[sacw] SACW #1. (02 Oct. 01)

[Harsh Kapoor]

South Asia Citizens Wire | Dispatch #1.
02 October 2001
http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex

[ Global Vigil for Peace Actions on October 2, 2001, check out the=20
website: http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex/vigil/ ]

------------------------------------------

#1. Pakistan: At critical crossroads (Asma Jahangir)
#2. India - Pakistan: Their disease is mistrust (Kuldeep Nayar)
#3. India: Is Bajrang Dal different from SIMI, ask opposition parties=20
(Deepshikha Ghosh)
#4. India: Simmering Controversy: The Ban on SIMI (Yoginder Sikand)
#5. India: Support historian, Professor D. N. Jha's, right to freedom=20
of expression

________________________

#1.

DAWN
11 October 2001

At critical crossroads

By Asma Jahangir

The horror and terror of September 11 has now turned into moments of=20
suspense and worry. Pakistanis are familiar with acts of terrorism=20
and its consequences. They, have, therefore, almost unanimously=20
condemned the killing of innocent people in New York and Washington.=20
There can be no justification for or rationale behind such acts.
It does, however, call for reflection by the entire world leadership.=20
The North needs to change its policies towards the South, just as=20
much as the Muslim world needs to correct its rhetoric against=20
"infidels" and promote a culture of democracy and tolerance within=20
their own countries.
The solution to terrorism does not lie in "waging wars" but in=20
bringing those responsible to justice and in ensuring that=20
governments do not tolerate or promote terrorist gangs. A measured=20
response is called for because an all-out war may polarize the world=20
further, thus playing into the hands of the very forces which=20
encourage terrorism. Since the international alliance against=20
terrorism claims to fight this battle to protect freedoms, it will be=20
expected to be transparent in its moves. It will require greater=20
resolve to uphold the norms of justice, particularly in the face of=20
an adversary who spurns universal values of freedom.
The issue of terrorism is one of the most controversial in=20
contemporary international law and politics. Acts of terror have been=20
glorified as "freedom fighting" and genuine freedom fighters have=20
often been dubbed terrorists. The United Nations too failed to define=20
"terrorism" because the term is emotive and highly loaded=20
politically. The League of Nations failed in 1937 to determine the=20
parameters of "terrorism" and since then there has been no serious=20
attempt to define the term, which continues to be used selectively=20
and vaguely. But whatever definition one accepts , the tragedy of=20
September 11 will cover it all, particularly as none has so far=20
claimed responsibility for it . It has violated the right to live=20
free from fear and the right to life, liberty and security.
The world has changed after September 11. Freedoms will now be=20
compromised in favour of the pressing need for security. Despite the=20
assurances of the West that its campaign will not discriminate=20
against any religion or nationality, Muslims, Pakistanis and Arab=20
nationals are experiencing more prejudice and bias. Airport=20
terminals, employers, buyers and business houses of the West are=20
being selective. The growing flow of refugees from Afghanistan will=20
bring multiple problems for Pakistan. Despite foreign aid, our=20
resources will suffer and our governance deteriorate. Many freedom=20
fighters will be unfairly painted as terrorists and oppressive=20
regimes will take advantage of this new wave of anger against=20
"terrorism".
In the wake of efforts for a new world of security, Pakistan must=20
strive to acquire a new image. It must be seen as being independent=20
of the West but no friend of terrorist regimes or gangs. Above all,=20
we must make sincere effort at cleaning up our cupboards of all the=20
skeletons we have gathered over the years. Let there be no ambiguity=20
about our present position. It was not courage but plain good sense=20
that compelled us to side with the international community on the=20
question of terrorism. The people of Pakistan are paying for the sins=20
of their past leaders. It ought to be made amply clear so that we are=20
not led into another myth, another trap by our leaders.
Pakistanis take crisis well. This has been no exception. There is no=20
panic and the common people have not taken to the streets in support=20
of the Taliban regime. Their lack of support for the Taliban is not=20
because they respect the government of the US - whom they closely=20
associate with the Israeli atrocities against the Palestinians - but=20
because there is a growing resentment against domestic jihadi groups=20
and disrespect for the Taliban style of government. As such, there=20
was a sigh of relief at the military regime's decision to join the=20
world alliance against terrorism.
It was not courage but preservation that drove President Musharraf to=20
fall in line with the alliance. The few Jihadi groups and religious=20
parties, who oppose the government's decision stand alone. The people=20
have wisely decided to back the regime, not because they support army=20
rule but because they have had enough of religious extremism. Tension=20
between the army and the jihadi groups may bode well for the country=20
and democracy but there will be a price to pay for the legacy of the=20
past.
No one can predict the turn of events to follow. It is difficult to=20
grasp the full impact of the future shape of globalization in the=20
wake of the terrorist attacks in the US. So far the emerging signs=20
are not very helpful for Pakistan. We have a tendency to jump to=20
conclusions. The signals given by the West, and reinforced by our=20
government, is that we will be awash with dollars for our support to=20
the world alliance against terrorism.
Such expectations are unreal as the West will carefully watch a=20
nuclear power with a military government at the helm and a tendency=20
to promote obscurantist ideas and practices. The separate electorate=20
system, the so-called Islamization of laws and periodic calls for=20
jihad are breeding grounds for extremism - a spur for the worst type=20
of conservative elements, which, given a chance, will keep us=20
perpetually hostage to Ziaism.
If we wish to turn the present crisis into an opportunity for=20
ourselves, we will have to find the political will to radically=20
change our domestic and foreign policies. It will require a sustained=20
process towards democratization of Pakistan and promotion of higher=20
human values and norms. As a first step the military government has=20
to change its orientation and recognize the follies of the past. It=20
has to take the lead in reining in the militant forces they so openly=20
patronized at one time. At the same time, political forces have to be=20
involved in mobilizing public opinion and in decision making at this=20
critical juncture. Therefore, general elections should be held sooner=20
rather than later.
The government can force people to attend its rallies but it cannot=20
command the receptivity and enthusiasm needed to carry the actual=20
message of the moment far and wide. The armed forces can easily=20
control the militants but recent events have shown that without=20
involving the political forces, the military cannot motivate and=20
mobilize the people sufficiently to express their strong disapproval=20
of acts of terrorism carried out in the name of religion.
Militant religious groups could easily exploit the emotions of a=20
large conservative fringe in the country if they are seen to be taken=20
to task because of the demands of the West and without visible=20
support of the people of Pakistan. Any such backlash will only=20
strengthen militant groups and marginalize the people , silencing=20
their voices infinitely.
The campaign against terrorism, as it is being called, will last=20
quite a while, its first target being Osama bin Laden and the Taliban=20
regime in Kabul. This puts Pakistan's foreign policy in a dilemma.=20
The Northern Alliance, an avowed enemy of Pakistan, will be on board=20
to push the Taliban southwards. As a reward, the Northern Alliance=20
will ask for their piece of the cake when the booty in Afghanistan=20
comes to be distributed. Pakistan will need better political and=20
diplomatic skills along with a vision to play a positive role in the=20
emerging context. It is, therefore, imperative that the democratic=20
process starts immediately so that a broader-based government brings=20
full force of public opinion to bear on the critical decisions that=20
are clearly involved.
Generally, politicians rather than generals have a better=20
understanding of political dynamics and will be more willing to take=20
a regional approach in the days to follow. Pakistan must acquire an=20
image of a serious player with a fresh approach in building peace in=20
the region. We are being led to the final crossroads with an=20
opportunity to choose between being regarded as hidebound or counted=20
as a mature player, capable of moving ahead with a new resolve and=20
confidence.

_______

#2.

Rediff.com
September 25, 2001

The disease is mistrust
by Kuldip Nayar

Every time India and Pakistan face a problem, they tend to look=20
towards America as if its nod is all that matters. This has been=20
particularly so after the end of the Cold War. The approach is=20
demeaning and smacks of servility. Yet for illusory gains, the two=20
countries try to catch Washington's eye.

The carnage in the US was an opportunity for both Prime Minister=20
Atal Bihari Vajpayee and President Pervez Musharraf to have=20
discussed common dangers. They should have been on the hotline.=20
The theatre of war is going to be this part of the world and we,=20
the two countries, will be hit directly, without knowing for how=20
long and to what extent. But the reaction of both has, however,=20
been otherwise.

New Delhi and Islamabad have been vying with each other in offering=20
assistance to Washington. The manner in which Foreign Minister=20
Jaswant Singh has been going about the task - a foreign television=20
network even cut him short in his entreaties to support the US -=20
gives the impression as if New Delhi felt that it had been left out.=20
Jaswant Singh is still at it, persuading the US to use India.

Yet initially, India did not figure among the countries President=20
Bush feelingly mentioned for their prompt and generous assistance.=20
It was obvious that Washington did not want to give India precedence=20
over Pakistan or say something which would make Islamabad feel that=20
it came next to New Delhi.

Of course, Washington's main consideration to get Pakistan on its=20
side was the location of the country, a state bordering Afghanistan=20
for miles. The American administration has always felt happier with=20
military dictatorships than democracies which have to think about=20
people's sentiments and parliament's endorsements. Since Pakistan=20
took time to throw its weight behind America, US Secretary of State=20
Colin Powell was late in attending to Jaswant Singh's injured=20
feelings that America was not asking India for any assistance.

Islamabad's response has been on expected lines. It has taken no=20
time in siding with Washington but has staged a drama for the public=20
of being on the horns of a dilemma. Whether it has brought in=20
Kashmir or not hardly matters. The problem is terrorism, not any=20
territorial discussion. If Kashmir has any relevance at all, it is on=20
the basis that terrorism in the state is financed, sustained and=20
exported by Pakistan. Musharraf should have known by this time that=20
the solution of Kashmir has to be found by the two countries, not a=20
third party. From Tashkent to Lahore, all declarations and=20
agreements speak about the principle of bilateralism and even the=20
international community has accepted it.

In any case, the war declared against terrorism is not on the basis=20
of principles. Had it been so, Washington would have helped New=20
Delhi long ago when it had provided it with the documentary evidence=20
to prove that terrorists were trained, armed and sheltered by=20
Pakistan. America woke up only when the fire of terrorism began to=20
engulf it.

Not long ago, India, Russia and America had announced their resolve=20
to combat terrorism jointly. Washington established an FBI office in=20
New Delhi. But all that was a mere exercise. Washington did not show=20
any real interest. Several US think tanks, conscious of India's=20
travails, also gave perfunctory sympathy. Now all of them are=20
vociferous against terrorism. But they still do not point their=20
finger at Musharraf who has given the name of jihad to terrorism.

As in the past, Islamabad has come to believe that the war against=20
terrorism has given it a chance to extract the maximum military and=20
economic assistance from America. General Zia-ul Haq did the same=20
thing during the Soviet Union's attack on Afghanistan. India knows it=20
too well how those arms reached the hands of jihadis and others who=20
are still using them in their killings in Kashmir. America should=20
realise that terrorism will continue to thrive if politics is the=20
criterion to select the enemy.

It has taken several years but many in Pakistan have begun to=20
realise how terrorists, primarily fundamentalists, have contaminated=20
their society. And they feel that Pakistan has been playing with=20
fire. But the people across the border are still not exposed to the=20
democratic and secular India. The information reaching them is scanty=20
and slanted. Some Pakistan journalists have gone back from Agra with=20
a new image of India. Indian journalists themselves were surprised=20
to find their counterparts from Pakistan so different from the=20
stereotyped impression they had.

Such contacts, such efforts to know one another had to establish a=20
rapport despite the differences between the two governments is all=20
what the lighting of candles at the Wagah border on the night of=20
August 14-15 is about. It is a tender message of peace in the=20
jingoistic atmosphere. The establishments on both sides, including=20
the governments, have stonewalled the relationship. It is only the=20
people-to-people contact that will break the crust of suspicion and=20
lessen the clich=E9-ridden image of one another.

A substantial part of the intelligentsia in India is against any=20
joint Indo-Pak gathering or gestures like lighting candles at the=20
Wagah border because it sees no difference between the government=20
and the people. Officials have only strengthened the impression. A=20
slow change is taking place in Pakistan but very slow. Still it is=20
for the intelligentsia, which forms public opinion, to decide=20
whether to tar people in Pakistan and the government with the same=20
brush or do something to retrieve them. They do not have even an=20
elected set-up.

We should not forget that a long, protracted anti-Pakistan feeling=20
changes into anti-Muslim feelings. This not only puts our society=20
under strain, but poses a challenge to our secular polity, which is=20
still not strong enough to resist all the buffets of communalism.=20
Certain parties and individuals want a Hindu rashtra. Hating Muslims=20
as well as Pakistan is part of their agenda. But that was not the=20
ethos of our national struggle in which people from all religions=20
participated. Nor does it represent our composite culture.

After Partition, Mahatma Gandhi went on fast to make New Delhi pay=20
some Rs 60 crore to Pakistan - its share from the division of=20
assets. The war in Kashmir was raging at that time and Sardar Patel,=20
then home minister, was deadly opposed to giving the money. But the=20
Mahatma stood by his conviction that Independent India would not=20
violate its moral obligation or the solemn promise given, whatever=20
the price. The money was paid. Of course, this is related to values=20
and norms, which are beyond the comprehension of people dripping with=20
hatred and parochialism.

Pakistan is going to be an intransigent neighbour for a long time to=20
come. India has to learn how to live with such a country. Kashmir is=20
only a symptom, not the disease. The disease is mistrust. This has=20
to be dispelled. Events have meandered to a situation where, even if=20
there is a conflict, there is no settlement; even if no hostility,=20
no harmony and even if there is no war, there is no peace. We have=20
to go beyond this. The lighting of candles may not shatter the=20
darkness but the message of peace never goes to waste. In the land of=20
Gandhi, we should never lose sight of this basic truth.

_______

#3.

Is Bajrang Dal different from SIMI, ask opposition parties

By Deepshikha Ghosh, Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, Sep 30 (IANS) Major opposition parties have revived a call to ba=
n
the Hindu right-wing Bajrang Dal, saying it is no different from a radical
Islamic group that was proscribed by the Indian government last week.

The Indian government is at a loss to explain why no action has been taken
against the Bajrang Dal despite its blatantly communal activities, while it
was quick to ban the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).

The government has justified the ban on SIMI saying the outfit was
responsible for anti-national activities and had close links to terrorist
groups and said at least four state chief ministers had asked for the ban.

The home ministry acknowledged it has also received a recommendation from
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh to ban Bajrang Dal, the
right-wing youth group that has ideological kinship to Prime Minister Atal
Bihari Vajpayee's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

A senior home ministry official, while not denying they had received such a
request, said: "There is nothing conclusive that could stand the test of
judicial scrutiny."

The Congress and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) call it a
blatant lie.

"There is evidence of the Bajrang Dal's hand in the ruthless killing of
Graham Staines. That should be conclusive for banning the outfit, so what i=
s
different in their case?" asked Congress leader Anil Shastri.

Australian missionary Graham Staines was burnt alive with his two sons
inside a car in Baripada, Orissa, in January 1999, allegedly by Dara Singh
and a group of activists who were chanting slogans of Bajrang Dal.

The Dal was responsible for burning copies of the Koran and inciting
communal passions too, said Amar Singh, a leader of the Samajwadi Party. He
claimed that there were several incidents of communal violence to the Dal's
credit.

All opposition leaders assert that Bajrang Dal, perceived as foot soldiers
of a radical Hindu ideology, has acknowledged publicly its role in a "Hindu
awakening" that smacks of religious chauvinism not unlike SIMI's campaign
for Islamic supremacy.

"If the ban on SIMI is lawful, then the government should immediately ban
the Bajrang Dal, which often organizes militant meetings across the
country," said Sitaram Yechuri, politburo member of the CPI-M.

Opposition leaders asserted that much as what SIMI has been accused of, the
Dal had also organised weapon's training camps to prepare youth for a Hindu
campaign to build a temple in place of the 16th century Babri mosque razed
in Ayodhya in 1992.

A Bajrang Dal chief declared in June this year that in the camps, "each
trainer would train 100 people in the use of knives, sticks and rifles."

In 1996, the group's activists were jailed in Mumbai for vandalizing the
house of artist Maqbool Fida Husain for his nude paintings of a Hindu
goddess. The group has also been known to impose moral strictures on public
behaviour.

Reacting to the demand for banning Bajrang Dal, the BJP pointed out it was
the Congress Party that had revoked a ban imposed on the Dal just after the
demolition of the Babri mosque.

"A tribunal set up by the Congress government cleared the Bajrang Dal and
revoked its ban. Now they are again recommending its ban," BJP leader
Narendra Modi said.

The Congress countered that the Dal had since openly mounted a campaign
against Christian missionaries and had grown bolder.

--Indo-Asian News Service

_______

#4.

Date: Mon, 01 Oct 2001

SIMMERING CONTROVERSY: THE BAN ON SIMI

BY YOGINDER SIKAND

The recent banning of the Students Islamic Movement of India [SIMI]=20
by the Government of India has created a considerable stir all over=20
the country. Several lives have been lost in police firing on Muslims=20
protesting against the ban in Lucknow. Human rights activists as well=20
as Muslim leaders have been quick to accuse the government of=20
hounding Muslims, using the SIMI ban as a pretext to stoke=20
anti-Muslim passions and to derive political mileage therefrom. The=20
government has been assailed for ignoring completely similar=20
terror-spewing groups among the Hindus, such as, for instance, the=20
Bajrang Dal, the VHP and the RSS, while focussing its attention on=20
Muslim fundamentalist outfits alone.
While the logic in this argument is indeed compelling, it is,=20
in my view, no reason to ignore the very real danger that groups such=20
as the SIMI pose, not just to the country as a whole but, equally, to=20
the Muslims of India themselves. The SIMI is a hitherto little-known=20
Muslim students organisation, set up in 1977 as the students=92 wing of=20
the Jama'at-i-Islami Hind. Owing, partly, to internal differences, on=20
the one hand, and to the growing radicalism of the SIMI, on the=20
other, the Jama=92at soon decided to disassociate itself with it, and=20
set up another students=92 wing of its own, the Students Islamic=20
Organisation (SIO). Since then, the SIMI has been an independent=20
body. Exact figures of SIMI membership are unavailable, but it is=20
estimated that it has some four hundred =91ansars=92 or full-time cadres=20
and some nineteen thousand ordinary members all over the country. It=20
is particularly strong in parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, but in=20
recent years has managed to make inroads among Muslim students in=20
southern India as well. Muslim students up to the age of thirty are=20
eligible as members. The SIMI also has a wing for school-going=20
children, the Shaheen Force, and a separate section working among=20
female students as well. It also has a department for missionary work=20
(da'wah) among non-Muslims, trying to impress them with its own=20
version of Islam. It operates essentially through personal networks,=20
meetings, conferences as well as the numerous magazines that it=20
publishes in English as well as several Indian languages.
The SIMI sees Islam as a complete world-view and ideology,=20
governing every aspect of a Muslim's personal as well as collective=20
life. Islam, it believes, has laid down a complete code of conduct=20
for Muslims to follow, with detailed rules regulating such private=20
matters as dress and food habits as well as collective affairs such=20
as politics, economics and international relations. God, it believes,=20
has set out a complete legal system for governance, as contained in=20
the Qur'an and the Hadith, or traditions of the Prophet Muhammad.=20
'Success' (falah) in this life and the world to come, it insists, can=20
only be had if human beings are ruled by the laws of Islam. Hence the=20
necessity of setting up an Islamic state, not just where Muslims are=20
in a majority but all over the world, including India, home to the=20
world's largest population of Muslims after Indonesia.
For the SIMI, nationalism is a ploy hatched by the West to=20
divide the Muslims. Hence, it is seen as a poisonous ideology, which=20
must give way to a world-wide Islamic polity, the Khilafat, a=20
pan-Islamic state ruled by a single Caliph (Khalifa). Secularism,=20
which implies equal treatment of all religions by the state or the=20
privatisation of religion, is seen as un-Islamic, for Islam is said=20
to be all-embracing in its scope and to be far superior to other=20
faiths. Likewise, democracy is fiercely condemned, for it is seen as=20
replacing the =91rule of God=92 with the =91rule of Man=92. Religions other=
=20
than Islam are all declared to be 'false' (taghuti), to be struggled=20
against till the whole world embraces Islam. This involves a long=20
drawn-out movement and because of the stiff opposition that=20
non-Muslim 'enemies' are expected to put up, violent 'jihad' is to be=20
waged if necessary. Islam is thus reduced to, what, for practical=20
purposes, seems little more than a military programme. As the SIMI=20
slogan so strikingly puts it:
'ALLAH our Lord
Mohammed [peace be upon him] our Commander
Qur'an our Constitution
Jihad our Path
Shahadat [martyrdom] our Desire'.

Among the major concerns of the SIMI has been the mounting=20
spate of attacks on Muslims in India and elsewhere. It has been vocal=20
in its protest against the killings of Muslims in India, the=20
destruction of mosques, moves to impose a uniform civil code on all=20
Indian citizens and so on, and in this it has shared the concern of=20
other Muslim organisations in the country. But where it differs from=20
them is in is shrill radical rhetoric, which is guaranteed to ensure=20
that even the most legitimate of Muslim demands go unheard by=20
sympathetic non-Muslims. In SIMI discourse, Hinduism is painted in=20
the most lurid colours, and as an inveterate foe of Islam and its=20
followers. The only way to salvation, then, is by converting to=20
Islam. The latest issue of SIMI's Urdu monthly, 'Islamic Movement',=20
possibly the last to come out since it has now been closed down=20
following the ban, has photographs of angry-looking young men and=20
bearded Maulanas protesting against atrocities on Muslims on=20
Parliament Street, Delhi, waving banners announcing, 'Sudarshan,=20
Singhal, Vajpayee, Advani' Embrace Islam for Eternal Success=92.
Since nationalism is seen as an anti-Islamic concept, the SIMI=20
regards all Muslims throughout the world as one unit, as members of=20
one, indivisible 'ummah'. Reports about atrocities on Muslims in=20
other countries, from Afghanistan to Algeria, and from Bosnia to=20
Burma, fill the pages of its magazines, and Muslims are exhorted to=20
take to the path of armed struggle to liberate themselves from 'evil'=20
non-Muslims. According to intelligence reports, the SIMI is said to=20
have established close links with various Islamist groups in several=20
other countries, including Osama bin Laden's network in Afghanistan,=20
the Hizb-ul Mujahidin in Kashmir, the World Assembly of Muslim Youth,=20
Saudi Arabia, the International Islamic Federation of Students'=20
Organizations, Kuwait, and with Islamist students=92 groups in Pakistan=20
and Bangladesh.
Among the possible reasons for the government's decision to=20
ban the SIMI could be the mounting allegations of its having=20
reportedly been involved in fuelling communal tensions in the=20
country. Giving its radical rhetoric, it would be surprising if=20
SIMI's attacks on other faiths and its strident championing of the=20
dream of an Islamist Khilafat would not have further exacerbated the=20
already tense communal situation in those parts of the country where=20
it is active. If the banning of the organisation was part of a=20
broader effort of the government to clamp down on all groups fanning=20
communal hatred, the ban, then, may have well been justified. This,=20
however, is not the case, for but no such action has been taken=20
against venom-spewing Hindutva groups as well, whose close links=20
with the government are well known. SIMI is now being accused of=20
having been involved in some incidents of communal strife, but, for=20
the most part, these accusations have yet to be substantiated. On the=20
other hand, despite the enormous amount of evidence indicting=20
Hindutva organisations in the killing of vast numbers of Muslims,=20
Christians and others, not only has the government chosen not to take=20
any action against them, but is continuing to patronise them and=20
assist them in their sinister designs. Nothing more need be said to=20
show the government's actual sincerity in combatting all forms of=20
religious terror for what it is worth.
While the outlawing of the SIMI may indeed serve a positive=20
purpose, it might just as well boomerang, by further radicalising=20
SIMI sympathisers for such groups are known to thrive in times of=20
repression. It ought to be clear that bans on organisations that=20
promote inter-communal conflict can serve little purpose in the=20
absence of a sustained struggle against the ideology that informs=20
them and that today threatens to transform itself into social common=20
sense. If the government is at all serious about countering the likes=20
of SIMI, it would do better to turn its attention to redressing the=20
growing alienation and insecurity of Muslims in this country, attacks=20
on their institutions and mosques, anti-Muslim pogroms and the like,=20
all of which provide fertile ground for organisations like the SIMI=20
to take root and for their appeals to fall on receptive ears.
Never before has the need for seriously seeking to counter religious=20
terror, Muslim, Hindu or of whatever other hue, been as urgent as it=20
is today, but in this, the BJP-led government can hardly be expected=20
to play an honest role, subservient as it is to the dictates of the=20
RSS. It is for the Muslims themselves to take the lead in opposing=20
groups such as the SIMI, for they must realise that radical=20
Islamists, with their promises of an illusory utopia, are their own=20
most inveterate foes, only providing further fodder to rabidly- anti=20
Muslim Hindutva forces. For their part, Muslim and Hindu social=20
activists seriously concerned with the way the country is hurtling=20
down the road to perdition must turn their energies to fashioning new=20
ways of understanding their own religions so that they can play a=20
role in promoting peace, dialogue and social justice, issues anathema=20
to the SIMI and its Hindutva counterparts, but of central concern for=20
the very survival of the country and to the one thousand million and=20
more of its Hindu, Muslim and other inhabitants.
_____

#5.

From: shishir_jha@h...
Subject: [FOIL] RE: Endorsement on Behalf of Dr. D. N. Jha
Date: Mon, 01 Oct 2001 14:03:29

Signature drive in support of historian, Professor D. N. Jha's, right=20
to freedom of expression. His recent book "Holy Cow: Beef in Indian=20
Dietary Traditions", has been banned by a Hyderabad court and he is=20
facing the threat of arrest.

Professor D. N. Jha, a historian at Delhi University, is facing the=20
threat of arrest and possible bodily harm. What has a scholar of his=20
repute done to face such a situation? He has written a book titled=20
"Holy Cow: Beef in Indian Dietary Traditions", recently banned by a=20
Hyderabad court, where he has provided historical evidence to show=20
that beef eating was rather widely engaged by various Indian,=20
including many Hindu, communities before its recent discouragement.=20
The book is indeed a bold initiative given the attempts at cultural=20
and political policing of India by the Hindutva forces. These forces=20
led by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad do not want this book to see the=20
light of the day.

It is precisely at such times of attack at our precious liberties=20
that we need to vigorously debate new ideas and systematically=20
challenge old mythologies. "Holy Cow" seeks precisely to do this by=20
researching a diverse range of ancient Indian scriptures. We find=20
that beef eating had been sanctioned and widely practiced much before=20
the advent of Islam in India. In fact even the gods such as Indra and=20
Agni appeared to have had special liking for different types of flesh=20
like those of bull and cow. The Manusmriti too did not prohibit the=20
consumption of beef. The book does help to establish that dietary=20
habits cannot be held as rigid markers of community identity.

D. N. Jha briefly explains in a recent interview, (The Week, August=20
26) "I am for protection of the cow, but why this privilege only to=20
the cow? Why not the buffalo? It is not my intention to hurt=20
anybody's religious sensibilities." The point is that the book should=20
be a source for further enriching and understanding our complex=20
historical legacy rather than be seen by the Hindutva brigade as a=20
symbol of cultural insult or the demeaning of our religious=20
sensibilities. Attempts at curtailing our right to express difficult=20
and bold issues has been tried before by many fundamentalist forces.=20
However to pay "the price of liberty" we must show "eternal=20
vigilance" and resoundingly defeat these forces.

In order to combat such communal forces we are starting a signature=20
drive in support of Professor D. N. Jha's right to express his=20
particular historical views.

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