The Doll’s House

````I have been ‘tolerating’ ``them``, but I get no credit for it. In fact, I should be grateful that they let me live in the same premises, butcher animals, eat them. Not only am I permitted these liberties but, should I be in a personal crisis Middle-Everybody-Except-Klutzes- (MEEK) type situation, they will decide my fate in front of a television audience.

Many MEEKs had to go through this humiliation. Everyone knows about the case of this young woman in a village whose husband, MEEK-007, was called a Klutz when he went missing during the Bongo Festival. When it was recently discovered that he was in a Ladonia jail, he was brought back. Meanwhile, when he had disappeared, MEEK-007`s family decided to sell the daschund, Molly. Molly seemed happy enough with her new MEEKs and is now eight months pregnant with probably the neighbourhood GIR`s litter. SPCA busybodies deemed that since she was not carrying daschund pregnancies, she should return to MEEK-007; he has refused to accept the litter. So Molly will have to keep the litter under a tree,10 days after her delivery. That is all the time SPCA will give her.

. . . and so on and so forth.

Farzana, we all have the right to ask and say what we feel like, because being Indian is increasingly about being whatever you choose to be. But where does this Hindu-Muslim ff stucome into the picture about a group of people being ``phuslaoed`` into getting on television? Do we need to investigate whether the producer of the Zee show was from Jamia or JNU or BHU or wherever to cast more religious aspersions?

Not your best, and I don`t understand what you are trying to say. I don`t know about you, but here in South Delhi, next to Lajpat nagar, prime ``refugee resettlement colony``, we get to hear plenty of azaan too. So what?

Happy Dussera too. And please appreciate - it is nobody`s case that Indian politics or religious animosities or anything are pure bi-polar. So how can there ever be a mainstream, boss?

I would speak on something about Rafiq Zacharia since you chose to juxtapose his views out of the context here:

``If you place this problem before Dr. Rafiq Zakaria, he will still spout the famous words of his book title, ‘Indian Muslims: Where have they gone wrong?’ He will see the problem of the laws, not of the exploitation by the media. The book is making the right noises so I am going to use it here. ``

Now you are picking on Rafiq Zacharia by putting words in his mouth. You are absolutely Wrong about his imagined reaction! Rafiq in the interview to M.J.Akbar at CNBC Asia last week voiced his concerns which is absolutely contrary to what you want him to say. He said that the real problem right from the very begining of freedom struggle is that the print (and now the visual) media has tried to sensationalize the voices and opinions of the fanatic muslim and hindu elements and has brought undue attetion to them thereby increasing their importance. There has never been a ``survey`` regarding what the majority muslims want and has tried to turn the shrill of the fanatics into the opinion of the majority. The Media has failed to highlight the fact that majority of the muslims do not approve of the opinions that the so called leaders claim to speak on their behalf. He said that his case is a clear example- Why does the media not highlight the fact that 99 percent of muslims voted for his candidature despite there being some extremist elements standing against him in the elections. I am sure he would have something similar to say about your shrill on the matter (I have recorded that interview in parts!)

``Co-operation here means going along with the majority tide; reconciliation means reconciling yourself to whatever is in store because that is the only way to save your butt and, if you are lucky, then drown yourself in the prosperity of a fraud. ``

That is out of context and an extremely uncharitable remark. Rafiq said that he lost all the hope after Gujrat carnage of muslims but is now regaining his confident with the Indian democracy after the change in the Government. He said that despite all the confrontation that we had during partition most of the living has been peaceful because majority of the hindus are secular. So Rafiq is talking about empowerment of the muslim community through adherence to the democratic process of the country than through jihadist confrontations. ( I know that this is not liked by the admirers of OBL and call it as bending down to please the majority!!)

``The parents come in for censure as well: “(they) must give up their traditional outlook of sticking to the worn-out methods and norms and not keep their children away from all forms of modern education.” If 70 per cent of the people live in the rural areas, what modern education will they have access to? And would he have the courage to talk to Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi who has been crying aloud for adding astrology and Vedic studies to the curriculum? If those are scientific scriptures, then every community has a right to theirs.
However, this madrassa education is such a gross exaggeration that it is not funny. Muslim institutions have regular classes and teach regular things. Besides, let us not forget that those of us who have been to convent schools did sing catholic hymns. Was this a part of our modern education? ``

Again out of context. Two wrongs do not make a right. OUR suicidal Jehadis do not give BJP or RSS goons a right to kill innocent muslims!!

``Ideally, Gudiya should be suing the BJP and the Indian Army for not giving her the right information. But she cannot cast that stone for she is expected to walk on the shards to welcome a man who is hailed as a hero only because he spent some time in an enemy jail.
Who is the real prisoner? Who are the real prisoners? ``

Well! Let us not create imaginary enemies where there are none. The fact remains that women dis-empowerment in rural communities is a complexer issue which has more layers apart from the community/religious values.
So does the prison that Gudiya (or anyone else) prefers to live is first ``created`` by BJP and the Indian Army!!

More on it after I have finished his book.

I would speak on something about Rafiq Zacharia since you chose to juxtapose his views out of the context here:

``If you place this problem before Dr. Rafiq Zakaria, he will still spout the famous words of his book title, ‘Indian Muslims: Where have they gone wrong?’ He will see the problem of the laws, not of the exploitation by the media. The book is making the right noises so I am going to use it here. ``

Now you are picking on Rafiq Zacharia by putting words in his mouth. You are absolutely Wrong about his imagined reaction! Rafiq in the interview to M.J.Akbar at CNBC Asia last week voiced his concerns which is absolutely contrary to what you want him to say. He said that the real problem right from the very begining of freedom struggle is that the print (and now the visual) media has tried to sensationalize the voices and opinions of the fanatic muslim and hindu elements and has brought undue attetion to them thereby increasing their importance. There has never been a ``survey`` regarding what the majority muslims want and has tried to turn the shrill of the fanatics into the opinion of the majority. The Media has failed to highlight the fact that majority of the muslims do not approve of the opinions that the so called leaders claim to speak on their behalf. He said that his case is a clear example- Why does the media not highlight the fact that 99 percent of muslims voted for his candidature despite there being some extremist elements standing against him in the elections. I am sure he would have something similar to say about your shrill on the matter (I have recorded that interview in parts!)

``Co-operation here means going along with the majority tide; reconciliation means reconciling yourself to whatever is in store because that is the only way to save your butt and, if you are lucky, then drown yourself in the prosperity of a fraud. ``

That is out of context and an extremely uncharitable remark. Rafiq said that he lost all the hope after Gujrat carnage of muslims but is now regaining his confident with the Indian democracy after the change in the Government. He said that despite all the confrontation that we had during partition most of the living has been peaceful because majority of the hindus are secular. So Rafiq is talking about empowerment of the muslim community through adherence to the democratic process of the country than through jihadist confrontations. ( I know that this is not liked by the admirers of OBL and call it as bending down to please the majority!!)

``The parents come in for censure as well: “(they) must give up their traditional outlook of sticking to the worn-out methods and norms and not keep their children away from all forms of modern education.” If 70 per cent of the people live in the rural areas, what modern education will they have access to? And would he have the courage to talk to Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi who has been crying aloud for adding astrology and Vedic studies to the curriculum? If those are scientific scriptures, then every community has a right to theirs.
However, this madrassa education is such a gross exaggeration that it is not funny. Muslim institutions have regular classes and teach regular things. Besides, let us not forget that those of us who have been to convent schools did sing catholic hymns. Was this a part of our modern education? ``

Again out of context. Two wrongs do not make a right. OUR suicidal Jehadis do not give BJP or RSS goons a right to kill innocent muslims!!

``Ideally, Gudiya should be suing the BJP and the Indian Army for not giving her the right information. But she cannot cast that stone for she is expected to walk on the shards to welcome a man who is hailed as a hero only because he spent some time in an enemy jail.
Who is the real prisoner? Who are the real prisoners? ``

Well! Let us not create imaginary enemies where there are none. The fact remains that women dis-empowerment in rural communities is a complexer issue which has more layers apart from the community/religious values.
So does the prison that Gudiya (or anyone else) prefers to live is first ``created`` by BJP and the Indian Army!!

More on it after I have finished his book.

Farzana,
As usual, a bold article, fit to send the fur flying. As always, I found myself agreeing with a lot of things that you say, and also disagreeing with some of the things that you say. Responding to your article will require an article in itself.

Here`s my take:
``* Why has their population growth slowed down by 2.9 per cent while the Muslims’ has gone down by 3.5 per cent? ``
That is misinterpretation of statistics. Hindu population has a lower rate of growth than Muslim population and the slowdown would be lower too. It is like saying percentage of illiterates in the US fell slower than the percentage of illiterates in India. Overall, Muslim growth rate is higher than that of Hindu growth rate - this is a fact. Both rates are falling, yes, but the Muslim growth rate is still higher than the Hindu one.

``* Why do they harp on Muslim men marrying four times when bigamy is more common among Hindus?``
Because bigamy among Hindus is illegal, but four wives is allowed by LAW for Muslims in India, that`s why. If the law were the same for all (one, two or four wives for all), there would be no issue. The issue is about having common laws for all citizens. It is a plain wrong - but the Congress is too pseudo-secular to tackle this issue, hence the BJP (despite its evil intentions) is able to cleverly capitalize on it by tapping into the existing pool of resentment among Hindus regarding this law.

My god what anger and what venom !!!! One can take a magnifying glass and fine fault with every stroke in a Picasso painting. You end up reducing everything to a Hindu - Muslim situation. Probably, if you slipped in the bathroom, you would find a plausible theorey to blame the RSS.

The Hindus believe (So I have read and noticed since I am not a Hindu) that there are many paths to god, and no path can be an exclusive path. So where is the question of Islam conforming to Hinduism ??? It is the only major religion besides the Jews that does not believe in conversion. However like all other religions, Hinduism has its faults and problems. Noone is denying that. So do all the other religions.

The fact is that despite whatever you may say India is the only country between Italy and Japan that has had a genuine consistent democracy for the last half a century. Most Indian Muslims that I have spoken to are happy that they have stayed on in India after Independence. I know a lady who was a Pakistani citizen (she now has a Canadian Passport), whose parents and brothers/ sisters live in Pakistan, but she prefers to stay in Chandigarh. Her children live in UK and Canada. She is much happier out here. Its a matter of choice.

So luckily, not all Muslims feel the way you do. I for one am very proud of our President, all the Khan actors, our top fast bowler and sensational ladies tennis player. I would request you also to read the latest Outlook Magazine that has its main lead story about the Indian Muslim. However if you feel that `Bal` sahib is behind the article, then its no point reading it !!!

Enjoy :)

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``I have been ‘tolerating’ Hindus, but I get no credit for it.``

No Hindu in Pakistan or Bangladesh gets credit for tolerating Muslims either. Is it not one

fundamental factor of the minority majority confrontation?

``The world was made to see how easy it is to make a spectacle of the Indian Muslim.``

I think you are leapfrogging from on individual`s misfortune into making a universal rhetoric.

Gudiya`s is a tragic situation, but assigning Zee TV`s commercial/tasteless/lurid act the same

strength as national decision is rather too contrived. If at all, I would imagine showcasing of

BJP Muslims by the BJP and others is closer to qualify for such a leap. They are individuals who

by individual choice choose to be brand ambassadors to an unequal and opposite worldview.

``Arif who was called an absconder by the Indian Army was hailed as a hero on his return, not for

what he did on the front, but merely for returning as a PoW. The subtle message being that he is

a nationalist and therefore acceptable by the majority community.``

Again too little happened and you are staking too much into the incident. Remember Nachiketa the

air force pilot. He too returned to a hero`s welcome from Pakistan? It is merely a national

quirk, or a quirk of nationalism, that a when a soldier returns safe from enemy territoty, in a

single piece. I doubt if it was a case of showcasing Indian Nationalism includes Muslims?

Besides, methinks, you are reducing his suffering in the light of the new suffering that he has

visited upon Gudiya.

``Why does he not count them as a part of a potential brain-drain? Why are they held up as

examples of wasted youth when they probably suffer from the same problems as anyone else? What

does he mean by lost hope of any prospect in India when there are many more Hindus moving

overseas to better their lot? If some Muslim youth go to the Gulf countries, then they are doing

so for the same reasons.``

Again, I doubt if Zakaria meant the pool of semi-skilled to unskilled workers going in droves on

Muslims Only visas as the example of Indian Muslim Youth betraying India. It is merely the labour

pool migrating to the part of the world that pays better wages for the same set of skills. They

exploit the fact that several Gulf countries prefer those of Muslim persuasion. How is this brain

drain? It is the same as saying Bangladesh is losing its best brains to India because of those

who cross over to india, often illegally, are doing so because their country does not have the

wherewithal to hold and nourish their talents? On the contrary, they are the same lot as the

Muslim youth, or for that matter Malayalees, who move to the Gulf. Brain drain?


``Why is joining the RSS a patriotic gesture that will instil discipline and joining a Muslim

organisation a regressive move?``

This, according to me, is the false fulcrum of this entire rant. You weaken the ``Hindu

mainstream``, whom you are perhaps addressing, or in any case forms a bulk of your audience, by

calling them ``those who believe, think, and are allied to RSS and Golwalkar.`` If you had quoted

Gandhi, perhaps it would have been closer. Anybody, perhaps even a mystic like Auribindo, or

Tagore...anybody other than the exact person and organisation that has quickened the currency of

your contention. It is laughable to say that Indians consider joining RSS an act of ``patriotism.``

And yet, perhaps, there is a larger number of Hindus who might think joining SIMI maybe be

unpatriotic, because of peculiar reasons that connected SIMI to some terrorist activities.


``Sure. Now may I ask on what basis do a number of Hindus have any business to suspect this? If I

am supposed to feel ashamed for what someone does in another part of the world, whose language I

cannot understand, whose food habits and clothes are different from mine, who even looks

different, then I have every right to find terrorists in my backyard from the majority community.

``

Well, again you weaken your enemy...or the opposite viewpoint deliberately to come out more

strongly in your contention. Are you suggesting that many Hindus in India suspect Muslims because

of terrorism in Chechya, Isrtael and elsewhere? This is ridiculous. The Bomaby blasts, the blasts

in Coimbatore, the blasts in Delhi? Are these accomplished by ``someone does in another part of

the world, whose language I cannot understand, whose food habits and clothes are different from

mine, who even looks different?``

I think the suspicion alluded to is very true, and sadly true. However, the reason is not as

remote as you suggest. It is only when it hits home closer that this suspicion becomes a

pervading malaise. Not right, of course, but there it is.

``Why can Indian Muslims not be suspicious of the acts of Hindus because of the doings of L.K. Advani, Uma Bharti, Praveen Togadia, Narendra Modi, Bal Thackeray? Why can we not suspect that the majority are aligned with these people who I consider terrorists?``

I do not think anybody can constuitionaly disallow such a suspicion. But then, it snakes back to the other fear you voiced earlier. It is the same as leadinhg a witchhunt for all who were once members of the SIMI, because at a much later date some SIMI members were found to be radicalised enough to be part of some nefarious plot or the other.

``If Islamic money is supposed to be pouring in for the jihad in Kashmir, then where is it coming from in the North East? What about the dollars collected for the VHP in Silicon Valley by so-called professionals?
What about the dollars collected for the VHP in Silicon Valley by so-called professionals?``

There again you make a very tenuous connection on the basis of a rhetorical question, wilfully ignoring, one might say, the scale, size, and scope of the two issues. And then, connecting VHP to trained militants blowing up buses. If at all, the VHP thingy will be easier and more clearly compared to funds for proselitisating that comes from the US to indian shores rather than money for military training. Are you saying proseletisation through nuanced and often prolonged bribery is the same as artmed uprising?

And what is achieved by the question: If Islamic money is supposed to be pouring in for the jihad in Kashmir, then where is it coming from in the North East?

Suppose it is coming from Chinese Shintos...then what? If it coming from the Burmese Junta...then what? I mean how does it tie up with the entire issue at hand...which is the pressure of the Hindu mainstream to coopt Muslim minority in India on their own terms, rather than on the terms of the latter?

Farzana bibi, as some one said elsewhere on chowk in an earlier era you need to get a life....your diatribes are getting how should I put it painfully B_anal.........


o.k, oaky - you have a column to fill and it is called fly in the soup - but must you resort to the usual bored_in_a_mid-life_crisis_woman_stirring_my_luke_warm_tea imaga of yourself and pour out these ``oh !God! what do i do? I a need a colum to fill but I am a bored_in_a_mid-life_crisis_woman who needs something more than luke warm tea to stir me`` routines......

come on lady you can surely do better than....give us a good turn....there now....

If 70 per cent of the people live in the rural areas, what modern education will they have access to?

70% of Hindus live in the rural areas too, but you don`t see them sending their children to patshalas or ashrams, do you?

Again as usual the lady picks up an issue and deviates the matter to something else. One would never understand what she wants to say!! Neways njoy lady having good number of interacts to your credit spewing venom as always.

Oooh this lady belongs in the land of Jihad. Lets have a collection to buy her the one way ticket to Pakistan she so craves. Where the Hindoo has been wiped out and she will rest in peace.

We can set up a PayPal account. I will give her twenty dollars right now.

In the meantime I have been inspired to write a poem.

There was a young Muslim called Farzana
Who hated Hindus and Bananas
She said one was yellow
To the Hindus said Hello
and ran like a horse to Pakistana

Well I know it does not rhyme but we cannot all be true poets.

=== Interact Filtered ===
view this users filtered interacts

Farzana

This was a very very brave article. And I know that the Indians will be coming in force on this because this is essentially baring it all. You have broken one of the greatest claptraps of the modern world. That just because you are a liberal and a moderate, that you will also be a conformist and deny the basic calling of your identity.

But as I said, the Indians will be coming out on this on pure tangents of disinformation and personal vendettas. Ignore them as you ignored the Pakistanis, including myself on your last article about Jinnah.

Great Work, and I am certain, in terms of interacts this will outdo all the articles on chowk.

FV,

If you don’t like the neighborhood, move to Bangalore or some other more westernized city. If that’s too seeped in Indian/Hindu way of life also for your refined tastes, just move overseas or wherever you feel more comfortable.

Learn some real skills and focus on making honest living rather than continuing your non-stop e-Jihad to entertain India haters.

Farzana

You tell the way it is. Let all the insecurities in the form of venom flow on this board. Truth hurts. Ouch.

Good job. Someone should forward this to Sir Vidia and Mr Rafiq Zakaria.

Our old friend Farzana is back with her usual mixture of fact and fiction. India is a free country and Farzana has every right to put her spin on reality.

For those of us who are more interested in reality, here is a ``press release`` from an indian muslim organization with all kinds of claims to moderation and nationalism. I wil make no comment on it, you can work out its implications.


http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20041004&fname=Cover+Story+%28F%29&sid=3

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Heed Us, Or Perish
The AIMPLB is the true protector of the Shariat

KHALID RASHEED



It’s high time that those Muslims who call themselves ‘progressive’ and who continue to criticise the working and philosophy of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) go in for self-introspection. They should enquire whether their profession, beliefs and aims in life are in accordance with Islam. A Muslim who believes the Shariat is incompatible with today’s progressive world cannot be considered a true follower of the Prophet. To have complete faith in the Shariat is the basic requirement of Islam. By taking a strong and firm stand from time to time, the aimplb has proved itself to be the true protector of the Islamic Shariat.
For those who feel humiliated by the board, they would do well to remember that we take all decisions in compliance with the Quran, the Hadith (holy book containing sayings of Prophet Mohammed) and other Islamic laws. No one who calls himself a Muslim can go against the directives of the Almighty and no one can say that the board has ever gone against the commands of Allah. There are many misconceptions about the role of the AIMPLB. Its main aim is to protect the Shariat in India. We keep a vigil and ensure that whatever regulations and rules the government makes for Muslims is in accordance with Islamic laws. We also guide Indian Muslims according to the Quran and Hadith.

Our other objective is to unite the entire Muslim community. The board continuously makes efforts at bringing together the Sunnis, Shias, Deobandis, Barelvis and Agakhanis, among others. The main ulema from these different sects have been brought under this singular banner since the ’70s. This is the organisation in which all the Indian Muslims have unflinching faith. All decisions are taken only after reaching a consensus.

The board is aware of criticism from various quarters but its members stand by all the decisions taken so far. In the Shah Bano case, the judgements given by the high court were against Islamic law, as a result of which the sentiments of crores of Muslims were badly hurt. The board had only taken the initiative to persuade the Indian government at that time to pass a law in Parliament against the decision taken by the court.

As for those who believe that the Babri Masjid issue is beyond the board’s jurisdiction, I can only say that they remember that mosques and maulanas constitute a potent part of Islam. And anything which is a part of Islam automatically comes under the jurisdiction of the board. Ever since the board has taken up the Babri Masjid issue, confusion has lessened and no board member has ever given any provocative speeches on this religious issue. Regarding the recent furore over the issue of family planning, the board has made it clear that family planning is not permitted in Islam. The Shariat has been interpreted by the most well-read and authentic imams and ulema and we cannot go against their conclusions.

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(The author is AIMPLB member and deputy imam, Idgah, Lucknow.)

Dear Farzana:
Newsmedia these days, especially the electronic media, is more about entertainment and very little about information. Gudia`s story is a melodrama built for the modern day media and I wont be surprised to see it on the big screen soon. I too find it disgusting. But why bring in religion, isn`t it enough to treat it as a human tragedy?

``Why is joining the RSS a patriotic gesture that will instil discipline and joining a Muslim organisation a regressive move?``
I would have agreed with you during the BJP rule but with Arjun Singh looking for a khaki nikar in every bureaucrat`s desk drawers, I can`t. In fact the pendulum has swung to the other extreme to my liking, with the army issuing instructions forbidding women to wear a bindi (I would be surprised if you dont occasionally wear one yourself as a fashion accessory).
As for madrassas, I it is too simple to lump them all in the same category. Many of them provide as good, if not better, education than the public institutions, others think that there job is to train only future mullahs.

One may or may not like Naipaul (it`s hard to like a curmudgeion!) but I dont think it is fair to compare him to a racist and a bi_got like Golwalkar. If he is a racist, it is in the strict meaning of the term as he is less than charitable towards the blacks in his land of birth. Naipaul showed his contempt for hindus and Indians (An Area of Darkness) long before he turned his gaze on muslims and islam. And while you may have something in psychoanalysing his fantasising about his homeland, he is not a convert nor is his ancestry in any doubt. And he is not the only one complaining about the Saudis. From what I understand, it is the schools and masjids funded by them that are trying to turn the Indian Muslims away from dargahs and peers and towards a more rigid form of religion.

As for Rafique Zakaria, I think I should read his book to find out why you dislike him so much.