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Arun Jaitly is easily the most erudite speaker BJP has. Here is the speech he made at Rajya Sabha yesterday during a debate on the ‘Leaked’ first subsequently ‘reluctantly tabled’ in Parliament. Courtesy this site.

As for my response, shall blog soon after. Enjoy this speech mean while.

PI.

Shri Arun Jaitly On Liberhan Commission Report on Dec. 9/2009 in Rajya Sabha.

The Justice Liberhan Commission of Inquiry has now admittedly proved to be an exercise in futility. The title suit with regard to the disputed structure is pending before the Allahabad High Court. The criminal trials with regard to the purported incidents of 6th December, 1992 are pending before the Special Judge, Lucknow and Faizabad. The civil trial will decide the title issues and the criminal trial will address the culpability, if any. The Liberhan Commission was appointed by a Government in panic. This report, as is apparent from the Action Taken Report, is unimplementable. Several questions arise in the context of this report.

1) Why did it take 17 years for a Commission of Inquiry to formulate its recommendations and findings? Did the retired judge use the opportunity of heading this Commission to perpetuate his self-employment?
2) The manner and the leak of the report is as dubious as the report itself. The Home Minister says solemnly before the House that he or his Ministry did not leak the report. As the only other copies of the report are available either with the Judge or with de-facto drafts person of the report, the source of the leak has to be investigated.
3) Is the Report, as is apparent from the ATR, an unimplementable document? An analysis of the ATR reveals that except for lauding the political opinion expressed by the judge and agreeing with him, the other recommendations only relate to a proposal to legislate the Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill, a subject over which the Central Government has no power to legislate or refer the matters to appropriate authorities like the UPSC, Election Commission and other statutory authorities.

Who has drafted the report ?

The report is hardly a document capable of being drafted by a retired High Court judge. The language is not judicial. The judge has unquestionably entered the political thicket. He has expressed an opinion on a variety of political subjects completely outside the Terms of Reference and outside the scope of a judicial training. The apprehension that the report is drafted by a person other than the judge himself is strengthened by the observation at page 999 where the judge thanks one Shri Harpreet Singh Giani and credits him in helping the judge in (a) analyzing the evidence (b) coming to conclusions (c) editing the report (d) adding and modifying the language (e) adding and modifying the ideas and (f) clearing the mess created by others.

Admittedly, it was Shri Giani who has analyzed the evidence, come to conclusions, edited the report, modified the language, added and modified the ideas. The judge seems only to have done the rest, if anything remained. The Liberhan – Giani report is the first Example of ‘Judgment Outsourcing’.

Does the report conclusively answer the key questions referred to the Commission ?

A Commission of Inquiry has to give a finding on basis of evidence. There has to be a link between the evidence produced and the conclusions reached. The learned judge admits in the report that there was no evidence of conspiracy or pre-planning lead by any party. (Refer page 15 para 7.4)

“No evidence was lead or information provided to the Commission with respect to the conspiracy or preplanning or the joint common enterprise, by any of these counsels”.

Page 775 para 130.5 –

“No documentary or direct evidence is possible in a conspiracy of this manner, nor unimpeachable and firm evidence of some action of planning of demolition available.”

Page 782 para 130.2

”Home Secretary, Godbole stated that there was no information of planning and as such it could not be inferred that there was a conspiracy of the Congress and BJP for demolition; this could not be accepted on the face of it particularly in the absence of any specific circumstances leading to such an inference.”

Page 992 para 178.34

“Neither the police nor the investigation team of the commission, despite the prolonged process, were able to identify any witness, nor produced any witness who could identify any of the demolishers, or lead any other evidence against suspects. Suspects were not even identified. Even after the unprecedented publicity throughout the long spell of inquiry nobody has come forward to advance the case or identify persons who physically carried out the demolition or the ones who plotted its demolition.”

Page 724 para 121.7

“In totality, it becomes obvious that some leaders were consciously kept out of the operational area or planning in order to protect them and preserve their secular credentials for later political use”.

After coming to this conclusion the judge fails to identify the leaders who were unaware of the design of the so-called planners. And still the judge goes on to blame the entire leadership of BJP and RSS for being aware and privy to the conspiracy.

At page 994 para 178.37 the Commission observes that “Important leaders of political parties, icons of movements, organizers of the movement continuously issued statements from time to time in relation to the conspiracy of demolition but no affidavit was filed before the Commission by them.”

In the White Paper published by the Govt. of India in 1993, which was placed before the Commission there was not even an averment of pre-planning or conspiracy involving senior leaders or organizations.

It is a settled law that the level of proof a Commission of Inquiry has to accept in fixing culpability has to be beyond reasonable doubt. In a case of no evidence, the Commission has come to the conclusion that the demolition was pre-planned and has named a large number of people, including those who were in no way connected with the incident of 6th December, 1992.

I am constrained to say that this Commission is a text book illustration of what a Commission should not be. A Junior judge of the Punjab & Haryana High Court is picked up to head the Commission. The only credentials of the judge at the time of his appointment was his proximity to the then Law Minister. It has frequently been said that there are two categories of judges – “those who know the law and those who know the Law Minister” This judge fell in the latter category. His knowledge of the Queen’s language was somewhat limited. He therefore needed the ghost writer to analyse the evidence, come to conclusions, modify the language and ideas. He used the 17 years tenure of the Commission to perpetuate an employment for himself. He probably wanted to use the conclusions and findings as an application for future employment. The report of the Commission would itself demonstrate that this truth investigator had turned into a political pundit.

Does this Report go beyond its terms and errs on basic facts?

The Liberhan Commission is a compilation of howlers and mistakes as is evident from the following :

1) Page 282 of the Report gives a compilation of 8 names of leaders of Ayodhya movement whom no role could be attributed to except participating in negotiations. The list includes two alleged supporters of the movement who are well known historians viz. Prof. R.S. Sharma and Prof. D. N. Jha. Both are Left leaning historians who presented the case of Babri Masjid Action Committee in the dialogue. The list of those who participated in the movement (P 270) includes Additional DGP Intelligence, Col. B.S. Zaidi (BMAC representative) Devraha Baba, Jagdambika Pal etc. Read the absurd list of Muslim Leaders on Page 279. This will only prove that the report suffers from factual hallucinations. The Commission also gets the date of Gandhiji’s assassination wrong (page 69). He even regards Veer Savarkar as the founder of the RSS and Dr. Hedgewar as his successor (page 562)

2) On page 566 the Commission in para 85.14 goes beyond the scope of inquiry and accuses – “Shri Din Dayal Upadhyay impliedly and by his conduct agreed with MA Jinnah’s theory that Hindus and Muslims were two separate nations”. He then quotes from Deen Dayal Upadhyay to the effect that “Muslims are not a minority community; they are a nation. They must have their independent land and their own State.” He therefore compares the BJP philosophy to that of Mr. Jinnah. This subject matter was privately obtained by the Commission. The fundamental mistake he made was that the entire paragraph was never said by Shri Deen Dayal Upadhyay. This is a quote from M.A. Jinnah which he puts in the mouth of Deen Dayal Upadhyay and then compares his philosophy with that of Jinnah. This is precisely what happens to a judge with no understanding of politics who tries to don the role of a political pundit.

3) The judge has a strong bias on certain issues. On page 556 he indicts political leadership for greed. “for their individual aggrandizement through repression, misguidance, acquiring power through mass means and improper reliance on philosophies such as Hindutva, Mandal, son of soil etc.”

4) The bias of the judge is further apparent in his recommendations where on page 970 para 173.8 and 173.9 he calls for a review of the recruitment procedure of the bureaucracy. He wants only excellence in certain areas to be a criteria for recruitment. He wants the postings to be done only on merit and not on casteist or regional basis. Who authorized this judge to carry on a tirade against social justice and Mandal Commission which has been unanimously accepted in this country? The Government has done a dis-service to this nation by mentioning in its ATR that the UPSC is examining changes in the recruitment process of officers and this recommendation was also communicated to the UPSC.

5) The Commission uses the report to indict the entire leadership of this country. –

Pg 540 paras 79.3, 79.4 and para 79.5

“The loss of political neutrality and the convenience with which justification can be found for every action has rendered all objectives of peaceful civilized society as enunciated by intellectuals, leaders, philosophers, thinkers since ancient times, obliterated…..

The law – common or constitutional, morals, ethics, epics and everything else is being examined in the scales of politically desirable results. It is immaterial whether those results are legitimate or healthy for democratic governance. Every one is out to become politician rather than a statesman.

The politician has become the epitome of the proverbial rags-to-riches story.

The common Indian has formed the firm belief already that the ills that face us can be traced to the political leadership and can be cured by a voluntary reform in the political parties and their leadership itself.”

On Gulzari Lal Nanda and Devraha Baba

The judge chooses to condemn whoever he desires to and that too without evidence. There is no mention of the former Prime Minister, Shri Gulzari Lal Nanda in evidence. Yet the judge choses to refer to him by saying –“Prof. Rajinder Singh, RSS leader, Dau Dayal Khanna, Gulzari Lal Nanda, the die-hard Hindus, in connivance with people with similar thoughts, started conceiving and exploiting the local dispute at a national level, may be for their selfish political needs or for achieving their old theory of Hindu Rashtra.” (Page 336) The Commission has no concern for truth. He is willing to go by giving irresponsible statements. On page 427 para 69.22 he says “open threats by exhorting the dacoits to take to arms for Ram temple were made by Ashok Singhal, Devrah Baba, Harish bhai etc.” The Judge fixes responsibility on Devrah baba for leading the country to communal discord on page 958and 959. This is notwithstanding the fact that Devrah Baba, a highly revered person had died in the year 1990, much prior to the alleged incident.

The report makes an interesting fairy tale. The Commission indicts the District Judge of Faizbad for directing the opening of the locks of the disputed site in 1986 (page 87). The Commission is convinced that the judge was inspired by a monkey to pass the judicial order since the monkey always accompanied Mr. Pandey, the District Judge of Faizabad.

The Evidence against Mr. L.K. Advani

The key question was that whether Mr. L.K. Advani and other senior BJP leaders made repeated requests to a small section of Kar Sewaks who had climbed up to the disputed structures, not to demolish it and come down. The Commission considers these appeals made by Shri L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Ashok Singhal, Vijay Raje Scindia HV Sheshadari etc. (page 255) as having been made either in earnest or for media’s benefit. The Commission contrives a curious logic that an appeal was made to the kar sewaks to come down from the domes but no appeal was made not to enter the Garb Grih. Therefore the hidden intention was to demolish the structure. The judge conveniently forgets the evidence given to the CBI in relation to the charge sheet by a lady IPS officer deputed as Mr. L.K. Advani’s PSO that he requested Uma Bharati to go to the structure to persuade the kar sewaks to come down. In fact Shri Advani insisted on going himself but could not go because the security officers including the PSO refused to take him there in order to avoid a possible conflict with the kar sewaks who had climbed on to the dome. Voluminous evidence of witnesses who have testified to the same effect of the appeals of senior leaders has been completely ignored by the Commission. While ignoring this evidence of the Lady Officer on page 507 with regard to another questions he says – “There is no reason to disbelieve her on these facts since as the security officer attached to LK Advani she had unrestricted access to all the happenings…..”

Did the Commission have a bias against the temple being built at the Ram Janamasthan ?

The Commission at page 23 of the report accepts Ayodhya as the birth place of the Hindu god Ram and therefore a holy city. He accepts at page 63 that – “yet namaz was not offered at the disputed structure since 1934”. He does not contest the finding of 1885 by a British judge FEA Chalmers in a civil appeal “It is most unfortunate that a masjid should have been built on a land sacredly held by hindus and as that occurred 356 years ago it is too late to remedy the grievance. (Page 97) “The judge accepts on page 561 that “the history books produced before Commission as well as the White Paper issued by the Govt.of India and BJP and also contentions by various counsels are unanimous that in 1528, the Emperor Babar ordered Mir Baqi, his Commander to erect a mosque at Ayodhya.” And yet his bias is apparent at page 547 where he says – “The demand for construction of the temple deprived the Hindu religion of its secular, multi-religious and multicultural credentials of the well reputed Hindu philosophy and the thoughts generally prevalent.” The judge ostensibly makes this entire narration of circumstances as leading up to 6th December, 1992. If admittedly Ayodhya is perceived to be the birth place of Lord Ram, if Mir Baqi converted the temple into a mosque, if for over 500 years a struggle for a temple was on, how could the demand for restoration of temple be anti- secular and the demand for maintaining forcible occupation of a mosque be secular. It is precisely this perversion in the concept of secularism that the Ayodhya movement was aimed at exposing. The truth investigator turned political pundit suffered from the same perversion.

Malafide error relating to Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee

The Commission was more loyal than the king. The Commission has committed a fundamental error in relation to its finding with regard to Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Little did the Commission realize that Shri Vajpayee is a tall national leader of proven credibility. The Commission of Inquiry Act in section 8B clearly mentions that if the Commission is of the opinion that the conduct of a person is required to be inquired into or that his reputation is likely to be affected, the Commission shall give to that person a reasonable opportunity of being heard.

The Commission on page 958 gives a list of persons including Shri Vajpayee and Shri Devrah Baba who are culpable for creating communal discord. There are at least 30 people out of 68 to whom admittedly no notice was given under section 8B. While the Commission on page 942 states that leaders like LK Advani, Shri A.B. Vajpayee and Shri Murli Manohar Joshi would have known the designs of the Sangh parivar, they are pseudo moderates. Obviously in trying to indict Mr. Vajpayee the Commission went for an overkill little realizing that Mr. Vajpayee had a high credibility. In that process the Commission shot itself in the foot and hurt its own credibility. Was it any part of the Commission’s job to find a political response to the BJP’s use of Phrase ‘pseudo Secular’? It is not only in Shri Vajpayee’s case, the commission has chosen to indict several leaders including many of the Muslim community without issuing a Section 8B notice to them. The report in so far as it hurts reputation of people without a Section 8B Notice is non-est.

On the Role of Central Govt.

The Commission was obviously kind to its appointing authority. The burden of its argument is that since the central government did not receive a report from the Governor whose judgement was badly flawed, the Central government was helpless in the matter of invoking Article 356. The Commission did not issue a notice to the Governor. It indicts the Governor but without a notice under section 8B. Shri PV Narasimha Rao authored a book titled ‘Ayodhya 6th December, 1992.’ The book has been published after his demise. At page 170 of the book, Shri Narasimha Rao reproduced the letter/report of the Governor wherein he categorically stated that ‘the possibility of demolition of the structure could not be ruled out.’ Obviously, the Commission wanted to be more charitable to his appointing authority, Shri Narasimha Rao. He even concealed the existence of a report. Even otherwise the argument of the Commission that the existence of a report was a condition precedent for invoking Article 356 by the Central Government is specious. The Commission completely ignored the words “or otherwise” in Article 356.

Strictures against Constitutional authorities

The Judge presiding over Commission is a bitter man. He was extremely keen to be elevated to the Supreme Court. Despite his keenness, members of the Supreme Court collegium did not consider it appropriate to recommend his name. This was his last opportunity to get back at the Supreme Court. He departs from the principle of inter institutional courtesy and indicts the Governor of UP, High Court of UP, an observer of Supreme Court and even the Supreme Court itself. At page 935 the Commission opines –

“For instance, the intransigent stance of the High Court of Uttar Pradesh, the obdurate attitude of the Governor, the inexplicable irresponsibility of the Supreme Court’s observer and the short-sightedness of the Supreme Court itself are fascinating and complex stories, the depths of which I must not plumb.”

The Commission is unaware of the basic courtesies and constitutional restraints imposed upon senior constitutional functionaries. The Commission ignores the requirement of section 8B and decides to indict superior constitutional authorities even without a notice.

Who were present on 6th December, 1992 ?

The Commission records the presence of every person in Ayodhya on 6.12.1992 (page 743). Prominent amongst those the Commission names who were admittedly not present. Balasaheb Thakre who was in Mumbai, Kalyan Singh, Chief Minister, UP who was in Lucnow, Rajinder Gupta, Uma Nath Singh,Lalji Tandon, Brahm Dutt Dwivedi ministers in UP Govt. who were in Lucknow, Kusha bhau Thakre, S.S. Bhandari, Sikander Bakht who were in Delhi and Shri Prabhat Kumar Chief Secretary UP who was in Lucknow. Where did the Commission get all this erroneous facts from. The Commission never bagged this factual narration and conclusions on any evidence but got it from some extraneous source.

How the Commission and the Government procured evidence ?

There is a Central government witness – a journalist named Raman Kirpal. He had purportedly deposed before the Commission and the Commission has relied on his affidavit and evidence. In 29 November, 2009 issue of the weekly magazine ‘OPEN’ Raman Kirpal has written an article titled “My Crippled Testimony”. Shri KIrpal’s article amongst others states “ The CBI officials gave me a date for deposition in New Delhi. I reached there right on time. They showed me an affidavit and asked me to sign……… During the cross examination I was asked to reply in “Yes’ or ‘no’. The format was so tight you could not explain anything. For instance, I was asked whether BJP ‘s LK Advani gave any speech at the dias asking the Kar Sewaks to demolish. I said ‘no’ but………. The lawyer interrogating me immediately shut me up… just reply in ‘yes’ or ‘no’ he said………… The tight format of the cross examination and my status as CGW 24 undermined several things which should have put the Central government of PV Narasimha Rao in a spot….. What surprises me that the Commission rescues the Central Government in its conclusions it says “The Central Government was crippled by the failure of intelligence agencies to provide an analysis of the situation. …..

This is my truth as a reporter. My affidavit as CGW 24 still stands but it is a crippled truth. There was much more that I could have wanted to say……..”. Did this Commission function as a Kangaroo court?

Recommendations of the Commission on subjects beyond its jurisdiction.

(a) The Commission has recommended (page 966) that “the next logical conclusion must therefore be that the government which is formed on the premise of religion or has religion on its agenda can be barred.” This is not constitutionally permissible. This is a new jurisprudence espoused by the Commission. How can a government be barred?

(b) The Commission has recommended that there must be a body constituted to look into the working of the Constitution. Perhaps the Commission was blissfully unaware of the fact that the Committee headed by Justice Venkatchaliah has already given a detailed report to the Government. The Commission at page 970 recommends a review of the Recruitment policy of the government into the civil service. He wants merit alone to be the criteria and not a caste or regional basis. Read in the context of the Commission’s earlier recommendation on Mandal Commission it is clear that the Commission suffers from caste bias. The Commission has recommended (page 971) that civil servants should be barred from holding office of profit after retirement. It is indeed a paradoxical recommendation from a judge who retired long ago and has enjoyed 48 extensions recommends no retired civil servant should be given any post retirement assignment. The Commission has gone into the question of Centre State relations (page 976) AND RECOMMENDED THAT NO State government can claim that it acts only for the persons or people within the boundary of the State and discriminate against others. While not disagreeing with the Commission on this, the question was not within the jurisdiction of the Commission. Was he dealing with Ayodhya incident or going into larger issue – the question of Centre State relation. Similarly the Commission recommends (page 976) party affiliations must come to an end the moment a legislator is elected. The Commission now wants the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution prohibiting defections to be repealed. Was this within the terms of reference of the Commission?

(c) The Commission obviously dislikes the media. (page 980 ). The Commission recommends that there must be a permanent authority to hear complaints against “mischievous journalists”. He wants a licensing regime back not in the industry but for joining the profession of journalism.

(d) The Commission at page 979 states as under:-

“It is therefore my recommendation that a statutory national commission be composed of acknowledged experts to delve into the questions of the provenance of historical monuments, artifacts etc. and their determination should be deemed to be definitive and final.”

The word provenance means — “the history of the ownership of the object specially when demanded or authenticated”. The Oxford dictionary of difficult words defines provenance as a place of origin or the earliest known history of something. Let this test recommended by Justice Liberhan be applied to the disputed structure at Ayodhya where already a report of the ASI exists indicating the existence of a temple before 1528. The Government in its ATR has rightly said in para 6.6 that a special Commission is not required for the said purpose as the ASI is already undertaking this mandate. The Allahabad High Court had asked the ASI to examine the site and the recovered stones from the erstwhile structure and submit to the High Court its expert opinion. The ASI in the year 2003 submitted its report to the Allahabad High Court where it concludes on basis of entire evidence. “Now viewing in totality and taking into account the archaeological evidence of a massive structure just below he disputed structure and evidence of continuity in structural phases from the tenth century onwards upto the construction of the disputed structure along with the yield of stone and decorated bricks as well as mutilated sculpture of divine couple and carved architectural members including foliage patterns, amalaka, kapotapali doorjamb with semi-circular pilaster, broken octagonal shaft of black schist pillar, lotus moif, circular shrine having pranala (waterchute) in the north fifty pillar bases in association of the huge structure, are indicative of remains which are distinctive features found associated with the temples of north India.”

This report was preceded by a Ground penetrating Radar Survey (GPRS) which also came to same conclusions.
Did a temple exist at the site prior to 1528 ?

The Commission has categorically given an opinion that Ayodhya is perceived as the birth place of Lord Rama and that Mir Baqi constructed a mosque at the disputed site in 1528. The crucial question is what is the historical character of the site in question. Admittedly, the site has great religious and cultural significance to our civilization and nation. Overwhelming evidence exists about the existence of a temple at the birth place of Lord Rama at Ayodhya. This evidence is in the form of archaeological evidence, GPRS evidence and accounts of various travelers who contemporaneously wrote their accounts.

………. The universally revered Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev visited Ayodhya along with his associate ‘Mardana’. Contemporaneous Sikh literature finds a reference to the Guru’s communication to Mardana. Bhai Bala wali janam Sakhi also has a detailed reference to this visit. The visit took place between 1508 and 1510. The eighth successor of Guru Nanak Dev’s eldest son Lakhmi Chand Ji Baba Sukhi Ram Bedi in his works has referred to Guru Nanak Dev’s darshan of Ram Janamasthan.

The historical sketch of the Faizabad in Zila Faizabad refers to the existence of the Janamasthan at Ayodhya. It categorically records that at the janamasthan Emperor Babar built a mosque in 1528.

The Earlier Travels in India written by William Foster refers to Ayodhya where the ruins of Ram Chander acknowledged as an Indian God were found.

The Gazetteer of Awadh refers to the Janamasthan as the place where Ram Chander was born.

The Geography of Hindustan written by Father Jose Tieffn-Thacer Is still available in French. A copy of it was obtained from France and got translated into English under directions of the Court. The said travel refers to Ayodhya where a temple had been constructed on elevated bank of the river. It then refers to a debate as to whether it was demolished and converted into a mosque by Aurangzeb and then corrected to say that others believed that it was actually constructed by Babar.

There have been several struggles in the past 500 years for the restoration of the Janamasthan. The existence of a mosque built after desecration of the temple has never been accepted by the Hindus. The past 500 years have witnessed repeated struggles for rights of the Hindus at the Janamasthan.

In the later part of the 19th century the Nihangs had occupied the structure for a reasonable long period on the premise that Guru Nanak Dev had performed his worship at the site. In 1934 the Hindus were fined by the British Government for some damage caused to the structure during an agitation. There are judicial orders dating back to 1885 in relation to the legal and judicial dispute.

The principal question is – What was the original character of this structure? Unquestionably, the original character was a temple. It was no ordinary temple. It was a temple built at the place believed to be the Janamasthan of Lord Ram. No religious denomination can ever accept a conquest of such a sacred place. The historical, archaeological and GPRS evidence is entirely against the historical vandalism of 1528. The next 500 years have seen agitation for recapturing and litigation over the issue. Since 1934 no namaz has been performed and puja goes on regularly.

The ability of Indian society at dispute settlement is at stake. The judicial institutions have been unable to decide the issue for decades. The ideal dispute resolution is through negotiations.

A fair secular society requires equality of all. A secular order is not irreligious. It is not anti-religion. It is respect for all religions. Protection of legitimate rights of the minorities is unquestionably a test of a secular society. At the same time the majority cannot live for centuries with a feeling of reverse discrimination. The history of the past 500 years has shown that the majority has been denied its right to build a historical temple at its most revered place. The Home Minister has framed the wrong question that it is a choice between inclusiveness and divisiveness. Does your inclusiveness exclude the religious aspiration of the majority for the sake of vote bank politics. We reject your ‘Vote bank inclusiveness’ as we reject the LIberhan report. We stand for “Justice for all, with neither discrimination nor reverse discrimination”.

When the Government of India Act 1936 came into existence, India was whole and intact.

With the signing of the agreement between Nehru and Mountbatten, leading to independence, this was divided into three segments.

The west became Pakistan. It was immediately picked up by Americans and became their baby. Even today, it is given milk and baby food, by them.

The east is now Bangladesh. They go on producing babies for export to India, as there is nothing there; no food, no employment, no industry.

The middle is India, which had 600 states, free in terms of the agreement, but somehow coerced into India’s belly, causing stomach ache, even today, after sixty two years. You all know it is Kashmir.

If India was a truly democratic nation, my Cochin State would have flourished as corruption free, least taxed, tourist destination like Switzerland.

To mourn the death of the undivided India, let us march from the India Gate to the Red Fort, chanting Vande Mataram, every year on 15^th of August!

வந்தே மாதரம் – வரலாறுடன் சேர்ந்து வந்த இந்தப் பாடல், அவ்வப்போது விவாதத்துக்கு உள்ளாகி வந்துள்ளது.         

 இந்தப் பாடல் பாடுவது இசுலாமியர்களால் எதிர்க்கப் படுகிறது.

முன்பு  தேச பக்தி வியாபாரத்தை கன ஜோராக  செய்து வந்த காங்கிரசோ, வங்காளர் வாக்கு தேவைப் படும் நேரத்திலே இந்தப் பாடலில் தேச பக்தி உள்ளதாக புகழ்ந்தும்,  இசுலாமியர் வாக்கு தேவைப் படும் போது இந்தப் பாடல் விடயத்தில் அடக்கி வாசித்தும் வழக்கம் போல பம்மாத்து செய்து வருகிறது. 

பா. ச. கவும் மற்ற சங்க அமைப்புகளும் இந்தப் பாடலை பாட வேண்டும் என்று கூறுகின்றன.

மதவெறி  பாசிச சக்திகளை எதிர்ப்பதாக கூறிக்கொள்ளும் பொதுவுடைமை இயக்கங்களும் இந்தப் பாடல் இசுலாமியருக்கு எதிராக உள்ளதாக கூறி,  இந்தப் படலை எதிர்க்கின்றனர்.

 நமக்கோ எந்த கட்டாயமோ, நிர்ப்பந்தமோ இல்லாததால் எந்த வித சார்பும் இல்லாமல் இந்தப் பாடலை அணுகி    நம்மால் முயன்ற அளவு ஆய்வு செய்து நம் கருத்தை அளிக்கிறோம்.   

நாம் முக்கியமாக ஆராய்வது. 

1) பாடலின் பொருள் என்ன? 

2) பாடல் தேசத்தை நோக்கி பாடப்பட்டதா அல்லது இந்துக் கடவுள்களை நோக்கி பாடப்பட்டதா?

3) பாடலின் கருத்து இசுலாமியருக்கு எதிரானதா? பாடலில் இசுலாமியருக்கு எதிராக  கருத்துக்கள் கூறப் பட்டுள்ளதா?

4) பாடலில் இசுலாமிய சமுதாயத்துக்கு எதிரான தூண்டுதல் இருக்கிறதா? 

5) இந்தப் பாடல் பொதுப் பாடலாக பாடப் படுவது தடை செய்யப் பட வேண்டுமா? 

ஆகியவை பற்றி   

இந்த தளம் நம் எல்லோரின் தளம், உங்களின் கருத்துக்களை எடுத்து வையுங்கள்.

வந்தே  மாதரம் என்றால் தாயை  வணங்குகிறோம் என்ற பொருள் என்பது  எல்லோருக்கும் புரியும், ஆனால் தாயை என்று குறிப்பிடப் படுவது யாரை என்பது முக்கியமான கேள்வி.

பாடலின் முதல் செய்யுள்:

 ஆர்ப்பரிக்கும் நீரோடைகள், அழகிய   பழச் சோலைகள், தென்றல் காற்று  ஆகியவை உடையதாக உள்ள வனப்பு மிகுந்த தனது தாய் நாட்டை தாயாக எண்ணி ,அதனை வணங்குவதாக பொருள்.  

இரண்டாவது செய்யுளும் நிலவொளியில் பளிச்சிடும் மரங்களும் , ஓடைகளும், தனக்கு தாலாட்டுப் பாடுவதாக, தன்னை நோக்கி புன் முறுவல் பூப்பதாக  வர்ணித்து வணங்கி  இருக்கிறார்.

இப்படிப்பட்ட நாடு அடிமையாக இருப்பதை சுட்டிக் காட்டி அடிமை தளையில் இருந்து  விடுபட முழக்கம் செய்கிறார். எழுபது மில்லியன் கரங்கள் - ஏழு கோடி கரங்கள், இந்தக் கரங்கள் நாட்டின் புதல்வர்களின் கரங்கள், அப்போதைய வங்காள பகுதியின் மக்களின் கரங்கள் தங்களின் தாய் நாட்டை விடுதலை செய்ய தேவையான சக்தி உடையவை எனக் குறிப்பிடுகிறார்.

 அத்தகைய நாடே அதன் மக்களுக்கு அறிவை வழங்கி , உயிர் மூச்சாக இருந்து , சக்தியை அளித்து, மரணத்துக்கும் அஞ்சாத மன நிலையை அளிப்பதாக உறுதி கூறுகிறார். ஒவ்வொரு கோவிலிலும் மக்கள வணங்கும் தெய்வமாக இருப்பது தன்னுடைய தாய் நாடே எனக் கூறுகிறார்.

இன்னும் ஒரு படி மேலே போய் வங்காள மக்கள் வணங்கும் தெய்வங்களான துர்க்கை, லக்சுமி இப்படிப்பட்ட தெய்வங்களாக இருப்பது உண்மையில் அவர்களின் தாய் நாடே, சோலைகள்  நிறைந்தே, ஆர்ப்பரிக்கும் நீரோடைகள் நிறைந்த  தாய் நாடே மக்களால் தெய்வமாக வணங்கப்  படுவதாக கூறியிருப்பது தெளிவு. 

இந்த செய்யுளால் உண்மையில் அதிருப்தி அடைய வேண்டியது இந்துக்களே. ஏனெனில் தாய் நாட்டை இந்துக் கடவுள்களுக்கு இணை வைத்து இருக்கிறார் ஆசிரியர்.

இன்னும் சொல்லப் போனால் தாய் நாடுதான் கடவுள், தாய் நாட்டை தான் துர்க்கை லட்சுமியாக வணங்குவதாக கூறி, தன் தாய் நாட்டை இந்து கடவுள்களை விட ஒரு படி மேலே வைத்து இருக்கிறார்.

இப்படிப் பட்ட நிலையிலே இசுலாமியரிடம் இந்தப் பாடலின் பொருள் திரித்துக் கூறப் பட்டுள்ளது.

இந்தப் பாடலின் பொருளை ஆராய்ந்த பின் இதைப்  பாடிய பக்கிம் சந்திர சட்டர்ஜி அவர்களை நான் மதிக்கிறேன், மரியாதை செய்கிறேன்.

 மிகச் சிறந்த தேச பக்தியாளராக அவர் இருந்திருக்கிறார். தன்னுடைய தாய் நாட்டின் வனப்பை உணர்ந்து, மனதில் மகிழ்ச்சி  பொங்க, உணர்ச்சியுள்ள வார்த்தைகளில் சிறந்த தேச பக்தியை வூட்டியுள்ளார்.  

 இந்தப் பாடலுக்கான பொருளை ஆராயும் போது என்னுடைய அறையிலே வெண்ணிலவின் ஒளியும்,  பூக்களின் நறுமணமும் வீசுவது போல ஒரு புத்துணர்ச்சி எனக்கு உண்டாகியது.

இந்தப் பாடலில் இசலாமியர்களுக்கு எதிரான எந்த ஒரு கருத்தோ, தூண்டுதலோ  இல்லை.

 இஸ்லாத்துக்கு எதிராக கூட எந்த ஒரு கருத்தும் இல்லை.

தெளிவாக சொன்னால்  எந்த ஒரு வெறுப்பு கருத்தும்  இந்தப் பாடலில் இல்லை. 

 தாய் நாட்டின் சிறப்பு, வனப்பு ஆகியவை விளக்கப் பட்டு, அந்த நாட்டை வணங்கி, அதை விடுதலை செய்ய அதன் புதலவர்களை அழைப்பதாகவே உள்ளது.

 இந்தப் பாடல் எல்லா இடங்களிலும் பாடப் படுவதை, பொது இடங்களில், அரசு நிகழ்ச்சிகளில் பாடப் படுவது அவசியம், நல்லது எனவே நான் கருதுகிறேன்.

அப்படி பொது இடங்களில் பாடும் போது யாரவது அந்தப் பாடலை பாட விரும்பவில்லை என்றால், அவர்கள் பாடாமல் இருக்கலாம். அவர்களைப் பாடச் சொல்லி கட்டாயப் படுத்தவில்லை.

 இசுலாமிய சகோதர்கள் இந்தப் பாடலின் உண்மையான பொருள் என்ன என்பதை, அவர்களே நடு நிலையாக ஆராய்ந்து பார்க்க வேண்டும் என்று நான் கேட்டுக் கொள்கிறேன். 

மத அடிப்படைவாதிகளின் அவசர விளக்கங்களை அப்படியே ஏற்றோ ,   ஓட்டுக்காக மக்களைப் பிரிக்கும் அரசியல்வாதிகளின் பிழைப்பு வாத சொற்களை ஏற்றோ முடிவெடுக்காமல்,    

உங்கள் பகுத்தறிவின் அடிப்படையிலே  நடு நிலையாக ஆராய்ந்து,  இந்தப் பாடல் தேச பக்திப் பாடலா என்பதை ஆக்க பூர்வமான கண்ணோட்டத்திலே அணுகுங்கள் என்று உங்களைக் கேட்டுக் கொள்கிறேன்.  

 இந்த நாடு என்பது இதில் உள்ள 120 கோடி மக்களை சேர்த்துதான் குறிப்பிடப் படுவதாக அமையும்.

உண்மையான தேச பக்தன் இந்த தேசத்திலே உள்ள இசுலாமியரை அவமதிக்க  விரும்ப மாட்டான்.

 உண்மையான தேச பக்தனுக்கு இந்த நாட்டில் உள்ள இருபது கோடி இசுலாமியர் உள்ளிட்ட எல்லா மக்களுமே கடவுள் தான் – இந்தப் பாடலைப் பாடும் போது எனக்கு தோன்றும் உணர்ச்சி இதுதான்.

No matter where we were born, geographically speaking, be it anywhere in this world, the only determining factor of what we are, is our genes. Apart from those genes, we comprise of millions of customs and rituals which were being followed, down the years by our ancestors and passed on to the descendants, and on each transfer somewhat of it was losing. Yes, through each generation aren’t we losing out on those practices exceptional and some not, by reasoning or science, laziness or lack of enthusiasm, lack of peripheral physical or mental? Today how many of us feel it is an imperative to keep the customs and traditions of our family alive? How many of us still have the sense of belonging, the kinship.

In this modern cosmopolitan mechanism, we tend to overlook or even forget those customs, those which were once an integral part of us and fail to pass it on completely since our children are in contemporary settings with largely heterogeneous society, where the mixed religion/caste/race background marriages is becoming more and more common. Parents in such cases prefer not to impose and overburden their children with all the customs from both sides.

I was only born in Kerala but I spent all my life in Delhi, till four years back when I moved to Germany. I must have visited my birthplace around 15 or 16 times in all, being kids we had no choice then, short of being dragged or handcuffed, me and my brother acquiesced each time. It took really long until we grew up to understand what it meant to have bathed in the nearby stream, spread out on paarapuratthu (rocks) waited for our goats to finish grazing, watched my grandmother fetch water from the well, running towards the backyard where the aroma of chicken being prepared filling the entire village, the walks and the thrill to reach the local movie theatre (of course thatched roof) through the paadams (paddy fields), savouring of pazham pori (banana fritters), dosa with chamandhi (chutney), kaapi (coffee) in local chaya-kada (teashop), finding film posters of Mohanlal, Mammutty, the superheroes everywhere, the hours and hours of bus-rides from paternal to maternal homes, the pamperings from relatives, hogging onto chakka, maanga, roasted cashews etc, lighting up the villakku at the dusk and waking up when radio played unfailingly Vande Mataram every morning at 6 am.

My parents followed all the Hindu traditions, customs and festivals, how deeply religiously cannot be measured, but they did so eventhough they lived in Delhi (thanks to temples and large population of Keralites) since they were in their twenties or even before, and we as children have almost entirely absorbed and imbibed all that we saw and heard. Onam, Vishu, Mahashivaratri amongst festivals, Chorunnu, Vidhyarambham, Iruvathattu (naming of baby on 28th day) amongst ceremonies are the prominent ones. I now feel it’s my moral duty to pass all these on to my children, who speak German as first language, English as second, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil yet to follow (not burdening extra languages at this juncture when my daughter has just turned 3). Should I say even the languages/mother tongue is also losing out (I am not perfect in Malayalam, my husband is not good in Tamil ). The tradition of buying malayalam calendar is definitely over as eventhough I could read somewhat but certainly never could understand the translation of months, zodiacs etc. I am glad as of now and so far so, I have been able to celebrate all the abovesaid festivals and ceremonies along with my children despite the non-availability of all the puja items out here. And I am sure when grow up, they too will realize the beauty, purity and significance of these rituals, their genes and instincts won’t fail them either.

First time I watched Chendavaadyam in a temple, I stood their unmoved obeying the deafening beats of the drums till the end, why and how was I relating to it is inexplicable. Howsoever modern or displaced your identity might have become, your five senses will never desert you. Smell will tingle your neurons, language will resound to reach your heart, the taste buds will perceive it, and sight will finally testify and shout out loud that you belong here.

Hurting Hindu Sentiments.

ELECTRONIC MEDIA AND HINDU SENTIMENTS – A SEQUEL – THAMIZHCHELVAN

“So in the event of Vijay TV not apologizing on Sunday 22 November, as per its commitment, the concerned activists have decided to proceed further legally and take the issue to its logical conclusion. One hopes Hindu organizations come together and rally behind the activists, as there are many other channels that need to be taken to task as they compete with each other in denigrating Hindu religion and hurting the Hindu sentiments. This is only a beginning and this movement against the hostile media has to be sustained.” – Thamizhchelvan

For context readers may see these articles at Vijayvaani or proceed now to read the article below.

• Part 1 – Electronic media and Hindu sentiments – Thamizhchelvan
• Part 2 – Electronic media and Hindu sentiments – Thamizhchelvan
• Part 3 – Electronic media and Hindu sentiments – Thamizhchelvan

Readers may recall the three-part article titled “Electronic media and Hindu sentiments” that appeared here last month. The backdrop to the article was an episode telecast by the Tamil Channel “Vijay TV”, which belongs to Rupert Murdoch’s Star Group. As the concerned episode terribly hurt the cultural and religious sentiments of Hindus, a campaign was started by a few individual activists against the channel and the producer and sponsor of the concerned program. The campaign has been successful so far and is likely to reach its logical conclusion in the days to come.

Meeting at the production house

On 3 November 2009, research scholar Gauthaman, professional photographer Srinivasan, advocate Subramaniam Balaji and columnist Haran had a meeting with Antony, CEO of Mercury Creations, which produced the concerned program “Neeyaa Naanaa” (You or Me / Tum aur Mein) for ‘Vijay TV.’ During the conversation, Antony gave the important information that the topics for the program are “chosen” by an “expert panel” constituted by the TV Channel and that the producers (like him) could only give them some suggestions.

The point to note here is that the TV Channel’s so-called expert panel regularly “chooses” topics which are relevant to Hindu cultural and religious traditions and subjects them to debate. The anchor conducts the program in such a way that the subject of debate is derided, demeaned and defamed and projected in such a manner that viewers get confused with a feeling that the concerned tradition is unwanted and unnecessary.

Mercury Creations produces two programs (Neeyaa Naanaa and “Nadanthathu Enna” – “What happened”) for Vijay TV and both programs deal with “Hindu” related subjects quite often. Since the subjects (topics) are chosen by the so-called expert panel, the real and ulterior motive of a Christian Media house like Star-Vijay can be understood. It can also be inferred that other channels must be following the same methodology to select topics for similar programs, as most media houses operate with the common objective of “de-Hinduising” society.

Antony refused to divulge the names of the expert panel. But the four activists found a blackboard (inside the mini meeting hall) on which the titles of subjects for shooting in future were written. Some topics mentioned were:

• Is it necessary to name newborns with the names of their grandparents?
• Who are beautiful, North Indian women or South Indian women?
• Inter-Religious marriages – Husbands vs. Wives
• Also, the topic debated on 18 October was, “who creates problems for a married woman, sister-in-law or brother-in-law?”

If we go deep into these subjects, see the programs and analyse them, we can clearly identify the motive behind the choice of title and program. One can recognize a “larger conspiracy” to demolish the institution of marriage and the family values entwined with Hindu religion and culture. The alien powers which control and fund our media houses are behind this huge conspiracy of de-Hinduising the nation and they are aided and abetted by ‘secular’ governments and political parties. It is sad and unfortunate that the Hindu majority falls prey to such programs, risking their religious and cultural identities.

During his meeting with the four activists, Antony tried to convince them about commercial strategies, TRP ratings, etc. But they stuck to their guns, demanding a public apology from both the production house and the TV Channel, apart from a commitment that such programs demeaning and hurting the Hindu community would not be produced and telecast in future. Finally Antony agreed to render a public apology during the telecast of the program on Sunday, 22 November, as programs till 15 November had been already shot.

Campaign through “Tamil Hindu” website

Meanwhile, my article in Tamil (more or less a translation of the English version carried here) was published in md, expressing their anger and hurt and their decision to boycott his products in future. Readers were also given telephone numbers (0431-2730047 / 2730191) requesting them to call the company and register their protests. The article (http://www.tamilhindu.com/2009/11/tele-medias-degrading-hindu-religious-feelings/) drew the attention of thousands of Tamil Hindus across the world within two days and hundreds of readers flooded the mailbox of the sponsor.

Concerted move by “Hindu Voice” magazine

Sri GP Srinivasan spoke to Ponnudurai, proprietor of the sponsoring company, for an interview on behalf of the Mumbai-based monthly magazine “Hindu Voice.” Sri Deivamuthu, Editor & Publisher of Hindu Voice, also shot off a letter to Ponnudurai urging him to withdraw sponsorship of such anti-Hindu programs and conveyed his intention to run a campaign against his company through Hindu Voice and other media if he did not withdraw sponsorship.

The letter sent by Deivamuthu:

Kind Attn: Mr. Ponnudurai

This refers to the telephonic talks our Editor, Mr. GP Srinivasan had with you, in connection with the Vijay TV Programme, Neeya Naana, Nadanthathu Enna, etc. All these programmes compered by Mr. Gopinath are prepared with an intention to insult Hindus. He has never taken up a programme concerning Islam or Christianity. It seems he is afraid of taking up issues concerning Muslims and Christians, and is taking up only Hindu issues because Hindus are tolerant.

Since these programmes are sponsored by you, our Editor, Mr. Srinivasan, would like to have an interview with you, so that we can publish it in Hindu Voice – a Monthly published in English and Hindi, espousing the cause of Hindutva. Please give us a date and time when he can come and interview you.

Meantime, we would urge you to withdraw your sponsorship to these programmes which are hurting Hindu Sentiments. Otherwise, we will have to carry on a campaign against Lion Dates, not only through Hindu Voice but via other media too.

I hope to receive your quick reply.

P. Deivamuthu
Mg. Editor, Hindu Voice
210 Abhinav, Teen Dongri
Yeshwant Nagar, Goregaon West
Mumbai 400062.
Tel: 022-28764460, 28764418, 09324728153.

Realising the gravity of the situation, Ponnudurai sent a reply to Deivamuthu and also shot off individual letters (though stereotyped) to all those, including the readers of “Tamil Hindu”, who sent protest letters to him. In his letter, Ponnudurai said that he understood the hurt feelings of Hindus and conveyed that he had instructed his advertising agency to be careful in future, monitoring each and every program sponsored by his company for each and every channel. He also said that he had expressed his views to the authorities of the TV Channel and that they have given a commitment to him that they would not telecast such programs in future.

The reply letter sent by Ponnudurai:

Dear Sir / Madam,

Ref: The programme telecasted on 11-10-2009

Greetings. We received your mail and understood your feelings about the particular
Mentioned programme telecasted in Vijay TV. We too felt the same way and have expressed our views to the Channel Authorities. And they have promised that in future there will not be any topics in their programmes which will affect the sentiments of any one…

Normally, this programme “Neeya Naana”programme became famous because of its topics involved in social matter and unfortunately this particular programme has crossed borders and affected the sentiments of large number of people.

We hereby like to stress yourself that we are not the Producer of this Programme and only the advertiser of this programme…As a part of our general advertising programme we release our advertisements in many programmes in many channels all over India .

We have strictly conveyed our Advertising Agency –Saroj ad Creators private limited ,Chennai, India- sarojads to monitor all the programmes in all channels where we release our advertisements and especially all the topics discussed in this “Neeya Naana” programme in Vijay TV, and refrain from any controversial programmes in future..

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

For Lion Dates Impex Private Limited

P. Ponnudurai
Managing Director

Conclusion

If the concerted efforts of a few individuals could elicit such a response, one can imagine the effect of a united campaign by Hindu organizations. Though Ponnudurai’s letter did not have a feeling of regret or a note of apology, the concern and respect he showed to the feelings of those who had written to him was quite visible in his communication.

So in the event of the production house not apologizing on Sunday 22 November, as per its commitment, the concerned activists have decided to proceed further legally and take the issue to its logical conclusion. One hopes Hindu organizations come together and rally behind the activists, as there are many other channels that need to be taken to task as they compete with each other in denigrating Hindu religion and hurting the Hindu sentiments. This is only a beginning and this movement against the hostile media has to be sustained. – Thamihzchelvan

• Electronic Media & Hindu Sentiments : A Sequel – Thamihzchelvan

THE VANDE MATARAM-FATWA CONTROVERSY

Click the IE image to read Faizur Rahman's hateful apology for a more hateful fatwa. Rahman is the protege of Comrad Ram at The Hindu. (The article has been removed or blocked.)

Hey Faizz, is it the National Song that causes hatred or the fatwas against the song? As a student of comparative religion you have made an unconscionable insinuation that was then compounded when it was copied by a very stupid headline writer at The New Indian Express. C’mon man, this is not peace activism but calculated communalism by a mischievous smarty-pants who has brought shame on his garrulous and rather dumb editor. – IS

The letters that follow refer to the recent debate in The New Indian Express concerning the National Song Vande Mataram and the two fatwas issued by the Deoband Islamic seminary directing Indian Muslims to not sing the song. The Muslim side was represented by Faizur Rahman and the Indian side by S. Gurumurthy and Prof. Vaidyanathan. The letter below was to The New Indian Express chief editor Aditya Sinha from retired Chennai school master Ram Narayan and was provoked by the extreme bias shown by the newspaper in its handling of the debate.

Mr. Aditya Sinha
Chief Editor
The New Indian Express
Chennai

Dear Mr. Sinha,

I have been reading The New Indian Express for thirty years and I feel obliged to say that I am deeply distressed at the way you have handled the Vande Mataram-Fatwa debate. You have shown extreme bias and cowardice in the face of an upstart writer who is under the direct tutelage of Comrade Ram at The Hindu. Faizur Rahman can publish in any Hindu publication and it is incomprehensible that he is given space in The New Indian Express. But in that he is given space, it is deplorable that you have not allowed any serious reply to him except for Gurumurthy and Vaidyanathan.

I am not a Hindutva-vadin and I do not subcribe to the RSS ideology that the nation is greater than Sanatana Dharma. But nevertheless I am very perturbed at the position of the Deoband mullahs and especially at Rahman’s statement “… let not Vande Mataram be used to cause hatred” and your headline “The song should not arouse hatred.” Both you and Rahman have done the old secular trick of turning the victim into the aggressor with this line (did Comrade Ram write it or did Rahman?)

It is not the song that causes hatred but the fatwa against the song that causes great indignation among patriots including myself. You should be ashamed. You have completely perverted the notion of intellectual integrity and civil discourse.

I read The New India Express because I am told it is one of the last independent newspapers in the country. All the rest including the electronic media, are under Christian or Communist control. But your association with Indian Express in the north which is allegedly owned by a Christian outfit called Acts Ministries obviously compromises your newspaper’s independence and your own editorial freedom.

What a sad state of affairs we have reached in this country where the majority community is not even allowed to have an independent point of view.

Sincerely,

Ram Narayan

For the record, here are copies of the 4 letters sent to you with reference to the Vande Mataram-Fatwa controversy.

4] Faizur Rahman is being disingenuous when he says “…let not Vande Mataram be used to cause hatred” (“The song should not arouse hatred”, TNIE Nov. 17). It is not the song which has aroused hatred but the two fatwas against the song which has rightly aroused indignation among all Indian patriots (not just the Hindutva-vadins as he suggests).

The fatwa-issuers of Deoband and the fatwa-upholders at the recent JUH meet have made a very grave mistake by advising Muslims not to sing the iconic national song because they have a quarrel with a specific BJP government order.

If the fatwa can be upheld as it has been recently, then it can also be superseded by a new fatwa nullifying or modifying the original order. Why was this not done instead of reinforcing the original Deoband fatwa when the Home Minister and a popular Hindu sadhu were present? The whole affair stinks and its timing is deeply disturbing.

Rahman is even more disingenuous when he seeks to blur the distinction between Islamic monotheism and Hindu monism. Monotheism is violently exclusive (as history shows) and Advaita philosophy is overtly inclusive even to the point of its own extinction.

Anyway, Advaita Vedanta does not represent mainstream Hindu religion which is henotheist in practice (worship of ishta deva) and panentheistic in it conception of God (“I pervade and support the universe with a very small fraction of My power,” says Sri Krishna, BG 10:42).

Lastly, Sri Sri Ravishankar and Baba Ramdev do not officially represent Hindu interests. They represent their own interests and those of their followers. When Muslims are willing to meet with traditional Hindu acharyas who represent the whole of the Hindu community, then the statements made at such interfaith meetings can be taken seriously. Not otherwise.

• henotheism: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henotheism
• panentheism: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panentheism
• monism: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monism
• monotheism: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montheism

Ram Narayan reports that when this letter was sent to Aditya Sinha and then posted by him on Express Buzz below the concerned article, within a few hours Faizur Rahman’s article was pulled off of the Express Buzz website along with his [Ram Narayan's] published comments.

3] With reference to the Vande Mataram controversy, it may be noted that though England is a monotheistic Christian country with an official state Church represented in Parliament, every Englishman will sing the national song Rule Britannia. Britannia is the ancient Roman goddess who is the personification of England and she is represented holding a shield and a trishul. Rule Britannia is the unofficial English national anthem. No patriotic Christian Englishman would ever refuse to sing this song which has been in popular vogue for two hundred years.

2] Kudos to Prof. Vaidyanathan for putting the Vande Mataram controversy into a correct perspective (“A controversy that is often simulated,” TNIE Nov. 13). Gurumurthy should be more careful with his facts and figures as the smallest error or misquote leaves his opponent the argumentative “peace activist” [Faizur Rahman] an opening to stick his knife in and win the debate by default rather than merit.

1] Faizur Rahman has clearly shown in his article “Song against Islam’s monotheistic tenets” (TNIE, Nov 5) that Islamic monotheism is inimical to Hindu panentheism and therefore Muslims are not able to praise the Indian motherland with the national song Vande Matram. Indeed, they cannot praise the motherland at all as Allah is a jealous god who is not willing to share his devotees with Bharatmata. There is no solution to this impasse between opposing world views, and Hindus will again have to concede the exclusive Muslim position to their own detriment if communal harmony is to be maintained in our shared land.

NB: When the above letter appeared in The New Indian Express the important religious term “panentheism” was changed to read “pantheism” and the meaning of the last line was distorted by the letters editor. When this was brought to the attention of chief editor Aditya Sinha he apologised, but refused to publish Ram Narayan’s subsiquent letters.

Click the IE image to read Gurumurthy's article "It is Jinnah's 'fatwa', not Deoband's."

Gurumurthy’s latest Sunday sermon has come to the aid of an embarrassed Aditya Sinha who didn’t know where to turn after Faizur Rahman’s mischievous last article drew such a negative response. By identifying Jinnah as the original “fatwa” promulgator, Gurumurthy has fully exposed the Deoband mullahs as anti-national, pro-Pakistani, and communal Islamic scholars who have issued one – if not two or three – hateful fatwas in support of Jinnah’s original “fatwa” against the National Song. Jinnah divided the nation and the Deoband mullahs are dividing it further by officially supporting Jinnah’s position and that too when India’s home minister Chidambaram was present at the conference. The whole affair stinks as Ram Narayan has already said in his letter to Aditya Sinha, and Gurumurthy’s belated revelations do not neutralize the smell of corruption and collusion and political skulduggery that pervades the whole affair. – IS

• Islamic politics targets song – S. Gurumurthy

Of course it’s politics, stupid! The mullahs keep telling us that Islam is a “complete” religion. This means there is no distinction between Muslim religion and Muslim politics. Are you trying to make a “secular” distinction, Guruji? – IS

• The World of Fatwas – Arun Shourie

NOTA BENE

A note to Ram Narayan, N.S. Rajaram, and Rajiv Malhotra from “Hindu Voice” correspondent G.P. Srinivasan:

Fighting the Indian media is not the job of one or two persons. I myself have been fighting the media for the past 12 years . I know in this list, there are persons like Sri. Mohan Iyer has been fighting the idiot media for over 33 years. I know there are people who have left their corporate jobs to become freelancers to take on the bull by its horns.

1. It is a fact that a small group of individuals are engaged in hand to hand combat with the media. There is my friend Navy Captain Balakrishnan INS Trishul (Retd), is bombarding the media day in and day out . It is my dream one day if some one collects all he has done over the years, it will be voluminous expose on the trash that the Indian media is dumping on our head.
2. Then we have our doyen’s like Arun Shouries, N.S Rajaram , Dr. Kalyanaraman, who have been doing scholarly works, and in the process also have to rebut the media disinformation, misinformation, mal-information, malifide-information, plain lies, hoot, scoot and run tactics, and expose them while on the run.
3. Former Director Finance of Coal India Sri Vijayan fires short and effective and pungent salvos that does the job of smoking out the media rats. His attack is hilarious, obnoxious, but even that is not enough to shame the Indian media. If anybody with reasonable and sane mindset in the place of Aditya Sinha, he would have committed suicide.
4. Journalist Francois Gautier and Swami Devananda Saraswati, and Rajiv Srinivasan, B.R. Haran, Hilda Raja , Radheshayam Brahmachary have done pretty good job over the years.
5. Radha Rajan’s vigil has played its part in exposing anti-Hindu and anti-national activities of the Judiciary, Police, Media and others.
6. But this is the the first time any rudimentary sort of apology has come forth from any such activism. To fight the behemoths of the Indian media, both press and electronic, which many of us are doing, for years requires some backing.
7. As far as my knowledge, there is Dr.Upendra Senoy in Bangalore who has documented all that the media has done over the last 50 years. He has made cuttings from English, Hindi and Kannada media, and developed a decent library Rashtrotana Parishad. This is my information of newspapers.
8. It requires some sort of organisation, some sort of collection of data, and people to work dedicatedly full time, and some infrastructure for collecting, collating and dissemination of information, and publishing such information in a professional way.
9. But this is not forthcoming for want of resources and lack of support from any RNI (Resident Non Indian) (mostly Indians) or NRI (Non Resident Indian)!
10. NRIs are too pompous and like to bash Indians. RNIs are too indifferent (they are bothered by daily chores, food, clothing, and shelter, and above all cricket, movies, serials, and temples).
11. There are many NRI-haters and there are many RNI-haters and we have to take the middle path .There are many haters of foreigners and there are many haters of desi Indians,and we have to the do tight rope walking.
12. There are gurus ancient and modern who are not doing anything substantial on the media front to defend Hindus politically and socially and from media abuse.
13. However the fight will have to go on against the media as it has been going on. With or without, In-spite of or Despite of any RNI or NRI support!

Jai Hind!

G.P.Srinivasan
Hindu Voice Magazine
Chennai

Mumbai Vigil: By Lighting Candles alone we want to wish away terrorism?

Kind Attention:

Extremely Respected Ma Balidaan Moorti Reverend Sonia ‘Maino’ Ji Gandhi.

Preamble: This is an earnest appeal to bring Back Shiv Raj ‘Zombie’ Patil as first anniversary of 26/11 approaches. I submit my case for ‘Zombie’s’ Political Rehabilitation, please consider.

As the first anniversary of Mumbai Mayhem is approaching, so has the Padamshris of MSM packed their bags and have camped in Mumbai. This Padamshri ‘tweeted’ “off to mumbai with half- a voice, for we the people! hoping to see some of you at the show, and others later on twitter. have a great day.”

Well who could have any objection (except Raj) for anyone to go anywhere in India, leave alone Indians any Rana, Hadlee, Bhatt can go anywhere; do whatever… for, we are ‘Socialist, Secular, Liberal, Progressive Society’ constantly under watch by our ever so efficient 24X7 ‘Sec-Soc’ MSM. So if our Padamshris and not yet decorated Media Gurus go and camp at Ground Zero, no one should have any grudge – especially I do not have any.

For I understand first anniversary of 26/11 Mumbai Mayhem is ‘VERY BIG MEDIA EVENT’ and like any other Professional Company MSM too has the right to milk the EVENT to it’s fullest.

However, I can foretell what we are going to serve with…

One Padamshri will hold ‘her’ Darbaar at Gate way of India with same set of people (who we saw last time lighting candles) appearing, saying same things they said last time.

Same Home Minister (Patil who was sacked then’ is back now) will mumble same inanities he mumbled last time.

Same lesson how the ‘Resilience’ of Mumbai is legendry and blah blah…

Same channels, same stories, same gory music in background, same footage of same events along with the same commentary of same anchors. Phew!!!!!!!!!

Same crocodile tears, same sermons about communal harmony, same theories about foreign hands – Now this is especially important for them to emphasize as a Son of a Motor Mouth Secularist too figures in investigation making it imperative for MSM to delink him of any wrong doing, if only to salvage the ‘secularists’ bruised ‘exaggerated ego’ in public eyes.

Equally sure  same time I am that the famous whipping boy of MSM, Narrender Bhai Modi would find more than ample scorn thrown at him for “Gujarat Holocaust”, HOLOUCAST!!!! Right Mr. PM? As we are to believe that terrorism of secular variety started from then on!

Some New Ideas for the First Anniversary of Mumbai Mayhem are however being implemented too.

Saw AB Jr. exhorting people to call each other for one hour (8.36 Pm to 9.36 Pm on 26/11/2009) that day as he ensures us that revenue earned will be given to victims. BUT then this IDEA is of a famous cellular company and they might be right (Sic!) in exploring public sentiments- if not to earn profit, for some publicity at least. These days- in any way- MSM ad slots are high and this stunt is far cheaper.

(One thing, lest I forgot, did you notice that how much RS. Are added to your phone bill when you send an SMS to News Channels? I DID AND THAT IS BIG FAT RS. FIVE. Got It? Where the normal SMS charge is 1.50 Rs. Alone! So who is making a kill?  Wonder why every TV Anchor asks you to SMS them Y/N for each stupid question? Scandalous! Need to be investigated.)

Now my point is: nothing has changed since then and nothing will ever. So why punish ‘Zombie’ Patil alone?

Last time faithful MSM had spread the public anger against the inefficient Congress Govt both at State and Center over the entire Political Class thus diluting the anger against Congress Govts. And that was a very cleaver and smart move by MSM- led by PadamShris (whom you (Sonia) blessed) from front. Move paid and MSM’s Favorite party is back in power again- so nothing has changed. Not even the public.

Now even if for a change we will see Same State Home Minister (who was sacked for his failure by your good self) paying tributes to those brave hearts!  Then what has the poor ‘Zombie’ Patil done? Therefore my humble submission is to Please bring back Shiv Raj ‘Zombie’ Patil – if not as Union Minister of Home then as Governor of Maharashtra at least.

As this is a farce alone, so why not complete it by including Shiv ‘Zombie’ Patil?

Why should only poor ‘Zombie Patil’  be deprived of the ‘Gala Media Event’? Is it fair?

Hail Democracy! Hail MSM! Hail One Billion Indians!

As for this ‘audacious’ PI. I…

Will not light candles.

Will not watch Media circus

Will not read paper’s detailed accounts.

In short I will not be part of this ‘farce’. PERIOD

I simply pay my tributes to those who fell in the line of duty and have become mere statistics. AND for those too who will soon fell and become statistics since nothing has changed nor it seems; will ever.

PI.

PS: Excuse me for my cynicism, but it is how it is.

This is an formal appeal to ban anti national organization Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind who recently issued fatwa against National Song Vande Mataram.
There is NO way this can go on in India.

Tweety BatMan

Finally, I decided to download TweetDeck after almost 8 months of opening this tweet account. I was hesitant because I felt 140 words might not be sufficient to express one’s opinion. Well I was wrong.

For two three days I observed people (especially my fellow bloggers friends) and was amazed how this medium has brought the community more closer than ever. Tweets reach to large nos of people is amazing, so is the speed with which you communicate.  Sharing links, picking up clues, in real time could not have been better. Some of Tweets were complete post in itself ‘Micro Blogging’? Well Yes Indeed. I too did tweet    and enjoyed and believe me contrary to my apprehensions (what ever I had ) the response has not only been encouraging but simply great.

Thanks to you all.

Now if this ‘Tweeting’ becomes another cause of Barkha Dutt Didi’s concern -considering she has already and always been furious with bloggers – now this Tweet too? So be it. I must admit that the most of tweets I happened to read reflected some ‘undisputed and uncontested’ love for Barkha Didi and Rajdeep Bahiya such as these ‘PadamShris’ really deserve. 

Wonder some tweeter too might attract Barkha Dutt Didi’s special attention as the ‘Hapless’ Kunte invited – I most certainly do not want to be The One.

Anyway I do not see what the purpose of writing this post is! 

Well simply this: I am Tweeting and I am Here and most Importantly, I am enjoying it.

C u soon …. Happy Tweeting.

PI.

PS: BTW was Tweet available last year Nov 2008, Mumbai attack time? Will Some one please enlightens me.

          India has added one more dubious distinction; it is probably the first nation in the world where a religious group gags its people from reciting the national song and still can walk away with it.

          Last week Jamait-e-Ulema Hind issued a fatwa asking muslims not to sing Vandemataram. According to the group, some lines in the national song are against the tenets of Islam .Many other clerics also quickly supported it.

          I do not what a common muslim citizen of this country thinks about this , I do not know whether they wish to sing the national song or not . As I am unaware of the Islamic scriptures , I do not know if they allow singing of this verse or not.

          But my question is this role one religion got to do with a national song in a secular country??? The constituent assembly , the parliament and the Constitution of India have in unison accepted that the first two stanzas of Vandemataram  are the national song of India. Now how can a religious body issue an order against a community reciting it ?????  One more thing ,when Azad’s (Moulana Abul Kalam Azad ),Rehman’s and Kalam’s had no problem in singing this song what has this ulema got to do against it.

          I personally feel each and every Indian citizen should sing this song. Reason??? Imagine the freedom struggle without this song.I somehow believe it was these words which united and electrified the nation. Everyone irrespective of Caste creed and faith used “vandemataram”  as their slogan, now what’s wrong in using the very same song as our national song. Sirji…. You are an Indian, you are protected by the Indian army ,navy ,air force and India’s civil and military institutions ,you reap the benefits Indian governments dole out to you and still you do not want to sing the national song …sorry sirji logic samjh me nahi aa raha hai !!!

          Irony we might call it …but it’s A.R. Rahman who remixed Vandmataram and brought it close to this generation next youngistan of India. And it’s the same community that comes out with a fatwa on it. I think these mullahs are pressing for a Hindu-Muslim divide by bringing up a new issue.

          Now why is the government not taking any action against these people who issue fatwas against the national song. Whom and what are  they afraid of ???

          I was just about to finish of this article with another mouthful  on these clerics , that I got this news on in.msn.com. Some shia  clerics have said that it is not a problem if muslims sing vandemataram . Two Maulana’s , Maulana Hameedul Hasan and Maulana Kalbe Sadiq. Have affirmed this view. Here is the link for the article.

http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3381224

          Thank God there are people who speak sense. Hope people like Hameedul Hasan and Kalbe Sadiq dispel the misconceptions in the Muslim brother hood about the national song. Good Job Sudarshan ji for it was his meeting that brought out this statement from the Shia clerics. Good Job Shia Clerics .Good Job RSS.

          Never expected this article to complete on this note …….but then its heartening to see that people are coming close and together. Hope their efforts bear fruit.

One of the highlights of the past week was the set of resolutions passed by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind. It prompted me to search their archives and dig out their past resolutions. Having read all of them, here are some observations. I am an atheist, with no respect, let alone love for any religion. Setting aside these differences, I shall try and make honest observations. You will understand the references if you have read these past resolutions available for download on their website.

Few subjects are pet to the JUiH, they seem to keep on tracking these particular subjects as an obsession or in the interest of driving home a certain point too hard

• Defence of character and system of Madrassa education
• Defeat zionism, Jews leave Arab lands
• Dalit Muslim unity
• Reservation for muslims (in all walks of life)
• Demand for law against communal riots
• Freeing Auqaf from corrupt officers

And credit where it is due must be given, the drafters of speeches, resolutions have managed to reinvent themselves each time by saying the same thing in lesser or more words. The above points are fixed in their general sessions and resolutions. Probably they will get tired once after many more years and will start referring to their older resolutions thus “As discussed in GS40 Res1 to 20, please read the same on website and comply” and that day, Jamiat will be able to enter the currently unholy world of twitter.

I am not a major political commentator so I fail to understand this strange alliance they are trying to sew up with dalits, to the extent of calling for formation of a party with the alliance of the two groups. If I were naive, I would say Oh! they are being nice; If i were imaginative, I would think that they know the future lies in claiming backwardness, and know Mayawati will be the next PM and want to dutifully suck up to didi. Damn! those Mayawati ads were damn good; If I was less imaginative, I would say they are trying to divide up the hindus and hurt them where it hurts. Lets just say, I am naive.

They also want to defend the character and system of madrassa education and why shouldn’t they?? Who says hammering down and indoctrination of kids is bad, who says teaching 7th century teachings to kids is bad, who says we can not have an Arab land in India?? After all, if they stop this indoctrination in the name of education, the religion would not survive. It would die a nascent death. And what faces will they show on the judgement day? Huh!?

I quote “ In view of the increasing decline in the representation of Muslims at all levels the session demands: Proportionate reservation in all walks of life…” Theres no bipartisan debate, I have to take sides, and I think its great that they want reservation in all walks of life. I mean WTF, how can you give em school education and not get em into IIT, how can you get em into Bachelors program and not give em masters and PhD. Justice Sachar also said so. We should start with muslim kindergartens where muslim kids will have automatic admission, schooling will have to be without any grading as all grading is prejudiced and biased against muslims. Further, the kids will be passed just like that, obviously in absence of grading. Then these great products of societies equality will be given admission into a separate muslim IIT and subsequently into a separate muslim IIM. They have to pass with flying colours. Obviously, stupid!

There seems to be an omnipresent all pervasive enemy, Zionism and zionists. For the younger lot like ourselves who do not understand this completely, this seems like an awesome enemy. From what I have gathered they are responsible for deplorable condition of muslims everywhere, they have a strategic hand in everything that goes wrong everywhere, from Benazir’s assasination to Zardari’s groping Sarah Palin, ugly Zionists. The zionists have managed to defame village madrassas in India. And from what the president stated, the zionists have even made a woman lead a congregation of prayer comprising men and women, some kind of a grave sin for the Jamiat. Zionist media has caught hold of liberal muslims in muslim countries and have made a lot of obscenity available on TV. Sweet! right? Wrong again. Sin dude! its a sin! I am just confused why they are not fascinated about how the zionists managed to ruin everything from village schools in India to TV telecasts in muslim countries. I mean how!!?? And these zionists who committed the sin of having a woman lead prayer are headquartered in Israel. I mean, they are amongst those women hating orthodox jewish land called Israel and are so advanced that..

In spite of the best efforts spanning over 6 years, some cog in the system managed to be a bit more updated and slipped in a few more resolutions in there

It is very annoying to see that everyone around you is more happier to live in darkness despite of knowing where the light is. Or it can be other way round as well that I am in darkness and all others are in the true light. But no one so far has managed to convince me.

An organization of Muslim clerics declared that “Vande Mataram” is unislamic. Now there were two reactions expected. One from the secularists and another from the so-called hindutva organizations. If one thinks that both these camps would fight over the issue, one will make a mistake. They will certainly fight each other but their basic understanding of the issue is inherently the same.

Should the state force a song on its citzens or not is purely a state affair and hence must be dealt with true secularism. It is certainly a right of people to study a religion and declare something “unislamic”, “unhindu” or “blasphemy”. But I dont see a need for the state to bother about what does a book say about things which are not at all religious.

But see how the secularists respond. They are shocked. They now instead try to prove that “Vande Mataram” is in coherence with Islam. How the Quran should be interpreted in order to make it look like something that permits Muslims to sing vande mataram. Using religious arguments to counter religion’s attack on secularism is the mistake that the have been doing for a long time.

Imagine tomorrow the same organization gives away a fatawah saying “frisking muslims is unislamic” will the government refer to Quran and argue with them that it is not the way to interpret Quran? Shouldnt it say “If it is unislamic, so be it.” ? Failure of our leaders to do so has costed us so much. Instead the secular camp has bent before the Communal demands of various religions from time and now.

If someone considers RSS and similar organizations to be the nemesis of Secular camp they will be making a gross mistake. The Sar-Sanghchalak says

I don’t think any religion is against desh bhakti. To say Bharat Mata ki Jai and Vande Mataram is not like a religious puja or idol worship.

Isnt this the same thing? Now I hear that Sangh has also offered to translate Vande Mataram in Urdu. The difference between the secular and RSS approach apparently has absolutely no difference. And both these approaches are essentially deviating from the secular principles over which we are supposed to function.

By using such arguments the leaders are actually legitimizing the “living by the book”. In a long run the public is only going to demand that the state policies be modeled on these books that are written thousand year old.

Morons!

Should Muslims in India refrain from singing Vande Mataram?

To answer the question fairly, one must consider some other questions such as:

Should the state government of Maharashtra make it compulsory for cinema halls to play Jana Gana Mana before every show and exhort the audience to stand up for it?

Should Turkey make it unlawful for women to wear scarfs as a symbol of their piety?

Should China continue to ban the practice of Falun Gong?

Several chauvinistic politicians and commentators have reacted strongly to the resolution adopted by Jamait-e-Ulema-al-Hind endorsing Darul-Uloom’s fatwa asking Muslims to not sing Vande Mataram.  I believe willingness to sing the national song or anthem can not be a test of one’s loyalty to the nation. Patriotism and piety are not mutually exclusive; they can co-exist. Singing a set of lyrics will neither a patriot make nor will abstaining make a traitor.

The more serious question is whether an institution (a body of clerics or a government) should be allowed to dictate how an individual ought to behave in personal matters. The thought policing that is inherent in such a fatwa is what makes it abominable. There is no difference between such an injunction and the forced observance of patriotism across cinema halls in Maharashtra or the draconian establishment of secularism in Turkey or the repression of followers of Falun Gong by the communist state in China.

Patriotism and piety have long masqueraded as an individual’s obligation to the collective – as a result, under the pretense of defending these on behalf of the people, governments often clamp down on freedom and justice. It needs to be understood that the absoluteness of an individual preceded the constructs of a nation and a religion. An individual should have the freedom to determine the right levels of patriotism and piety just as each individual should determine for himself or herself the right level of sugar in the tea or salt in the curry.

So, while a body of clerics has no natural right to dictate what constitutes a true believer, the believer in question should also have a right to abstain from singing Vande Mataram or Jana Gana Mana.

That said, one also pauses to wonder why Darul-Uloom would seek to enforce something like this. Their assertion is that the national song seeks worship of the motherland and contradicts Islam’s holiest tenet of monotheism. While that is a fair argument, it is worthy of consideration only when you believe in what you are singing. Words do not carry any weight of their own – just by singing Vande Mataram, a Muslim does not transform into a polytheistic pagan. Heresy is a function of thoughts, not words. If a Muslim infers ‘Vande’ to mean ‘praise’ instead of ‘worship’, clearly there is no conflict with Allah. Scores of devout Muslims in the past 60 years would have sung Vande Mataram in India – there is no evidence that any of them slowly degenerated into a bhajan-spewing idolatrous Hindu. I believe several famous classical Hindustani singers like Allauddin Khan sang thumris and paeans in the praise of Lord Krishna for their musical finesse – none of them turned into a pillar of salt. In recent times, A R Rahman popularised Vande Mataram by re-tuning it – he gave it full effect by using his own voice. I do not believe Rahman’s faith in ‘One God’ took any beating because of the millions of times Vande Mataram reverberated in his voice across the country.  Now, suddenly, Muslims across the country would fear singing the song so that they are not charged with apostasy.

Respected organizations like Jamait-e-ulema-al-Hind and Darul Uloom will be spending their capital more wisely if they sought to reform people’s thoughts by spreading awareness and education, instead of trying to micro-manage and mandate what words Muslims should utter. The latter almost sounds childish and fitful.

Vande Mataram. Welcome, minorities. The helpless, disadvantaged, poor, famished, persecuted, religious minorities of India. Population-wise constituting nearly one-fifth of India, they qualify to be a minority in a country which, because of their sheer numerical strength, earns the solemn distinction of being the world’s second-largest home, after Indonesia, to a faith which knows no boundaries. And those belonging to, rather longing for, the faith zealously claim — or proclaim by firman or fatwa — to abjure violence that they perceive inherent in the Bankim Chandra Chatterjee-composed national song “Vande Mataram”. The logic: if they simply mutter it, it is tantamount to apostasy.

No wonder, the country is thankfully indebted to them for their humility not to reject the national anthem “Jana Gana Mana” as perfidious to their creed. Who knows, they may jettison it, tomorrow.

Probably, it is a matter of time before they so choose. A few years ago the same “minority clan” of India raised a hue and cry over the recitation of “Saraswati vandana” as a prologue to school prayers. And, the country’s “liberal class”, cutting across the barrier of colour and creed, lent its unqualified support to them, justifying the inclusion of such a religious intonation as repugnant to the secular spirit of the Constitution.    

The volte-face by Union home minister P Chidambaram that “he was not present” when the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind adopted a resolution at its 30th general session at Deoband a couple of days ago, asking Muslims not to recite “Vande Mataram”, betrays a sense of vacillation, nervousness and indecision on the part of the country’s talking-tough-and-acting-firm home minister.

As a party person — Congressman — his stance of “not being present that moment” may be politically correct but as India’s “internal security” minister it simply does not hold water. More so, it comes at a time when such “Jamaats” hold the world to ransom by the insidious propagation of their bigotry in belief of the divine sort and a violently virulent streak of such an extremist school of thought has been wreaking unprecedented havoc on Indian society and nationhood.

If religious belief is in conflict, even remotely, with what defines nationhood, the latter expressly supersedes the former. Any edict by a religious minority — or for that matter any religion-based dispensation — if it generates or has the potential to generate a conflict of interest between what is mandated by the state or the statute and what the edict seeks to attain has to be treated as null and void.

Such “commands” do not carry the sanction of law and no immunity can be sought under the exclusivity of a “separate” personal law. Any personal law guaranteed by the Constitution for the protection of socio-religious rights of a section of the population is by no means a carte blanche for sowing the seeds of separatism. If it brooks disaffection, which in turn may lead to the fragmentation of a secular society, it ought to be dispensed with before it runs riot with the quasi-federal notion of the Indian state.       

What assumes seriousness in the context of the turmoil the country is facing at present owing to the deviant nature and deviousness of a particular faith needs no reiteration. The flip to the fissiparous tendency by such edicts — emanating from the extremist Islamic school of thought as represented by institutions like Deoband — is of far-reaching consequences and seditious in nature.

Such tendencies, and actions that follow from them, if allowed to go unchecked by the state, will eventually reverberate — on religious fault lines — into a call for separatism from the Union of India.

Such an eventuality may seem to be far-fetched at the moment and dismissed as a figment of imagination but the Khalistan movement and Kashmiri separatism, too, germinated in a similar fashion until they near-consumed the whole nation. Better nip the evil in the bud. It is better late than never. The state must show it has the will to exercise the hard option in a similar vein as it has now woken up to the twin challenges of Naxalism and militancy

Written By : Ramesh Khazanchi

Original Source : Times Of India

Also Visit an earlier Post HERE

Bharat Mata by P.S. Ramachandran Rao

Veteran freedom fighter, Gandhian and one of the founders of Free India, Acharya J.B.Kripalani, in his inspiring foreword to VANDE MATARAM by V. Rangarajan, first published in 1977 to commemorate the Vande Mataram Centenary Celebrations, says:

“Sri V. Rangarajan has done some original work in giving the history of our National Anthem, Vande Mataram. It was necessary because thousands of our pre-independence patriots had to suffer grievously in uttering and singing this song which before independence was considered the National Anthem. Some of them lost their lives for singing this song. Every patriot from Khudiram Bose to Bhagat Singh and Rajguru died with the mantram of Vande Mataram on their lips. It had become spontaneously the National Anthem adopted by the mass of our people.

“It is therefore strange that after independence instead of this anthem, the present one, Janaganamana by our great poet Rabindranath Tagore, suddenly came to be recognized as our National Anthem. The adoption of a national song was never considered as it ought to have been by the Constituent Assembly. It was only announced by Rajendra Babu, the first President of our Republic. National Anthems are not adopted by the nation like that. They are to be recognized by the people. Even as it is, only the first two paragraphs of Vande Mataram are sung. The rest of it is omitted, the reason obviously being that the Muslims objected to the mention of the Indian Goddesses in the song though every goddess is the personification of some divine virtues and all this is explained in the song itself. Even now it will be desirable to have Vande Mataram as the National Anthem along with Janaganamana. Also the whole song must be sung, because the portions that are left out express the most beautiful and poetic sentiments about the Motherland.”

Vande Mataram has been adopted by the Government of India as a National Anthem equal to Janaganamana, and approved as a national song. No Indian citizen has the right to reject it or refuse to sing it. If he or she does so, that person should be prosecuted for dishonouring the National Anthem and the law of the land should operate against that person who should be treated as a traitor.

Home Minister P. Chidambaram at the JUH conference in Deoband. He will never become prime minister and need not waste his time appeasing Muslim leaders and condoning their anti-national sentiments regarding Vande Mataram.

Two prominent Muslim groups of Madhya Pradesh, All India Muslim Tehwar Committee and the National Secularism Front of India, claiming to have translated the song into Urdu, have declared that “it is not against  Islam or un-Islamic” and “several Muslim freedom fighters chose to lay down their lives singing Vande Mataram.” Patriotic Muslims in the country must also come forward to reject openly the fatwa of Deoband.

Patriotic Hindus must view this fatwa of the Islamic clergy in the background of increased Islamic terrorist activities planted inside the country by Taliban and Lashkr-e-Toiba from outside and the recruitment of jihadis for these outfits through the Islamic clergy in various madrasa and masjids in India. The majority of the people in the Hindu society today are spineless, selfish and an utterly coward lot, unconcerned about the freedom and integrity of the nation. Hindu politicians in all the recognized political parties in the country today are shamelessly power-hungry and after accumulation of wealth by hook or crook. They are prepared to fall at the feet of anyone and play any role which will serve their selfish interests.

At this juncture, it is for a few lions in the Hindu Nation to wake up and roar. If Russian and Chinese inspired communists can promote terrorist outfits within this country to destroy our governments, if Christian militants receiving millions of dollars from European and American evangelical missions to destabilize India and make it once again a colony of the West, if Islamic fundamentalists can set up terrorist outfits and carry on blasts with the support of aggressive alien Islamic countries, it is the bounden duty of the patriotic Hindu forces to set up a more powerful and aggressive Hindu outfit to defend the freedom and sovereignty of this great nation. Genuine sadhus and sannyasins of this land will shower their blessings on the warriors for the cause of Hindu Nation and a time will come when patriots in the armed forces of the land, now under the thumb of corrupt politicians, will free themselves from the bondage and come forward to defend the honour and integrity of the nation. The spiritual power of the holy men combined with the might of the warriors among the Hindus will once again reestablish the glorious Hindu Nation on this sacred soil.

Are Hindu Swamijis Afraid of Hinduism? Click the photo to find out.

The sadhus and sannyasins, like Yogi Ramdev who has been so liberal minded even to attend the Deoband congregation and glorify Islam as a noble religion in spite of the Koranic injunctions of  jihad to wipe out the kafirs or non-believers in Islam through war, violence and rape, must now wake up from delusion. They must now prove that they are true godmen and children of Mother Bharat by coming forward to fight and give up their lives for the honour of their Motherland like the sannyasins of Ananda Math of Rishi Bankim Chandra. It is time for us to remember the sacrifices of great martyrs and patriots who laid down their lives at the altar of Motherland with Vande Mataram on their lips.

You can trust the politicians and the religious heads to reliably generate controversies when there is no need for one.  The Ulema and Deobandh could have done a lot better than upholding the fatwa against singing Vande Mataram in the same event in which the Home Minister was participating.  The BJP, the self proclaimed guardians of the nation were not far behind and have proposed singing of the song as a test of patriotism. The Ulema would be doing a helluva good job for the faithful, if they concentrate more on urgent matters like lack of education, which seems to be the primary reason for the disproportionately wide spread poverty amongst the Muslim community, which in turn makes them to send their sons to the degrading working conditions in the middle eastern theocratic countries and thereby leaving them out of the economic prosperity that the middle class of other religions are experiencing. Then there is the perception part, in which to be a Muslim in today’s world is to be branded a backward, artifact of the feudal past and a terrorist sympathizer.

All said and done, the Ulema are religious scholars and they are within their rights to pass any decree for the faithful much like the leaders of Singur or Kanchi matt.  You can always trust the BJP to enforce conditions which are not part of the constitution like ban on Valentine’s day celebrations, branding girls with boyfriends as prostitutes, creating a new test of patriotism etc. This is the same party which doesn’t consider orchestrating genocides, proved spineless in the face of Kandahar crisis, caught napping while Pakistan was sending mercenaries across LoC and had coalition with a party whose minister was getting kick backs in the coffins used for bringing the dead soldiers of Kargil War!

There is more to patriotism than singing anthems and song or supporting cricket teams. If the objective of patriotism is to strengthen the country, then patriotism is paying taxes, law abiding, promoting social harmony, following the Constitution and correcting it when necessary.  Silly stuff will never come into the picture.

The BJP would do well to provide a decent alternative to the Congress – which lot of people like me support by virtue of being the lesser evil and the Communists by providing meaningful solution for the naxal problem, help integrate minorities – not just religious but regional (north east), reform public educational institutions, reduce energy dependency etc.

The Ulema would be more respected if they move on with the times and embrace the fact that this is the land that gave the opportunity to their forefathers and has the potential to do so to their descendants if they adapt rather than resisting modernization.

The “dead issue” is brought back to life yet again by some Muslim clerics who issued a fatwa against the recital of Vande Mataram by Muslims. In response, Hindu hard-liners retorted that those who refuse to sing the national song should go to Pakistan.

Two connected but fundamentally different claims are made here: (1) that Vande Mataram is un-Islamic, and (2) that refusal to sing Vande Mataram is unpatriotic. While the former is induced by religion, the latter has national chauvinism written all over it.

We certainly can’t deny the communal and political motives behind such claims, but the falsity of the second claim deems the first one almost irrelevant. In a just and liberal society no one should be forced to sing a song, be it national song or national anthem. If I, for example, find Vande Mataram offensive for religious, personal, ethical or any other reason, I should have freedom to deny its recital.

As Amit Varma has argued in a compelling blog post (link), there are two types of patriotism: one is primarily driven by love, and the other from pride and self-esteem. The first type of patriot doesn’t impose his own love and reverence (for the country) on others. While the second type of patriot demands everyone else to share his fervor and passion. A love-driven patriot may feel bad if others don’t share his feeling, but unlike a pride-driven patriot he wouldn’t get offended by that. Symbolism (like national anthem, flag etc.) and display are very important to the pride-driven patriotism. But they don’t mean much to the love-driven patriot, who adores the real things (like food, culture and music) as opposed to symbols that represent them.

The other concern that this event raises is about the vices of an unbridled democracy. There is a detailed discussion in Fareed Zakaria’s illuminating book The Future of Freedom about this. The first source of abuse in a democratic society comes from the government, and the second source comes from the people themselves. The will of majority can easily transform into tyranny of majority. The will of majority is important, even crucial to a democratic system, but so is the protection of minority’s rights. Democracy is surely a good system, but too much of a good thing can be bad sometimes.

[See my earlier related post: Talibanization of India]

Clarification: It might appear from my post above that I am implicitly approving the fatwa declared by the cleric. I am not. What I am defending is: liberty. If one doesn’t want to sing Vande Mataram, he should not be forced to sing. And same way, if a muslim wants to sing Vande Mataram then he should be allowed to do so as well.

For the interested reader, here’s good summary of issues and controversies surrounding Vande Mataram.

There has been much debate on the fatwa issued by the Sunnite seat of learning in Deoband, Uttar Pradesh the Darul Uloom. The ulemas there have issued a fatwa, a decree, urging the Muslims of the nation not to sing the national song of India, Vande Mataram. They say that it is un-Islamic to do ‘sajda’ (bowing down in reverence) to anyone except Allah (God). The Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind has endorsed the fatwa issued by the Darul Uloom.

There was a conference held at Deoband by Darul Uloom in which a resolution was passed condemning terrorism and it was exhorted by the clergy there that the Muslims must fight this scourge that has inflicted not only India but the world. The Home Minister, Mr. P. Chidambaram graced the occasion as did some other dignitaries including Swami Agnivesh and Baba Ramdev.

Darul Uloom, Deoband is a seminary of the Sunni Muslims and has affiliations across the world.  It was founded in 1866 by several prominent Islamic scholars, headed by Maulana Muhammad Qasim Nanautawi. I may add here that Taliban and other ultra-orthodox outfits find their ideological moorings in the edicts of the Darul Uloom, Deoband.  There was much noise in the media as to how the Darul Ulooom had contributed to the freedom struggle and how they have always been faithful to India. The fact is that within the Darul Uloom, Deoband there were two factions, one that supported an undivided India and the other wanted an Islamic state of Pakistan. While Shabbir Ahmed Usmani and Ubaidullah Sindhi and others advocated a separate state of Pakistan for the Muslims of the subcontinent, others like Husain Ahmed Madani called for a united India. They hedged their bets both ways and knew they would never be the losers.

Vande Mataram is a song taken from Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s novel Anand Math which is a mixture of Bengali and Sanskrit. It is a beautiful song that became the beacon of Indian struggle for Independence. The said novel contains information about the violent revolt of Sanyasis against injustice inflicted by Muslims and the British in Bengal in the year 1772. The song has inspired a whole generation of people against oppression and was to become the national anthem after India’s independence. The only reason it was not approved was that Muslims objected to it. In the year 1937, during the meeting of the Congress Working Committee in Kolkata, it was decided to cut short this National Song, with the sole motive of appeasing Muslims. Thus began the era of misfortune of this song! The Muslims were not satisfied even then. They wanted to eliminate this song completely. On 17th March, 1938, the Chairman of the Muslim League, Barrister Mohammad Ali Jinnah raised objection to reciting the first stanza of ‘Vande Mataram’ also. Many believe that the opposition to Vande Mataram was the beginning of the formation of the Islamic state of Pakistan. Similar objections are being raised again, even though the edited version of the song is sung everywhere. This smacks of times past when Jinnah and the Muslims of the sub-continent were very keen to show a separate identity for themselves.

It is not as if all Muslims endorse what Deoband has proclaimed. Prof. Mushirul Hassan has said that there was no need for the Home Minister to go to Deoband. He added that any presence of the state in such functions gives legitimacy to orthodoxy. Farooq Abdullah said that he had no problem in singing the whole of the song as this is our national song. But then people like Farooq Abdullah are rare in politics. I may add here that the fatwas issued by Deoband include the following:

1. No coeducation for girls above the age of 10.
2. Opposition to women’s reservation bill in the Parliament, adding that this will further erode Muslim representation.
3. The Jamiat strongly opposed the Delhi High Court ruling legitimizing gay sex which it said would lead to “sexual anarchy and recognition of debauchery.”

Within Darul Uloom Deoband there are two factions now. The one led by Mahmood  Madani had organized this conference while the other abstained and called it a farce. It is evident that there are schisms within the Muslim society and there are sects and sub sects and while the Home Minister may have gone there to get an endorsement against terrorism and may have felt he had achieved a lot by roping in Deobandi school of Islam, the fact is that this is mere tokenism and such genuflection in front of the ultra-orthodox only weakens the ordinary Muslim who wants to move forward away from such extreme religious gatherings. Is it not true that most of us do not go to the temple, church or the mosque regularly? Religion has its place and it should not become the center of our existence.

Below are the lyrics of the beautiful song that has given us Indians (including Muslims) a sense of pride and joy:

Lyrics of Vande Mataram

Vande maataraM
sujalaaM suphalaaM malayaja shiitalaaM
SasyashyaamalaaM maataram ||

Shubhrajyotsnaa pulakitayaaminiiM
pullakusumita drumadala shobhiniiM
suhaasiniiM sumadhura bhaashhiNiiM
sukhadaaM varadaaM maataraM ||

Koti koti kantha kalakalaninaada karaale
koti koti bhujai.rdhR^itakharakaravaale
abalaa keno maa eto bale
bahubaladhaariNiiM namaami taariNiiM
ripudalavaariNiiM maataraM ||

Tumi vidyaa tumi dharma
tumi hR^idi tumi marma
tvaM hi praaNaaH shariire

Baahute tumi maa shakti
hR^idaye tumi maa bhakti
tomaara i pratimaa gaDi
mandire mandire ||

TvaM hi durgaa dashapraharaNadhaariNii
kamalaa kamaladala vihaariNii
vaaNii vidyaadaayinii namaami tvaaM

Namaami kamalaaM amalaaM atulaaM
SujalaaM suphalaaM maataraM ||

ShyaamalaaM saralaaM susmitaaM bhuushhitaaM
DharaNiiM bharaNiiM maataraM |”

वन्दे मातरम्
सुजलां सुफलां मलयजशीतलाम्
शस्यशामलां मातरम् ।
शुभ्रज्योत्स्नापुलकितयामिनीं
फुल्लकुसुमितद्रुमदलशोभिनीं
सुहासिनीं सुमधुर भाषिणीं
सुखदां वरदां मातरम् ।। १ ।। वन्दे मातरम् ।
कोटि-कोटि-कण्ठ-कल-कल-निनाद-कराले
कोटि-कोटि-भुजैर्धृत-खरकरवाले,
अबला केन मा एत बले ।
बहुबलधारिणीं नमामि तारिणीं
रिपुदलवारिणीं मातरम् ।। २ ।। वन्दे मातरम् ।
तुमि विद्या, तुमि धर्म
तुमि हृदि, तुमि मर्म
त्वं हि प्राणा: शरीरे
बाहुते तुमि मा शक्ति,
हृदये तुमि मा भक्ति,
तोमारई प्रतिमा गडि
मन्दिरे-मन्दिरे मातरम् ।। ३ ।। वन्दे मातरम् ।
त्वं हि दुर्गा दशप्रहरणधारिणी
कमला कमलदलविहारिणी
वाणी विद्यादायिनी, नमामि त्वाम्
नमामि कमलां अमलां अतुलां
सुजलां सुफलां मातरम् ।। ४ ।। वन्दे मातरम् ।
श्यामलां सरलां सुस्मितां भूषितां
धरणीं भरणीं मातरम् ।। ५ ।। वन्दे मातरम् ।।

Translation by Shree Aurobindo

Mother, I bow to thee!
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
bright with orchard gleams,
Cool with thy winds of delight,
Dark fields waving Mother of might,
Mother free.

Glory of moonlight dreams,
Over thy branches and lordly streams,
Clad in thy blossoming trees,
Mother, giver of ease
Laughing low and sweet!
Mother I kiss thy feet,
Speaker sweet and low!
Mother, to thee I bow.

Who hath said thou art weak in thy lands
When the sword flesh out in the seventy million hands
And seventy million voices roar
Thy dreadful name from shore to shore?
With many strengths who art mighty and stored,
To thee I call Mother and Lord!
Though who savest, arise and save!
To her I cry who ever her foeman drove
Back from plain and Sea
And shook herself free.

Thou art wisdom, thou art law,
Thou art heart, our soul, our breath
Though art love divine, the awe
In our hearts that conquers death.
Thine the strength that nervs the arm,
Thine the beauty, thine the charm.
Every image made divine
In our temples is but thine.

Thou art Durga, Lady and Queen,
With her hands that strike and her
swords of sheen,
Thou art Lakshmi lotus-throned,
And the Muse a hundred-toned,
Pure and perfect without peer,
Mother lend thine ear,
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
Bright with thy orchard gleems,
Dark of hue O candid-fair

In thy soul, with jewelled hair
And thy glorious smile divine,
Lovilest of all earthly lands,
Showering wealth from well-stored hands!
Mother, mother mine!
Mother sweet, I bow to thee,
Mother great and free!

The best part about this is that while it is not compulsory of all Indians to sing the song most Indians want to sing this. It is the so-called secularists who have reservations against the song. The most pathetic situation is that of the Bengali secular intellectuals. They are between a rock and a hard place on this one. While they would hate to endorse anything that is seen as ‘communal’, as is this song, the fact that this is a Bengali song interspersed with Sanskrit makes them cringe because they love their language so. They cannot reject this song nor can they advocate it, for obvious reasons. Majority of Muslims would not mind singing the national song, they would rather love it. It is so Indian and just so beautiful.

Darul Uloom, Deoband would also have not raised this issue again. They had their political compulsions. They did not want to be seen bowing down to the Indian state when they passed a fatwa against terrorism. They wanted to be seen to be the leaders of the Muslim community who had a mind of their own. Therefore while condemning terrorism they added a caveat that they exhort Muslims from singing the National song. It was a political assertion, more than anything else. Most Muslims do not take these ulema’s too seriously. But they do have a nuisance value and can turn the masses one way or the other. It was political brinkmanship when the ministers descended on Deoband. This helps no one, not the state, not any political party and definitely not the cause of the fight against terrorism.

The 4^th and 5^th of November saw a lot of ink and air time wasted on the fatwa by the Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Hind against Muslims singing the Vande Mataram, the so called National Song of India. What was worse was that P C Chidambaram had addressed the Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Hind and had left before this fatwa was passed. Since 3^rd evening, when the news was first reported, the media has been used by various political parties to trumpet different political opinions.

What becomes very apparent is the similarity between political parties and organisations based on religion. Both use narrow definitions of nationalism and religion to achieve their ends.

In 2006 the BJP had issued a fatwa for the states ruled by it. The BJP Fatwa commanded that all schools should sing the Vande Mataram on Sept 7 the centenary of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s composition, as it was an occasion to celebrate ‘national pride’.

In 2009 the Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Hind issued a fatwa stating that Muslims cannot sing the Vande Mataram as some lines go against Islamic tenets.

Both institutions are giving too much value to a song. On the one hand it is being used to prove ones nationalism and on the other it is perceived as a threat to a religion.

This song, used in the freedom movement, has found a new lease of life as a very dextrous tool in modern India. The BJP and RSS use it to force an identity and ideology (in the garb of nationalism) and Muslim religious groups use the song to reaffirm their identity.

What are the outcomes of colouring nationalism in saffron hues? Would singing Vande Mataram be such an anathema to the Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Hind if this song weren’t an anthem for the Hindu Right and its political affiliates?

It is strange that the  BJP, RSS and other Hindu organisations who want to promote Vande Mataram have not taken the words to heart – ‘Suhasinim, Sumadhur Bhashinim’ which means sweet of laughter, sweet of speech (as per the translation on the BJP site).

Was this news of national importance? Why can’t the media pull the rug from under this issue? How does singing this song affect the country? Can singing a song make one nationalistic and not singing anti-national or vis-versa?  Is the media stoking the fire by giving political parties a platform to speak?