Losing My Religion

#37, Simon {``#37 by Simon_Templar on August 3, 2005 6:24pm PT
Re: # 15 If you had ever been to Pakistan, you`d know that Chauhans
are dime a dozen there. They`re millions of them lolling around. Hate to
tell you, but you`re not that special.``}

I may not be special to you and that is OK with me, my friend. :)
Please don`t exaggerate - Chauhans and, for that matter not even Khans, are a ``dime a dozen.`` No one is that cheap and Pakis do not use dimes, at least not yet. When was the last time you were in Pakiland?
Salim

Nandita,


Semitic religions are not inclusive or accommodating of others - either u are them or you are not. Either your son is a muslim or he is not.

He is not a cake that you can label fraction of ingredients in him.

Re: # 36 DM

.....What domination are you talking about? They are hardly represented in the institutions of power, such as police and senior civil service. .....

They don`t have to have official power positions. Osama, Dawood Ibrahim and scores of such do not have any official power. They are actually hunted by police and army. But, do you think people are afraid of them? You bet they are. That is the kind of ``fear`` I am talking about. Go to any small city/town in India (I am from the south and I have seen it everywhere I have been) and talk to people. Most common people don`t know what is RSS, but sure they experience what I said about Muslim community and are expressing the sentiments I described.

....If some of them have taken to illegal activities, what has that to do with Islam?..

I never said anything about its relation to Islam. That is entirely a different topic. I am just mentioning about the Muslim community, as it exists in India now. You would be really blind not to see this growing sentiment among not just Hindu, but all non muslim community in India. Majority of people showing aggressive resistance towards Muslims and their behavior are from socially backward communities rather than the Brahmins, the RSS types.

No, I am not trying to ``demonize`` the Muslim community. But, it is a fact. I am not an expert to tell you why it is happening and who is responsible for this. But, I can tell you the rift between Muslims and non muslims in the region I come from (Northern part of Karnataka and south Maharashtra) is widening so much, people are racing towards ``Gujarat``s. It will take only a small incident to trigger it. No, it is not RSS, BJP or any of that. And, when Gujarat-like thing happens, believe me, neither Congress nor BJP or RSS will be able to contain it easily. For the most part, it is the bad Muslim leadership and their policies. To top it, those Muslims that can envision this are marginalized, helpless and cannot do anything. I may be pessimistic, but things are heading fast towards this calamity.

#49, Burpinder, {``Chohan Driving School is one of the most popular place to get your driving lessons and license (often the same thing) in Mumbai`s western suburbs.

The proprietor, eerily enough is also called Salim!``}

Yes, teaching people how to drive is God`s work. In Mumbai it is the closest we come to emulating Mother Theresa. :)
Thanks,
Salim

correction:

a sign of bedlam that might disrupt the complete order of their lives

#47, Romair {``I truly hope you are just lost, and not seriously making this statement...........
I have a, ``Hindu Rajput`` last name. Have had it my whole life. Still have it. Never had any problem explaining to anyone in Pakistan, where it came from. Not a single person in Pakistan has ever asked me. In fact, so many Pakistanis, themselves, had a similar name........
I can understand you desire to indulge in such an exchange of ideas. It seems to be the common trait amongst many on this site. But, please, can I make one request: At least try to be original!! I can tolerate nonsense, even it is directed at me, personally. But nonsense, without originality that is so off the mark, it just ruins a perfectly nice day............ ``]

Mr. Romair, Sir, I did not intend to ruin your perfectly nice day. Man, did you get up on the wrong side of the bed again? I am sorry for offending you with my personal experiences about Paki discomfort with my Hindu Rajput last name of ``Chauhan.`

Right here on Chowk itself, I have had at least two Pakis call me ``Hindu.`` I have also had numerous slurs directed at me by Pakis corrupting the name to Chuhan - an obvious association with rodents.

I am glad that you have encountered no prejudice for your Rajput name. Maybe you have Islamized it or there are many more Pak Rajputs with that name, e.g. Bhatti.

Regardless, it is not such an important matter for you to get your jihadi blood boiling. Just one friendly piece of advice, my friend Romair - PLEASE DON`T BLOW YOURSELF UP JUST FOR THIS TRIVIAL ISSUE.

Thanks,
Salim

Nandita,

The fact that you dare interrogate religious identity in a way that rejects the stereotypical performances of the Urstrulys, Sykes, etc. is going to engender in these readers anxiety. What would they do with out their crutches? Actually acknowledge that humanity might be possible without a brand god?

Secondly, that you`ve located a Muslim ancestor in your Hindu family will strike terror into the critics of religious ``miscegenation``, those folks who think that interreligious marriages are one sign of the bedlam and complete order of their lives. Plus, how do you fit that into the ethnic jingoism that exists among Hindus and Muslims?

Thirdly, that you dare to write about it is utterly preposterous. Nandita, you should, according to the Identity Police, closet that Muslim ancestor to the very margins of your almari...preferably behind any Persian, South Indian, and British artefacts that might serve witness to the fact that the subcontinent was once extremely multivoiced and unafraid of this diversity.

Fourthly, the fact that you are a desi woman daring to admit all these things and cannot be outrightly hanged or shamed by the ``Identity Police`` is just the sad evidence of what the ``liberals`` have wrought. Its really a shame that you are intelligent and that the detractors of this piece have to live with it...therefore, expect them to try to drag you down to their level and smother you with their stupidity, to paraphrase that particular witticism.

Btw, welcome to Chowk! Hope to read more from you!

-Samina

Re: # 16
Punishment is death for a Muslim to convert to any other religion. Name one Muslim country where it is allowed for someone to convert away from Islam.

Ahmedias came into existence during British Raj, look what they going through now-a-days.

Re: # 56
DM Sir,
Kya baat kartey ho? Go and talk with Hindus living in Pakistan, they will tell you what treatmetn they are getting there.
As far as this pplitician is concerned he is a product Barelevi School of thought, whose goal is to accomplish Nizam-E-Mustafa, period.

Now a days, going to Hindu temple and doing lip service is a fashion. look at the publicity that he got.

typo in #56:

In:
``I believe it was apostle Paul who issued the `fatwa` that it was not necessary to be circumcised to be a jew``

`Jew` should have been christian. Sorry for the typo!

#56 by dost-mittar

[Recently, I read how Maulana Fazal-ur-Rahman (yes, the same fundoo who was deported from Dubai recently) visted a Hindu temple in Nausherra after it was vandalised by some Muslims to express his regret and announced a cash compensation for its repairs.]

I`m surprised a man of your age and experience has chosen to generalize what appears to be a one-off show of empathy as some kind of a norm. Remember, the MMA constitutes some parties that are virulently opposed to the very idea of India and are engaged in a vicious armed Jihad that kills several Indians everyday. The only explanation I can think of is that he is trying to best Advani, who recently claimed that December 6, 1992 was the saddest day of his life. After all, remember Fazloo is after all just a politician, and politicians are not exactly the paragons of honesty.

#42:
Hello Nazar Saheb:

As you are no doubt aware, christianity started out as a sect of judaism and early christians were all jews. I believe it was apostle Paul who issued the `fatwa` that it was not necessary to be circumcised to be a jew. It is said that this was a significant factor in popularising christianity. Circumcision is those days was not only unpleasant, it was also quite hazardous.

You would know better than I about the history of circumcision among Muslims. Recently, there was a controversy in Pakistan about whether the Prophet was circumcised or not. As you know, the Prophet defied the notion of jews as chosen people. He claimed to be a direct descendant of Prophet Abraham (I am not sure if jews accept this claim) and therefore his covenant applied to his followers, too.

delhiwalla#39:
The attitude of Islamic countries towards religious minorities may not be exemplary, but neither does it deserve to be demonised as in post #33. Recently, I read how Maulana Fazal-ur-Rahman (yes, the same fundoo who was deported from Dubai recently) visted a Hindu temple in Nausherra after it was vandalised by some Muslims to express his regret and announced a cash compensation for its repairs. And this is the MMA govt. in NWFP. The kind of demonisation in post#33 creates the poisonous environment which creates the kind of traumas that the author talks about in this article.

$48 ranjit

It`s pretty clear you have fully accepted all this conversion tamasha as something real. That is really sad because it means you lack understanding of your own traditions.

Indic traditions (hindu/jain/buddhist/sikh/?) are a way of life. There is no great merit in converting and there is no injunction to do so. There are some principals that underlie them and if you respect them it is enough. If you go to a indic tradition temple, no one will ask you if you have ``converted``. Of course, you are free to do so if you have some deep personal reason it is important to you.

Unfortunately, ignorant people who have been brainwashed into thinking that ``conversion`` is an essential part of religion always get very excited about it. Conversion is a strange phenomenon that originates from the middle-east and has more to do with tribalism and violence than religion.

I have even seen a book by a american hindu ``convert`` who babbles on and on about how to erase your previous religion/tradition and become a ``pure`` hindu. I wrote him a message saying he had really missed the point and needs to get beyond the conversion trap created by the middle-eastern traditions. As for being a ``pure`` hindu, I have no idea what that is: maybe the indian tribal peoples are ``pure`` hindu (indian?)?

did the author type `loosing` before being corrected

in that, i stand corrected, but burpinder (bunty) singh is still an arrogant piece of...

burpinder (bunty) singh,

if the `appearance of scout` bothers you, please leave, it`s a free chowk

and calling the article `half a$$ed` for a `spelling` mistake is a mistake on your part

please seek intelligence as soon as possible, lemme help you get started

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=losing

lose Audio pronunciation of ``losing`` ( P ) Pronunciation Key (lz)
v. lost, (lôst, lst) los·ing, los·es
v. tr.

1. To be unsuccessful in retaining possession of; mislay: He`s always losing his car keys.

Re: # 31

Well Said.
If she didnt feel insecure she would not have wrote this article...or do you think she`s actually fessing up to her own insecurites via her son??