Tehelka Tapes: Modernising Media Morality

Farzana Warsi #

My Rapport with God starts with worst crises in my life which would have shattered me.

My own way of dealing with crises is unique.

I took solace in books, all kinds. And mosque.

Especially Kahlil Jibran and many others and prayer.

Once I come out of crises slowly and partially over a lengthy 6 months, my belief in God strengthend and still gives me great strength. And my philosophy to life is much impressed by Kahlil Jibran.

In a way you can say that those 6 months or so were the most formative years of my life which taught me immensely to stand alone on my feet.

It looks like there is someone who can understand me or at least listens to me(meaning you).

Life is beyond Nationalism and patriotism. It passes steadily. The best thing is what we can do to our life first, people with whom we come in contact second, and if we have more power what legacy we leave behind.

Life in its fullness is probably beyond the daily struggle for survival, food, housing etc.

Looks like I have started preaching to you who already is well versed in life in all its manifestations.

Regards.

Farzana #74

(Chowk I don`t understand why you have censored my posts to Farzana. There was no personal attack or foul words in any of them).

Farzana, you promised an introspective article. Now, are you trying to back out of it.

As far as I have seen you have focused only on the Hindu society and how it has brutalized the muslims. I wonder how long it will take for you to start advising me about introspection if my posts are only about muslim fanaticism (there is plenty of that going around in India).

Regarding Indians frothing at their mouths. How many are doing that can you please let us know? Aren`t you generalizing here? How many Indians have frothed at their mouths when Pakistanis like Bahmad and Tahmed have taken to any Indians. People who have taken to you are bigots like Urstruly who have nothing to say but, Hindus are trash.

So, I am asking you again. Do you think Urstruly is a bigot? Is Harimau a bigot? Please answer honestly.

Ref MaheshG #: 73

[Harimau,

If you don`t care about my opinions why do you keep trying to insult me? Just ignore my posts.]

I am trying to deprogram you from the brainwashing you have suffered under the Indian education system. My methods of pedagogy are unorthodox but I didn`t take any teacher training classes.

Farzana #74,

And do all Indians froth at their mouths just because some Pakistanis have taken to you?

And do all Indians froth at their mouths when Pakistanis like Tahmed or Bahmad take to any Indians?

You sure have some nerve!!

How easy it is for you to generalize as far as Hindus are concerned.

Farzana #74,

You promised an article on muslim shortcomings and now, you are trying to back out of it.

If I start writing only about the fanaticism in the muslim society let me see how long it will take for you to hound me about the Hindu society.

As far as I have seen you have attributed all problems in the muslim society to the Hindus. That just won`t cut it.

Regarding Urstruly and Harimau I wish you had answered the question honestly.

farzana,

[...Do not assume that whatever you say is `understood` only because you have stated it...]

of course i shouldn`t. in your case, everything has to be stated very explicitly or you start seeing ghosts. there is NO understanding.

[...And I certainly do not think you are an authority to decide on what constitutes the most absurd arguments, unless you have gone through the whole gamut of them...]

of course i am not an authority. it is only an assessment and a personal opinion that one presents on chowk. but what makes you think that i have NOT gone through the whole gamut of them? and i am referring to the ones presented by you here on chowk. besides, are YOU an authority on anything except your personal life?

[...The fact is that a couple of Pakistanis occasionally take up for me...]

more than a couple of indians and pakistanis take up for you and will take up for you when you talk sense, which, unfortunately, is not majority of the time on chowk. a couple of pakistanis take up for you irrespective of that.

[...and the Indians start frothing at the mouth, and then they talk about peace. Rubbish!...]

only frothing at the mouth seems to be coming from you. and i certainly do not think that you are an authority to decide on what constitutes indians, or frothing at the mouth, or talking about peace, or rubbish.

Concerned (#57):

Do not assume that whatever you say is ‘understood’ only because you have stated it. And I certainly do not think you are an authority to decide on what constitutes the most absurd arguments, unless you have gone through the whole gamut of them. The fact is that a couple of Pakistanis occasionally take up for me and the Indians start frothing at the mouth, and then they talk about peace. Rubbish!

As for your wish, “have a good life and i hope your endeavors in improving the daily-life of your fellow citizens are fruitful”, I thank you and wish you the same. Unfortunately, I do not have much of an influence on the daily life of my fellow citizens. One tries to do one’s bit, that’s all.

MaheshG (#58 & 61):

[“I am still waiting for your analysis of the shortcomings of the Indian muslim society that you promised a long time back.

As an aside do you think Urstruly is a bigot? Is Harimau a bigot?”]

Wonderful! Do you realise the irony? I have to point out the shortcomings in Muslim society only because I have made straightforward comments about what is wrong with the fanatic elements in Indian society, and they happen to be Hindus as they are in a majority. I wish I could compile what I have written along the way about Muslims, but this sort of pinning me against the wall (and, no, I am not playing martyr) makes me really angry. This is what I have been saying all along – in such an atmosphere where you are constantly being made to prove yourself, secularism is a pipe dream.

I am curious to know what is really bothering you in my articles and interacts at Chowk. Is it because you think that I am revealing aspects of my country that are negative? Does it need only one woman to upset the apple-cart? Don’t they, and we, already have preconceived notions? Will my questioning of the Muslim community change the ugly face of Indian fanaticism as we witness it today?

As regards bigots, I have avoided referring to individuals in such terms. I can see that many people are large-hearted enough to be thrilled to see the ‘human’ side of certain people revealed; I would have been too. But for inexplicable reasons whenever I have penned something sensitive, the reaction has been uncouth, to say the least. In fact, I am told that being emotional is the biggest problem with me!

[“Harimau #59,

cool it mister. I am just trying to figure out Farzana`s thought processes. If she considers you a bigot but not urstruly then I am going to hound her for an explanation. That`s all.”]

I think my thought processes have always been clear. I am afraid you cannot ask me for an explanation. As for hounding me, so what’s new?

Krashid (#65):

[“For me it does not matter. Because ``I have to carry my own cross, ultimately`` Neither

Pakistan nor Islam is going to do something for me. I have to do it myself. Islam gives me strength. Pakistan gives me a sense of belonging. (This is true, inspite of all the infighting and grudges)”]

Nicely put. I can say the same about India – in fact I maintain that I love my country, though I cannot always like it. Regarding Islam, you know my views more or less. And since your being identified with these does not bother you, I can go right ahead and thank you for your consistent support.

Urstruly (#66):

[“You dont look good compromising.”]

Where did I compromise? I was just tired. Elemental women do not give up or give in. They just take some time off to work up some bile:)

Harimau,

If you don`t care about my opinions why do you keep trying to insult me? Just ignore my posts.

You have assumed a lot about me. How the heck do you know that I don`t help people? And how the heck do you conclude that I am amongst the people who have visited some ``porn for girls`` board. Don`t even know what it is.

Ref AAmir #: 68

[I BELIEVE HARIMOU ,WOULD HAVE DONE THE SAME THING IF AEISHA WAS FROM PAKISTAN & URSTRULY WOULD HAVE FOR Cheryam .]

I HAVE done the same thing for a Pakistani who needed daily rides for about 3 weeks till he got a car and took him around car shopping too.

[I am surprised ,how indians identify the commonality between indian subcontinent .Pakisan,Bangladesh.Sri Lanka,even afghanistan,Iran,as DESI.]

I had an Afghan come into our office as a computer technician and the 3 Iranians were all over themselves trying to talk to him in Farsi. I used to query an Afghan PhD student about the Persian words used in India and his statement was that today`s Farsi had the corrupted pronunciation; of course, the Afghan pronunciation agreed with the Indian!

But Jay is right in that Urdu is not spoken among Muslims of Tamil Nadu or Kerala. Kerala Muslims go to madrassahs in the evening to learn Arabic so that they can read the Koran in the original. All power to them!

Reply # 67 jay

[A muslim from kerala is usually first a keralite, then an indian, and then a muslim.]

This not the reality, this is the way Brahmins would like it to be. Ethnic, Regional and sub-regional identities are good good, but religious identities are bad bad. Specially if your religion teaches you that all humans are equal and Keralite Shudras need not clean the potty of Keralite Brahmins for a living.

BTW, why would Keralite muslims elect non-Keralite Ibrahim Sulaiman Sait if they thought of themselves as Keralites first?

Ref jay #: 67

[A muslim from kerala is usually first a keralite, then an indian, and then a muslim. You should have asked about urdu the alleged language of the muslims in india.]

You are correct. Ayesha was so excited to hear about the local Kerala Association and took out her cream-colored silk sari (so typical of Malayalees) to wear to the Onam celebration. (Pakis, Onam is a great big Hindu festival so you can excommunicate Ayesha and all the Kerala Muslims for celebrating it. There goes the dream of Moplastan too!)

Ref MaheshG #: 62

[Thanks for the story. Shows a different side of you. The side I thought didn`t exist.]

One could forcefully articulate a viewpoint without necessarily trying to carry it out. That is why I never say `Deport Muslims to Pakistan` but ask why is it that Pakistan won`t become the homeland for all of the subcontinent`s Muslims. Makes the Pakis (and Sadhana) squirm.

Ref MaheshG #: 61

[cool it mister. I am just trying to figure out Farzana`s thought processes. If she considers you a bigot but not urstruly then I am going to hound her for an explanation. That`s all.]

I give lot more credit to Farzana than you do. Having been a recipient of unsolicited diagnosis such as ``You need to get laid`` from Ali1, I am sure she would stick to issues. I try to bash Farazana for her opinions.

[I think Urstruly and you are in the same category.]

I don`t care for your or anybody else`s opinion of me. People like you are the ones who rushed to Mahim Maher`s ``Porn for Girls`` board and offered their phone numbers and e-mail addresses in the hope that they could be of service to her.

Ref dost-mittar #: 60

[It was nice knowing your kinder, gentler side. Could you please show a little more of it in your Interacts? You may not think that all muslims are bad but your posts frequently give that impression. Remember, you can catch more bees with honey than with vinegar.]

I don`t want to catch bees; I just want them to go away so that they don`t sting me! (Smile!)

I never had a problem with a Muslim or a Pakistani. I do have issues with the way Muslims stand by and let the mullahs carry out their pogroms against persons of other religions or get the masses to trash other perople`s shrines.

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

harimau 59,

A muslim from kerala is usually first a keralite, then an indian, and then a muslim. You should have asked about urdu the alleged language of the muslims in india.

regards

jay

Ms. Versey # 56

I like you better in your fencing gear-attacking, dodging, retreating, slashing, poking, maiming, and finally putting your foot on enemies chest and telling him that you forgive him.

You dont look good compromising.

Jahan main ehl-e-eeman soorat-e-Khurshid jeetay hain
Idahr doobay, udhar niklay, udhar doobay idhar niklay

(Translation: People who beleive (in themselves) live like Sun in this world; here it rises there its sets, there it sets, here it rises)

..... Daanaa-e-Raaz Allama Iqbal.

Farzana Warsi #

For me it does not matter.

Because ``I have to carry my own cross, ultimately`` Neither Pakistan nor Islam is going to do something for me. I have to do it myself. Islam gives me strength. Pakistan gives me a sense of belonging. (This is true, inspite of all the infighting and grudges)

Re:Reply #: 59

harimau

``For those Pakistanis who like to condemn Brahmins as the root cause of all evil, I would like you to know that Ayesha`s classmates and best friends who provided her with support, friendship, and assistance during college years and accommodation during her job search were Tamil Brahmin girls who shared neither a native language nor a religion with Ayesha``.

Well said Harimau,

I do admire the selfless way you helped a fellow being to find a job and an apartment. Brahmins in general are as good or as bad as any other community. It may interest you to know that a Tamil Brahmin teacher helped and influenced APJ Kalam (the father of Indian missle system)to the extent that he remembers him fondly to this day. This is not to say that some Brahmins are not biased. With power structure gradually shifting to Dalits and poorer masses in many states,the age of Brahminical dominance is fast approaching its end (vestiges of it may still remain in places like Bihar).

sridhar