goddesses. Therein lies the very real root of the dilemma faced by India. So, anyone gotta solution? Love to hear it.
Omar Mirza
P.S Those who continue to presume to know my opinions has better be wary, and understand that i have at least as many opinions as internet personalities to vouch for them!
And finally, the schools I have attended in life, and graduated from (which have influenced my outlook on life and made me a skeptic of all ‘truths’ presented with blatant biases), to put it mildly, are not exactly the nurseries and breeding grounds of fanatics. (grin) I told you all very early on when I started, that calling the views I propounded bigoted was no answer to the theory of incremental genocide and systematic victimization of the Muslim community in India that I proposed. It has been up to you to both refute it, and to remove this widespread, un-discussed perception. And if it is wrong, then disprove it by all means at your disposal, once and for all.
One View has it that:
--- Aligargh University was a symbol of Muslim India’s best. It has been taken over by BJP students and anti-muslim Hindu professors it seems, after reading this article. This is a definitive and open attack on a potent symbol of muslim identity, by the Indian government in its continuing attempt to submerge the separate muslim Indian identity into a common Indian identity based on citizenship alone, not religion. However, the BJP (with its vision of a national identity based on a shared religion) is now in the political center, and if Indian muslims continue to embrace the half open/half closed arms of Congress, they are walking into a baited trap, and being disarmed in the process.
--- I also note with increasing amusement, that now the Koran is being blamed for spreading the message of hate! Quite amazing. While I am not an expert in Hindu religious texts, I will repeat what an atheist Hindu professor once told me in private, and very forcefully stated about all religions being ‘barbaric’, Hinduism and Islam being no exception. He described in vivid detail a variety of barbaric punishments exhorted clearly in Hinduism, I was already familiar with those in Islam.
As for Islam, I think I hardly need to tender any apologies on its behalf, quite frankly it is seen by its followers and many impartial outsiders as the first harbinger of a Universal humanitarianism. That is one view, there is another of course which I could propound at length, but others will doubtless explore in future posts.
As for Islam I will make one pertinent note, there are 2 world views it incorporates. Dar ul Islam and Dar ul Harb. The ‘abode of peace’, and ‘the abode of war.’ Well the irony is that hardly any state in the Islamic ‘abode of peace’ is peaceful. Live and Let live, but Strive, is the message of Islam. It books no truths but its own, and those it declares as antecedent to it, in its self proclaimed line of succession. While Christians and Jews are granted tolerance WITHIN Muslim states, the existence of muslims in a non-muslim state in large numbers is never contemplated, and when historically it has occurred, for example Ghenghis Khan sacked Baghdad in 1258, it had been viewed as a disaster of unmitigated proportions particularly so, because it led to the rule of idolaters over large numbers of muslims. Yes, Islam, proclaims itself truth, but within the fold of that truth it preaches equality. Unlike Hinduism which is more accepting of an ever increasing number of ‘truths,’ but preaches the inequality of man and the caste system. Islam seeks no compromises with false goddesses. Therein lies the very real root of the dilemma faced by India. So, anyone gotta solution? Love to hear it.
Omar Mirza
P.S Those who continue to presume to know my opinions has better be wary, and understand that i have at least as many opinions as internet personalities to vouch for them!
#49 Posted by ferozk on May 5, 1999 7:00:55 pm
Re: Goyal # 52
Here is a suggestion; no sense in rewarding bad behavior with bad example! Omar is a strange breed of cat and only Omar understands what makes Omar tick!
Here is a suggestion; no sense in rewarding bad behavior with bad example! Omar is a strange breed of cat and only Omar understands what makes Omar tick!
#48 Posted by Bina on May 5, 1999 2:53:27 pm
Omar -
I`m in favor of ``intelligent`` speech, not this moronic, machoistic, chest-thumping rhetoric.
``What can you expect from an Indian/Hindu/Muslim/Pakistani``, slagging, name-calling, ``My country is better than yours``
``No mine is`` is just stupid. If I want to listen
to bullsh *t like that, I can just turn on PTV (or Doordarshan). Thanks, but no thanks.
I`m in favor of ``intelligent`` speech, not this moronic, machoistic, chest-thumping rhetoric.
``What can you expect from an Indian/Hindu/Muslim/Pakistani``, slagging, name-calling, ``My country is better than yours``
``No mine is`` is just stupid. If I want to listen
to bullsh *t like that, I can just turn on PTV (or Doordarshan). Thanks, but no thanks.
#47 Posted by goyal on May 5, 1999 2:32:32 pm
Some contributors love to post multiple times. Let me also try this strategy. Perhaps I will get a reply. Will keep posting till Mr Omar ``windbag`` Mirza replies!!
Mr. Omar1974,
Before making final rebuttal/comments, kindly answers my questions. You love to write, so write whatever you can. But kindly don t digress from these points. We know all about your views on Jinnah, TNT, conditions of muslims in India and other topics in this world.
Kindly restrict yourself to enlightening us on following simple questions
1. Give us benefits of your superior intellect on whose Islam is right, Shias or Sunnis?
2. Are Ahmediyas Muslim?
3. Bangladesh are predominantly muslim. Why do you call them bengalis and not muslims? Another location on same site is full of your insights on Bengali gaddars !!
Mr. Omar1974,
Before making final rebuttal/comments, kindly answers my questions. You love to write, so write whatever you can. But kindly don t digress from these points. We know all about your views on Jinnah, TNT, conditions of muslims in India and other topics in this world.
Kindly restrict yourself to enlightening us on following simple questions
1. Give us benefits of your superior intellect on whose Islam is right, Shias or Sunnis?
2. Are Ahmediyas Muslim?
3. Bangladesh are predominantly muslim. Why do you call them bengalis and not muslims? Another location on same site is full of your insights on Bengali gaddars !!
#46 Posted by RanaRansher on May 5, 1999 1:57:04 pm
re: nkhan13
You have asked a very good question.
According to the constituition of India, discrimantion based on caste/creed/sect/religion, etc. is all illegal. No job applications, schools applications, etc. can ask for this information. The govt has institutionalized this at every level it can. Now whether this exists at a social level when people interact with each other, is beyond question. However, there are channels (minority commissions, courts, political activists, etc.)
In the 1950`s some other rather contradicting issues were included.
1) Land Ceiling act - this basically limited the amount of land any one individual could hold. Instead the land was assigned to the worker. This was to, in one fell swoop, `fix` the inequalities in land-holdings which had resulted from the practice of caste system, later zamindaari, nawab, Raja system, basically everything feudal. This did to, a certain extent, help and create a larger middle class out of all the mid-tier land owners. It did have its repercussions. Today the violence in Bihar is between two feuding castes (the landed whose land was taken away vs the newly landed).
Also, it created many small agricultural holdings.
But all in all, I would say it had good effects.
2) They also introduced the QUOTA system, which is exactly like affirmative action in the US. In an attempt to institutionally settle income inequalities across castes, the govt ruled that about 30% (I am not sure of the number) of all govt positions (including schools, mdedical inst, engg inst) would be RESERVED for people of backward castes. This included rural, backward areas, hill tracts, adivaasis, scheduled and backward castes, etc. This was introduced as a temporary measure to fix inequalities but it stayed on and any politician would not dare remove it lest he/she lose their seat.
In 1990, another piece to this whole puzzle was added. There was a study done by a group called Mandal Commission which sought to re-assess the situation and make new recommendations. This was extremely controversial since they had taken really long to come up with it, their data was supposedly incorrect. At the same time there was a whole section of people opposed to being included in a census where caste would again become an issue. In any case, before any further investigation could be done, the then PM, a guy called VP SIngh championed it and passed a resolution to up the quota to 50%.
And we all know this number will never go down.
This,IMO, is obviously a flaw in India`s secularism which oulaws caste based discrimation but then institutionalizes reverse discrimination. This has been revisited many time since and they have tried to change the category to `Economically backward` instead of caste, especially when so many so called low castes were very well off economically, particularly the ones who had benefitted from the earlier land ceiling act. The urban upper caste middle class person however was screwed from all sides. For a lot of people this came as a blessing whereas for a lot of people who were up until not even aware of castes, came a caste awareness.
There are obvious inequalities in income, but these came about over 1000`s of years and will not go away overnight. However, this is the socialists answer to it. Again, as I mentioned before, if you read the `Affirmative Action` debate in the US, it is very similar.
A paraller in Pakistan (correct me if I am wrong) could be the quota system which reserves certain seats for rural and urban people. This, to my understanding, has a lot to do with the Mohajir (mostly urban) and Sindhi (mostly rural) problem in Karachi. Even here people allege that it needs to be revised since the census data determining the number of Mohajirs and Sindhis is very old. yet, there are people who know this sort of classification will only accentuate the existing problem.
IMHO affirmative action/quota is flawed.
You have asked a very good question.
According to the constituition of India, discrimantion based on caste/creed/sect/religion, etc. is all illegal. No job applications, schools applications, etc. can ask for this information. The govt has institutionalized this at every level it can. Now whether this exists at a social level when people interact with each other, is beyond question. However, there are channels (minority commissions, courts, political activists, etc.)
In the 1950`s some other rather contradicting issues were included.
1) Land Ceiling act - this basically limited the amount of land any one individual could hold. Instead the land was assigned to the worker. This was to, in one fell swoop, `fix` the inequalities in land-holdings which had resulted from the practice of caste system, later zamindaari, nawab, Raja system, basically everything feudal. This did to, a certain extent, help and create a larger middle class out of all the mid-tier land owners. It did have its repercussions. Today the violence in Bihar is between two feuding castes (the landed whose land was taken away vs the newly landed).
Also, it created many small agricultural holdings.
But all in all, I would say it had good effects.
2) They also introduced the QUOTA system, which is exactly like affirmative action in the US. In an attempt to institutionally settle income inequalities across castes, the govt ruled that about 30% (I am not sure of the number) of all govt positions (including schools, mdedical inst, engg inst) would be RESERVED for people of backward castes. This included rural, backward areas, hill tracts, adivaasis, scheduled and backward castes, etc. This was introduced as a temporary measure to fix inequalities but it stayed on and any politician would not dare remove it lest he/she lose their seat.
In 1990, another piece to this whole puzzle was added. There was a study done by a group called Mandal Commission which sought to re-assess the situation and make new recommendations. This was extremely controversial since they had taken really long to come up with it, their data was supposedly incorrect. At the same time there was a whole section of people opposed to being included in a census where caste would again become an issue. In any case, before any further investigation could be done, the then PM, a guy called VP SIngh championed it and passed a resolution to up the quota to 50%.
And we all know this number will never go down.
This,IMO, is obviously a flaw in India`s secularism which oulaws caste based discrimation but then institutionalizes reverse discrimination. This has been revisited many time since and they have tried to change the category to `Economically backward` instead of caste, especially when so many so called low castes were very well off economically, particularly the ones who had benefitted from the earlier land ceiling act. The urban upper caste middle class person however was screwed from all sides. For a lot of people this came as a blessing whereas for a lot of people who were up until not even aware of castes, came a caste awareness.
There are obvious inequalities in income, but these came about over 1000`s of years and will not go away overnight. However, this is the socialists answer to it. Again, as I mentioned before, if you read the `Affirmative Action` debate in the US, it is very similar.
A paraller in Pakistan (correct me if I am wrong) could be the quota system which reserves certain seats for rural and urban people. This, to my understanding, has a lot to do with the Mohajir (mostly urban) and Sindhi (mostly rural) problem in Karachi. Even here people allege that it needs to be revised since the census data determining the number of Mohajirs and Sindhis is very old. yet, there are people who know this sort of classification will only accentuate the existing problem.
IMHO affirmative action/quota is flawed.
#45 Posted by AA on May 5, 1999 1:50:20 pm
Re: RanaRansher
I think Mr. Rana the time has come for you to convert to the faith of Islam, do your wadu, face the kaaba and read the qalma. Only that way, will you finally come to terms with the anxiety, the trauma, the inferiority complex Muslim xenophobic loathing of the other has caused you. Let the purity of our religion wash off those scars.
Just kidding. I hope you don`t take it too personally. As I read your email, I felt compassion for you; not the Muslim kind for the kafir, but for the hurt you felt when your childhood neighbor said those words. I think I know what you`re saying, there is arrogance in being Muslim. Countless times when I am asked by deli owners if I am Muslim, despite my secularism I feel a slight bit of relief when I am able to answer ``yes I am Muslim``, without explaining but...this that..I disagree with all that...born that way, you know. But then the slight initial shame,when you have to out yourself and whack someone if they feel the need to go preachy and tell you about how much of the body to cover.
I don`t know what your questions are; I think all rigid doctrines tend to have problems, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism taken to fundo levels and extremes where divinity inspires an arrogance an infallibity that you start to look down on all oters. I asked a mullah once many years ago whether a chritian teacher of ours who was a good person would go to heaven, and instead of responding in a straight yes or no, he said, ``If she has the chance to adapt and change her faith, and she chooses not to, then God will br judge.``
I actually see Indians as Indians; its just when my family is around and they start using the word ``hindu`` and I cringe because it is laced with prejudice. My mother who grew up in India tells of how hindus and Muslims would mix and everything, but there was one munshi ji who naver ate in a muslim household, and would never even dream of drinking from a muslim uetnsil...stories like this I tell you leave indellible marks. Hindu and Muslim cultures are full of these. good luck converting. la-hol-wala!
I think Mr. Rana the time has come for you to convert to the faith of Islam, do your wadu, face the kaaba and read the qalma. Only that way, will you finally come to terms with the anxiety, the trauma, the inferiority complex Muslim xenophobic loathing of the other has caused you. Let the purity of our religion wash off those scars.
Just kidding. I hope you don`t take it too personally. As I read your email, I felt compassion for you; not the Muslim kind for the kafir, but for the hurt you felt when your childhood neighbor said those words. I think I know what you`re saying, there is arrogance in being Muslim. Countless times when I am asked by deli owners if I am Muslim, despite my secularism I feel a slight bit of relief when I am able to answer ``yes I am Muslim``, without explaining but...this that..I disagree with all that...born that way, you know. But then the slight initial shame,when you have to out yourself and whack someone if they feel the need to go preachy and tell you about how much of the body to cover.
I don`t know what your questions are; I think all rigid doctrines tend to have problems, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism taken to fundo levels and extremes where divinity inspires an arrogance an infallibity that you start to look down on all oters. I asked a mullah once many years ago whether a chritian teacher of ours who was a good person would go to heaven, and instead of responding in a straight yes or no, he said, ``If she has the chance to adapt and change her faith, and she chooses not to, then God will br judge.``
I actually see Indians as Indians; its just when my family is around and they start using the word ``hindu`` and I cringe because it is laced with prejudice. My mother who grew up in India tells of how hindus and Muslims would mix and everything, but there was one munshi ji who naver ate in a muslim household, and would never even dream of drinking from a muslim uetnsil...stories like this I tell you leave indellible marks. Hindu and Muslim cultures are full of these. good luck converting. la-hol-wala!
#44 Posted by maTha on May 5, 1999 12:34:36 pm
Actually, it`s all a Zionist Conspiracy!
Sayhooni kuttay haey haey!
If you look closely on the loTa of Mr. Advani, there is a Sitar of David on it!
TNT was the only ammunition Muslim League had (pun intended)! So, they used it.
RE: Plurality, Ummah, and Firqa wariat.
This is not the fault of the Muslims. There are two forces fueling this behavior. Firstly, most of the Muslims of India have a lineage that can be traced back to non-Muslim roots (all of them if you trace to before 570 AD), and this lineage was most likely filled with pluralism. The conversion to Islam implied a radical change in idealogy to a singularity (Ummah). As a consequence, the suppressed pluralism came out in the form of subdivisions within the Ummah - Shia, Sunni, Barelvi, Diyobundi, etc. Secondly, the Day of Judgment is approaching and we have to have 72 subdivisions by then. Time is running out! Of course, deep down (too deep for some people) we all dearly love each other. One more thing to remember is that this life, afterall, is but a test. And not everybody has good test-taking skills. They should have samosas and maybe even Nihari to alleviate the pressure.
Pak-Cheen Dostee Zindabad!
Sayhooni kuttay haey haey!
If you look closely on the loTa of Mr. Advani, there is a Sitar of David on it!
TNT was the only ammunition Muslim League had (pun intended)! So, they used it.
RE: Plurality, Ummah, and Firqa wariat.
This is not the fault of the Muslims. There are two forces fueling this behavior. Firstly, most of the Muslims of India have a lineage that can be traced back to non-Muslim roots (all of them if you trace to before 570 AD), and this lineage was most likely filled with pluralism. The conversion to Islam implied a radical change in idealogy to a singularity (Ummah). As a consequence, the suppressed pluralism came out in the form of subdivisions within the Ummah - Shia, Sunni, Barelvi, Diyobundi, etc. Secondly, the Day of Judgment is approaching and we have to have 72 subdivisions by then. Time is running out! Of course, deep down (too deep for some people) we all dearly love each other. One more thing to remember is that this life, afterall, is but a test. And not everybody has good test-taking skills. They should have samosas and maybe even Nihari to alleviate the pressure.
Pak-Cheen Dostee Zindabad!
#43 Posted by RanaRansher on May 5, 1999 11:24:17 am
re: Omar ``teri kattan waali jeeb`` Mirza
You say you are all for a lively debate, yet are silent on all the rebuttals and questions posed to you so far. Cut out the bluster and chest thumping from you posts (liberals scurrying away, picking on iconoclast) there is very little content to be appreciated in what you say. You would be better served if you stop cutting and pasting from your ``Islam Khatre mein hain`` dailies and actually read up on some of the issues you are supposedly raising. You ought to educate yourself on something you claim to know so much about.
Here are some opinions on your rather bigotted views. I don`t have time to do them all. Afterall, if I wallow in mud I will get muddy.
I am using kafir to mean non-muslim and thats all.
1) When you see kafir students at AMU you say discrimination. When you see kafir teachers at AMU you say discrimination. And it threatens your heritage and Islamic identity !!
THe rest of the secular world would say wow here is an institution offering its education to EVERYBODY, even lesser mortals like kafirs. And even the `bigotted` Hindus learn and teach Urdu. But your Islamic glasses prevent you from seeing that. The irony of it all is that a lot of Muslims go to other `secular` schools with names like Dayanand Jatmal (DJ Science, St. this and St. that) but that is besides the point. In a secular country, schools are secular. You cannot deiscrimate and provide only certain students admission (whew ! I feel I am back in time in the 7th century or something). Read up on the school prayer issue in the US. may help you understand SECULARISM a little better.
You have a valid point though, why do we secular kafirs include them in our secular institutions.
Maybe the world needs an UMMAH bigot awareness program. Afterall there are schools all over the the secular world (US, UK, India and the rest of the kafir world really) where schools impart education to everybody. How many Muslims who have visited this site have studied in secular kafir institutions ?
2) You say the Sikh community saw the wrath of the `Hindus` and this is somehow in line with the ideology pushed by the BJP (Sangh Parivar). Can you tell us all why the Akali Dal (party from Punjab) is a strong BJP ally. Can you tell us why families of these very Sikhs (who were victimised) in Delhi and parts of Punjab, Haryana, UP, Himachal vote enmasse for the BJP ?
You would have to read up on the political gyrations in India to know about this. The Indian polity, with its co-alitions is far from what your bigotted mind can even dare comprehend. There are so many diverse voices ranging from caste, ethnicity, Muslim vote banks, Hindu nationalists, secularists, Communists/Marxists, socialists, religion. YOU WITH YOUR ISLAMIC GREEN TINTED GLASSES PROBABLY CANNOT SEE BEYOND THE BINARY - ISLAM AND KAFIR.
You say you are all for a lively debate, yet are silent on all the rebuttals and questions posed to you so far. Cut out the bluster and chest thumping from you posts (liberals scurrying away, picking on iconoclast) there is very little content to be appreciated in what you say. You would be better served if you stop cutting and pasting from your ``Islam Khatre mein hain`` dailies and actually read up on some of the issues you are supposedly raising. You ought to educate yourself on something you claim to know so much about.
Here are some opinions on your rather bigotted views. I don`t have time to do them all. Afterall, if I wallow in mud I will get muddy.
I am using kafir to mean non-muslim and thats all.
1) When you see kafir students at AMU you say discrimination. When you see kafir teachers at AMU you say discrimination. And it threatens your heritage and Islamic identity !!
THe rest of the secular world would say wow here is an institution offering its education to EVERYBODY, even lesser mortals like kafirs. And even the `bigotted` Hindus learn and teach Urdu. But your Islamic glasses prevent you from seeing that. The irony of it all is that a lot of Muslims go to other `secular` schools with names like Dayanand Jatmal (DJ Science, St. this and St. that) but that is besides the point. In a secular country, schools are secular. You cannot deiscrimate and provide only certain students admission (whew ! I feel I am back in time in the 7th century or something). Read up on the school prayer issue in the US. may help you understand SECULARISM a little better.
You have a valid point though, why do we secular kafirs include them in our secular institutions.
Maybe the world needs an UMMAH bigot awareness program. Afterall there are schools all over the the secular world (US, UK, India and the rest of the kafir world really) where schools impart education to everybody. How many Muslims who have visited this site have studied in secular kafir institutions ?
2) You say the Sikh community saw the wrath of the `Hindus` and this is somehow in line with the ideology pushed by the BJP (Sangh Parivar). Can you tell us all why the Akali Dal (party from Punjab) is a strong BJP ally. Can you tell us why families of these very Sikhs (who were victimised) in Delhi and parts of Punjab, Haryana, UP, Himachal vote enmasse for the BJP ?
You would have to read up on the political gyrations in India to know about this. The Indian polity, with its co-alitions is far from what your bigotted mind can even dare comprehend. There are so many diverse voices ranging from caste, ethnicity, Muslim vote banks, Hindu nationalists, secularists, Communists/Marxists, socialists, religion. YOU WITH YOUR ISLAMIC GREEN TINTED GLASSES PROBABLY CANNOT SEE BEYOND THE BINARY - ISLAM AND KAFIR.
#42 Posted by goyal on May 5, 1999 9:03:04 am
Some contributors love to post multiple times. Let me also try this strategy. Perhaps I will get a reply. Will keep posting till Mr Omar ``windbag`` Mirza replies!!
Mr. Omar1974,
Before making final rebuttal/comments, kindly answers my questions. You love to write, so write whatever you can. But kindly don t digress from these points. We know all about your views on Jinnah, TNT, conditions of muslims in India and other topics in this world.
Kindly restrict yourself to enlightening us on following simple questions
1. Give us benefits of your superior intellect on whose Islam is right, Shias or Sunnis?
2. Are Ahmediyas Muslim?
3. Bangladesh are predominantly muslim. Why do you call them bengalis and not muslims? Another location on same site is full of your insights on Bengali gaddars !!
Mr. Omar1974,
Before making final rebuttal/comments, kindly answers my questions. You love to write, so write whatever you can. But kindly don t digress from these points. We know all about your views on Jinnah, TNT, conditions of muslims in India and other topics in this world.
Kindly restrict yourself to enlightening us on following simple questions
1. Give us benefits of your superior intellect on whose Islam is right, Shias or Sunnis?
2. Are Ahmediyas Muslim?
3. Bangladesh are predominantly muslim. Why do you call them bengalis and not muslims? Another location on same site is full of your insights on Bengali gaddars !!
#41 Posted by homealone on May 5, 1999 8:12:33 am
And you say 2%. That really beats me. I would like to see the situation myself. Muslims are not excluded by any prejudice. The selection mechanisms in India are entirely beyond influence. They are unbiased even if they are unintelligent.
You take an exam and write your roll number on your answer paper. You are not allowed to put your name or anything like a religious symbol. Your paper is instantly disqualified if you do.
Muslims are excluded from the census. Can be only in assam and other north eastern states. And thank god it has been done finally. Next time please learn to spell VHP and Bhajrang Dal right.
Even shops that sell prayer rugs are not owned by muslims. Please tell me why. Highly educated muslims unable to find jobs?? What have they studied.
Will you allow for the fact that the employment scene is bad in India. Muslims muslims and muslims, nothing else matters to you. Is it possible that others can have problems too. Oh that is because they have not embraced the divine message of Islam.
You take an exam and write your roll number on your answer paper. You are not allowed to put your name or anything like a religious symbol. Your paper is instantly disqualified if you do.
Muslims are excluded from the census. Can be only in assam and other north eastern states. And thank god it has been done finally. Next time please learn to spell VHP and Bhajrang Dal right.
Even shops that sell prayer rugs are not owned by muslims. Please tell me why. Highly educated muslims unable to find jobs?? What have they studied.
Will you allow for the fact that the employment scene is bad in India. Muslims muslims and muslims, nothing else matters to you. Is it possible that others can have problems too. Oh that is because they have not embraced the divine message of Islam.
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