The twin menace of Communalism & Terrorism is getting deep into the minds of Indian youths. The print and electronics medias fuel negative feelings, e-mail campaigning's instigate delusive ideas which nurture the reactionary tendencies of these younger people.
IT industry which employs a considerable section of these youth from the middle & upper classes is now becoming susceptible for the spread of Communal and Fundamentalist ideas by the continuous involvement of Communal groups in various forms. RSS and its affiliates are in the forefront of this divisive campaigning and are organising themselves in the IT Sector. These targeted youth, though mostly apolitical and socially unaware are falling into the traps of these Communal and Fundamentalist forces that indirectly become very useful for the political progress of the latter whether in terms of Volunteering activities or in case of fund mobilisation. Chunk of other white collar professionals too are increasingly falling into this trap. The different NGO type of activities and charity activities being largely carried out by these forces are attracting more and more youth into their folds. This is causing the youth in the minority community also getting snared by the communal forces such as NDF and terror groups such as SIMI, Lashkar-E-Toiba, etc in search of security or retaliate against the open Terrorism done by the majority fanatics. The fanatics among the minority groups utilize these youth to fulfill their vested interests. Both the majority and minority terror groups hence nurture each other and require each other for their existence.
In such a situation it becomes imperative for the progressive individuals in IT Industry with Secular and Democratic values to create awareness against Communalism & Terrorism and to uphold the Secular Democratic traditions of our country and to maintain Unity & Fraternity. Bangalore, the IT hub of India has seen a rise of Communalism in the recent period especially after the BJP Government assumes power for the first time in Karnataka. The State government is using all its power to spread their hatred campaign and providing suitable environment for RSS and its affiliate organisations to proliferate and reach out to every sections of the society and instigate venom in the minds of the youth. This is helping their twin terror groups of the minority community to recruit more people showing these acts of violence and instigating hatred in the young minds. Now this is getting rapidly spreading into the IT professionals who are getting divided on these religious lines leading to a very dangerous situation.
We request all the Secular minded and Peace loving Indians to join the campaign against the spreading of Communalism and to create the awareness on Secular and Democratic values in the society. We also request all the youths to unite & create a strong and counter balance against global terrorist and imperialist leaders, the USA and Israel. We deem every religious fundamental organization which promote communalism and terrorism, either national or international, is equally danger for Indian society irrespective of their religious identity. Terrorism has no religion and no language and no nationality.
Quoting a poem originally from that by Pastor Martin Niemöller written against Fascism and adapted to the present situation in India
"They came first for the Communists,
And I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
And I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Muslims
And I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Muslim.
Then they came for the Christians,
And I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Christian.
Then they came for the Dalits,
And I didn't speak up because I was a Hindu.
Then they came for me,
And there was no one left to speak up ..."
LET US JOIN OUR HANDS TOGETHER TO FIGHT AGAINST COMMUNALISM & TERRORISM
Sounds like a good initiative with the best of intentions, but I have a serious concern here. It is sad and ironic that a blog which claims to be "secular" has an "adapted" poem containing the following lines:
ReplyDelete"Then they came for the Muslims
And I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Muslim.
Then they came for the Christians,
And I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Christian.
Then they came for the Dalits,
And I didn't speak up because I was a Hindu."
So, do you mean to say that no one ever came for the Hindus? How conveniently do we, the educated and the elite, forget the Islamic connection to the terrorist attacks that have become pretty much a bimonthly affair? The majority of the people who die therein are Hindus, by virtue of the sheer fact that the majority of Indians are Hindu. Yes, we must raise our voice against violence, whether it's from the RSS or against the Muslims. But, that doesn't change the fact that Islamic extremists have done immense damage the world over, and their bombs/bullets don't spare the Dalits or the poor. Rather than obsessing with the RSS/VHP, we should also observe that terror attacks in the Indian soil have not occurred (and can not occur) without local support - it's not just some Pakistani Muslims. Then, why is it that only the RSS and anti-Hindu stuff merits a mention in the blog? I strongly urge you to consider making the blog and the campaign balanced.
Also, there seems to little focus on countering terrorism, although it is part of the agenda. The most effective way to prevent the minorities being profiled is to prevent terrorism!
Cheers,
Pulkit
Coming to the point that you have mentioned, first of all the poem is based on the fascistic terror times of 30s pre- and during second world war. Those who were Chritians or so called Aryans stayed away for various reasons and one was that they were never included in the section of people getting attacked. Now the quoting mentioned in the blog has been going around as mail forwward for some time. This we felt very accurate for the existing scenraio in India.
ReplyDeleteNobody rasied even half the voice from the majority community who like to be identified as Hindus when others were being targeted by these chauvinist forces but only when the terrorist activities by certain people of minority started to increase their voice started to raise in such a bigger way. As you said most of those killed in the so called terrorist activties were Hindus for the fact that majoirtyof Indians are Hindus. Mumbai which had witnessed communal riots, regional violence by Shiva Sena and presently by Navnirman Sena, where were the responsible citizens? Were they afraid because these were open forms of terrorism or they were not included in any of these groups? Only now after Mumbai terror incident they come out in huge numbers with abuses on all politicians, is it because those who are doing terror is not coming openly ?????? Hence those who were keeping quiete during all sorts of other violence which are infact open terrorism should realise that those doing violence have no religion (because no religion says the use of violence for any purpose) and their vested interests would come as attack against those who keep quite now also. At this position there would be nobody to protect them.
In India history says how these terrorist activties started to occur and communal violence existed from a scenraio where Hindus & Muslims together revolted against British in 1857. History very well gives the fact in the entre world which community (if we have to talk on the basis of identifying the groups doing terrorism in religion basis) started all the crusade. Aren't there no other terrorist groups or we excluded all those from terrorist groups of the world from this group and started identifying only those who are Islam? In India what about the other groups which existed like ULFA, LTTE etc ? Why we are conveniently foregtting this?
Another thing is the difference in perspective which both of us are having. While you tend to look at people in terms of religion, I tend to look at them as humans. While you consider Sang Parivar as those representing Hindus, I never consider them as ever representing the Hindus (because Hinduism never says to exert violence on innnocent people and their interest is well known whom they want to safeguard). First of all they are not even able to do anything for the millions of suffering and poor hindus or rasing voice to raise their living standards, then how can be seen as representing Hindus?
Also Karnataka which has a very secular history and people living in communal harmony was dsirupted in various parts by the very groups of Sang Parivar and the increase in Communalising of yound people showing terrorism as sudden attack on innocent Hindus thus instigating a divide and communal thoughts among Hindus especially after coming to power in Karnataka needs to be mentioned as the fight against both Communalism & Terrorism should not be done by searching for solutions in dark but focussing on the realities.
Pulkit, please say whether you still amidst these realities find it appropriate to go away from the reality mkentioned in the blog? I just mentioned my thoughts which might have some shortcomings and hope we can have good discussion and correct the blog or the idea if it really needs to be corrected and undermining realities.
Nidhin
> Coming to the point that you have mentioned, first of all the poem is based
ReplyDelete> on the fascistic terror times of 30s pre- and during second world war. Those
> who were Chritians or so called Aryans stayed away for various reasons and
> one was that they were never included in the section of people getting
> attacked. Now the quoting mentioned in the blog has been going around as
> mail forwward for some time. This we felt very accurate for the existing
> scenraio in India.
I don't concur. Such writings are only gonna provoke more outrage from
the Hindus. The truth of the matter is, as I clearly mentioned before,
that despite being in the majority, Hindus are being bombed off every
other month. Imagine what would happen if they were a minority. You
may be aware that Hindus in Pakistan have little or no voice.
> Nobody rasied even half the voice from the majority community who like to be
> identified as Hindus when others were being targeted by these chauvinist
> forces but only when the terrorist activities by certain people of minority
> started to increase their voice started to raise in such a bigger way. As
> you said most of those killed in the so called terrorist activties were
> Hindus for the fact that majoirtyof Indians are Hindus. Mumbai which had
> witnessed communal riots, regional violence by Shiva Sena and presently by
> Navnirman Sena, where were the responsible citizens? Were they afraid
> because these were open forms of terrorism or they were not included in any
> of these groups? Only now after Mumbai terror incident they come out in huge
> numbers with abuses on all politicians, is it because those who are doing
> terror is not coming openly ?????? Hence those who were keeping quiete
> during all sorts of other violence which are infact open terrorism should
> realise that those doing violence have no religion (because no religion says
> the use of violence for any purpose) and their vested interests would come
> as attack against those who keep quite now also. At this position there
> would be nobody to protect them.
> In India history says how these terrorist activties started to occur and
> communal violence existed from a scenraio where Hindus & Muslims together
> revolted against British in 1857. History very well gives the fact in the
> entre world which community (if we have to talk on the basis of identifying
> the groups doing terrorism in religion basis) started all the crusade.
> Aren't there no other terrorist groups or we excluded all those from
> terrorist groups of the world from this group and started identifying only
> those who are Islam? In India what about the other groups which existed like
> ULFA, LTTE etc ? Why we are conveniently foregtting this?
Who is against being opposed to MNS kinda things? Yet, I would venture
an explanation as to how Islamic terror is perceived (and rightly so)
as a bigger threat than the other types you have mentioned. The first
point you seem to be missing is that being beaten up (as in MNS) and
being brutally killed are two very different propositions. Moreover,
MNS, Maoism, ULFA etc. are in no way as spatially widespread across
the country as the Islamic terror which has gripped every urban (even
semi-urban) region of the country. People fear coming out of their
homes. If you like dramatic portrayals, it''s like stepping into a
territory full of land mines. Btw, to your other point, an enemy that
fires secretly is naturally more dangerous and feared.
> Another thing is the difference in perspective which both of us are having.
> While you tend to look at people in terms of religion, I tend to look at
> them as humans.
I think you don't know me at all to be able to pass such judgments. I have a cook that is a Muslim, whom I and my wife have been helping out, at times by visiting her hut. So, don't be in such a rush to stereotype people.
> While you consider Sang Parivar as those representing
> Hindus, I never consider them as ever representing the Hindus (because
> Hinduism never says to exert violence on innnocent people and their interest
> is well known whom they want to safeguard). First of all they are not even
> able to do anything for the millions of suffering and poor hindus or rasing
> voice to raise their living standards, then how can be seen as representing
> Hindus?
Again, when did I ever say/imply that the RSS (or any damn group for that matter) represents the Hindus? For me, I have an identity that doesn't need a religious backing. But unlike some of you (apparently), I ain't anti-Hindu either.
> Also Karnataka which has a very secular history and people living in
> communal harmony was dsirupted in various parts by the very groups of Sang
> Parivar and the increase in Communalising of yound people showing terrorism
> as sudden attack on innocent Hindus thus instigating a divide and communal
> thoughts among Hindus especially after coming to power in Karnataka needs to
> be mentioned as the fight against both Communalism & Terrorism should not be
> done by searching for solutions in dark but focussing on the realities.
Surely, what's happening around here - the Church attacks, the 'moral' policing - does boil my blood. I am with you on that. But, I
vehemently oppose your soft stance on Islamic terror and the anti-Hindu outlook. Unless that is corrected, calling this initiative secular is a bit of hypocrisy.
> Pulkit, please say whether you still amidst these realities find it
> appropriate to go away from the reality mkentioned in the blog? I just
> mentioned my thoughts which might have some shortcomings and hope we cna
> have good discussion and correct the blog or the idea if it really needs to
> be corrected and undermining realities.
Islamic bombings are a massive part of the "reality" you seem to referring to time and again. Why not stop blindfolding yourself from
that and edit the "adapted" poem?
"I don't concur. Such writings are only gonna provoke more outrage from
ReplyDeletethe Hindus. The truth of the matter is, as I clearly mentioned before,
that despite being in the majority, Hindus are being bombed off every
other month. Imagine what would happen if they were a minority. You
may be aware that Hindus in Pakistan have little or no voice."
This is why I mentioned a difference in perspective, anyways I am sorry if I misunderstood you or if you I felt I tried to stereotype you. Again I am seeing this as humans getting killed or Indians getting killed. In every bombing many number of muslims are also getting killed, as you have mentioned for the fact that majority is Hindus in our population, anywhere a terrorist activity take place the people getting killed through bomb blasts or firing would be mostly Hindus. Are these terrorists particularly targeting Hindus when they keep bombs in open spaces? Yes obviously they are targeting Hindu community when they plant bombs in temples or other hindu sacred places. But even if you consider the number how many temples have been targeted when compared to the no:of churches targeted by Hindu fanatics? This is not a number game , this is case where humans are getting killed. Is there anything in your knowledge you feel written in Quran where it takes an approach to carry holy war as these terrorists say? After these terror attacks Islamic organizations have taken rally condemning these violent acts. How many such rally occurred when these communal riots occurred by Hindu religious groups? Now Hindus if Pakistan or Bangaldesh are facing the same terror situation by the Islamic fanatics of those countries. In both the case of India where Muslims & Christians are being targeted and in Pakistan and Bangladesh where Hindus & Christians are the case of open terror attacks by Majority fanatic groups against Minorities. The poem I reffered here would be changed in the context of Pakistan and Bangladesh accordingly because that is the reality. In future if certain elements of Hindu form terror groups in Pakistan or Bangaldesh, whom should be blamed, these people who are being carried to do these or the Islamic fanatics who started openly terrorizing minority Hindus ??
Why take religion in these cases? this case of Majority fanatics attacking minority people are taking place in different forms. For that matter LTTE was formed as a security for the minority Tamil population against the Majority Sinhalese. We condemn the LTTE terrorism but for that matter do we stop condemning the human rights violations and the insecurity or targeting of Tamil people? Whole of the eastern Europe have been torn apart and still being torn apart by ethnic strifes, the same case in Africa too. Everywhere the counter unsurgency or terror groups arise from the insecured minority groups. Even when Mujahideen was active which was the initial version of Al-Qaeda none of the people from India were involved except certain anti-social elements and those from Kashmir.
"Again, when did I ever say/imply that the RSS (or any damn group for
that matter) represents the Hindus? For me, I have an identity that
doesn't need a religious backing. But unlike some of you (apparently),
I ain't anti-Hindu either.
Islamic bombings are a massive part of the "reality" you seem to
referring to time and again. Why not stop blindfolding yourself from
that and edit the "adapted" poem?"
The historic perspective of the rise of so called Islamic terrorism in world and in India also needs to be considered if we have to talk more. It was US who is now leading the so called War against Terrorism and dictating terms even to a once sovereign country like India in terms of dealing with Terrorism. They propped up the Mujahideen group to fight against the Mohammad Najibullah Government in Afghanistan which was supported by USSR. US and other western countries continuously supported and funded the Mujahideen group for their own Political interests. It was from this Mujahideen where the later members of Al-Qaeda were recruited and which became known to the entire world for its horrific acts of violence and global face of terrorism. Without understanding the historic facts and coming up with interpretations based on only the present situation not only provides a distorted picture but also moving away from the root cause. In th dawn of the modern world it was the emperors of the Christian world who launched a massive crusade against Arabs which was vehemently supported and ordered to do so by Christian priests. In any of our History books though these are mentioned, is the term Christian terrorism come up? Anytime did we mention Colonism or Imperialism as any form of open Terrorism? To compare these open terrorisms or the covertly executed terrorism as which one is greater or smaller is futile for me, but the fact that more number of people are being killed or massacred or getting deprived of their belongings leaving with them many times with no option of either continue to live in humiliation and as slaves or join the terror groups inorder to retaliate or end one’s life is no way smaller than the covert modes of terrorism.
In India you could see when the so called “Islamic” terrorism started to occur. It was after the demolition of Babri Masjid such acts of violence by a certain radical groups of the minority section started to show up. It was after Gujarat riots where the entire world saw a state sponsored pogrom against muslims where members of govt, bureaucracy, police etc together with the large army of RSS/VHP together massacred muslims for avenging the death of “Godhra train torching”, large number of young people from India irrespective of their economic classes began to be recruited into the terror groups. Many of these young guys couldn’t stand the intensity of barbaric acts of violence done against women, children etc and found totally insecured in such a situation. Since the secular forces were weak and the so called secular Congress didn’t effectively take up the fight against this Communalism, more and more of these young people started to join the terror groups – those who thought their community is targeted, those who were helpless when their dear ones were brutally massacred, when even after long fight for justice, their justice were denied or delayed. Young people were organised by the vested interests of certain sections of the Islamic community because an effective was not carried against these openly terror groups who say they stand for “Hinduism” where as my knowledge permits there is nothing in either Hinduism or Islam or Chritianity, the religions ever mentions about exercising such Violent acts.
Again if you could go back towards history, how the Indians irrespective of Hindu or Muslim rose in unity against British under a Moghul emperor in 1857 and how that led to partition and huge massacres on both sides of hindus & muslims in 1947? Can we just have a mechanical thought and come up with solutions or search in darkness? How British later confessed the fact that had the revolt be more organised we would have run away, justifies their policy reforms like “Minto-Morley” where they introduced separate communal electorate for muslims with sole purpose of dividing the hindus and muslims. This was just one of the many startegies they unfolded for divide and rule. The vested interests of both upper class Hindus and Muslims found this the necessity of supporting this same policy to maintain their erstwhile hegemony which was getting drained away due to the unification of the people. Sang Parivar ideology from the Nasi ideology of Hitler was on this background where the Social Movements, coming together of different castes of people was causing a threat to the existing exploitative caste system and the losing of the hegemony of the upper classes, that they found the necessity of supporting the same policy and to use each such situation to create communal tensions which they upto a point successfully be part of the 1947 carnage and many times after that too. But their political position got strengthened only after years of toil of spreading communal tensions and divisive ideas. Mandal Commission, Shah Banu case, Ram temple etc were such instances ofr both the vested interest groups of both communities to divide the people. RSS played a big part in these situations to sow the seeds of Communalism with misinterpreted history among the entire Indians.
In Karnataka too which has a deeply secular traditions where more than anywhere else has a history of communal harmony among people had been continuously disrupted by the same RSS/VHP/Bajrang dal groups throught out the history creating division among people and created their own vote banks through such polarisation and dividing people like for eg: the Baba Budan Giri issue, cow slaughter issue etc. This has been increased very much after the coming of BJP government whereRSS/VHP/Bajrang Dal groups are having free run whether against Muslims or Christians and the poor people in both these religions are being directly and immediately targeted first.
Here the question is not at all regarding Hindus or Islams. Even as I mentioned RSS are certain Hindu fanatics whom they say represent Hindus but majority don’t say so. How am I being anti-Hindu when I am complying with the majority of Hindus of the country? Or is my fault unable to see things from an Hindu angle? . I was grown up seeing the other as a friend or enemy based on his nature to me and yes there was a perspective of Keralite. But now even that is gone as a grown up and living in an inclusive society seeing the real diverse India. I need to revolutionise my thoughts to start thinking myself as a Hindu or a Keralite or upper caste etc. to attain such a view of considering the persons in other Communities as “Other”. But considering from that perspective I can understand the acts by RSS/VHP/Bajrang Dal is not futile, since as a Hindu I want my country to be full of Hindus or like the regional chauvinists such as Shiva Sena, I want my state to be only Keralites etc. At such a perspective the historic realities which occurred were not at all acts of violence but a necessity of the situation of this transformation to “Hindustan” rather than Bharat. In such acts of violence opposite groups would retaliate which I have to be aware of and continuously oppose. But again in this perspective of a Hindu, due to my justification and support of RSS/VHP/Bajrang Dal, aren’t my own community members getting killed as acts of retaliation? Are my acts justifying anyway? Aren’t my acts making more innocent people from minority to join the vested interests of the minority groups? yeah, but for short term for my Political interest, may be I need the opposite terror groups because if only they exist , I can forward my political agenda of Hindustan and for that continuous attacks on minorities is necessary for more people to join them from minority community showing which I can polarise more people from my community. Should I try to solve the root cause and make people aware about these root causes or play around in the top without touching the deeper issues and searching in dark?
The mentioning of RSS/VHP was to mention the root cause giving rise to terrorism by certain fanatics of Islam. How is this being anti-hindu or how is this being hypocrisy? Or should I hide the reality and play around the bush, wouldn’t that be hypocrisy? In the blog it is clearly mentioning the fight against both Communalism & Terrorism – “We deem every religious fundamental organization which promote communalism and terrorism, either national or international, is equally danger for Indian society irrespective of their religious identity. Terrorism has no religion and no language and no nationality.”
Now you kindly mention what/how exactly the description needs to be updated? Certainly if it is sending wrong signals we would correct it, but as of now I am unable to find the wrong when reality is being mentioned.
The today’s Secular Kerala was once witness to intense communal riots and tensions. How it got transformed to a situation as we witness today? Was it by creating any identity or was it through promoting Communal harmony? Today Kerala also have certain youth involved in terror activties, if you again analyse the growth of RSS and its violent politics in Kerala contributed majorly for this. The violent politics and polarizing of young people of RSS couldn’t go beyond in Kerala inspite of having strongest organization in Kerala more than even in Gujarat is vindicated by the fact that not a single MLA or MP is elected for BJP. The communal harmony and tradition of secular ideas is why still inspote of certain people trying to instigate communal tensions, Kerala is very different from other states in terms of maintaining Communal harmony. This is just an example live which I had witnessed till my first 21 years.
My point of objection is that the blog must not imply that the only trouble makers are the RSS/VHP and the only sufferers have been non-Hindus. If you are hell bent on mentioning names, you must list Islamic terror groups as well - SIMI, LeT, IM, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Harkat-ul Mujahideen.
ReplyDeleteYou call the RSS and its affiliates "open terrorists". What about the public messages/emails from Islamic groups after virtually every attack? They basically say that unless the situation of Muslims improves, we will kill anyone and everyone in India. Why does this not send your tempers flying? Why does your campaign have nothing explicit and dedicated for the Muslim side of the coin?
You are planning some movie screenings soon, right? Will those movies also revolve around RSS/VHP only? I hope you don't include the Tehlaka footage and that sorta things. Else, that might be the making of a Muslim terrorist from the audience [No pun intended].
Aren't there any movies that uncover the likes of SIMI, IM and LeT? Is it because those groups are so barbaric that people don't even try to slip in, like that Tehlaka guy did to VHP?
The blog has been updated taking into considerations your suggestions too. Regarding when the temper of one flies more or less are out of context and immatured.
ReplyDeleteRegarding RSS being the root cause for the existing situation has been proved now and then , "Ram Ke Naam" is one of those which shows how the Babri Masjid issue has been fueled right from 1949 till its demolition. Then no so called terror activties took place for anybody's tempers to fly. In previous post I ahve mentioned for example the situation of Kerala where from intense communal riots, people today living in communal harmony.
Also regarding screening of activties of SIMI and other terror groups - I don;t think anybody is so insane to belive that these groups would take a video of them planning terror activties and placing bombs in open and then give to public for all to view. Sang Parivar groups are doing terrorism in open which is why documentaries with live videos of their activties are in plenty.
"Also regarding screening of activties of SIMI and other terror groups - I don;t think anybody is so insane to belive that these groups would take a video of them planning terror activties and placing bombs in open and then give to public for all to view."
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing a video on Youtube about a man talking about his experiences in a terrorist indoctrination camp, which he had run
away from mid way [Will share the link once I get hold of it again]. What Tahalka did to VHP can also be done to the Muslim groups? It's not "insane" to think of that; it's just common sense. You don't always get info from press releases, you have to dig it with whatever cues and witnesses available. Btw, have you even looked for such a movie (on Youtube or elsewhere)?
Please provide those videos too, we need to show them also to the youth who are being approached and mobilised by similar groups as SIMI in the name of seeking revenge and utilising them for their own hidden motives. Also as mentioned above we are not only looking to show Majoirty Communalism but also Minority Communalism but most of the so called videos are from the terror camps outside the country. Anyway kindly provide those.
ReplyDeleteYours is a good initiative. Came across in the pragoti group.
ReplyDeletehttp://thepinkchaddicampaign.blogspot.com/
http://www.pragoti.org/