Hussain- The epitome of justice and tolerance

In a world engulfed by violence and corruption, it sometimes becomes very important to invoke a character in which a battered society can find ultimate solace or refuge. Each and every religion has it's brand of secular and fundamentalist forces. Same is the case with Islam.
Muharram is a festival, which is closer to my heart than any other festival, even more than Eid. I have been born and brought up in a family, which has a great affinity with Imam Hussain and his cause. It has some sort of emotional attachment or appeal for each and every Muslim. The martyrdom of Imam Hussain bin Ali bin Abi Talib is a true and best example of non-violent resistance against a dictator or a tyrant or an unjust system where the poor are getting poorer day by day.
The commemoration of Muharram in India has a historical importance with nearly people from all the major religions and castes taking part in the mourning to remember the sufferings of Imam Hussain against the most unjust and tyrant ruler in the history of Islam , Yazid bin Muawiyah.(61 AH, approx 20 oct 680 AD), at the banks of Euphrates.
The sacrifice of Imam Hussain forever drew a line of demarcation between the truth and falsehood, good and evil, right and wrong and his death gave a new name and honour to victim hood. To die for a just and honest cause is better than to live under the rule of a tyrant like Yazid.
Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, a great sufi saint in 12th century praised about imam Hussain in the following quartet.
Shah ast Hussain, Baadshaan ast Hussain

Deen ast Hussain, Deen panaah ast Hussain

Sar daad, na daad dast dar dast e Yazeed

Haqqa ke banaye La ilaah ast Hussain.
( Hussain is the king, Indeed he is the king of kings

Hussain is deen and also the protector of deen

He gave his head but not his hand of allegiance in the hand of Yazid

Indeed he was the founder of the concept of one God.)
The Holy Prophet every now and then insisted his Umma not to forget Hussain. This insistence of Prophet Mohammad shows that those who will forget Karbala and the Martyrdom of Hussain will cause trouble in his mission. The so called custodians of Islam or the radicals who are killing innocents in the name of Islam have forgotten Imam Hussain and the basic tenets of Islam just as the zealots who went on massacring thousands in Gujarat in the name of a peaceful religion like Hinduism forgot the tolerance taught by Lord Rama.
It's most important today to tell the people about the sacrifice of Imam Hussain and his mission which will let them to realise that the people who every now and then commit the barbaric acts of terrorism and call themselves Muslims are just terrorists and the majority of world's Muslims think these acts as going against all the ideals and principles of Islam.
Imam Hussain demarcated the truth from the falsehood forever when he said to the ambassador of Yazid ," A person like me would not give the oath of allegiance to a person like Yazid.", which means that the good or the truth cannot be bowed down by the falsehood or evil, no matter how powerful is the tyrant or the dictator.
Imam fought the battle with Yazid on the spiritual plane, he opposed Yazid's might with his nobility of character, confronted power with powerlessness, met multitudes with want of material support and defied oppression with suffering and martyrdom.It has been more than 1400 years since the battle of Karbala was fought, but even after centuries is remembered with unmatchable enthusiasm.
While I was in my hometown Muzaffarpur in Bihar on the 10th day of Muharram which is called Aashura, I got in touch with a police officer who was offering flowers at the Karbala there. On being asked the reason behind his attachment with Imam Hussain's cause he replied," Please do not think that remembering the sacrifice of Imam Hussain is a copyright of Muslims only. Imam Hussain's martyrdom has given voices to the voiceless. His sacrifice was the ultimate level of tolerance and non-violence in which after losing every one of his companions and his family members he stood firm on the path of righteousness. We remember him because he is worth remembering."
In a sermon while proceeding towards Karbala Imam Hussain said to his followers," O' people The Prophet of Islam has said that if a person sees a tyrannical ruler transgressing against Allah and oppressing people, but does nothing by word or action to change the situation, then it will be just to God to place him where he deservingly belongs. Do you not see to what low level the affairs have come to…. Do you not observe that the truth has not adhered and falsehood has no limits? And as for me, I look upon death but a means of attaining martyrdom. I consider life among transgressors an agony and affliction."
About 1200 years later Abraham Lincoln delivered a speech in which he said," To suffer in solace while they should protest makes cowards of men." These words of Abraham Lincoln reflect exactly what Imam said some 1200 years ago that oppressors and transgressors from the true path of justice would emerge all the time. If there remains no one on the earth to object over there transgressions that they will go unchecked. One should always point out to these tyrants of the right path of justice. This is the lesson we learn from Imam Hussain.
Hussain was a spiritual superpower that is an icon not only for the Muslims but also for each and every person with whom injustice is being done in whatever form, no matter to which religion he belongs. Nearly each and every revolution of the world got inspiration from the martyrdom of Imam Hussein.
The tragedy of Karbala took place some 1400 years back but Karbala has a universal appeal and in today's climate of violence, terrorism and communalism, it is more relevant than ever.
The uprising of Imam Hussain and the tragedy of Karbala bring everlasting messages for the entire humanity. The movement of Imam Hussain is not confined to his times, but it is for all eras and places. Imam Hussain courted martyrdom in order to inspire mankind in the fight against injustice and exploitation.Some people doubt about the intention of Imam Hussain by claiming that Imam Hussain came to Karbala having wordly desires and think that Yazeed was the victor of Karbala In fact this thought is totally unwarranted. But it is Imam Hussain whose name and mission has remained immortal while great empires of Umayyad and Abbasid dynasty have vanished and mighty rulers reduced to dust. No wonder despite the passing of 1000 years the tragedy of Karbala lives on.
While addressing the enemy in Karbala Imam said one of the most inspiring words ever been said, " If you do not have religion, at least be a free man in your life of this world." Because a free man can differentiate between the good and evil more easily than a biased one.
The mission of Hussain did not and could not come to an end just by the martyrdom of 72 individuals, it's everlasting, acting as a catalyst in nearly every age , era and place. Today at the remotest corners of the globe the tragedy of Karbala is remembered.
Muharram is not just for ten days and going back to business as usual. For a person who stands up to fight against the oppression, injustices and tyranny and terrorism , for him the place is Karbala, The month is Muharram and the day is Aashura. He is Imam Hussain and his opponent is Yazid. Muharram is not just for shias of for that matter Muslims but for each and every person who has the guts to stand against the injustices. The people who are maligning the name of a pious word like Jihad should try to understand the true form of Jihad practiced by Imam Hussain.
The following couplet best describes the importance of Karbala and Imam Hussain.
Jahan bhi maareka e khair o shar bapa hai Hussain..

Wahan hai mujib e har inquilaab teri zaat..
( Wherever there is a fight going on between the good and evil..O' Hussain!!!! You are the inspiration behind each and every revolution)
Imam Hussain raised Islam to its purest form by not letting evils to distort, corrupt or insult and destroy a peaceful religion like Islam, a non violent resistance He taught us not to take life but sacrificing one's life in the path of truth and righteousness.

Following is the link to the edited version of this article in Hindustan Times:-

http://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle-news/travel/Why-I-love-Imam-Hussain/Article1-379787.aspx

And then they came for me - Lasantha Wickramatunga - Indian Express - 15 Jan 2009

Lasantha Wickramatunga, editor of the Sri Lankan newspaper 'The Sunday Leader' and known for his principled opposition to the government, was assassinated on his way to work by two gunmen, on January 8. The paper carried this posthumous editorial.

"This is one of the best editorial I have ever come through"

NO OTHER profession calls on its practitioners to lay down their lives for their art save the armed forces and, in Sri Lanka, journalism. In the course of the past few years, the in dependent media have increasingly come under attack. Electronic and print-media institutions have been burnt, bombed, sealed and coerced. Countless journalists have been harassed, threatened and killed. It has been my honour to belong to all those categories and now especially the last.
I have been in the business of journalism a good long time. Indeed, 2009 will be The Sunday Leader's 15th year. Many things have changed in Sri Lanka during that time, and it does not need me to tell you that the greater part of that change has been for the worse. Terror, whether perpetrated by terrorists or the state, has become the order of the day. Indeed, murder has become the primary tool whereby the state seeks to control the organs of liberty. Today it is the journalists, tomorrow it will be the judges. For neither group have the risks ever been higher or the stakes lower.
Why then do we do it? I often wonder that. After all, I too am a husband, and the father of three wonderful children. I too have responsibilities and obligations that transcend my profession, be it the law or journalism. Is it worth the risk? Friends tell me to revert to the bar. Others, including political leaders on both sides, have at various times sought to induce me to take to politics. Diplomats, recognising the risk journalists face in Sri Lanka, have offered me safe passage and the right of residence in their countries. Whatever else I may have been stuck for, I have not been stuck for choice. But there is a calling that is yet above high office, fame, lucre and security. It is the call of conscience.
The Sunday Leader has been a controversial newspaper because we say it like we see it: whether it be a spade, a thief or a murderer, we call it by that name. We do not hide behind euphemism. The investigative articles we print are supported by documentary evidence thanks to the public-spiritedness of citizens who at great risk to themselves pass on this material to us. We have exposed scandal after scandal, and never once in these 15 years has anyone proved us wrong or successfully prosecuted us.
The free media serve as a mirror in which the public can see itself sans mascara and styling gel. Sometimes the image you see in that mirror is not a pleasant one. But while you may grumble in the privacy of your armchair, the journalists who hold the mirror up to you do so publicly and at great risk to themselves. That is our calling, and we do not shirk it.
Every newspaper has its angle, and we do not hide the fact that we have ours. Our commitment is to see Sri Lanka as a transparent, secular, liberal democracy. Think about those words, for they each has profound meaning. Transparent because government must be openly accountable to the people and never abuse their trust. Secular because in a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society such as ours, secularism offers the only common ground by which we might all be united. Liberal because we recognise that all human beings are created different, and we need to accept others for what they are and not what we would like them to be. And democratic… well, if you need me to explain why that is important, you'd best stop buying this paper.
The Sunday Leader has never sought safety by unquestioningly articulating the majority view. Let's face it, that is the way to sell newspapers. On the contrary, as our opinion pieces over the years amply demonstrate, we often voice ideas that many people find distasteful. For example, we have consistently espoused the view that while separatist terrorism must be eradicated, it is more important to address the root causes of terrorism. We have also agitated against state terrorism in the socalled war against terror, and made no secret of our horror that Sri Lanka is the only country in the world to routinely bomb its own citizens. For these views we have been labelled traitors, and if this be treachery, we wear that label proudly.
Many people suspect that The Sunday Leader has a political agenda: it does not. If we appear more critical of the government than of the opposition it is only because we believe that - pray excuse cricketing argot - there is no point in bowling to the fielding side. Remember that for the few years of our existence in which the UNP was in office, we proved to be the biggest thorn in its flesh, exposing excess and corruption wherever it occurred. Indeed, the steady stream of embarrassing exposes we published may well have served to precipitate the downfall of that government.
Neither should our distaste for the war be interpreted to mean that we support the Tigers. The LTTE are among the most ruthless and bloodthirsty organisations ever to have infested the planet. There is no gainsaying that it must be eradicated. But to do so by violating the rights of Tamil citizens, bombing and shooting them mercilessly, is not only wrong but shames the Sinhalese, whose claim to be custodians of the dhamma is forever called into question by this savagery, much of which is unknown to the public because of censorship.
What is more, a military occupation of the country's north and east will require the Tamil people of those regions to live eternally as second-class citizens, deprived of all self respect. Do not imagine that you can placate them by showering "development" on them in the post-war era. The wounds of war will scar them forever, and you will also have an even more bitter and hateful Diaspora to contend with. If I seem angry and frustrated, it is only because most of my countrymen - and all of the government - cannot see this writing so plainly on the wall.
It is well known that I was on two occasions brutally assaulted, while on another my house was sprayed with machine-gun fire. Despite the government's sanctimonious assurances, there was never a serious police inquiry into the perpetrators of these attacks. In all these cases, I have reason to believe the attacks were inspired by the government. When finally I am killed, it will be the government that kills me.
The irony in this is that, unknown to most of the public, Mahinda and I have been friends for more than a quarter century. Although I do not attend the meetings he periodically holds for newspaper editors, hardly a month passes when we do not meet, privately or with a few close friends present, late at night at President's House. There we swap yarns, discuss politics and joke about the good old days. A few remarks to him would therefore be in order here.
Mahinda, when you finally fought your way to the SLFP presidential nomination in 2005, nowhere were you welcomed more warmly than in this column. So well known were your commitments to human rights and liberal values that we ushered you in like a breath of fresh air. Then, through an act of folly, you got yourself involved in the Helping Hambantota scandal. It was after a lot of soul-searching that we broke the story, at the same time urging you to return the money. By the time you did so several weeks later, a great blow had been struck to your reputation. It is one you are still trying to live down.
You have told me yourself that you were not greedy for the presidency. You did not have to hanker after it: it fell into your lap. You have told me that your sons are your greatest joy, and that you love spending time with them, leaving your brothers to operate the machinery of state. Now, it is clear to all who will see that that machinery has operated so well that my sons and daughter do not themselves have a father.
In the wake of my death I know you will make all the usual sanctimonious noises and call upon the police to hold a swift and thorough inquiry. But like all the inquiries you have ordered in the past, nothing will come of this one, too. For truth be told, we both know who will be behind my death, but dare not call his name. Not just my life, but yours too, depends on it.
Sadly, for all the dreams you had for our country in your younger days, in just three years you have reduced it to rubble. In the name of patriotism you have trampled on human rights, nurtured unbridled corruption and squandered public money like no other President before you. Indeed, your conduct has been like a small child suddenly let loose in a toyshop. That analogy is perhaps inapt because no child could have caused so much blood to be spilled on this land as you have, or trampled on the rights of its citizens as you do. Although you are now so drunk with power that you cannot see it, you will come to regret your sons having so rich an inheritance of blood. It can only bring tragedy. As for me, it is with a clear conscience that I go to meet my Maker. I wish, when your time finally comes, you could do the same. I wish.
As for me, I have the satisfaction of knowing that I walked tall and bowed to no man. And I have not travelled this journey alone. Fellow journalists in other branches of the media walked with me: most of them are now dead, imprisoned without trial or exiled in far-off lands. Others walk in the shadow of death that your Presidency has cast on the freedoms for which you once fought so hard. You will never be allowed to forget that my death took place under your watch. As anguished as I know you will be, I also know that you will have no choice but to protect my killers: you will see to it that the guilty one is never convicted. You have no choice.
As for the readers of The Sunday Leader, what can I say but Thank You for supporting our mission. We have espoused unpopular causes, stood up for those too feeble to stand up for themselves, locked horns with the high and mighty, and made sure that whatever the propaganda of the day, you were allowed to hear a contrary view. For this I — and my family — have now paid the price that I have long known I will one day have to pay. I am — and have always been —ready for that. I have done nothing to prevent this outcome: no security, no precautions. I want my murderer to know that I am not a coward like he is, hiding behind human shields while condemning thousands of innocents to death. What am I among so many? It has long been written that my life would be taken, and by whom. All that remains to be written is when.
That The Sunday Leader will continue fighting the good fight, too, is written. For I did not fight this fight alone. Many more of us have to be - and will be - killed before The Leader is laid to rest. I hope my assassination will be seen not as a defeat of freedom but an inspiration for those who survive to step up their efforts. Indeed, I hope that it will help galvanise forces that will usher in a new era of human liberty in our beloved motherland. I also hope it will open the eyes of your President to the fact that however many are slaughtered in the name of patriotism, the human spirit will endure and flourish. Not all the Rajapakses combined can kill that.
People often ask me why I take such risks and tell me it is a matter of time before I am bumped off. Of course I know that: it is inevitable. But if we do not speak out now, there will be no one left to speak for those who cannot, whether they be ethnic minorities, the disadvantaged or the persecuted. An example that has inspired me throughout my career in journalism has been that of the German theologian, Martin Niemoller. In his youth he was an anti-Semite and an admirer of Hitler. As Nazism took hold in Germany, however, he saw Nazism for what it was: it was not just the Jews Hitler sought to extirpate, it was just about anyone with an alternate point of view. Niemoller spoke out, and for his trouble was incarcerated in the Sachsenhausen and Dachau concentration camps from 1937 to 1945, and very nearly executed. While incarcerated, Niemoller wrote a poem that, from the first time I read it in my teenage years, stuck hauntingly in my mind: First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.
If you remember nothing else, remember this: The Leader is there for you, be you Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, low-caste, homosexual, dissident or disabled. Do not take this commitment for granted. Let there be no doubt that whatever sacrifices we journalists make, they are not made for our own glory or enrichment: they are made for you. Whether you deserve their sacrifice is another matter. As for me, God knows I tried.

("Lasantha Wickramatunga")

Terror, Talk, Tantrum

On that fateful evening of 26th November a breaking news caught my attention while sipping tea in not so chaotic newsroom. What initially seemed to be a typical Mumbai gangwar later turned out to a sophisticated terror strike at the heart of Mumbai. After sixty two hours of uninterrupted confrontation by our brave commandos and police officers the terrorists met their obvious fate. But what followed is something to ponder over the developments since the incident. The jingoism, rhetoric, political chauvinism and warmongering patronised by the media, so called socialites and the politicians. The obvious reason behind 26/11 was security lapse and lack of a political consensus on national security. But the talks and tantrum on national media since the incident has again brought back the issues of religious terrorism, responsibility of media and political will on national security to the fore.
Since 1992 riots Mumbai is not a stranger to terror attacks and communal violence, sometimes by religious groups and sometimes by regional chauvinist parties like MNS. The audacity, flamboyance and planning of the recent attack was able to leave us numb for those 60 hours. In fact, the terrorists were trying to get maximum publicity by targeting the commercial capital for the country. And to some extent they were very much successful. But there is one misfortune of our nation, which is in the form of netas who leave no stone unturned in getting political mileage out of every terrorist attack or communal riot.
There is no denying the fact that it was a case of great security lapse on the part of our security agencies. In fact we may call that this attack on Mumbai was the mother of all security lapses, which caught our intelligence-gathering network in shambles. It has been seen that after each and every terror attack our politicians start blaming each other and indulge in shouting about the so called "Islamic terrorism" or "Hindu aatankvaad', but the country keeps bleeding with frequent terror. In fact each and every terror attack is an attack on the spirit and idea of India. Now a sense of insecurity has gripped the people of Mumbai and it's the responsibility of the centre and state Govt. to ensure that such a dastardly act of terror would not be allowed to happen again.
And it's the right time for all the parties and the politicians who survive on the politics of communalism or hatred understand that they are not doing anything good for the country by giving the name of the religion to terrorism. A terrorist is a terrorist and I am totally against the words like Islamic terrorism or Hindu terrorism. It's an established fact that the main reason of each and every communal riots and terror strike is deep rooted in the hatred resulting out of the Babri Masjid demolition and the movement headed by Mr.L.K Advani. Now Mr. Advani must stop practicing the politics of hatred. Every rabid terror organization justifies its acts of terror by either mentioning Babri demolition or the Post Godhra Gujarat massacre in which the goons of Sangh Parivar were let loose by the Narendra Modi administration to carry out carnage in the name of a peaceful religion as Hinduism.
But whatever the cause, no one can justify the killing of the innocents. The people who are carrying out carnages in the name of Islam do not know that exact principle and ideals of Islam as practiced by the Holy Prophet himself. They do not know even the exact meaning of Jihad. One should always take inspiration from the tolerance based on ideals and principles of Islam practiced by Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad against the atrocities and tyranny of the greatest villain in the history of Islam, Yazid in the battle of Karbala. Imam Hussain choose to get all his family members massacred by the army men of Yazid bin Muawiya but he never deviated from the path of righteousness as preached by the Prophet himself. He accepted martyrdom rather than to kill any innocent in the name of Islam. These so called Jehadis or the self-styled flag bearers of Islam should take a lesson from the towering personality of Imam Hussain. In fact Imam Hussain gave the best lesson of Jehad.
The same can be said about the Hindu extremists who preach hate in the name of Lord Ram, the Maryada Purushottam. They should self introspect that what would have been the reaction of Lord Ram post Godhra massacres in Gujarat. I cannot understand the reason behind the absence of the whole leadership of BJP from the funeral of Late Hemant Karkare. In fact the same leaders of the Hindu far right who were present at the funeral of Mohan Sharma, the Delhi police encounter specialist killed in the Batla House encounter, were conspicuous by their absence.
Terror has no religion and a terrorist has no heart. He is out on a mission to kill and cause maximum damage to gain maximum attention. A murderer is only a murderer, no matter if he is born to Muslim or Hindu parents.
India's biggest challenge now is to ensure that its secular credentials are not tarnished in the war against terror. The government along with intelligence agencies and all the political parties must not let the communal bias enter in the war against terror. Because, after dastardly attacks of Mumbai the whole world will be watching our response to the biggest menace which we are facing right now.
As far as media is concerned it has turned this event into an emotional soap opera more concerned with TRPs than honest reportage. The CEOs of every mainstream 24/7 channels forgot that terrorism thrives on media coverage and indeed without media terrorism loses its reason for existence. The right to be informed is not the same thing as the right to be a spectator. The thoughtless broadcasting of every single detail was probably been more helpful to the terrorists than anyone else. The coverage of not a single news channel was balanced and up to the mark. Two of the most irresponsible comments were made by Simi Grewal and Times now's Arnab Goswami. The former said on NDTV's "We The People", that "the Pakistani flags are being hoisted at every dwelling in Mumbai slums". Ms. Garewal should have known the seriousness of the situation before making such an offensive statement. Are Shobha Des, Simi Grewals and Ness Wadias supposed to represent us, the citizens. While Arnab in the midst of a live coverage criticized Arundhati Roy and Prashant Bhushan by saying that they were "disgusting". In fact such a controversial statement from one of the most famous faces of the Indian media is totally unwarranted. On some news channels we were supposed to answer in "yes" on "no" to the questions having pre- determined answers. Not even a single channel proposed a political solution.
The intelligence agencies should understand their responsibilities towards the nation and it's high time for them to prove their worthiness. The only thing, which can stop the dance of death in the form regular terror strikes, is modern and effective intelligence apparatus. If it is not done then we have only one option, to act like Americans in righteous indignation, make this terror attack to launch a war that will never reach conclusion, as a result killing thousands and thousands of innocents. Given the history of Indo-Pak relations there cannot be such a thing as limited war or surgical strike.
There were so many obituaries written about the Taj and Oberoi Trident by none other than the so called elite class as if these structures were the landmarks or the icons of the public. Taj is a property of India's richest businessman and he will take not much time to rebuild it. Very few of the social parasites cared about the victims killed by the terrorists at the CST and Perhaps the reason was obvious as they were not party hoppers like the Simi Garewals or Shobha Des.
These social parasites those advocate the carpet-bombing of Pakistan out of their jingoism do not care about the deadly repercussions of war between two nuclear-armed neighbors. Neither they care about the poor who die each and every day due to the injustices of the society towards them; while these so called elites are sipping whisky in the bars and restaurants of the five star hotels of our big cities. When they threaten not to pay their taxes out of arrogance unless their security is guaranteed, it has nothing to do with their love for the country. What about the security of the poor? Is it all right for the downtrodden to remain unprotected? These people think that civic amenities and security are the domains of the rich only.
Whenever there is a terror attack, some people or parties start shouting in favour of more tough laws like POTA, but the fact is that the anti- terror laws are not meant for terrorists. They are for the people that governments don't like. The arrests made after the 2002 Gujarat riots are the great testimony to this fact. In fact our country do not need more tough laws to curb the menace of terrorism, but we need honest men at the helm to implement the already existing laws.
In nearly all the previous terrorist attacks before 26/11, most of the victims killed were the poor but now this is the first time the rich and powerful, or the elite class have been made vulnerable. The powerful or the elite class always used to think that they can access security, but in the Mumbai attacks the fire brigade took hours to come. This terror attack affected the well to dos directly.
Being an Indian Muslim is a great feeling, and I am proud to be a Muslim in India because here I can get in touch with the people from almost all religions across the world. But the way media and the so-called elite class of the society acted made me feel a little angry, but one gets angry with his dear ones only. The media moguls in India must try to think beyond the TRPs because nowadays they are becoming very much jingoistic just to get their channels at the number one position as far as viewership is concerned. It hurts most when nearly after each and every communal riots and terror attacks the people from a particular community are supposed or expected to show their level of patriotism by wearing black arm bands or organizing anti- terror rallies. 99.99 percent of them are as Indians as the follower of any other communities.
Now as the New Year knocks at our doors, let's hope and pray that this year will bring some happy moments for our beloved country without any communal riots, regional chauvinism and terror attacks.
Long live India, with no terrorism, communalism and regionalism.
Syed Hassan Kazim

Maximum city, minimum tolerance

First Rahul Raj and then Dharmdev Rai, the former a Bihari youth and the later a UPwala from Gorakhpur-- both of them have become the victims of the hate campaign or (better to call it regional chauvinism) patronized by Raj Thackeray.

It seems that just to sideline or to erode the influence of Bal Thackeray the Congress and NCP combine Government is playing with fire. At this point of time the very idea of unity in diversity seems to be hollow and non-existent. We have reached at a stage where perhaps an Indian can only be identified by every other identity of religion or region but not as being an Indian.

A few days back Kundan Pratap, a resident of Patna’s Kadamkuan locality could not even think that he would be lighting the funeral pyre of his son Rahul Raj on Diwali when Rahul was supposed to light the crackers.

Cutting across the party lines all the three stalwarts of Bihar politics, Union Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, Ram Vilas Paswan and the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, joined hands in criticizing the killing of gun wielding Rahul Raj by the Mumbai Police. A journalist friend of mine says, “ Anybody killed by the police action or mob violence in this country is first a Bihari, a Marathi, a Kashmiri, a Keralite or a Hindu, a Muslim or a Christian than being a son , a brother or a husband. And no one cares about his identity as an Indian.”

The situation gets worse when a person sitting on a responsible chair makes and irresponsible statement. When Mahashtra deputy CM RR Patil makes his “bullet for bullet” statement it reminds me about two of the most irresponsible statements in the history of post independent India.

First the “ When a big tree falls…..” statement of Rajiv Gandhi after the assasination of Indira Gandhi and the second “Newton’s Law” statement of Narendra Modi post Godhra communal riots. Whenever such type of communal or regional tensions arise, nearly all the political parties and politicians miss no chance in taking political mileage.

After the MNS attacks on Bihari youths in Mumbai, life was brought to a standstill in Bihar by the agitators due to which Indian Railways had to cancel a slew of trains crossing the state. One can understand the intensity of the situation from the statement of BJP MP from Bihar Shahnawaz Hussain that “ The treatment of North Indians in Maharashtra is something not done even in Pakistan.” May be he made this statement to have an effect on the Muslims in his constituency but there is no denying the fact that it will be shame for Mumbai and for India as a whole if its citizens are restricted from migrating within states in the country.

Let us assume for a moment that there is not any kind of migration of people between the states. Won’t it have an effect on the growth and development of the states and the nation as a whole? The act of MNS has entered the “psyche” of “locals” everywhere. If we assume for a while that the Bihari workers or the labour class from UP do not come to the Metros like Delhi and Mumbai, then who will work in the construction sites of highrises in Mumbai.

Just to get his presence felt in the “Bal” dominated politics of Maharashtra, Raj has gone a long way, resulting inter state rivalry, which is as dangerous as any type of terrorism for the country. In fact the means which Raj Thackerey has opted for his drive against North Indians is totally unethical. If the people of one region settle or migrate to the other it helps to break the stereotypical image of either the states or regions, and also helps to imbibe some of their culture, heritage and practices. Even Shivaji’s ancestors came from Rajasthan. Yet today they are regarded as a symbol of Maratha pride.

Why is it that the police force on the behest of the political class lets no stone unturned to crack the terror modules, while at the same time they let go the goondas and goons of MNS to create mayhem in the city which seems to be losing it’s tag of being the ideal metropolitan for a country as diverse as India.

Following is the lilnk to this article in Hindustan Times:-http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/FullcoverageStoryPage.aspx?id=40540b20-28d9-4f48-aa4d-494775448990_Special&MatchID1=4815&TeamID1=6&TeamID2=1&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1212&PrimaryID=4815&Headline=Maximum+city+minimum+tolerance

Community bias no solution

The Indian Express , India’s one of the best and responsible newspaper carried a picture on the front page of its city supplement ‘Newsline’ on September 25 of a boy being questioned by the Delhi police in the IndiaGate lawns. In the aftermath of 9/13 in Delhi interrogation of someone suspicious is not unusual. But the boy in the picture with a skull cap surrounded by the policemen evidently appears to be from the Muslim community.


This picture at its first appearance reveals the bias of the media and law enforcing agencies towards a particular community. Everyday so many people are being questioned on the streets of Delhi by the police but hardly anybody makes it into the pages of the National dailies. On the other hand many people would be visiting on the IndiaGate lawns but the questioning of a Muslim boy is again awful.


Being an witness to the operation Batla House on 19th September and a resident of Jamia Nagar the representation of facts by media and the conduct of the security agencies makes me to recount the incident. In the morning of 19th September at around 11 am I got a call from a colleague that there was an encounter going between and the suspected terrorists in the nearby L-18 flat of Batla House. I took my camera and rushed to the spot. And at that time the whole Batla House was cordoned off and while I was penning down this piece of article the building was still under high security cordon.


After the encounter there is a sense of fear and alienation among most of the residents of Jamia Nagar, which has become a “Police Chhawni” in common parlance, an area like Srinagar. The anger of the people rises whenever they talk to someone from the media.


“Why is it that the acts of terrorism and violence are regarded as an act of Islamic terrorism? Islam is a religion of peace, please do not defame it.”, asked Abdul Ghafoor , a software engineer working with a reputed multinational firm in Gurgaon. Sarfaraz Ahmad , a student of Jamia Millia Islamia says, “Since childhood we have been taught that violence begets violence and no one can justify any type of violence done by followers of any faith or religion, but when we see that there is no action after the Sri Krishna Commission report set up to probe the Mumbai riots , it pains a lot. Many police officers whom Sri Krishna commission found guilty were promoted.”


“When you can catch or execute a terrorist who happens to be Muslim then why is this government so much reluctant in acting against the accused of either the Gujarat or the Mumbai riots”, adds Sarfaraz.


No act of violence and terrorism can be justified but the carnage in Gujarat after the Godhra massacre in 2002, are perceived as having the implicit support of state administration, which saw more than a thousand people killed , mostly Muslims. It has clearly radicalized some of the elements of the minority community. Whether we accept it or not it is the main reason behind the home grown terror which has driven a minuscule section from the Muslim community towards the extreme forms of anti-social and destructive behavior. Obviously this cannot be justified at any cost.


Lalu Prasad Yadav says, “Modi is a communal virus centre and had he been punished on time for his crime no youth would have turned terrorist today”(Hindustan Times,dated 26th September).


In fact a terrorist is a terrorist either he is a Muslim or Hindu.


The authorities in power dealing with the acts of terrorism against the nation must understand that this battle cannot be won by identifying terrorism with any one single religions (or any other socially catagorised community). We lost our great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and Rajeev Gandhi to the bullets of terrorists none of whom were associated with any Muslim group or outfit.


The communalism or terrorism either they are of minority or majority community only tend to feed off each other. According to the NGOs Anhad and Human Right’s Law Network , a large number of innocent young Muslims have been and are victimized by the police on the charge of being involved in various terrorist activities, particularly in Gujarat , Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan. And this victimization and demonisation of a particular community is having a very serious psychological impact on the minds of not only the families of the victims but also other members of the community, which is leading to a sense of insecurity and alienation.


There is no evidence to suggest that these terror groups who happen to be Muslims are truly representative of the mindset of the Indian Muslims or they have any real support within the Muslim community as a whole. Just as the Sikh militants of 1980s did not represent their community, these bombers do not represent Indian Muslims.


Asghar Ali Engineer, one of the most secular writers and a renowned Islamic scholar in India says, “Every I go I see how upset the Muslim intelligentsia is with the way the community is being treated by the communalized polity and media.When a state discriminates against a section of it’s citizens , it prepares a fertile ground for retaliation.”


In 2006, two Bajrang dal members died in nanded while making crude bombs but nothing came out of that and a similar incident happened in Kanpur last month. Why is it that the government misses no chance to ban dreaded terrorist organizations like SIMI and Indian Mujahedeen , but at the same time it seems to be reluctant in banning Bajrang Dal, the cadres of which are on a rampaging spree , by burning Churches and rioting in various states.


In a nutshell, terrorists simply are anti-national criminals. They need to be dealt without any sense of prejudice. Failing to do so can be counterproductive and unfortunately the bias towards the minority community may promote many hardliners to take extreme steps.

Following is the lilnk to this article in Hindustan Times:-

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/FullcoverageStoryPage.aspx?id=ed5a3c47-c881-485d-993c-77018fa6ecca_Special&&Headline=Community+bias+no+solution+

What’s next for India after Musharraf’s exit......

Post 9/11 the definition of terrorism drastically changed for the entire world. The rubble of Twin Towers in New York City forced the World’s sole Super Power to take a stringent action against terrorism. The first country to come in the line of fire of Mr Bush’s global war against terrorism was Afghanistan, a nation always regarded as Pakistan’s strategic backyard.
In order to tame the Islamic terrorists in Afghanistan, Mr Bush heavily banked on Pakistan and hence General Pervez Musharraf becoming a close aide in the war against terrorism. This also forced Musharraf to take action against the homegrown terror outfits in his own nation. It was a definitely a pay back time for both USA and Pakistan. The so called Islamic terrorists in Afghanistan and greatest ever enemy of Mr Bush, Osama Bin Laden, are none other than those nurtured by both USA and Pakistan to diminish the growing power of USSR in Afghanistan.
Now General Musharraf has stepped down. Mr Bush has somehow drawn a satisfaction by executing one enemy Saddam Hussain and significantly destroying the bastion of the other. As USA is readying for yet another regime change and power play in Pakistan has already changed hands one question becomes evident for all the nations reeling under the threat of terrorism. Perhaps now it’s a time for India to closely observe the strategic development in the region with increasing doubt about the rise of extremist forces with Musharraf’s departure.
It’s an established fact that under the former President, Pakistan had given many political concessions to India. In the last two years, the Kashmir issue was virtually on the backburner as Pakistan became involved in even more contentious issues that cropped up after 9/11. Since the ceasefire agreement of 2003 the LoC has mostly remained peaceful. Musharraf by and large kept his promise to stop infiltration across the LoC, after banning several militant outfits and closing their camps. The main reason behind this fall in infiltration seems to be shift in the attention of the “Jehadis” to the attacks against America and NATO forces in Afghanistan. The main focus of the Al Qaeda forces was on Afghanistan and Iraq.
After it’s proximity with the US and Israel India is being increasingly viewed as a close strategic ally of both the countries. The peace process during Musharraf’s tenure has increased transport and people to people contacts between the two sides of LoC. During Musharraf ‘s tenure talks between the two sides were held regularly and some progress was also made in terms of confidence building measures(CBMs). Musharraf had talked about Pakistan’s willingness to look beyond the UN resolutions on Kashmir in the quest for a solution.
President Musharraf who had a full backing of the army was able or had the power to deliver on his promises towards the peace process, but now with the restoration of democracy in Pakistan , the new civilian government coexists uneasily with a still powerful military establishment led by General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, who has shown an inclination to remain in barracks , and till now haven’t shown his desire for getting involved in the politics. It seems that he wants to have an image make over of the Pakistani army which suffered setbacks owing to it’s identification with successive military dictators.
The impact of President Musharraf’s exit on Indo-pak relations can be judged by the statement of the National Security Advisor (NSA), MK Narayanan that, “the development could lead to a power vacuum, resulting in deterioration of the security situation in the region, giving ‘radical extremist outfits’ a free hand to do what they like.”
Musharraf’s alliance with the US is seen as extreme unpopular with the Pakistani public but his move to improve relations with India had found general acceptance among the masses. But after his exit Kashmir is once again becoming hot topic in the internal politics of Pakistan, after some ministers of the civilian government accusing Musharraf of betraying the Kashmiri people for his own political gains. It must be noted that in resignation speech Musharraf did not mention Kashmir on the relations with India.
Now when Musharraf is not at the helm of affairs in Islamabad the violence in Kashmir after the Amarnath land row seems to cast a shadow over the peace process, by Pakistan saying that it plans to approach the UN and the Organisation of Islamic countries(OIC) on the Kashmir issue.
PM Manmohan Singh in his address to Nation from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort said that “If this issue of terrorism is not addressed all good intentions that we have for our people will be negated. We will not be able to pursue the peace initiative.” After the blast in Indian embassy in Kabul Manmohan Singh had himself conveyed his concern and disappointment to the Government of Pakistan.
After the exit of Musharraf from the President’s office the rift between Mian Nawaz Sharif’s PML(N) and PPP started widening on the issue of restoration of the judges sacked by the former President, resulting in Nawaz Shareef quitting the ruling alliance.
And now that Mr 10 per cent of Pakistan aka Asif Ali Zardari has become Mr.100 per cent it would be worth watching that how does he manage to move forward with the legacy of the former President in having a cordial relations with India.
The increasing political differences in Pakistan, rising of terrorist activities and unrest in Jammu and Kashmir would definitely force India to have a close watch of its neighbour in coming days.

Link to the above article on Hindustan Times......:-

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/FullcoverageStoryPage.aspx?sectionName=&id=b0d24b72-e5bc-421e-ab58-3996d587f842Writersclub_Special&&Headline=What%e2%80%99s+next+for+India+after+Musharraf%e2%80%99s+exit

Diversity in Feelings, Culture and Society

Yesterday, after the PM Manmohan Singh's speech from the ramparts of the Historic Red Fort, I decided to go their to have a glimpse of the Historic 17th century fort and came back from there having a sense of proud in being an Indian. But there was also a feeling of sadness after seeing the children from our poorest of the poor section of the society outside the Glorious Fort.

Should we become so happy with our independence that we forget to think about the million Indians in whose life 15 th August is just another day on which they are as usual busy in their works, because if they stop their work then their family will have to starve.. We are a nation that is always swayed by milestones and landmarks. So, in the run-up to India's 61st Independence Day, there has been an all-encompassing euphoria and media hype surrounding this landmark. But is this brouhaha about Independent India's sixty first anniversary worth it?
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addressed the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort in the Capital to mark India's 61 years of independence and highlighted the his government' s key achievements and initiative towards the development of the nation and two of the most inportant dangers facing our counry i.e. communalism and terrorism. But what about Md.Arshad, a 13 year old boy, a vendor from Bihar's most backward district of Sitamarhi who sells drinking water outside the Red Fort. When asked what was the significance of 15th August in his llfe, he replie"d Nothing much, I want to enjoy like other children but cannot stop selling for a single day because I cannot manage money for my food and study." There were so many other poor boys outside the glorious century Red Fort selling so many things who don't even know what's this 15 th August is all about except that our country got freedom from the British Raj. Ravi aged 12 years from Bagpat had nothing to do till yesterday due to poverty started to sell kites for 15th august but was driven away by the police and he doesn't know what will he do tomorrow. Just after the Prime Minister's speech people thronged to the gate of Red Fort to get a glimpse of the magnificent 17th century fort but were driven by the police. Prem Anand, a vendor selling pens and papers outside the Red Fort when asked about the importance of India's independence in his life said" Though poor but proud of being an Indian and I like my country a lot and I am very much happy today". Many tourists also thronged to the Red Fort taking pictures and were fascinated by the beauty of the Red Fort. David, a student from England said " I am in India since last 2 months visiting various places and had a burning desire to watch the Independence day celebrations." My respect for India and It's people has increased a lot because of their friendly nature and I would like to visit India once more , I am deeply influenced by the diverse culture of India", said Claudia Robert a tourist from Hungary. Since India got independence sixty one years ago , the Independence has brought a lot of change for the upper strata of the society but for the lower strata this independence is just a freedom from the British rule,because they are still ensalved by the socio-economic problems due to the anti-poor policies of the government which has a direct effect on their livelihood. The lower strata is still trapped under the vicious circle of poverty.