[sacw] SACW #2 | 18 March 03
Harsh Kapoor
aiindex@mnet.fr
Tue, 18 Mar 2003 02:13:08 +0100
South Asia Citizens Wire #2 | 18 March, 2003
#1. India faces a difficult period of prejudice and parochialism (Kuldip Nay=
ar)
#2. Secularism Under Siege (Kamal Mitra Chenoy)
#3. Why Rizvi Sahab was finally buried Death has a religion and not
every corpse can be consigned to ashes (Mukul Dube)
#4. Desh Bachao Desh Banao Abhiyan Condemns Ayodhya Excavation And
Communal Tension in Bhilwara (NAPM Press Release)
#5. Sandeep Pandey and others arrested for their fast in Ayodhya
against the politisation
of the Ayodhya issue
#6. Excavation: The Third Wave- A composite past adds to a complex
present (Ranjit Bhushan)
#7. Latest from Joshi lab: Moral grooming
#8. Delhi Mayor's move on RSS Shakhas hailed (Lalit K. Jha)
#9. Hindutva's at Work Stories
#10. VHP's open letter
#11. A List of Some Secular Education Material (Ram Puniyani)
-----------------------------------
#1.
India faces a difficult period of prejudice and parochialism
By Kuldip Nayar
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=3Dstory_18-3-2003_pg4_21
______
#2.
Communalism Combat
=46ebruary 2003
Cover Story
Secularism Under Siege
The all-out assault on secularism is not merely against tolerance; it
is against democracy itself and the very basis of a pluralist India.
As before, a two- nation theory will only lead to Partition, or as
Yugoslavia and the USSR have shown, to Balkanisation
BY KAMAL MITRA CHENOY
Independent India was born in the fires of communalism, through the
genocidal carnage of the Parti
tion. In the desperate contest between the secularists led by the
Congress under the Mahatma and Nehru, and the communalists abetted by
the British and led on the one side by the Muslim League and on the
other by the Hindu Mahasabha-RSS, the latter won. The periodic and
increasingly menacing communal violence that has occurred since then
is symptomatic of the unfinished secular agenda.
Those who fondly imagined that the bloodletting that followed the
Babri Masjid demolition, particularly in Bombay and Surat, would be
checked by the moderate and statesman-like Vajpayee leading an NDA
coalition that included secular parties, were in for a rude shock,
especially after the genocide in Gujarat by the RSS-appointed
Narendra Modi's government in February-March 2002. The BJP's current
moves to vacate the Supreme Court stay on religious ceremonies near
the Babri Masjid site, and the proposed bill to ban cow slaughter,
starkly highlight that secularism is under assault as never before.
A major reason this assault has progressed so far has been because of
the assiduously spread myths and falsehoods about what secularism,
democracy, the Indian nation and culture are. The core and
co-ordinating body behind this Hindutva attack, the RSS, has its own
Western roots. The Italian researcher Marzia Casolari has exposed the
RSS links, after it was set up in 1925 with the Italian fascist party
led by Mussolini. RSS sarsanghchalak MS 'Guru' Golwalkar's admiration
for Hitler is well known. Many of the core concepts of Hindutva are
Indianised versions of Italian and German fascism. Swadeshi versions
some might say.
=46or example, the sangh brigade has argued that since India is very
largely Hindu, it is a Hindu Rashtra or nation. This is similar to
Hitler's concept of the German 'herrenvolk' or pure Aryan community.
The sanghis argue that the Aryans, contrary to all historical
evidence, were indigenous people and the forebears of a Hindu race.
All minorities, esp. the Muslims and Christians (but the Sikhs and
Jains are not so stridently included as they are considered part of
the Hindu family), are considered illegitimate converts by force and
fraud by Muslim and British rulers.
The attack on the Babri Masjid (a misnomer as Babar never visited
Ayodhya) was part of the sangh purification (sudhikaran) of history,
and righting of mythical historical wrongs by the Muslims. Babar and
'Babar ke aulad' demolished Ramajanmabhoomi, and so the sangh brigade
had to repay the Muslims in the same medieval coin. And today,
Vajpayee talks of historical proof that the Rama temple existed
there, despite the evidence given by renowned archaeologists like D.
Mandal, and eminent historians like RS Sharma, Romila Thapar et al.
Despite the fact that in Ayodhya there already exist several Rama
temples, for the sangh brigade desperate to remain in the seat of
power, Lord Rama also has an accommodation problem.
Many of us forget that India was the birthplace of Gautama Buddha,
and that the very influential emperor Asoka was his disciple. The
Asoka chakra is at the centre of the Indian national flag. What
happened to all the Buddhists in the land of the Buddha? They were
forcibly converted to Hinduism by the Brahmins and their followers.
Buddhist shrines and monasteries were despoiled and turned into Hindu
sites. Thus the Bodh Gaya temple today in Bihar is managed by both
Buddhists and Hindus. The sacred Boddhisatva tree nearby, where
Buddha attained enlightenment, was chopped down by a Hindu fanatic
centuries ago.
No one, including the Buddhists, talk of this now. So forcible
conversion and the demolition and co-optation of religious shrines
are nothing new, and the Brahmin-led Hindus because they were the
most powerful, were the biggest offenders. This was pre-eminently not
a matter of religion, but of political power, as indeed Hindutva is.
At the core of this history of hate is the communal project that
argues, as the fascists did, that the Hindus are a homogeneous
community, with little difference, and no pluralism. Thus the term
'majority community'. This community is seen as having objective
contradictions and differences with the minorities, the 'other.' But
aren't Hindus divided by class, caste, gender, region, language,
etc.? Aren't the Tamils and Kannadigas feuding over the Cauvery river
waters mostly Hindus? Is SM Krishna who tried to side-track Supreme
Court orders on this issue less of a Hindu than Ms. Jayalalitha?
Are those for and against affirmative action including the Mandal
Commission recommendations less Hindu than the others? There are also
Hindus on both sides of the bitter dispute on the Women's Reservation
Bill. Such examples can be multiplied. Clearly Hindus never were and
never can be homogenous. Similarly, Muslims and other minorities are
also not homogenous. For example, Muslims who claim to have descended
from upper castes or more lofty ancestors like the Sayyids, Ashrafs,
Khans do not normally marry the comparatively lower caste Ansaris and
Qureshis. In Kerala, the Syrian Orthodox Christians do not normally
marry the Latin Christians or frequent the same church. Thus there is
no homogenous 'majority' community or its counterpart 'minority'
communities.
The assault on secularism is also based on a crucial
misrepresentation of democracy. The sangh argument is that democracy
means majority rule, and since Hindus are a majority, Indian
democracy must be Hindu, and what for them is the same thing,
Hindutva rule. But this is another distortion. Democracy is not
simply majority rule. Liberal democratic theory holds that all
majorities are temporary. Take elections. Yesterday a party/coalition
e.g., the BJP-Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, was in power. Today another
party/coalition, e.g. the Congress-NCP is in power. The
leadership/membership of both is predominantly Hindu.
If one makes the trivial statistical point that in either case Hindus
are in the 'majority,' the concomitant confession will have to be
that Hindus are different: they vote and act differently. That
further proves they are not a homogenous community. Further, in the
'first past the post' electoral system, Narendra Modi's sweeping
electoral victory in Gujarat, like Mrs. Indira Gandhi's famous Lok
Sabha victory in 1971, was based on a minority vote, less than 50 per
cent. Very few Indian political formations have got more than 50 per
cent votes, and they have never consecutively repeated the
performance. Moreover, democracies must guarantee minority rights.
That leads us to the next anti-secular canard of minority
appeasement. For example, the sanghis argue, that Article 30 of the
=46undamental Rights, which allows minorities to run their own
educational institutions, has resulted in the proliferation of
madrassas that are spreading Muslim fanaticism if not terrorism. This
they say is minorityism, against democratic majoritarianism (that we
have already refuted). In the first place, there are enough criminal
laws in place in the IPC and CrPC to counter this, apart from the
extraordinary anti-terrorist laws like NSA, Armed Forces Special
Powers Act and POTA. No minority institution is above the law. But
the question that arises is what about the 'majority' RSS-controlled
Saraswati Shishu Mandirs, Vanvasi Kalyan Kendras and the like? Don't
these spread Hindu fanaticism? And don't these fuel genocidal
terrorism as in Gujarat and elsewhere? Behind the rhetorical fa=E7ade
it appears that 'majority' fanaticism is seen as patriotism, but
'minority' conservatism as 'jehadi terrorism.'
Similar is the argument that subsidies to the Haj pilgrimage are
minority appeasement. If subsidies for the restoration/rebuilding of
Hindu shrines and pilgrimages and the Kumbh Mela are acceptable, then
why not this? But there is a more profound objection. If secularism
is about the separation of religion and politics, why is the state
subsidising religion? We must distinguish between the state being
partisanbetween religions, funding religions per se, and subsidising
a few religious activities. In such a stratified and largely poor
society, where religion not only for the pious, but even for the
atheistic, is an integral part of culture, limited state subsidies
cannot be simply decried as anti-secular, as favouring either Hindu
or Muslim. In any case, quite contrary to the Hindutva argument,
Hindus have got more subsidies than the minorities.
Today, the latest furore is over cow slaughter instigated by the
Congress CM of MP, Digvijay Singh. Facing an election later in the
year, the two term CM sought to beat the BJP at its own game like
other Congress leaders before him, and raised the issue of cow
slaughter, accusing the BJP of being insincere in this objective. The
local youth Congress even printed posters accusing Vajpayee of being
a 'beef eater.' In the first place, eating habits have nothing to do
with nationalism or democracy. Secondly, many lower caste Hindus as
well as Hindus in eastern, north-eastern and southern India, apart
from the minorities, eat beef. Thirdly, Article 48 of the Directive
Principles, which unlike Fundamental Rights are not judicially
enforceable, does not focus exclusively on the prohibition of cow
slaughter. It concerns the scientific organisation of animal
husbandry and enjoins on the state to preserve and improve on all
existing indigenous breeds, and prohibits the slaughter not only of
cows, but of all "draught and milch cattle." In other words, under
this Directive Principle, all draught and milch cattle including
cows, buffaloes, yaks, mithuns, should not be slaughtered.
So why this Brahminical insistence only on cows? The comprehensive
prohibition in Article 48 is just notenforceable. Hindus, especially
lower caste and poor, widely eat buffalo meat, and where they can get
it, beef, as in Kerala, West Bengal and the north east. In any case
there are other Directive Principles such as Article 41 which
includes the right to work, Article 39 for an equitable distribution
of wealth, etc. that no one talks of today. Is cow slaughter more
important than all this?
It is clear that the current assault on secularism is motivated,
aimed at establishing a pseudo-theocratic, authoritarian polity in
which the BJP can secure its rule forever. Where progressively the
sansad (Parliament) will be substituted by a dharma sansad of
self-appointed 'sants' acceptable to the sangh brigade and the
political opposition be booked under POTA.
The all-out assault on secularism is not merely against tolerance; it
is against democracy itself and the very basis of a pluralist India.
As before, a two-nation theory will only lead to Partition, or as
Yugoslavia and the USSR have shown, to Balkanisation.
(Kamal Mitra Chinoy teaches at JNU, New Delhi).
______
#3.
The Indian Express, March 17, 2003
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=3D20302
BYWORDS
Why Rizvi Sahab was finally buried Death has a religion and not
every corpse can be consigned to ashes
Mukul Dube
<http://www.indianexpress.com/print.php?content_id=3D20302>
A man died last year. It happens that his name was Rizvi, which
identified him as Muslim at least by birth. It happens also that his
wife was of another religion, which probably made him a not very good
Muslim. It happens, finally, that he had specified that he wished his
corpse to be disposed of by cremation: which certainly left him no
kind of Muslim at all.
But it was feared that at the electric crematorium his body would not
be accepted for cremation. Why not? Because, Sir, Muslims are buried,
not cremated. But he really did not consider himself a Muslim, and he
specifically said that he wanted cremation. No matter, Sir, his name
was Rizvi, so he was a Muslim, and Muslims are not cremated.
Had not Safdar Hashmi=92s body been turned away? Was it not the sheer
weight of the activists with it which caused it finally to be
accepted? Maybe Rizvi Sahab's corpse too would have been accepted
eventually, but those in charge of it feared it would not =97 and fear
is a very real thing. Those who have lost a friend or a father do not
wish to enter into squabbles.
The crematorium of which I speak is worked by electricity. No
firewood is used, nor ghee, nor even furnace oil. The key operator is
a person trained to handle large currents and throw big switches, not
a man who can recite the required bits from the Hindu scriptures.
Nevertheless it is the second kind of operator who has the real say.
The crematorium of which I speak is a municipal service, in theory
available =97 just like the water supply and anti-mosquito fogging =97 to
all who are of the city. There is no sign or notice anywhere which
says that the facility is for Hindu waste matter alone, that the
waste of other religions is not permitted. But water and malaria and
rabies have no religion, while death clearly has. It seems that only
Hindu bodies are readily accepted by the crematorium, and that it is
difficult to protect even the body of an atheist from the prescribed
Hindu rites.
However that may be, Rizvi Sahab, Muslim but in name, was buried in a
Muslim graveyard, because in the hot weather his corpse would soon
have become a nuisance and a health hazard. He would not have liked
that: he was, after all, a responsible, free citizen of the capital
city of a free country; and to him freedom meant other things than
rotting and stinking and spreading disease.
Rizvi Sahab had wished to be burnt. Maybe he sought to make a
statement, more likely he did not wish his remains to occupy land, a
commodity which he knew to be scarce and to have several other uses,
some of which he might have considered more productive.
Rizvi Sahab's last wish was not respected. Should anyone care? He
himself probably would not have given a damn. After all, he was dead
and gone, and what was done with his remains was a matter of civic
waste disposal for a society of which he was no longer part and in
the affairs of which, therefore, he had no say.
______
#4.
National Alliance of Peoples Movements
Chemical Mazdoor Sabha, Haji Habib Bldg, Naigaon Cross Road, Dadar(E),
Mumbai -400014
Email: sansahil@vsnl.net, http://www.andolan.org
PRESS RELEASE/ March 16, 2003
DESH BACHAO DESH BANAO ABHIYAN CONDEMNS AYODHYA EXCAVATION AND
COMMUNAL TENSION IN BHILWARA
Ajmer: March 15, 2003: The Desh Bachao Desh Banao Abhiyan strongly condemns
excavation being carried out at Ayodhya with the ulterior motive of
recharging communalist fervour. We whole heartedly support the local
residents of Ayodhya and their leaders who have come out strongly against
this dangerous political game. We are with the Magsaysay award winner Sande=
ep
Pandey who had launched a week long fast at Ayodhya against the excavation
activity.
The Abhiyan also condemns the communal violence at Bhilwara on the day of
Muharram and calls upon the residents of Bhilwara to keep away from the
communal hatred which is instigated by vested interests and anti-social
elements. We appeal to them to maintain unity and harmony following the
great traditions of religious harmony of Rajasthan.
In Rajasthan, the Abhiyan has already raised various issues concerning
survival of people and environment at Udaipur, Rajsamand, Bhim and Javaja.
Today the Abhiyan has reached Ajmer and joined a rally against
globalisation, communalism and anti-people policies of the State
government. The Abhiyan will campaign at Udaipur, Bhim, Ajmer and Bhikhamba
along with the people's movements struggling to introduce just development
and political alternatives on issues of tribal rights over resources,
displacement, mining problems, drought, casteism and communalism.
The Abhiyan is a process of struggle and search for alternative political
strategies to save the country from the clutches of destructive
globalisation and anti-people communalism. The Abhiyan asserts the rights
of people over resources, biodiversity and cultural diversity as an answer
to the challenges of globalisation and communalism which aim at
extermination of all kind of diversities of human life and survival.
The Abhiyan was inaugurated by freedom fighter Siddharaj Dhadda at
Plachimada, on January 26th, where the people's struggle against the MNC,
Hindustan CocaCola Beverages Ltd, is going on during the last 12
months. Dhadda announced his decision to reject the Padma Bhushan offered
to him by the Government of India because he felt that the present
government is going against the people and the spirit of freedom. The
Abhiyan will be concluded in Ayodhya on March 30 with a call for peace and
a national movement to save the country from destructive development and
religious monoculture, and move forward to build the country with an
alternative, people-centered vision on
nature, culture, economy and politics.
The Abhiyan covers 19 states and already campaigned in Kerala, Tamil Nadu,
Karnataka, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh,
Orissa, West Bengal, Assam. Jharkhand, Bihar and Gujarat, linking up the
manifold people's struggles and their attempts to evolve alternative
politico-economic processes and strategies to counter globalisation and
communalism.
Medha Patkar National Coordinator
Aruna Roy MKSS
D.L.Tripati PUCL, Ajmer
Savai Singh Convenor- Rajasthan DBDB Abhiyan
Latheef Kizhisseri - Media Coordinator
______
#5.
dear friend,
Mr Sandeep Pandey has been arrested with his three supporters(Badal
Achari, Rangesh Achari &Gaurav Tiwari alias Beeru) who were on
fast(Upwas) for seven days for bringing religious harmony and peace
in Ayodhaya,and to highlight the three issues such as 1-Ayodhya
should be freed from communal forces2-against penetration of MNCs 3-
america must give up his adament attitude for attack on Iraq.
He was arrested on 15.3.2003 evening.Mr. Panday expressed his grief
during disscussios held in Faizabad Jail on the following points.
1-what message India is going to give abroad on the Indian Ideology
i.e.reiteratingg on nuclear disarrmament, relegious peace and
harmony by arresting him? will it not shatter/tarnish the Image Of
Indian Ideology?
We request your goodself to please hilight this draconion move of
Govt.through Your all available sources like media ,internate ,e mail
letters &telephone nos so that the pressure can ber mounted on India
Govt. for release of all the four arrested stalwarts to safeguard the
Insdian Peace. we may not forgetr that justice delayed is justice
denied.
for evidencial proof please contact on 9415022772
your co-operation and help in this critical juncture is highly appreciable.
with best wishes .
SD Pathak
o o o
Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2003 3:20 PM
Subject: Shame ! Shame ! ( Sandeep Pandey and others Arrested
in Ayodhya)
16-3-2003
In a most ludicrous swoop, the police in Ayodhya have arrested
Magsaysay Award holder - Sandeep Pandey , Badal and Ranga Acharya
( both Mahants) and Gaurav Tiwari. They started a seven day
fast in Ayodhya on the 15th of March, against the politisation
of the Ayodhya issue.
All were arrested on the same day under charges of "disturbing
communal harmony" !!!! It may be worth pointing out that the
persons who are demanding that the Jama Masjid be also dug up,
like the Babri Masjid, to find out whether it was built on top
of a temple , are left untouched.
Police being a party to such communal and political vested interests
are dangerous to the Nation and to Communal Harmony.This anomaly
must be stopped forthwith and a mockery of our Constitution and
the justice system should be avoided in the future.
P. Jehangir
for Narmada Bachao Andolan and National Alliance of People's
Movements
______
#6.
Outlook Magazine | Mar 24, 2003
EXCAVATION
The Third Wave
A composite past adds to a complex present
RANJIT BHUSHAN
http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=3D20030324&fname=3DAyodhya+%28F=
%29&sid=3D2
______
#7.
The Indian Express, Monday, March 17, 2003
Latest from Joshi lab: Moral grooming
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=3D20339
______
#8.
http://www.thehindu.com/2003/03/17/stories/2003031705120400.htm
The Hindu, Mar 17, 2003
Mayor's move on RSS Shakhas hailed
By Lalit K. Jha
NEW DELHI MARCH 16. The daring announcement of the Mayor, Jaishree
Panwar, last week that Shakhas of the Rashtriya Swyamsevak Sangh
would not be permitted in the municipal parks has elevated her public
stature among the minorities and women in particular.
Ms. Panwar, who had made an announcement in this regard last week
after her visit to parks in North-West Delhi wherein people alleged
that women, children and minorities were afraid of going to parks
where Shakhas were held, has been receiving large number of
congratulatory calls not only from Delhiites, but also from people in
various parts of the country.
``Such a step should have been taken much earlier. People in
particular women, are afraid of visiting parks where RSS Shakhas are
held because of the "lathi'' wielding swyamsevaks,'' is the general
comment made by the public. "You have done a commendable job in
taking such a decision. It is the right time that fascists forces are
shown the door and they are not allowed to use public space for
furthering their communal agenda and spread venom in a society,'' was
one of the fax messages received by the Mayor from Gujarat.
At the same time, majority of the Congress Councillors have urged Ms.
Panwar to ensure that her announcement was enforced at the earliest
and a direction in this regard was issued to the Municipal
Commissioner, Rakesh Mehta.
Some prominent Councillors include Pratap Narain, Sumiti Maggo,
Rajendri Sehrawat, Razia Sultana, Memwati Barwala, Nathu Ram Nagar,
Bhagvir, Zameer Ahmed Munna, Shanti Yadav, Hiren Tokas and Savitri
Sharma. "We are not against physical exercises, but against the venom
which they spread for dividing society on communal lines,'' a
Councillors said.
They have now dug up a 1983 resolution passed by MCD House that RSS
Shakhas be banned from parks. The House then dominated by the
Congress was chaired by the Deputy Mayor, J.P.Aggarwal, who is now
vice-president of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee.
Several senior Congress leaders have also patted the Mayor on the
back for taking the daring decision and upholding secular tradition
of the Congress. It is understood that several Congress Working
Committee (CWC) members and number of Ministers from the party-ruled
States Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh have personally called up Ms.
Panwar and congratulated her for taking up the RSS.
On the other hand, a section of the Congress MCD leadership, is in
favour of diluting the issue and insist that it should not be pursued
with as this would polarise the people of the Capital on communal
lines in an election year, which might mar chances of the party in
the Assembly polls. It is this section of the party who are keeping
quite and urging the Mayor not to pursue with her decision.
The Mayor on her part insists that her decision was based on the
large interest of society, in particular the children and womenz who
feel afraid of visiting such parks, children are indoctrinated to
divide society on communal line. I have been receiving a large number
of complaints from women and parents in this regard. Moreover crores
are spend on municipal parks for the recreation of the people and it
could not be permitted to be used for any other purpose,'' Ms. Panwar
said.
_____
#9.
HINDUTVA'S AT WORK:
The Indian Express, March 18, 2003
Don't dare deter us: Parivar chorus loud, clear
RSS tells states to avoid tension; BJP, VHP lecture on fundamental rights
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=3D20395
o o o
The Telegraph, March 18, 2003
VHP arrest in Andhra splits allies
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1030318/asp/nation/story_1779446.asp
o o o
The Hindustan Times, March 18, 2003
Saffron fury on Andhra Bhawan
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/printedition/180303/detNAT02.shtml
o o o
The Telegraph, March 18, 2003
VHP now claims Jama Masjid
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1030318/asp/nation/story_1779404.asp
_____
#10.
Dear friends,
This is a copy of the letter which was sent to the Banaskantha Dalit
Sangathan (BDS), which works among the Dalits and other marginalized
communities of the area on issues of human rights violations and
social injustice prevalent in the area. BSC has been associated with
it for the last 3 years.
The letter reached the Palanpur office of BDS on the very next day of
a major public hearing organized to probe into issues of
landlessness, atrocities and untouchability practiced against dalits.
The letter was sent in Gujarati and we have translated it in English.
Both are attached for your perusal.
Kindly forward the same to other people to highlight the venomous and
terrorizing tactics of the VHP (a member of the Sangh Parivar). The
derogatory language used against no less a personality than Dr.
Ambedkar and also all Dalits, speaks of their total disregard for all
norms of democratic governance and the decorumof the Constitution.
We urge you to take a serious view of this and look into the matter
at your end to stop such flagrant flouting of domocratic norms.
Yours Sincerely,
BSC Team
the translation of the letter as we cannot send you the original due
to technical difficulty.
THE SECOND OPEN LETTER OF TRUE RAM SEVAKS
(The second open letter of the true devotee of Lord Rama)
Let the Ambedkarite Harijans who oppose the Hidutva ideology
understand. We will not let them mix with even the soil of Hindustan;
today time is in our hands.
Hindutva is the ideology of true Hindus (and) it never accepts the
Harijans who are the off springs of the untouchable Ambedkar.
The Ambedkarite Harijans, Bhangis, tribals and the untouchable Shudra
castes who believe in (respect) Ambedkar do not have any right to
give speeches or criticise the Hindutva ideology in Hindustan,
because as a dog raises its leg and urinates when there is a pillar
or a hill in its way, in the same way whenever there is a question or
discussion related to the Hindutva ideology these Ambedkarites,
Harijans, Bhangis, Adivasis and other untouchable low castes sling
their dirt on the Hindutva ideology or show their own caste (their
low birth) by speaking abusively (about it).
Now Hindutva has become aware and it is time to teach these
Ambedkarites, untouchable Harijans a lesson. Not even the miyans
(Muslims) can come to their aid now.
Understanding the Hindutva ideology requires a large heart. What will
these untouchable Ambedkarites, who raise their leg and urinate,
understand of the Hindutva ideology?
The fact that the Honourable Narendra Modi has gained a large victory
in Gujarat has been because of the Hindutva ideology, not because of
the untouchable Harijans, (or because of) the Ambedkarite ideology.
Narendrabhai has gained victory single- handedly in Gujarat because
he explained the true ideology of Hindutva, what he will do for
Hindutva, in the ektayatra (unity march).
The true Hindu Sangh sevaks, the true Hindu soldiers of Bajrang Dal
and Dr. Pravin Togadiaji of Vishwa Hindu Parishad also had a major
contribution in making the Honourable Narendra Modi win, the speeches
that they gave about the true Hindutva ideology were extremely
important and to the point and because of this Modibhai has
single-handedly gained victory in Gujarat.
Publisher: Vishwa Hindu Parishad, 11, Mahalaxmi Society, Paldi,
Karnavati-380 007
Printer: Allied Offset Printers (Guj.) Pvt. Ltd. Kalidas Mill
Compound, Gomtipur, Karnavati-380 021
_____
#11.
South Asia Citizens Web | 18 March 2003
http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex/2002/SecularEducationRes0303.html
o o o
List of Some Secular Education Material:
Ram Puniyani, EKTA, Committee for Communal Amity
We have been preparing the material and methods to communicate the secular
values to different sections of society. Also there is an attempt to
project the truth against the myths about minorities. In the process
following multi layered martial is now available. The following listing
and description goes from simple to more complex one.
1. India's Tryst with Pluralism, Harmony, Democracy
Pitched at most simple level, this booklet covers some of the myths and
also takes up freedom struggle, outlines the traditions of harmony and
amity between different communities, role of Kair, Nanak, Gandhi in
promoting communal amity. Also deflates the concept about temple breaking,
fights between Hindu Muslims etc.
Published by Voice of the Exploited (English) Gujarati being planned by
Bombay Sarvodaya Friendship Center.
Contribution Price-Rs. 5
(Suitable for Higher secondary students and Junior college. Also for
average reader)
2.A
Booklet "Communalism:What is False What is true
(Language English, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati are available. Attempts for
translation in other languages is going on)
The communal venom spread by communal outfits is one of the reasons due to
Which the atmosphere of hatred is created and the violence finds its
fertile ground. Since decades in a systematic fashion the myths are
manufactured, propagated and hatred against minorities is spread. This
hatred forms the base on which communal violence takes place strengthening
the communal politics. By now a "doctoring of mass consciousness has gone
very far. Any long term fight with communal
politics will need to answer these questions to the broad sections of
society.
This booklet deals with following myths
a. Muslims Kings destroyed Hindu temples to humiliate them
b. Islam spread in India on the strength of sword
c. Muslims and Hindu kings fought with each other on religious
grounds
d. Muslims marry four times and produce more children
e. Truth behind Partition Tragedy
f. Kashmir Imbroglio
g. Islam and terrorism
h. Striving for secular society
2.B
Communalism: What is False What is True? (Hindi)
Audio Cassette and CD
Theme as above (2A)
These cassette-CD are in Two volumes, in Hindi and cover the
Total Duration 140 Minutes, in two volumes- Part-I and II- Rs. 80.
(Suitable for Junior college level and also for an average reader)
3. Communal Politics- An Illustrated Primer
Available in English, Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati. Malayalam translation
under progress
Deals with the total spectrum of issues since the Babri demolition. Covers
an evaluation of Mumbai riots, India's Syncretic traditions, Rise and
growth of Communal politics, Myths of History, The nature of Hindutva
Politics, Hindutva and Exploited sections of Society.
Richly illustrated with Photographs, cartoons and visuals (Over 100
visuals).
English- Rs.150, Hindi Rs. 60, Guajrati Rs 40, Marathi Rs. 35.
(Suitable for Junior College and above. Also for average reader and
activists)
4. COMMUNAL POLITICS
=46acts versus Myths
CONTENTS : Preface / Introduction / Ancient India: Was It a Golden Period?
/
Medieval India: Dark Era or Foundations of Syncretism? / Gandhi and Godse:
Nationalism, Hindutva and the Freedom Struggle / The Partition: Who was
Responsible? / The Kashmir Imbroglio: How Green is the Valley? / The Babri
Masjid-Ram Janambhoomi Dispute: Abode of Ram or House of Allah? /
Minorities in
'Secular' India: Appeasement or Maltreatment? / Crime and (No) Punishment:
Communal Violence, Inquiry Commissions and Deliverance of Justice /
Spreading
the Word: Conversions and Anti-Christian Violence / Ram Rajya: Religious
Nationalism or Secular Democracy / Hindutva: Fanatical Faith or Political
Tool?
/ Unmaking the State: Rewriting the Constitution / God Willing: Genesis of
Terrorism, Motives of War and Islam / The Gujarat Experiment: Programmed
for
Pogrom / Epilogue / References / Index
2003 / 308 pages
Paper: Rs 295.00 (0-7619-9667-2)
(Deals with the total theme, graduate level Students, activists, scholars,
journalists)
5. Fascsim of Sangh Parivar
Deals with the concept of Fascism, India's Freedom Struggle and Rise of
Communal Politics, Role of Gandhi. Role oftHindu Mahasabha-RSS in Freedom
Struggle, Ideological base of Hindutva, Social base of Hindutva, Hindutva
and exploited sections of Society.
Pages 125, Rs. 50, Media House, 375-A, Pocket 2, Mayur Vihar, Phase I,
Delhi 110091
(Suitable for serious readers and activists)
6.The Other Cheek-Minorities Under Threat-
Collection of articles on the theme of communal politics-Democracy,
Gandhian values today, Gender, Caste and Communal Politics
Pages 206, Rs. 95
Media House Delhi
(Suitable for activists, higher level students and serious readers)
7. Secular Challenge to Communal Politics
Anthology on Communal Problem
Covers the selected articles of Romila Thapar, K.N.Panikkar, Asghar Ali
Engineer, Mushirul Hasan, Imtiaz Ahmad, Rustom Bharucha, Tanika Sarkar,
Ratna Kapoor, T. Jayaraman and Ram Puniyani
Published by Vikas Adhyan Kendra, D-1, Shivdham, 62 Link Road Malad (W)
Mumbai 400064
Contribution Rs. 100.
(Suitable for serious readers, students and activists)
Hindi
Jhoot Aur Sach
=46acts against Myths of Medieval History, Partition and Kashmir. Pages 76,
Rs. 20
(Translated by Agyatmitra)
Published by EKTA,
Marathi
1. Phadanichya Antarngat,
=46acts Against Myths of partition tragedy and Kashmir Imbroglio
Pages 60, Rs. 20, Published by EKTA
2. Dharmavadache Rajkaran- Marathi Translation of Communal Politics,
Published by Keshav Gore trust
(Both these Marathi translations by Pradeep Deshpande. Pages 130, Rs. 35
3.Hindutvavadache Rajkaran-(Marathi) Deals with Communal politics,
Minority Problem, Communal Violence, Babri Mosque-Temple dispute, Hindutva
Politics, Constitution review.
Pages 88, Rs. 30
These books can be obtained from the Publishers, from PPH, Fountain, Salim
Saboowala or the undersigned.
=46orthcoming
The Second Assasination of Gandhi
=46reedom Struggle and Indian Nationalism
English from Media House Delhi and Marathi from EKTA Mumbai
Deals with the concepts of nationalism, Rise of democratic nationalism and
the Communal Nationalism. Outlines the role of Hindutva votaries like
Savarkar and Vajpayee in Freedom struggle and then goes to explore the
reasons behind Gandhi'd murder by an RSS ex-Prachark and close associate
of Savarkar, Nathuram Godse. Has been edited by Prof. Richard Bonney of
Leicester Uni. (UK) and contains valuable documents related to Gandhi
murder.
Availability
1. Communal Politics-Facts versus Myths
Sage Publications India Pvt. Ltd
B- 42 Panchsheel Enclave
New Delhi 100017
2. Fascism of Sangh Parivar and The Other Cheek (Minorities under
Threat) from Media House Delhi (Address above)
3. Secular Challenge from Vikas Adhyan Kendra
4. All others from
Pradeep Deshpande
B-1, 252, Jeevdani Darshan
Arunodaya Nagar Mulund (W) Mumbai, 400081
<npdeshpande@vsnl.net>
ph.25928328
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