Kolkata Knight Riders thrash Mumbai Indians, SRK pays a price

Khan had all the ingredients to be victimized – a Muslim, North-Indian, successful actor and last but not the least co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders, which defeated Mumbai Indians Wednesday night.

What difference does it make to Chris Gayle’s life if he is banned for five years from Mehboob Studios? In a similar development, Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has banned Shahrukh Khan, Bollywood actor and co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders, for five years from Wankhade Stadium – the reason being that he misbehaved with security and MCA officials.

The brawl at Wankhede Stadium points towards a vital fact – can anyone raise fingers at the behaviour of celebrities forgetting that they are humans like us at the end of the day? Yes, one doesn’t rule out the fact that they are ideals to many of us and should display traits so that people can emulate them. Whatever the reasons that led to the unfortunate incident at Wankhede stadium, every sane person expected both sides behaved in a responsible and mature way but again we can’t forget that ‘to err is human’.

There are various theories and media reports, transcripts, audio clips and the like that try to reason the circumstances that led to the brawl, first between a security guard and SRK and later with MCA officials. Unlike fans who batted for SRK whole day on Twitter, arguing that he was being a ‘protective dad and ‘every father would have done what he (Shahrukh) did, the media portrayed him in a negative light, possibly because Khan’s version was unavailable till later afternoon press conference, in which he blamed the security and MCA officials and demanded an apology.

A non-cognisable police complaint has been registered against Khan for criminal intimidation and voluntarily causing hurt after brawl with MCA security staff and officials at Wankhede Stadium on May 16 night after the IPL match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians, according to NDTV.

Khan hasn’t yet filed a counter complaint but what is more significant at this point is whether we have the right to disparage Khan’s behaviour without believing his side. In the beginning, when Khan, according to MCA was stopped by a security official and asked to produce a pass, he shouldn’t have gotten angry as the cop was merely doing his duty but one can’t over ride the fact that are many such policemen who try to act as ‘custodians of power’ in such circumstances. Instead of trying to police, they try to behave as if they own the place.

Now coming to Khan’s version, he asked the policeman not to touch the girls while asking them to leave the stadium – why touch a girl in the first instance, would be the basic question? Only last Sunday, we heard some horrific stories of kids, abused by men, 40 years elder to them in much-talked about Satyamev Jayate TV show, hosted by Aamir Khan. Notwithstanding the fact that he is a celebrity, Khan would certainly have been provoked when he saw the policeman’s behaviour, though there is every possibility that policeman wouldn’t have touched with bad intentions.

Another important element of the story is that according to some reports, Khan was even told by someone there that ‘he should go to Pakistan’. This comment is enough to boil your blood, except if you are namby-pamby. Every person who loves and serves his country by representing and making it proud in every nook and corner of the world would take offense at such comments and going by that logic Khan had every right to be livid.

And the transcripts that we have read of the audio clip, broadcasted by various channels clearly show that Khan was angry and abusive and even threatened to ‘bury a man alive’, something he admitted in his press conference before these clips became public. This would at least serve an indication that Khan was honest in telling his side of the story. Asking him to go to Pakistan is nothing new in places like Mumbai where even locals don’t like to see people from northern states. Only couple of years ago, a campaign was started to push out north Indian auto and taxi drivers and even recently Nitish Kumar, the Bihar chief minister was threatened for celebrating Bihar day in the state. Nevertheless, he attended the event despite the threats to disrupt it by MNS.

Pertinent to mention is the fact that Mumbai Indians (MI), supposed to represent Mumbai were thrashed by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), a franchisee co-owned by Khan and it could have annoyed the locals and that certainly involves security personnel and MCA officials. This could just have been a routine incident but matter got worse only after MCA officials (miffed at the defeat) started misbehaving with Khan and some even threatened to beat him up. And the swiftness in banning Khan from Wankade Stadium is a grim reminder of disgust, MCA officials felt at the defeat. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Khan was victimized as he had all the ingredients – a Muslim, North-Indian, successful actor and last but not the least head of KKR that defeated MI.

Kashmiri Pandits who didn’t flee are suffering a silent death

While Kashmiri Pandits living outside the Kashmir valley have dominated the narrative, Pandits who chose to stay in the valley despite threats and violence have been suffering a silent death – and their numbers have dwindled from 32000 to just 2654 in 2008-09, as per the last recorded figures.

SANJAY TICKOO chose to stay put in Kashmir when all his frightened Pandit friends, relatives and neighbours preferred to leave the valley after insurgency began in 1989. Despite facing threats in the form of a letter pasted on his door, asking him to leave, Mr Tickoo fought back, but 22 years down the line, he regrets his decision.

“I can’t go back in time and change my decision but yes if my daughter who will be in 12th grade in next couple of years chooses to study and settle outside Kashmir, I wouldn’t stop her,” says Mr Tickoo in a husky voice.

About one lakh Kashmiri Pandits migrated from Kashmir towards Jammu in the South in 1990 in a mass exodus – and many conflicting theories explain the exodus with some blaming the administration led by Governor Jag Mohan, who wanted to escort them safely out of the valley till the situation got better. Others believe that the administration wanted to give a communal colour to the uprising but all agree to the fact that the exodus was a big loss to the Kashmir societal fabric in which Muslims and Pandits had co-existed peacefully for centuries.

Such mysterious posters asking Pandits to leave or face death were pasted across the length and breadth of the valley – on the face of it the obvious aim was to frighten them so they could leave. While it worked and Pandits began to leave as government transport picked them up from villages and towns but there was one man who chose to fight back – Mr Tickoo got the letter published as an advertisement in one of local Urdu newspapers. It worked and all his shocked Muslim neighbours and friends assembled at his house and apologised for the misdeed, not before promising that his family faced no threat and urged him not to leave his home.

A father of two, Mr Tickoo, who now heads the Kashmir Pandit Sangharsh Samiti (KPSS), an organisation looking after the affairs of Pandits, chose to stay back despite the threats and violence, and says that the community is facing the toughest times ever. He alleges that for the state, only migrants (Pandits who left the valley) matter and they have policies for them only while for them there is nothing in store. “They have policies for only two Ms – Migrants and Militants. They want militants to come back and promise them rehabilitation policies, and similarly they have announced jobs for migrants who return,” says Mr Tickoo. “Do they know we exist and what have they done to save the Pandit community which we represent?”asks Mr Tickoo.

According to 1991 govt. Census figures, the number of Pandits who didn’t migrate was 32,000 but according to a census carried out by KPSS in 2008-09, there were only 2654 people left. “Government policies are to be blamed for the dwindling numbers,” Mr Tickoo reasons.

According to him, a Pandit student with as low as 42% marks can get a Software Engineering seat outside Kashmir and on the other hand, non-migrant Pandit doesn’t get it even after scoring 80-90% marks. “Isn’t this enough reason that our students will also decide to leave the valley,” asks Mr Tickoo, adding “This should serve an eye-opener for those who are crying that migrant Pandits should come back.” “Will they?”he asks.

Also, as per the state’s rehabilitation policy, more than 1500 Kashmiri migrant Pandits have been allotted jobs in various state government departments but for the non-migrants, government, according to Mr Tickoo have been promising will find something. “The government should have endorsed our sacrifices but it didn’t and it never accepted the fact that we stood on ground zero for last two decades,” Mr Tickoo rues.

At a time when migrant Pandits have dominated the narrative while this miniscule population, dwindling with time has become virtually become non-existent. From pro-freedom organisation and civil society to political and religious organisations, everyone has been only talking about the migrant Pandits and their return, not a single voice is heard to look into the affairs of Pandits living inside the valley. “If Mirwaiz Umar Farooq can raise the issue of Kashmiri language, why can’t he also raise our issue,” asks Mr Tickoo.

Migrant Pandits, according to Mr Tickoo are eligible for financial packages besides their children get the reservation across the educational institutions. They have found lucrative careers for their children who are comfortably settled in various parts of the country and abroad. In this situation, according to Mr Tickoo, one can’t expect a software engineer to leave his job and settle in valley. This holds true for all those Muslim Kashmiris as well who have settled outside Kashmir and their association is just to visit their homes once or twice in a year.

Mr Tickoo says that people from his own community have been using unparliamentary language against them for their decision to stay put. “Why did you stay back, they ask us,” says Mr Tickoo. And rightly so, this community hasn’t been facing only financial issues but also social and psychological issues.

“We can’t find a good choice for our daughters in valley and then we are forced to marry them outside and quite similarly our sons also face the same problem, no outsider is willing to marry off their daughters to a Pandit living in Kashmir,” rues Mr Tickoo.

Besides, this community has lost all the friends and relatives with whom they can share their moments of happiness and sorrow. “When my father passed away in 1991, priest wasn’t available and I needed somebody my own (close relatives like sister, aunt, uncle) to console me. But they weren’t there. Though my Muslim neighbours and friends were by my side but I couldn’t have expected that from them,” reveals Mr Tickoo.

Last but not the least, these people have been suffering psychologically as well. “We could share what happened with us during the day with anyone. It was a period of suffocation and we could feel that uneasiness which we could have vented out by sharing with friends and family,” says Mr Tickoo.

Source: http://www.merinews.com/article/kashmiri-pandits-who-didnt-flee-are-suffering-a-silent-death/15869104.shtml

With state playing villain, is Kashmir on the brink of sectarian war?

BEFORE THE onset of an armed uprising in 1989, the only news of sectarian clashes reported in Kashmir would be sporadic scuffles between Deobandis and Bareilvis but as militancy started to wane after 2003, the religious divisions seem to have become much deeper, involving more stakeholders – the field is now evenly divided with orthodox organisations such as Wahhabis, Deobandis and Tablighis trying to enforce a puritanical Islam, and Bareilvis or the Sufis attempting to regain the lost ground.

The unrestrained display of festivities as Bareilvis celebrate the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad during processions and conferences has irked the believers of puritanical Islam, who take umbrage at the practice of very idea of celebration of birthdays. Last year’s rally at the Sheri-Kashmir Park in which Bareilvis had invited various like-minded clerics from outside Kashmir – recorded the presence of staggering 100,000 believers – reinforcing the fact that majority of people in Kashmir believe in Sufi traditions.

It is widely believed that these Sufi organisations kept a low profile during the peak militancy period due to fear of killings and threats by radical militant organisations but as they have started to assert themselves, rumours have been spread that the state is encouraging such organisations to create the sectarian divide, something these organisations have publicly refuted.

While heads of these organisations (both orthodox and unorthodox) condemn use of any kind of violence against each other, yet they have not stopped short of accusing each other. And surprisingly, all of them believe that there are various agencies working to create a sectarian divide in the state.

Five people lost their lives and more than 50 others were injured when a grenade was hurled towards Abdul Rasheed Dawoodi, a cleric in South Kashmir’s Pulwama town in 2006 while he was entering a mosque – the incident instantly drew parallels with the sectarian violence that has hit hard the neighbouring Pakistan. Six years down the line, the differences among Kashmiri Muslims practising various forms of Islam though have increased but violence was unheard of till last month when a cleric, Pir Jalaludin was fired upon at a shrine in Batmaloo, couple of miles from city centre Lal Chowk.

Though it is known that both clerics belong to Bareilvi school of thought but not much is known about the people behind these gruesome acts – even though the alleged grenade thrower was arrested after people handed him to security agencies but what was his motivation behind the act and who he was working for is still under the wraps – something not unknown in this part of the world.

Clashes between various sects are as old as the Kashmiri Muslim society itself – widespread clashes have been reported between majority Sunni and minority Shia sects during medieval times but in the recent memory nothing of that order has been reported or heard of. Like the rest of the world, people here ascribe to various schools of thought and differences that everyone knew existed started coming to the fore after Bareilvis or the people who go to shrines started asserting themselves.

Ghulam Rasool Hami, who heads the Karwani-i-Islam, has been addressing more than 2000 religious congregations annually for past six years. He argues that his group is trying to reach every length and breadth of state to spread the message of Islam, with prophet’s love being the central idea. Chief priest at the Dastigeer Sahab mosque in Srinagar, Mr Hami claims that his organisation is trying to familiarise modern education with the Islamic way of life. He has taken part in various debates where Deobandis and Wahhabis have challenged his teachings, going to shrines as an example. He knows there is a large portion of the population that doesn’t agree with his beliefs but using violent means to stop people from practising the faith is what concerns him. “We welcome such people in our programmes and try to debate the issues but we condemn the people who use violence against us or any other group,” said Mr Hami, adding “We know there are some people who are working against us and their particular aim is to create sectarian divide but we don’t know who these people are so we are not in a position to blame a particular group.”

Mr Hami understands that people are being radicalised in the valley with extreme beliefs but he quickly added that Sufism was not ‘something separate from Islam’. “There is an information boom everywhere and you have literature, media that feeds you with information but we can’t take everything for granted. There is a need to apply logic,” he advised.

Sensing political machinations behind the reports of sectarian divide, Abdul Rehman, Secretary General Jamiat-Ahle Hadith Kashmir believes that there are various reasons that state could try to invest in deepening the divide. “The situation can explode anytime because majority of the people having clash of ideas are not intellectuals. They hear something and accept it and even resort to violence,” feared Mr Rehman.

He accused state of using double standards and to demonstrate his point Mr Rehman alleges that his organisation is not allowed to establish the Transworld Muslim University, which has been cleared by the legislative council. “If we have a hidden agenda, we can use our 700 mosques why do we need a university for that?” asks Mr Rehman, adding “They give a free hand to Mata Vaishno Devi University in Jammu but when it comes to Kashmir, they use different yardsticks.”

Mr Rehman alleges that government has particular reasons to promote the Bareilvi thought but he quickly added that his organisation was building bridges so that any sort of divide or clashes are prevented. Nevertheless, there are also allegations that his group receives huge money from Saudi Arabia to establish their school of thought. As Mr Hami puts it: “Everybody knows from where and for whom dollars come from the Arab Nations,” referring to the vast inflow of funds for Jamiat Ahle Hadith.

Professor Hameed Naseem Rafiababadi, who teaches Islamic studies at the Kashmir University, agrees that there is a divide but he doesn’t think that it is too deep to be worried about. “It is not that grave, compared to other places and it is just clash of ideas,” said Prof Rafiabadi. According to him, the situation has taken an ugly turn several times in the past but any particular group can’t be blamed for the violence. “Kashmir situation is evident to everyone and there are many agencies working here and since none of the groups claimed responsibility for the attacks so quite hard to blame anyone,” informed Prof Rafiababdi, adding “We can’t rule out personal rivalries in these cases as well.”

Kashmir, according to Prof Rafiabadi is a tolerant society and people here have been holding divergent views of Islam. While the majority goes to shrines and there are others who even ridicule the very idea of visiting shrines, considering it religious heresy. But according to Prof Rafiabadi, the need of the hour is to be united to avoid any foul play by any particular group.

When asked whether these religious beliefs led to radicalisation among youth in the valley, Prof Rafiabadi claimed that the term was exaggerated and instead blamed world political situation for radicalisation. “Mosques and shrines are not safe, schools are not safe. They could lead to such situation,” said Prof Rafiabadi. Though he didn’t specifically refer to the Kashmir situation but being in Kashmir where you don’t even know whether you will return home alive in the evening, given the violence, radicalisation could happen.

“It would be unfortunate if state invests in deepening or creating the sectarian divide but nevertheless it is to be avoided,” advised Prof Rafiabadi.

Source: http://www.merinews.com/article/with-state-playing-villain-is-kashmir-on-the-brink-of-sectarian-war/15868918.shtml

Izhar – sweet and unshowy, yet valiant and resolute!

The harsh winter had just been over and spring had sprung in the valley as we returned from Pune after an academic trip – filled with hot air after interacting with the students at the Pune University, we knew that something beyond the routine class work had to be done. The immediate thought was to do an internship with a media organization but neither I nor my close pals knew any journalists so closely – and at this point one of the friends proposed his name.

The next day we landed at the AFP office, then located at a run-down wooden building in the Lambert lane, near the shade of a big Chinar tree. AFP is a big name and we obviously were nervous to meet the man who looked after its coverage of Kashmir – one of the oldest unresolved conflicts in the world. I don’t know much about my friends but I was damn sure that the person wouldn’t give us too much hearing. His ego must be big as the name of the organization he represents – obviously his persona was bigger than AFP but he was sweet and unshowy, yet valiant and resolute.

The staircase leading up to the office could accommodate only one person at a time so queuing up and watching our steps, we were finally there – the first word ‘jaana’ (dearest) is something that Izhar started with, referring to us and I don’t know a single moment since that day till he left for the eternal world, he always addressed us by that name.

The man with a shiny beard and sharp eyes, sitting on a modest chair knew what we were there for and without wasting a second he suggested that we join a daily newspaper – since we were knew to the profession and a daily newspaper would have obviously exposed us to better opportunities. But he was quick to add that he was always at our disposal – since he wrote only few reports in a week so wouldn’t be of much help to us. But he made sure to call one of his newspaper friends and told him about three of us. The man on the other side of phone – as we found out later is ‘sweetest’ when it comes to meeting in the Press Enclave, though he masters the art of making sweet (rather false) promises. He told Izhar that we could drop anytime – though that is a separate story that we never worked in that paper.

March rains cooled us off and working in a media organization was unwittingly put on hold but class work became a casualty– not a surprise when you have Naseem Bagh just a jump away from classrooms and sitting under the shade of chinars with endless cups of chai, days would end serenely.

As we were about to finish our University Course, it was time to start our 15-day internship – mandatory for the course. AFP was always an option at hand, given Izhar’s generous nature and all of us opted for various choices and I opted for BBC, since it was a dream organization to work with. I remember Izhar telling me one day that I was learning the skills with the best journalist in the valley – not only intricacies of reporting but also lessons of ‘ethics and uprightness’.

Whenever we (me and Ashiq, another journalist friend) faced any kind of frustration with the profession, we would drop by Izhar’s office – now in Kothibagh lane. We would call him on the way and he was always available for us like an elder brother – many a times he told us that we are like his younger brothers. ‘Wala Jaana’ (come dearest) he would always get up from his chair to greet us with a saccharine smile on his bearded face. Tea would always be served in white porcelain cups with biscuits, followed by regular chats – can you call up this editor. Should I apply for a job there? etc.

I haven’t worked with him but I vividly remember Izhar’s enthusiasm when in 2008, cross-LOC trade started on the Uri –Muzaffarabad route – he along with his close friend from his rival Reuters news agency was holding onions (Pakistani onion) in his hand. Soon after he had filed his copy, he was taking pictures of the panoramic Uri town, tucked away in the lap of mighty mountains. “You are very quick, Jani’ he wrote when I had uploaded those pics on Facebook before he did.

As they say, God calls dearest people to him before others – without an exaggeration I would say that the adage fits perfectly for this father of two-girls. Only couple of months back when a friend told me that Izhar was diagnosed of cancer, earth shook beneath my feet – how can this deadly disease consume such a great person? I asked myself. Then after calling him, he told me that he was doing fine and I am sure all his acquaintances must have felt great after hearing that he was recovering.

But on 3^rd April, a friend informed that Izhar has been admitted in the hospital again in a critical condition, and only a day after the same friend informed that this brave journalist has lost his battle to cancer. RIP. Obviously someone will step in his shoes but surely nobody would take his place – death of the man who groomed young and raw talent coming out from the University of Kashmir’s Mass Communication department for years is a big loss for journalism in Kashmir but a bigger one for newcomers.

From ‘soldier of country’ to ‘soldier of party’, Dinesh Trivedi’s train journey halted

NOW THAT the Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi has been shown the door, replaced by his fellow TMC leader Mukul Roy; and the country’s Prime Minister earlier accepting his resignation had termed it unfortunate, one just wonders what kind of democracy is this – Manmohan Singh calls the Railway budget visionary and still accepts the resignation of the Minister. Isn’t it surprising?

Trivedi’s journey since past week has been the harshest in his lifetime, no doubt about that – striking defiance with the party chief, he had attributed himself as the ‘soldier of the country’ in whose life ‘country comes always first’. But seeing that hands of head of the country are tied due to coalition compulsions, or specifically his government is remotely controlled in the erstwhile British Indian capital, Calcutta, Trivedi had to change the tone and posture – not a herculean task for politicians. Now the Rail Minister calls himself ‘the soldier of his party’- and imagine what, he will stay in the party that ‘prioritises politics over doing good to the country’.

Like his predecessors, including Banerjee, Trivedi could have played safe and announced few trains here and there without touching the passenger fares but he didn’t choose to go with the wave and instead proposed a budget that could have driven the railways towards betterment. This is indeed commendable along with his defiance to Trinamool chief for refusing to rollback the fares but then again he proved, at the end of the day he is merely a politician and not a ‘soldier who chooses to pay with his life’, though in his case, it was just political fortunes.

Only couple of days ago, I watched a documentary on the BBC, comparing China with India and one important thing that the host tried to highlight was the difference between Chinese and Indian politics. Not a surprise, he tried his best to denigrate Chinese policies but poor host couldn’t change the facts, though he might have wished. In the process how he showed that Chinese one-party rule was better than Indian democracy or multi-party rule is quite relevant in this case. Whatever the ruling party wishes to do, it can. Take for example a decision to build a bridge that would make transportation easier, nobody can stop it but as we have witnessed in Trivedi’s case, such things are impossible in this democratically elected government.

Coalition politics has shifted the power centres – the power button that would usually be held by the prime minster at 7, Race Course Road keeps on swirling across parties and politicians, reducing it just to a blank cheque. This has given rise to kingmakers and one look at the events that unfolded in last six months, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that Mamata Banerjee has risen as kingmaker, who has been remotely controlling the government from the writer’s building in Kolkata.

Take for example the present case, even though the Finance Minister termed the Railway Budget as revolutionary, Prime Minister called the budget a vision of 2020 to modernise railways, still he had to see him losing his job – obviously for being a bright student. Though Prime Minister regarded his departure ‘unfortunate’, according to Hindu but he at the same time informed that another rail minister would be sworn soon and it would be from the same Trinamool party. Earlier, Mamata forced the UPA government to rollback the FDI in retail decision and even recently forced it to do away with National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) and the government, surviving because of ‘Mamata’s mercy had to sheepishly accept her demands.

In the democratic set-ups, a healthy debate is enshrined so that issues can be discussed threadbare before they are implemented but here the situation has taken an equally wrong and reverse turn. Kingmaker sees to the decisions and wants to make sure that her popularity is refurbished and instead of opposing the issues on merits, she just wants to score political points and through blackmailing, she even goes away with it. Isn’t it time for the one-party system to take over on the paper as well because that is what we have been witnessing on the ground.

Common man has not even reacted to the nominal fare-hike and is rather happy that few rupees from his pocket will make his journey more safe and secure but Mamata is not going to buy that and UPA government has one after the another, been budging to the powerful lady.

Source: http://www.merinews.com/article/from-soldier-of-country-to-soldier-of-his-party-trivedis-rail-journey-halted/15867363.shtml

Can development replace righteousness? Ten years after Gujarat riots, justice remains elusive

“Now I am telling you the environment at that time……. all Vakils on ….. VHP side, all Judges…… many of the Judges were also on VHP side, right, doctors also did not treat patients because they were Muslims. In that situation, what can be done ….. tell me. Bail applications neglected…….What can we (Home Department) stay on? What can we say? ……. The entire society is like that”  

     Ashok Narayanan, Additional Chief Secretary/Home – (Kafila)

GUJARAT HAS become a role model for shining India and everywhere you go, its growing per capita income and development is talked about in lustrous terms. So much has the development been used as a smoke screen that even at the mention of the 2002 anti-Muslim riots, you would be instantly branded a Congress activist, or a peace broker determined to vilify BJP’s star campaigner – Narendra Modi.

Being the chief minister of the state, he didn’t even apologize for the riots or the genocide of Muslims – it is known to everyone that thousands of Muslims were killed for not being Hindus, women were raped and even children were torched to death. Some ‘self-proclaimed etymologists, who never felt the pain of the victims would take umbrage at the usage of the word genocide, for the term derives its meaning from the holocaust, in which Hitler killed several million Jews that amounted to wiping them out from the Earth. But how does that differ from the condition of hundreds of thousands of Muslims who were forced to leave their homes and hearth and set-up their shelters, literally in shit-holes.

Now ten years have passed and the state is progressing leaps and bounds but has it included the Muslim community as well – we are here talking about the community as a whole and not few Mullahs and traders, who for personal benefits approach Modi and are in turn used by the BJP stalwart in the photo-shoot opportunities, to send a message that he enjoys the support of Muslims. Though the traders’ side with Modi because they believe only that will help their businesses or otherwise they will be forced to shut down. Shameless Mullahs cling to Modi to remain in his good books, which they see as the only window to power. To depict their shamelessness, it is pertinent to mention one incident that happened during Modi’s Sadbhavana fast last year – a Mullah offered him a skull cap but ‘politically wary’ that it would dilute his anti-Muslim image, Modi refused to accept it though Mullah tried his heart out.

Now if the growth is inclusive, why is it that 50, 000 Muslims are forced to live in a literal shit-hole – the camps established across Ahmedabad, Panchamahals and Sabarkantha by various voluntary agencies, according to NDTV are dirty and filthy and I am afraid they are a stark indicator of the inclusive growth. There has been no attempt to rehabilitate them or help them to get back to their original places, from where they were displaced during the riots. There was a time when these people owned their home and hearth but not anymore. Leave alone providing them with a share in the industrial growth, the state government has even tried to remove them from the place on the grounds that they are camping on an illegal land.

If this is the case, how did Modi manage to win for the second term and is eyeing a third term? As analysts point it out Gujarat is a Hindu majority state and Modi cashes on Hindu votes, with a message to Muslims ‘we don’t care for your votes’. Hindus, in the state know that he is a messiah for them and why would they not vote for him – except has been the demeanor of people with conscience who would rather live in poverty than siding with a killer. Quite obvious people like Sanjiv Bhatt or activist Teesta Setalvad had to face wrath of administration in the form of transfers, halt to their promotions and even some were charged with false and fabricated cases.

Indian judiciary, infamous for miscarriages of justice and slow growth that can be likened to snail’s pace has played its disparaging role here as well. Gujarat courts dismissed cases that would have convicted Modi and the people who created the mayhem but they chose to side with the champion of riots – as the lawyers and judges were no supernatural beings, given the fact that they were drawn from the supporters of the chief minister. We can’t forget to mention about Bilkis Bano, a five-month pregnant woman who was stripped and gang-raped by a mob, not before 14 members of her family including children were butchered to death. Bravo to the lady who made it a point to bring justice to her family despite facing threats and intimidation from the Modi administration. She along with Zahira Sheikh, whose family was charred to death in the Best Bakery Case managed to get justice only after their cases were transferred out of Gujarat to adjacent Maharashtra state. Even this didn’t bring any embarrassment to Modi or the BJP or the people who vote for this man.

On a TV show, commemorating the decade of riots, a speaker was ranting that people in the state, Muslims to be specific have moved on – his argument was simple – no riots have taken place in the state in the last decade. The speaker doesn’t even use his wit for a second, as to how could a Muslim dare to confront the perpetrator, even if he abused or hurt him, when he knew that neither judiciary nor the police would stand by his side or at least listen to his version of the story. As if the incidents of 2002 were not enough to serve as eye-opener, how could Muslims dare to even speak against Hindus? A riot survivor recently told the BBC that they hid in their houses, even if a small untoward incident happens in their locality. This fear psychosis has engulfed the whole community and this should explain the ‘peace’ in the state.

Through credible media reportages, and reports of various rights organization, it has been clearly established how administration played an active if not a key role in organizing the riots – letting VHP display the charred bodies of kar sevaks is one among hundreds of examples. But the need of the hour is to accept the bitter truth that the incident undermined the tall claims of Indian democracy. Isn’t this act enough to establish the fact that India in general and Gujarat in particular are sham democracies and actually Hindu states rather than proclaimed secular States?

As has been told by historians, Gujarat was a highly polarized state even before Modi took the reins – but isn’t it true that he used the same polarisation to build his persona – his journey from a run-of-the-mill politician who was made chief minister through a by-election to the tallest Hindu leader. Benefiting and using the divide, he let the Hindus vent their ire on fellow Muslims once for all. Journalists have witnessed it firsthand how policemen were relaxing in their Vans, parked on the streets when people (read Muslims) were hacked or charred to death inside their localities.

Accepted that the Congress would politicize the issue for obvious reasons, but does that mean it is not an issue in which grave injustice has been done to thousands of Muslims? Bringing culprits to book would gag the mouths of both opposition parties and the activists, even if you feel they have an agenda in raising the issue before various courts of justice. But that is not possible for you to do – because you always saw the victims as aliens who reserve no rights to be in this country.

Convictions:

Bilkis Bano: 12 people, including a policeman who registered a false complaint, sentenced to life after the case was transferred out of Gujarat.

Best Bakery: Zahira Sheikh, prime witness of the incident in which fourteen of her family members were set alight, turned hostile during the testimony. Nine people were sentenced for life.

Godhra train burning: 11 Muslims sentenced to death and 21 others sentenced to life imprisonment. Strong and controversial anti-terror law POTA was used in this incident by the government.

Gulbarg Society carnage: 69 people burnt to death, including a former Congress MP Ehsan Jaffri. Special Investigation Team pursuing the case among with dozens others.

A Journey Into Picturesque Spiti Valley Where Family Land Forces Brothers To share A Wife

Eight in the evening I reached the Kashmeri Gate Metro Station and called up my photographer friend who wanted me to wait for 15 more minutes. Quite usual of being late, I knew he would take at least half an hour to make his appearance. So I decided to call up home and informed my parents and siblings that I was heading to the beautiful and picturesque city of Shimla. It was the first freelance assignment that we undertook and immediate concern was the bus journey through bendy roads that led to the famous tourist state.

Bus was scheduled to leave at 9:30pm but as usual and quite normal in this part of the world, the bus arrived at the stand at 10. As we started to take a move towards the bus, a bad news that turned all and sundry gloomy was that our mode of conveyance had suffered a leak in its water tank and driver was not sure, if he could drive that night.

After more than an hour of uncertainty, the state-owned carrier replaced the luxury bus with a lower model with lesser number of seats. As the bad luck had it, we got the seats at the rear of the bus, which every backpacker knows are not comfortable for long journeys, particularly when you are travelling in the hills. The excitement of the job and yes, exploring a beautiful place was overwhelming and we preferred to go ahead with the journey, though my friend was not sure if he could go ahead but he had to…In the heart of hearts he would have chosen to fly but that was never the case given the financial implications.

A cold morning woke us up in Shimla outskirts and my friend was nauseating and thankfully we de-boarded after twenty minutes or so at the bus-stand, a new construction few miles outside the city. Our destination, the Spiti valley was still hundreds of miles away and there was no direct bus service available, we had to choose shuttle buses and they weren’t comfortable at all. Exhausted friend suggested that we stay in a hotel overnight and wake up fresh next morning to leave for the destination. In a cab that drove for 15 minutes we were in Shimla and as soon as we got down, two guys from our state, distinguishable from their fair looks and kurta-pyjamas, started uphill journey with our luggage and we had no other option but to follow. Before we would end up in a hotel, they informed us that working here was better than back home because ‘whatever you earn during the day, it is with you in the evening; unlike Kashmir, where people won’t pay unless you lose a pair of shoes after visiting their homes every day.

Our room was overlooking tall mountains, adorned with green and tall pine trees but before we would order our food, we were deep asleep, given the exertion we had to face during the 10-hour-long bus journey. Late in the afternoon, we woke up and after taking shower; we ordered hot tea and butter toasts, readily available all over India. A walk in the hazy evening, as tourists, young and old, men and women, mostly Bengalis were busy clicking pictures, was quite refreshing and before we would be lost in the crowd, we starting walking back to our hotel, few minutes’ from the busy market.

Due to unavailability of cars, we had to spend another day in the capital city and on third day at seven in the morning, we boarded a Mahindra Xylo car that drove cautiously through tunnels, gorges and narrow roads. Five after we had our morning tea, the driver, Buntu, a tough guy from Uttrakhand pulled over by a Dhaba. Before I got down, I could see from the window, Raju’s Dhaba painted on a decrepit aluminum board with a beeline of truckers and tourists munching on Dal and Rotis.

At 10 in the evening we reached the nearest town in the Kinnaur district and the next job at hand was to look for an accommodation.  All the hotels were booming with tourists and none of the rooms were vacant before our driver, with the help of an acquaintance managed to get a room in a budget hotel but pantry was cold and we had to satisfy our tummies with couple of apples.

Next morning we started driving towards the Spiti valley, a picturesque border town that shares its boundary with Tibet. The first thing we did was to book a hotel and had our brunch before starting our journey to the village, we had read about only through our sources.

As soon as we told people in the village of around fifty houses, located in the lap of mighty and Rocky Mountains about the story and the families we were looking for, we were told about some confusing directions. Only when I realized that it would be good to a have a local accompanying us to the family that has a unique set up of polyandry – wife is shared by as many brothers according to a family custom, driven largely by the availability of smaller cultivable lands, we hitched an elderly frail man into the car. He explained that the custom was losing its popularity and acceptance, more so because of the advent of satellite TV and education.

All the village men and women had assembled in a monastery and were listening to the head priest silently. According to the man accompanying us, none of the men stay in their houses while monastery is in progress so there was least probability that we would find our men at their home. Anyways we reached and knocked at the door but shockingly nobody opened the door but a voice of a girl, who didn’t show herself, enquired about our visit and before I would ask her more questions, she told us to come only in the evening when one of his dads (these children don’t know about the exact biological father) would be home. Nay, was the answer when I asked if we could come in and have a talk tete-a-tete.

As it turned out things weren’t easy for us, as all the families refused to speak about their unique marriage. According to people out there, this set-up means the family land isn’t shared between brothers. Though in one of the families, I managed to convince the head of the family, a former army man who had served in various parts of India but his wife turned out to be a hard nut to crack. In another family, I was trying to convince another guy who also shared his wife with brother, for an hour. Though he was ready to offer tea and food but getting clicked for a newspaper was something, he had even objected to some of his relative journalists and he did the same to us.

Dejected and disturbed, we headed back to the hotel and after offering prayers, we decided to leave the place and our driver pointed out a place where we can find such families. After driving downhill for six hours we reached Kapa, the wind was blowing fast, the chill was piercing and we managed to pull off a room as the place was abuzz with tourists – both foreigners and local. After we were over with prayers we went down to have our dinner of Dal chawal and rotis. Though we are ardent non-veg lovers, but Halal meat wasn’t available so we had to be satisfied with veggies.

The lazy morning sun welcomed us and strong chilly western winds kept blowing, bringing fears of reluctance from more families. It was an important day and like an ideal start we managed to pin-point two families who perfectly fitted the story we were looking for. Buntu’s local friend, a short flabby man, who was getting married in couple of weeks, was instrumental in arranging a meet with a family. The younger brother along with his children and wife was a handsome man in his late twenties. Dressed up in blue jeans and a white printed T- shirt, I could imagine how beautiful he would look in the pictures. Needless to say, my photographer friend, who has a great eye for photography, must have thought of the angles and lighting suitable with our new subjects.

To our shock, once again we had to face the same situation – the elder brother, employed as a driver with some Telecommunication network, accessible only via phone link refused to be filmed and asked us to pack up. His beautiful wife, who must be in her early thirties, was ready and willing but permission was to be granted only by the elder husband. As soon as I asked him the reason for refusal, he banged the phone on me before saying that there was no reason but he wouldn’t do it.

After trying unsuccessfully for an hour or so, we had to leave the place and next stop was a historical and a famous Buddhist temple where we were thinking of the future issues – money was depleting fast from our pockets and on that day I got to know about the mileage of our car and the cost of one litre of diesel and Xylo was consuming fuel like a thirsty camel would drink water.

Finally, an afternoon appointment with a family proved our catch; all the family members agreed to be filmed and without losing a second my friend started to burst with his camera and in minutes I had filled dozens of my notepad pages.  The family had only couple of rooms besides a cooking room and I had to ask people to leave the room while asking private questions to the lady. A first look at the lady was very annoying – she didn’t look quite promising, which even my photographer later admitted. Actually she was cleaning the house but after washing and changing to her traditional attire, she was a completely different person.

Posing both her husbands besides her on the terrace of their house was met with resistance from the lady who informed that people will talk about her marriage and she would feel shy. But somehow we managed to pull it off, thanks to the cool temperament of both the husbands and wife as well. Five of their children would pester us a lot, mainly their lone son. He would sit for a second and then leave and hide in one of the corners of the house. But have sweet little daughters and one of them, in her 2^nd standard was quite intelligent and witty. As an advice, I told her mother to impart her best education – here I was acting as a counselor but she would excel if she receives a good education.

In a shocking revelation later, the fixer admitted that he wouldn’t have been so helpful, if he got to know about the questions, I asked the woman. He was eavesdropping from the alley but we somehow managed to pull it off. The journey mixed with excitement, fatigue, sight-seeing, hope, and despair ended on an optimistic note with a hope that we will visit the place again, if not for a story, at least for sight-seeing. The landscape would, I am sure force us to visit the place in summers. Not a surprise, it is generally said that people living in the mountains are usually kind and helpful. The place, at least proved to be one example.

Most of the times, we were not sure that we can complete the story for which we had visited the place but one thing was sure, even if we don’t manage to pull it off, there is not a boss in Delhi who would rebuke us or be disappointed with us, on the usual pretext – you should have tried harder.

So what we don’t complete the story, was the attitude!!!

How free are you to hurt one’s faith? Authors face arrest for reading Satanic Verses at Jaipur Lit Festival

Yes, one has the freedom of speech and expression but that always comes with limits. As goes a saying, ‘your freedom ends where my nose begins’. Now we know that Salman Rushdie, an award winning controversial author, couldn’t visit the Jaipur Literature Festival but it at the same time brought to our focus the ‘freedom of writers to write anything they want to’.

Those of you who don’t know about Rushdie’s novel ‘Satanic Verses’, let me apprise you that the book is banned in India and possessing it is an offence under Indian law. Published in 1988, initially in the UK, the book created a furore amongst Muslims across the world (not just the fundamentalists or zealots, as many writers would call them). Reason: After God (Allah), Prophet Muhammad is the most exalted figure for all Muslims, whether they belong to Sunni or Shia sects. And Rushdie’s novel was seen as a blasphemy, as it projected ‘prophet’s ignorance and the state of confusion’, which even tipsy Muslims wouldn’t approve of.

David A. Kerr, a professor of Islamic studies and director of the Macdonald Center for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslin Relations at Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut wrote in his article years before: “Rushdie has said that his book is not about Islam but “about migration, metamorphosis, divided selves, love, death, London and Bombay.” In two chapters that take the form of a fictional dream of a fictional character, Rushdie deals in a fantastical way with the birth of a great world religion, which claims to be based in revelation. It is these chapters that led to Muslims being offended. Though allegorical in style, they clearly refer to the Qur’an, the Prophet Muhammad, his wives and companions in terms that are bound to give insult. The naming of the prophet as “Mahound,” for example, directly evokes medieval European polemics, which called Muhammad by this word, a synonym of the devil (Satan). He is said to have written his revelation at the prompting of one of his companions (another Salman). His wives are portrayed as harlots, and his companions as bums.”

Though the author isn’t present in the festival but his ghost seems to have fallen in love with the show being put up, and is fuelling one controversy after another. Four authors, including Hari Kunzru, despite knowing that the book is banned in India (one believes that an author of a great stature wouldn’t be ignorant like a commoner who isn’t even literate about the law of land) read several passages from the book, apparently ‘to give voice to an author who was silenced by a death threat’ but Kunzru, according to media reports has even left the country, after being informed that he could face an arrest. One would have imagined Kunzru would resist and fight the case, and maybe, spent a few nights behind bars as that might have given a better voice to Rushdie (who although doesn’t need one, as he isn’t dumb). But quite understandably, he chose to flee (if we write he left with the tail between his legs, it would obviously annoy him, and he would yell at our freedom our expression and quite genuine, so we avoid saying this).

Now, it has been reported that Kunzru has posted an apology on his website for unintentionally hurting feelings or causing disrespect to religion. It seems like emptying your weapons on a person and then saying sorry to his survivors. Why don’t these ‘big-shot’ writers gauge their writings or saying before they go public? Doesn’t it reduce the difference between a person with average intellect and intellectuals like Kunzru? Also by posting an apology, Kunzru has unintentionally contradicted the freedom of expression, he was championing for Rushdie – hurting somebody’s faith is not guaranteed by your fundamental rights.

As reported by Indian Express, the banned novel depicts four women as prostitutes and Rushdie chose to name them according to wives of the Prophet. One name would have been a co-incidence but all the four names couldn’t – a big reason for Muslims to get offended by the novel. Immediately after the publication, a death warrant was issued by Iranian spiritual leader, Ayotollah Khomeini against Rushdie but UK government chose to provide him security that has kept him unharmed till date.

According to Indian Express, Muslims in the UK fervently pleaded for an extension of the law of blasphemy to non-Christian religions. But it was turned down because Whitehall (the seat of England’s government), even with the influx of millions of immigrants to England, was still — at least in outlook — an exclusively Christian country.

The paper adds: “If by innuendo, the distinguished and popular author, who could not attend/ did not attend/ was not permitted to attend the Jaipur Literature Festival (take your pick!), had linked the names of the four women in his book instead to Jesus Christ, he would have been guilty of the criminal offence of blasphemy in England — the bastion of free speech.

Though more than a dozen people have lost their lives in the protests that ensued across the world after the publication, the issue that was becoming hazy in poeople’s memories was given fresh oxygen in the run up to the Jaipur Literature Festival, and was brought to the fore after Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband demanded that Rushdie shouldn’t be allowed to enter the country. The issue assumes significance due to the assembly election in five Indian states, including Uttar Pradesh where Muslim votes have a large say in the outcome of the results.

But now it has transcended that issue – a massive debated is trending on social media and the mainstream media about the freedom of expression of the writers. Not only that Rushdie himself has taken to Twitter and in the latest outburst he has accused the intelligence agencies here, who according to him had lied to him about the teams of ‘hitmen’ formed to kill him, if he ventured into the Pink City.

After taking a look at the whole controversy, one gets a feeling that the fatwas or threats may be the handiwork of political machinations but it, at the same time, has brought into focus that we can’t hurt one’s feelings or faith through our writings or sayings.

Source: http://www.merinews.com/article/how-free-are-you-to-hurt-ones-faith-authors-face-arrest-for-reading-satanic-verses-at-jaipur-lit-festival/15864582.shtml

Rushdie, vote-bank, ignorant mullahs and sham democracy!!!

Before I make my point, let me put it straight; India that claims to be a secular country is actually a sham democracy, no second thoughts about it. Every newspaper you scan or any news website that you rummage around or even the social media is abuzz with stories, comments and articles about the Jaipur Literature Festival. Though an enormous platform for writers, both established and wannabe, the festival has grown impressively since it took off with a small jamboree in the year 2005. What is trending about the festival is actually an award winning but controversial author, Salman Rushdie – whose book Satanic Verses has been accused of insulting Islamic Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Rushdie was scheduled to speak during the inaugural event on Januray 20^th but as per the latest media reports, the author has been asked to stay away from the festival in the backdrop of threats from some fundamentalist Muslim groups, who have demanded that government should cancel his visa (though he doesn’t need one, given his NRI status). One of the groups, Raza Academy has even announce an award of one lakh rupees to the person, who throws a slipper at Rushdie.

Such incidents and threats are not new in this so-called democracy, where vote-bank politics decides the discourse. A Kashmir conference was cancelled in Bangalore recently after threats from right-wing Hindu groups, lawyer Prashant Bhushan was thrashed by activists of Shri Ram Sena for his Kashmir remark that called for referendum in the disputed state, MF Hussain was forced to live and die in exile due to fear of Hindu fundamentalists while an eminent poet and writer, Mahesh Dattani’s drama, Sara had to face the wrath of Shiv Sainks in Mumbai.

Literature festival was organized before as well and Rushdie participated in one, held in 2007 but nobody cared a shit about the author or called for a ban. Why now? Before you get confused, let me tell that it is time for elections in five Indian states and Muslims play an important role in UP elections (rather their role is limited to elections only) that are just round the corner. How does Rushdie affect the electorate? Not exactly but yes, he does. The Congress party, according to the script, appeased Muslim voters as the Congress government headed by Ashok Gehlot played an important role to discourage Rushdie from visiting the fest. Deoband Ulemas who called for author’s ban were handed the task of raising hue and cry over his visit, the Gehlot government wrote off final touches or the climax.

Nothing in the country happens on its own, politics decides the course of events in this country. But one tends to get upset by seeing the mullahs who consider themselves the custodians of the religion, using their august institutions, just to remain close to the power corridors. This is true for both Hindus and Muslims here. But right now point of discussion is the Deoband Ulemas who asked for the ban of the controversial author. In their attempts to dance to the tunes of governments, don’t they ever think how they are bringing bad name to their religion? Of course, they won’t. They are there to misuse it for their personal gains. They would never open their eyes to the sufferings that have been inflicted on the community by the successive governments. Not a surprise, a mullah rejoiced when Narendra Modi, Gujarat Chief Minister, who government oversaw the Godhra riots, accepted his shawl after refusing to wear the skullcap that the mullah gifted him. Though we can’t generalize the mullahs but this one is a sample, ironically.

Happiness is worth, if shared!!!

Of all those lonely nights,

Restless evenings

When nothingness led me astray

All that merry-making

We did together

Is only part of the memory!

Away from all the hustle and bustle

Crouched in one of the dark corners of a room

Loneliness is now a cohort

To whine and whimper,

Isn’t what I can do

Hopelessness is incredulity

And it happens routinely here

Of the aimless life,

And the shadows of solitude

Instinct senses the threat of loss

Mind balks at its measure

Wounded,

Healed

Come,

Hear the stories

Secluded life is melancholic

Happiness has a merit,

Only if shared!