Give Peace a Chance in Kashmir

A window that should not be shut!

From The Hindu today at:

http://www.the-hindu.com/stories/05162523.htm

Ras

Urstruly, Ali1,

Tsk tsk tsk. You try & be so nice & protective of Farzana & she admonishes you for your prejudiced bigotry. When will you guys realise that it just might be possible that Indian muslims consider themselves just as much Indian as any hindu?

When you act like these noble knights in shining armor & pity them because they are unfairly treated or if they have issues with hindus, you give them a message ``you poor bakras, you should have done what we did & opted for the paradise of Pakistan``. I think its just as insulting to them as when hindu bigots tell them ``if you dont like what is happening, go to Pakistan``. So please spare them your pity. Its like me having pity for muslim societies just because Solitude goes into anti-Islamic rantings.

Bigots from both sides have the same agenda. A pure Islamic Pakistan & a pure Hindu India. When ``liberals`` from either side disagree with your views you call them cowards, communists & hypocrites. Hindu & muslim bigots may hate each other, but have a mutual respect for each other ``because at least we know where they stand; its those cowardly liberals who should`nt be trusted``.

Once again, let me toast a glass of cow urine in honor of your intelligence!

On a side note, if Aaker Patel is the editor who did this, then considering his standard on this board in past interactions, he should resign first.

Ref ali1 #: 102

[Thanks God you didn`t ask me to change it to Shiva/Krishna/Gadha/Ghora/Kutta/Naga or some other animal`s lingam.]

That`s because you are a horse`s ass, you idiot.

Whether one agrees with Farzana`s views or not, and granted that we only know only one side of the story, I must say that the editor was not very professional in dealing with her.

Farzana # 97

[``What worries me is the prejudice prevalent here. I have not been seeking sympathy and, as I said earlier, I did not start this discussion.``]

I think you are taking this forum way too seriously. You are at a disadvantage here since you are not anonymous like the rest (most) of us. And anything you say here can and will be used against you in real life :-)

[``It is a pity that your attempts at responding to me as a human being qualify us to be “interchangeable”. ``]

The person who made that qualification has not a bee but a bee-hive full of buzzing bees up the hiney.

[``Can you please change your name to Saxena or something?!``]

Thanks God you didn`t ask me to change it to Shiva/Krishna/Gadha/Ghora/Kutta/Naga or some other animal`s lingam.

MaheshG (Reply # 76):

“What do you say about the 100 Hindu labourers killed recently in Kashmir? Is that just propaganda?”

That is a mischievous question. You are assuming that I want Hindus in Kashmir and elsewhere to be killed. I refuse to answer this one.

Farzana



Shankar (#98):

Thanks, and more...

Farzana



(#99):

Waiting to exhale???



Urstruly (Reply #92):

While I do thank you for your support and I intend to continue to be “courageous”, please do not ever forget that I am an Indian. “Keep on exposing the ugly side of these two-faced pompous Indians”. I will keep exposing two-faced groups of people, whatever be their nationality, race, sexual orientation, whatever. However, India is not a “slaughterhouse”. It happens to be my home. A home, not just a house.

Farzana



TO THE CHOWK POSTERS

Considerable space has been taken here to discuss my professional ‘problem’. I think it is extremely unfair to Ras, the writer of this article. Therefore, since I have left some queries

unanswered I have posted my replies to my ‘Mandir’ Board. It did say that the submission was successful, so if you wish you may check it out. It will get kind of messy!

Regarding my comment about “poor Pandits”, those who have expressed righteous indignation have not contributed one intelligible word on that subject here and instead chosen to hit out at me. (For the unabridged version of my reply, go to my Board.) Now, can we get back to giving peace a chance?

Farzana

Barring the chest thumping usual rhetoric an important piece of news:

Army chief wants Kashmir ceasefire extended

www.timesofindia.com

NEW DELHI: Army chief General S Padmanabhan favours further extension of the government`s unilateral ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir. ``Continue with it and see what comes out of it,`` he said here on Friday.

Addressing a press conference ahead of Army Day, Padmanabhan said the disadvantages the military faced when ordered not to initiate combat operations in the Valley were ``insignificant``. It was up to the government to decide on continuing with the ceasefire, but if it was a good thing it should be continued. ``And I believe it is a good thing.``

The ceasefire, first declared for Ramzan, was extended by a month. The government will decide after Republic Day whether a further extension should be allowed. But the Army chief`s remarks indicate that a further extension is probable.

There was ``a sea-change in the overall situation`` and ``a huge burgeoning of hope`` in the Valley, Padmanabhan said. Though there is violence in the interior, the border has quietened down after the ceasefire. Shelling across the Line of Control and the border has declined. ``Barring a few incidents of firing, the border situation is very quiet,`` he said, indicating that Pakistan`s promise of restraint on the LoC was mostly being kept.

On Pakistan`s announcement that it had pulled out troops from the LoC, the general was, however, sceptical. No frontline troops - nothing of significance, he said - had been withdrawn. Units sent there post-Kargil for specific purposes, however, had been called back. In that manner, India too had withdrawn troops from the LoC, he said. Padmanabhan said the troop concentration in Kargil had been reduced, and the Army would continue to pare its strength there to a minimum.

The Army chief said incidents of violence were still taking place within the state but the strikes were being carried out by foreign militants. ``Our home-grown militant is sick and tired of the fighting, though he is not saying anything.``

Asked if the ceasefire had given militants an opportunity to regroup, Padmanabhan said the security forces knew where the militants were and could get them when they decide to. Even now, he said, ``surgical operations`` against small groups of militants were taking place, based on specific intelligence.

I`ve said it a hundred times and I`ll say it again: Farzana`s column was probably dropped for poor writing and content. Her English is horrible (so is mine, but I am not a journalist) and her writing is nothing more than a bitter person venting her personal issues...it`s ok to criticize things...that`s what a journalist ought to do....but it should be in the form of rigorous analysis, not personal moaning and bit#hing.

Farzana,

Thankyou for your gracious reply. I empathise with you. The way they dropped your column was certainly very unprofessional, to say the least.

{{I am surprised you are looking for another angle to the story for you haven’t even got one side. A person comes to a public forum when he cannot do the dignified thing where it matters, and you expect the truth? And just for your information, he is even refusing to carry my Letter in their Mailbag page.}}

I was a little blindsided by Ali who was using this example to demonstrate how wretched the plight of muslims in India is. I appreciate the fact that you dont want to communalise this issue. Youre right, I dont need an explanation from aakar after I read your post.

If muslims from prepartitioned India feel that they made the right choice of moving from other parts of India to Pakistan;--hey I`m happy for them. But a few bigots pity those muslims who made the choice to stay behind--to the point where they think Indian muslims are nothing but goats heading to a slaughterhouse. Even if they have nothing but the greatest concern for Indian muslims, they sound pretty patronising.

Ras (Reply #77):

My, my, you too? Can’t take a joke and feel pressurised? Oh all right. I was only kidding about you picking up a Kalashnikov and aiming it at me. The reason being that your Board has unfortunately become a discussion ground for something quite different – a professional happening in my life.

In fact, I wish to apologise to you. I do not know about Chowk protocol (though I am aware that on my Boards people had even begun to discuss restaurants!), but I am not personally comfortable with this. However, I hope you will understand my need to clarify certain points. In my next post I will request the Chowkwallas not to abuse your space, that’s a promise. Sorry about this once again.

Thanks and regards,

Farzana



Krashid (Reply #81):

I like Gibran precisely because he is an idealist. His oft-repeated quote, “Let there be spaces in your togetherness,” is, I think, the best way in which all human relationships ought to be conducted. It is the smothering and claiming of one another that proves to be our doom.

Farzana



ali1 (Reply # 70)

You have told Shankar, “I hope you and other Indians will find the courage to write to the bigot who is the editor of ``that publication`` and force him to take back his unjust decision.”

In my post (#71) I have stated that I do not wish to communalise the issue. There is no question about anyone taking back their decision, and as long as such people are around, there is no question of my going back. In all these years I have never approached any publication.

What worries me is the prejudice prevalent here. I have not been seeking sympathy and, as I said earlier, I did not start this discussion. It is a pity that your attempts at responding to me as a human being qualify us to be “interchangeable”. Can you please change your name to Saxena or something?!

Farzana



Shankar (Reply #87):

There is most certainly a bias against me (and I say this matter-of-factly, for biases exist everywhere), but not merely because I “defied the conventional hindu inspired dominant discourse”, but due to the fact that I am what I am without becoming a pawn. I have not met the editor, who has joined just over six months ago; I don’t meet editors anyway.

My disappointment is not that I was done away with, but the way it was done: No prior intimation, no courtesy of a call/note, no reasons given…and then, when pushed against a wall, going to the extent of quoting the negative Posts at Chowk as evidence of my being inconvenient, when the fact is that my column was dropped before I submitted ‘Soft Option’ here!

I am surprised you are looking for another angle to the story for you haven’t even got one side. A person comes to a public forum when he cannot do the dignified thing where it matters, and you expect the truth? And just for your information, he is even refusing to carry my Letter in their Mailbag page. I have yet to come across such suppression by those who talk about free speech. All I wanted to do is address the readers of so many years. It would have been a gracious gesture. Anyway, as a shrink, can you tell me how an asset can become a liability overnight? Do you charge by the hour, or the extent of dementia?:)

Farzana

Ras (Reply #77):

My, my, you too? Can’t take a joke and feel pressurised? Oh all right. I was only kidding about you picking up a Kalashnikov and aiming it at me. The reason being that your Board has unfortunately become a discussion ground for something quite different – a professional happening in my life.

In fact, I wish to apologise to you. I do not know about Chowk protocol (though I am aware that on my Boards people had even begun to discuss restaurants!), but I am not personally comfortable with this. However, I hope you will understand my need to clarify certain points. In my next post I will request the Chowkwallas not to abuse your space, that’s a promise. Sorry about this once again.

Thanks and regards,

Farzana



Krashid (Reply #81):

I like Gibran precisely because he is an idealist. His oft-repeated quote, “Let there be spaces in your togetherness,” is, I think, the best way in which all human relationships ought to be conducted. It is the smothering and claiming of one another that proves to be our doom.

Farzana



ali1 (Reply # 70)

You have told Shankar, “I hope you and other Indians will find the courage to write to the bigot who is the editor of ``that publication`` and force him to take back his unjust decision.”

In my post (#71) I have stated that I do not wish to communalise the issue. There is no question about anyone taking back their decision, and as long as such people are around, there is no question of my going back. In all these years I have never approached any publication.

What worries me is the prejudice prevalent here. I have not been seeking sympathy and, as I said earlier, I did not start this discussion. It is a pity that your attempts at responding to me as a human being qualify us to be “interchangeable”. Can you please change your name to Saxena or something?!

Farzana



Shankar (Reply #87):

There is most certainly a bias against me (and I say this matter-of-factly, for biases exist everywhere), but not merely because I “defied the conventional hindu inspired dominant discourse”, but due to the fact that I am what I am without becoming a pawn. I have not met the editor, who has joined just over six months ago; I don’t meet editors anyway.

My disappointment is not that I was done away with, but the way it was done: No prior intimation, no courtesy of a call/note, no reasons given…and then, when pushed against a wall, going to the extent of quoting the negative Posts at Chowk as evidence of my being inconvenient, when the fact is that my column was dropped before I submitted ‘Soft Option’ here!

I am surprised you are looking for another angle to the story for you haven’t even got one side. A person comes to a public forum when he cannot do the dignified thing where it matters, and you expect the truth? And just for your information, he is even refusing to carry my Letter in their Mailbag page. I have yet to come across such suppression by those who talk about free speech. All I wanted to do is address the readers of so many years. It would have been a gracious gesture. Anyway, as a shrink, can you tell me how an asset can become a liability overnight? Do you charge by the hour, or the extent of dementia?:)

Farzana

Cheraym #83

Being a Hindu (or Hindu related) your criticism is taken in right spirit. F-Versey, being Muslim, her criticism is taken in wrong spirit.

Criteria of column writer is readership.

And putting the posting on Chowk regarding this, clearly indicates malafide intent.

And how much you twist, the truth remains evident.

Only the words on chowk and blind eye cannot see what is happening.

Harpreet #

I appreciate your concern.

Take the other person as he/she is. It increases my belief in human.

Ref Urstruly #: 92

You said {We need courageous people like yourself to face the tough times that are coming this month when hindus will start their ``Yudh`` on Muslim and Christian minorities, from Kunbh Mela.

May Allah protect you and all our Muslim brothers and sisters in the slaughterhouse called India.}

In case you didn`t know it, Maha Kumbh Mela (the Great Pitcher Festival, as the BBC translated it) is being held in Allahabad.

What subterfuges the diabolical Hindus won`t resort to in order to lull the Muslims into a false sense of security! Allahabad, indeed! At least, they haven`t named the city Islamabad! The peace-loving Indian Muslims are going to be slaughtered and their blood is going to be carried in pitchers, as has been happening since times immemorial.

Channel 4 of Britain is going to carry extensive reporting on the Festival. I for one can`t wait to see death, blood and mayhem on live TV. It should be the final proof to the world that the average Hindu is a murderous fiend.

PS. If I were you, I wouldn`t open the door when I hear a knock. People in white coats may be coming around to collect you and take you to a safe place where you can mingle with Elvis, JFK, and the like. They may also remove the anal probe that the little green men left in your body when you were last abducted and taken to the edge of the solar system on a UFO to have sex with alien women.

RE Shankar # 87

I salute you chacha shankar!

Dear Ms. Versey!

I am sorry to hear about your dismissal. Please do not lose your heart because of this temporary setback; never give up and never give in. Keep on exposing the ugly side of these two-faced pompous Indians. We need courageous people like yourself to face the tough times that are coming this month when hindus will start their ``Yudh`` on Muslim and Christian minorities, from Kunbh Mela.

May Allah protect you and all our Muslim brothers and sisters in the slaughterhouse called India.