मोदी से जुडी कुछ बाते: ना पक्ष में और ना विपक्ष में !
मोदी आ जरूर रहे है लेकिन उनके लिए प्रधानमंत्री का मुकुट किसी कांटो से भरे ताज के समान ही होगा। देखना यही है कि इन विषम परिस्थितियों में वे किस तरह देश को विकास के राह पे ले जाते है. सबसे बड़ी बात यही है कि हिन्दू जनमानस के भावनाओं का वो कितना ख्याल रख पाएंगे इस तरह के माहौल में जहा सिर्फ मुस्लिम अधिकार या क्रिस्चियन अधिकार ही सेक्युलर भावना का आधार बन चुके है!
चुनाव के वक्त किसी एक बड़ी लहर का होना एक विशेष घटना होती है. लहर तभी होती है जब किसी जनप्रिय नेता का अचानक निधन हो जाए दुखद तरीके से या राजनैतिक हलकों में किसी स्कैम या स्कैंडल की वजह से किसी ख़ास पार्टी की तरफ लहर का माहौल बन जाए. इसलिए मोदी के पक्ष में लहर कई कारणों से अनोखी है. एक तो ये किसी दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण घटना की उपज नहीं है और दूसरी ये कि ये किसी बड़े कारण से नहीं उपजी है. इस लहर के पीछे कारण सिर्फ ये है कि लोग बदलाव चाहते है. कांग्रेस के कथनी और करनी में फर्क को देखते देखते लोग त्रस्त हो चुके है. ऐसे में नरेंद्र मोदी जिन्होंने गुजरात में अच्छा काम कर दिखाया तमाम विघटनकारी शक्तियों से सामना करते हुए वे लोगो के नज़रो में आशा की एक बड़ी किरण बन के उभरे है. और इस कदर उभरे है कि हर गली कूंचो में लोग इनके बारे में चर्चा कर रहे है. इन चर्चाओ में हर तबके के लोग शामिल है और हर उम्र वर्ग के लोग शामिल है. देहातो में आप निकल जाए वहा भी मोदी की लहर है. और ये सिर्फ सुनियोजित प्रचार के चलते संभव नहीं हुआ है बल्कि आश्चर्यजनक तरीके से मोदी में उपजे विश्वास के चलते सम्भव हुआ है.
नरेंद्र मोदी ने गुजरात में अच्छा काम किया ये तो है ही लेकिन कांग्रेस का दोहरा चरित्र लोगो ने भली भाँति समझ लिया ये एक बड़ी वजह है. लोगो ने ये समझ लिया है कि कांग्रेस राज के चलते इस देश में कुछ भी सही संभव नहीं. ये सिर्फ लोगो का शोषण करने के लिए बनी पार्टी है जिसमे नेता के नाम पर किसी एक परिवार के प्रति सम्मान रखने वाले चापलूस भरे पड़े हैं. ऐसा शायद ही कभी इस देश में हुआ हो कि किसी प्रधानमन्त्री की छवि इतने असहाय और कमजोर व्यक्ति के रूप में उभरी हो जबकि उसके पास गुणों का भण्डार रहा हों. उसकी सबसे बड़ी वजह ये थी कि कांग्रेस ने कभी भी अच्छे आदमी को ताकत नहीं सौपी. सिर्फ उन्ही लोगो को आगे बढ़ाया जिन्होंने चमचागिरी और चाटुकारिता में यकीन रखा. अच्छे लोगो को कांग्रेस ने निकम्मा बना के छोड़ा. अब की पीढ़ी ने ये कांग्रेस का चरित्र समझ लिया और वो बदलाव चाहती है. मोदी ना होते कोई और नेता इतने ही कद का होता तो वो भी लहर को जन्म दे देता. लेकिन नियति ने यह एक मौका मोदी को दिया है.
अगर हम मोदी के नज़रिये से देखे तो ये एक अच्छी घटना भी है और अच्छी नहीं भी है. वो इसलिए कि विरोधाभासों से भरे इस देश में जब आप किसी एक व्यक्ति पे इतना भरोसा कर लेते है और उससे इतनी सारी उम्मीदे पाल लेते है तो ऐसे में उसको अपने पोटेंशियल को आज़माना और सब की उम्मीदों पर खरे उतरना असंभव सा हो जाता है. लोगो का मोदी के प्रति उत्साह देख कर तो ये लगता है कि मोदी के आने के बाद क्रन्तिकारी बदलाव आएगा उस देश में जो पिछले साठ-सत्तर सालो क्या कई युगो से गुलामी के चक्र में पिसता चला आ रहा है. ये लोगो का इस कदर उम्मीदे पाल लेना, इतना उत्साह से लबरेज़ हो जाना खलता है. लोगो को उम्मीदे पालने में तार्किक और न्यायसंगत होना चाहिए ताकि आने वाला आदमी कुछ सही कर पाये वरना कुछ समय बाद लोग फिर चिढ़ने, कुढ़ने और गरियाने लगते है.
गुजरात के दंगो की बात करने वाले गोधरा नरसंहार पे चुप्पी साध लेते है !
आप पहले इस देश का चरित्र देखे. जिस कांग्रेस पार्टी ने इतने सालो तक राज किया उसके पास किस तरह के नेता है. जो इनका यूथ आइकॉन है इनकी नज़रो में और जो दुर्भाग्य से इनका प्रधानमंत्री पद का दावेदार भी है वो इतनी निकृष्ट सोच रखता है कि वे किसी की निजी जिंदगी में कीचड़ उछालने से बाज़ नहीं आता जबकि यही पार्टी महिलाओं का सम्मान करने का दम्भ पालती है! ये पार्टी युवा सोच का सम्मान करने वाली के रूप में अपने को प्रमोट कर रही है. तो क्या युवाओ की सोच इतनी सतही हो गयी है कि सत्ता का मोह किसी के निजी जिंदगी के उन किस्सों को उजागर करे जिनका वर्तमान से कुछ लेना देना ना हो?
इस देश में कांग्रेस के अलावा कुछ तथाकथित सेक्युलर पार्टिया भी है जिन्हे अपने प्रोग्रेसिव होने का दम्भ है और विगत वर्षो में ये कुछ इस कदर प्रोग्रेसिव हुई कि मुख्यधारा में शामिल राजनैतिक दलों के समूह से ही इनका लोप हो गया. बल्कि राजनैतिक दल के रूप में मान्यता भी घटे वोट प्रतिशत के कारण समाप्त हो गई. लेकिन इनके कुछ प्रकाशन अभी भी इनके नाम का भोंपू बजाते रहते है बेसिर पैर के लेखो के जरिये. सो इन प्रकाशनों के जरिये ये सन्देश दिया जा रहा है कि मोदी के आ जाने से “नरम फांसीवाद” का उदय होगा और ये कुछ ऐसा ही है जिस तरह हिटलर ने सत्ता प्राप्त की थी. इस तरह की सायकोटिक और पैरानॉयड सोच की वजह से ही भारत की जनता ने इन्हे मुख्यधारा से ही हटा दिया. इनका खुद का इतिहास ही क्रूर तानाशाहों से भरा रहा है लिहाज़ा इनका इस तरह से भयाक्रांत होना और लोगो में भी बेवजह भय उत्पन्न करना इनका एकमात्र धंधा बन गया है. ये खुद कितने साफ़ सुथरे चरित्र वाले रहे है इसका नमूना तो आप पश्चिम बंगाल में देख सकते है जहा मार्क्सवादी गुंडों ने कितने सालो तक आर्गनाइज्ड बूथ कैप्चरिंग करके किसी को सत्ता में आने ना दिया. कथनी और करनी में कितना ज्यादा फ़ासला हो सकता है ये इस पार्टी ने देश में सबको दिखाया।
इसी पार्टी की विचारधारा के लोगो ने देश और विदेश की मेनस्ट्रीम मीडिया में अपने दलाल रख छोड़े है जिनका मुख्य काम यही है कि जहा दक्षिणपंथी सोच हावी होते हुए दिखे वहा पे तुरंत इस बात को प्रचारित करना शुरू कर दो कि देश की कल्चरल डाइवर्सिटी को खतरा है, मुसलमानो के बुरे दिन आ गए है, क्रिस्चियनस के बुरे दिन आ गए है इत्यादि. गुजरात के दंगो का जिन्न भी निकल कर बाहर आ जायेगा. याद करिये जब गुजरात में मोदी एक बार फिर बहुमत से जीत कर आये थे तो इलेक्ट्रॉनिक मीडिया उस वक्त किस नज़रिये से जीत को देख रही थी; ये देखे कि इस बात पे बहस हो रही थी कि मुस्लिमो का वोट प्रतिशत क्या रहा है और कहा पे मुस्लिमो ने वोट दिया और कहा नहीं दिया! मुस्लिम वोट के नाम पे होने वाले तमाशे को खुद मुस्लिम ही अगर सुलझा सके अपनी कबीलाई मानसिकता से ऊपर उठ कर तो बेहतर होगा. क्योकि बाहर से कोई इन्हे समझाए प्रेशर डाल कर तो खुद इनके भीतर और बाहर भी एक गलत सन्देश जाता है. लिहाज़ा इन्हे ही कुछ करना होगा ताकि इनके नाम पे होने वाले वीभत्स तमाशे बंद हो सके. पता नहीं क्यों मुस्लिमो ने हमेशा अपने को इस्तेमाल होते रहने देना पसंद किया है? इनके अंदर अभी भी बंद दिमागों का प्रभाव है जो इन्हे कभी भी वर्तमान में सही तरीके से जुड़ने से रोकता है और हर गलत ताकत से इनको जोड़ देता है. हो सकता है इनको अपने इस्तेमाल होते रहने में हित सधते दिखते है!
अमेरिका को ना पाकिस्तान में हुए हिन्दुओ पर अत्याचार दिखा और ना ही कभी उसे पाकिस्तान में कल्चरल डाइवर्सिटी खतरे में दिखी! केवल भारत में ही उसे ये खतरा दिखता है और वो भी चुनावो के वक्त या किसी और नाजुक समय में!
ऐसा नहीं कि हैलुसिनेशन का शिकार मेनस्ट्रीम मीडिया या राजनेता सिर्फ भारत में ही हलचल मचाते है बल्कि ऐसे नाज़ुक क्षणों में विदेशो में भी इस तरह के हैलुसिनेशन से ग्रसित लोग हर तरह की नौटंकी करने लगते है. अब अमेरिका में देखिये जैसे ही वहा के लोगो को मोदी के सत्ता में आने की संभावना दिखी वही पे अमेरिकी कांग्रेस में अच्छी खासी बहस छिड़ गयी कि मोदी के आगमन का मतलब कल्चरल डाइवर्सिटी को खतरा है जबकि भारत ही वो देश है साउथ एशिया में जहा कल्चरल डाइवर्सिटी सबसे स्थिर रही है. बिडम्बना देखिये कि रेसोलुशन ४१७ तब कभी नहीं लाया गया जब पाकिस्तान में अल्पसंख्यक हिन्दू और सिख संप्रदाय पे बर्बर जुल्म हुए और उनका प्रतिशत लगातार घटता रहा इनके पलायन की वजह से. खुद अपने देश में कश्मीरी पंडितो पे हुए जुल्म को किसी अमेरिकी संस्था ने संज्ञान में लेने की कोशिश नहीं की. इस रेसोलुशन में गुजरात दंगो के लिए मोदी को जिम्मेदार माना गया जो ये दर्शाता है कि निहित स्वार्थ के चलते सोचने वाले दिमाग कितने संकीर्ण हो जाते है. ये बहस तब हो रही है जब सुप्रीम कोर्ट की निगरानी में चले गहन इन्वेस्टीगेशन ने मोदी को क्लीन चिट दी और यहाँ तक कि गुजरात दंगो की दोबारा जांच की मांग को भी ख़ारिज कर दिया. गोधरा में ट्रेन में हुए नरसंहार को भी स्पेशल कोर्ट ने एक संप्रदाय विशेष को ही दोषी माना और इसमें शामिल लोगो को मौत की सजा दी. अमेरिका जो ऊँची सोच का दम्भ रखता है शायद उसे भारत की न्याय परंपरा से अधिक संकीर्ण सोच से ग्रसित और गलत ताकतों द्वारा पोषित मेनस्ट्रीम मीडिया के कुछ प्रकाशनों पे ज्यादा ही भरोसा है.
मोदी आ जरूर रहे है लेकिन उनके लिए प्रधानमंत्री का मुकुट किसी कांटो से भरे ताज के समान ही होगा. देखना यही है कि इन विषम परिस्थितियों में वे किस तरह देश को विकास के राह पे ले जाते है. सबसे बड़ी बात यही है कि हिन्दू जनमानस के भावनाओं का वो कितना ख्याल रख पाएंगे इस तरह के माहौल में जहा सिर्फ मुस्लिम अधिकार या क्रिस्चियन अधिकार ही सेक्युलर भावना का आधार बन चुके है! क्या वो विखंडित हिन्दू आस्था को एक बेहतर मजबूती दे पाएंगे? क्या इतनी सारी उम्मीदे पाले असंख्य लोगो की आशाओ पे मोदी खरे उतर पाएंगे? ये तो सिर्फ अब आने वाला वक्त ही बतायेगा. बेहतर तो यही है कि इतनी सारी उम्मीदे पालने से अच्छा है कि मोदी को अपने हिसाब से चलने दिया जाए!
अमेरिका में मानवाधिकार की ऊँची ऊँची बाते करने वाली संस्थाओ ने कभी भी कश्मीरी पंडितो के दुर्दशा को संज्ञान में नहीं लिया !
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Pic One
कांची के शंकराचार्य की रिहाई इस बात को दर्शाती है कि वर्तमान समय में दुष्प्रचार ज्यादा ताकतवर है बजाय सत्य के!
कांची के शंकराचार्य अंततः निर्दोष और निष्पाप होकर उभरे लेकिन इस नौ साल लम्बे ड्रामे की वजह से इस अति प्राचीन हिन्दू मठ पर जो दाग लगे उसको मिटने में कई वर्ष लगेंगे.
इस नए युग के इंडिया यानि “भारत” के अगर हाल के घटनाओ को देखे तो ये आसानी से समझ आ जाएगा कि धर्मनिरपेक्ष सरकारो ने सबसे ज्यादा जुल्म ढाया है हिन्दू संतो पर. ये धर्मनिरपेक्ष सरकारे मुग़लकाल के बाद्शाहो और ब्रिटिश काल के शासको से भी ज्यादा क्रूर रही है हिन्दू धर्मं से जुड़े प्रतीकों को ध्वस्त करने और इनसे जुड़े लोगो को अपमानित करने के मामले में. हिन्दू संतो को निराकरण ही प्रताड़ित किया जा रहा है और इन्हे यौन अपराधो से लेकर देशद्रोह जैसे जघन्य अपराधो में बेवजह घसीटा जा रहा है. बिकी हुई मीडिया इन प्रकरणो का एक पक्ष दिखाती है अपने देश में और देश के बाहर विदेशी अखबारो में. ये आपको अक्सर देखने को मिलेगा कि इस प्रकार के खबरो में ज्यादातर झूठ होता है या अर्धसत्य का सहारा लेकर एक भ्रामक कहानी गाढ़ी जाती है. कोई भी मुख्यधारा का समाचार पत्र तस्वीर के दोनों पहलू दिखाने में दिलचस्पी नहीं रखता.
एक सबसे बड़ी वजह ये है कि ज्यादातर भारतीय मीडिया समूह का कण्ट्रोल विदेशी ताकतो के हाथो में है. सबके विदेशी हित कही ना कही शामिल है तब हम किस तरह से इनसे ये आशा रखे कि ये सच बोलेंगे? ये वही मुख्यधारा के समाचार पत्र है जो साध्वी प्रज्ञा के गिरफ्तारी को तो खूब जोर शोर से दिखाते है लेकिन साध्वी के साथ जेल के अंदर हुए अमानवीय कृत्यो को जो बंदियो के अधिकारो का सरासर उल्लंघन था उसको दिखाने या बताने से साफ़ मुँह मोड़ गए. ये वही मुख्यधारा के समाचार पत्र है जिन्होंने देवयानी प्रकरण में देवयानी का साथ इस तरह से दिया जैसी कि उसने भारत के नाम विदेशो में ऊँचा किया हो, जैसे उसने कोई जुर्म ही नहीं किया हो. वो इसलिए से क्योकि इसका सरकार से सीधा सरोकार है और सिस्टम इसके पक्ष में है लेकिन हर वो आदमी जिसने भी सरकार ये सिस्टम के विपक्ष में कुछ कहा उसे इस तरह की सरकारे या सिस्टम सुनियोजित तरीको से अपराधी घोषित कर देता है.
ये कहने में कोई संकोच नहीं कि आज के युग मे सत्य से ज्यादा असरदार किसी के खिलाफ सुनियोजित तरीके से फैलायी गयी मनगढंत बाते है. समाचार पत्रो का काम होता है सत्य को सामने लाना सही रिपोर्टिंग के जरिये लेकिन हो इसका ठीक उल्टा रहा है: मीडिया आज सबसे बड़ा हथियार बन गयी है झूठ और भ्रम को विस्तार देने हेतु. इसका केवल इतना काम रहा गया है कि हर गलत ताकतो को जो सत्ता में है उनको बचाना, उनको बल देना. एक बाजारू औरत की तरह अपनी निष्ठा को हर बार बदलते रहना मीडिया का एकमात्र धर्मं बन गया है. साधारण शब्दो में ये सत्ता पे आसीन शासको की भाषा बोलता है. कांची के पूज्य जगद्गुरु शंकराचार्य स्वामी जयेन्द्र सरस्वती जी की गिरफ्तारी के प्रकरण के रौशनी में इस प्रकरण को देखे जिन्हे २००४ में बेहद शर्मनाक तरीके से शंकर रमण के हत्या के आरोप में गिरफ्तार कर लिया था. शंकर रमण कांची के एक मंदिर में मैनेजेर थें. उस वक्त के तमिलनाडु के तत्कालीन मुख्यमंत्री जयललिता ने अपने को धर्मनिरपेक्ष साबित करने के लिए और ये जताने के लिए कि कानून से ऊपर कोई नहीं होता इनकी गिरफतारी सुनिश्चित की. कांची के शंकराचार्य के ऊपर “आपराधिक षड्यंत्र, अदालत को गुमराह करने गलत सूचना के जरिये, धन का आदान प्रदान आपराधिक गतिविधि को क्रियांवित करने के लिये” आदि आरोप लगाये गए.
इस एक हज़ार साल से भी ऊपर अति प्राचीन ब्राह्मणो के अत्यंत महत्त्वपूर्ण केंद्र के मुख्य संचालक को इस तरह अपमानजनक तरीके से एक दुर्दांत अपराधी के भांति गिरफ्तार करना और फिर मुख्यधारा के समाचार पत्रो के द्वारा अनर्गल बयानो के आधार पर उनको दोषी करार कर देना अपने आप में मीडिया की सच्चाई बयान कर देता है. ये बता देना आवश्यक रहेगा कि कांची कामकोटि पीठ हिन्दुओ का अति प्राचीन मठ है जिसको हिन्दू समुदाय में दुनिया भर में बेहद श्रद्धा के साथ देखा जाता है. कांची के पूज्य जगद्गुरु शंकराचार्य स्वामी जयेन्द्र सरस्वती जी बहुत सम्मान की दृष्टि से देखे जाते रहे है हिन्दू शास्त्रो के मर्मज्ञ होने के कारण. इन्होने नवी शताब्दी में स्थापित कांची कामकोटि पीठ के गरिमा को नयी ऊंचाई प्रदान की, जिसकी हिन्दू समुदाय में वेटिकन चर्च सरीखी पकड़ है. जयललिता और ब्राह्मण विरोधी नेता डीएमके प्रमुख करूणानिधि के आपसी मतभेदों के चलते इस हिन्दू मठ के माथे पर कालिख लग गयी.
ये बता देना आवश्यक रहेगा कि कांची कामकोटि पीठ हिन्दुओ का अति प्राचीन मठ है जिसको हिन्दू समुदाय में दुनिया भर में बेहद श्रद्धा के साथ देखा जाता है. कांची के पूज्य जगद्गुरु शंकराचार्य स्वामी जयेन्द्र सरस्वती जी बहुत सम्मान की दृष्टि से देखे जाते रहे है हिन्दू शास्त्रो के मर्मज्ञ होने के कारण. इन्होने नवी शताब्दी में स्थापित कांची कामकोटि पीठ के गरिमा को नयी ऊंचाई प्रदान की, जिसकी हिन्दू समुदाय में वेटिकन चर्च सरीखी पकड़ है. जयललिता और ब्राह्मण विरोधी नेता डीएमके प्रमुख करूणानिधि के आपसी मतभेदों के चलते इस हिन्दू मठ के माथे पर कालिख लग गयी.
उस वक्त के प्रमुख समाचार पत्रो ने ये दर्शाया कि पुलिस इस तरह से गिरफ्तार करने का साहस बिना पुख्ता सबूतो के कर ही नहीं सकती. उस वक्त अभियोजन पक्ष के वकील इस बात से पूरी तरह आश्वस्त थे कि शंकराचार्य को दोषी साबित करने के लिए उनके पास पर्याप्त पुख्ता सबूत थें. विवेचना अधिकारी प्रेम कुमार का ये बयान प्रमुखता से छपा कि हमारे पास ठोस साक्ष्य है स्वामी जयेन्द्र सरस्वती के खिलाफ और ये कि शंकर रमण और इनके बीच करीब चार सालो से आपसी मनमुटाव था जिसको सिद्ध करने के लिए पर्याप्त सबूत इकठ्ठा किये जा रहे है.
खैर ईश्वर के यहाँ देर भले हो पर अंधेर नहीं है. सत्य की अंततः विजय हुई जब पांडिचेरी की विशेष अदालत ने सत्ताइस नवंबर २०१३ को उन सभी लोगो को जो शंकर रमण हत्याकांड में आरोपी बनाये गए थें उनको बाइज्जत बरी कर दिया. इसी के साथ नौ साल से हो रहे ड्रामे का पटाक्षेप हो गया. उन पर लगाये गए सभी आरोपो से उन्हें मुक्त कर दिया गया. जितने भी प्रमुख गवाह थें उन्होंने अभियोजन पक्ष के वर्णन को समर्थन देने से इंकार कर दिया। अभियोजन पक्ष के विरोध में करीब ८० से अधिक गवाहो ने अपने बयान दर्ज कराये।
कांची के शंकराचार्य अंततः निर्दोष और निष्पाप होकर उभरे लेकिन इस नौ साल लम्बे ड्रामे की वजह से इस अति प्राचीन हिन्दू मठ पर जो दाग लगे उसको मिटने में कई वर्ष लगेंगे. हिन्दुओ के आस्था और प्रतीक के साथ जो बेहूदा मजाक हुआ उसके निशान कई वर्षो तक संवेदनशील मनो को कटोचते रहेंगे. लेकिन हिन्दू ब्राह्मण के उदार मन को देखिये कि इतना होने के बाद भी किसी के प्रति कोई कटुता नहीं. इस परिपेक्ष्य में शंकराचार्य के वक्तव्य को देखिये जो उन्होंने बरी होने के बाद दिया: ” धर्म की विजय हुई. सत्य की जीत हुई. सब कुछ खत्म हो जाने के बाद अंत में केवल यही बात मायने रखती है. मुझे मेरे गुरु ने सब कुछ सहन करने को कहा है. इसलिए ये कहना उचित नहीं होगा कि हालात मेरे लिए असहनीय थें. हा कुछ दिक्कते जरूर आयी वो भी उस वजह सें कि हम लोग नयी तरह की परिस्थितयो का सामना कर रहे थें. हमने पूर्व में देखा है कि किस तरह आक्रमणकारियों ने हिन्दू मंदिरो पर हमले कर उनको विध्वंस किया। आज जब हम मंदिरो पर पड़े उन हमलो की निशानियाँ देखते है तो हमे वे आक्रमणकारी और उनकी क्रूरता याद आती है. आज जो कुछ भी मठ के साथ हुआ ( मेरे पर जो आरोप लगे) वे बहुतो की नज़र में पूर्व में किये गए आक्रमणकारियों के द्वारा किये गए विध्वंस सरीखे ही है.”
ये बहुत दुःख की बात है कि जैसे ही किसी हिन्दू संत पर कोई आरोप लगते है सारे मुख्यधारा के मीडिया समूह उस संत को बदनाम करने की कवायद में जुट जाते है पूरी ताकत से इस बात से बिल्कुल बेपरवाह होकर कि मीडिया का मुख्य काम किसी भी घटना की सही-२ रिपोर्टिंग करनी होती है ना कि न्यायिक ट्रायल करना। उससे भी बड़ी बिडम्बना ये है कि अगर संत पर लगे आरोप निराधार और झूठे पाये जाते है तो जो अखबार या फिर न्यूज़ चैनल आरोप लगने के वक्त पूरे जोर शोर से संत को दोषी ठहरा रहे थे वे ही अखबार और न्यूज़ चैनल पूरी तरह से कन्नी काट लेते है. संत को बेगुनाह साबित करने वाली खबर कब आती है और कब चली जाती है ये पता भी नहीं चलता है. यही वजह है कि कांची के शंकराचार्य की बेगुनाही और बाइज्ज़त बरी होना किसी भी शीर्ष अखबार के सुर्खियो में नहीं आया. शायद सेकुलर मीडिया ने ये सोच कर इस खबर को प्रमुखता से नहीं बताया क्योकि हिन्दुओ से जुडी कोई भली खबर सेक्युलर भावना के विपरीत होती है!
मेनस्ट्रीम मीडिया को प्रोपगेंडा ज्यादा रास आता है बजाय सत्य के. सेक्युलर ताकतो ने और इनके द्वारा संचालित मीडिया समूहो ने कांची के शंकराचार्य के गिरफ्तारी के वक्त ये बहुत जोरदार तरीके से ये दर्शाया कि कोई भी कानून से ऊपर नहीं होता. तो क्या यही सेक्युलर ताकते जो कानून की बात करती है शाही ईमाम सैय्यद अहमद बुख़ारी को गिरफ्तार करने की हिम्मत रखते है जिन पर कई धाराओ में देश के विभिन्न थानो में एफ आई आर दर्ज है? क्या यही सेक्युलर ताकते उन क्रिस्चियन मिशनरीज को बेनकाब करने की ताकत रखती है जो देश के पिछड़े और दूर दराज के इलाको में लोगो को बहला फुसला कर उनका धर्म परिवर्तन कर रही है? लेकिन ये सबको पता है कि सेक्युलर मीडिया ऐसा कभी नहीं करेगा. ऐसा इसलिए कि इन सेक्युलर लोगो की निगाह में कानून के लम्बे हाथ केवल हिन्दू संतो के गर्दन तक पहुंचती है. ये हिन्दू संतो को केवल बदनाम करने तक ही सीमित है और हिन्दू आस्था को खंडित और विकृत करने भर के लिए है. ये दुष्प्रचार के समर्थक है सत्य के नहीं.
हिन्दू संत अपनी जाने गंवाते रहे है लेकिन ये खबरे कभी भी सेक्युलर मीडिया की सुर्खिया नहीं बनी. ये स्वामी लक्ष्मणानन्द जी की तस्वीर है जिनकी हत्या क्रिस्चियन ताकतो ने कर दी थी.
References:
Pics Credit:
Acquittal of Kanchi Seers: A Sad Reminder Of The Fact That Propaganda Is More Powerful Than Truth!
The Acquittal Of Kanchi Seer: Truth has won over propaganda!
Any close observer of the happenings in modern India would easily confirm that secular governments have unleashed a sort of war against Hindu saints. They have been framed in number of heinous crimes right from sexual crimes to crimes against national security. The paid media ensures that one-sided coverage gets highlighted not only within Indian landscape but also in International arena. In such matters wherein Hindu saints are involved, a striking feature is that news coverage is full of lies and twisted truths spread by secular press. None of the mainstream media dares to reveal both sides of the story in an impartial way.
One important reason is that most of the Indian media houses are in some way controlled by hidden powers in Western nations. How can we then expect truth to make its presence felt? After all, the mainstream media which harps about involvement of Sadhvi Pragya in blasts never found it important enough to report in same candid fashion about severe violation of rights of prisoners, about inhuman treatment meted out to her inside the jail! The same media is so hyper-sensitive about rights of Devyani who made mockery of India’s honour in West but yet she is being portrayed as if she committed no crime at all! That’s because she is part of the system. But anybody who dared to expose the misdeeds of government was branded as criminal in a well-planned manner!
What I am trying to ascertain that we have given way to era wherein propaganda has become more powerful than version close to truth. One of the most important job of media is to reveal the real picture but exactly opposite has taken place: Media has become carrier of falsehood and distorted versions. It’s main agenda has become to shield dubious powers in rule. Like a prostitute it keep changing its loyalty or, in other words, it generally speaks the language of rulers! Remember the arrest of Kanchi Shankaracharya Swami Jayendra Saraswati in year 2004 in most humiliating manner for allegedly playing a role in murder of Sankararaman, manager of the Sri Varadarajaswamy Temple. The then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu,J Jayalalithaa, in an attempt to appear more secular than others and to give an impression that no one is above law ensured his arrest! The Kanchi seers were charged with” criminal conspiracy, misleading the court by giving false information, criminal trespass and supply of funds to carry out the criminal activity.”
The Truth Had The Last Laugh!
The head of a 1,000-year-old Brahmin monastic order was presented as petty criminal in mainstream media and even before case was put to trial he was portrayed as accused. Let’s remember that Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham is one of the oldest Hindu mutts in the country and Shankarcharyas belonging to this mutt command a great respect among Hindu communities across the globe. In fact, Swami Jayendra Saraswati is a highly respected figure having profound knowledge of Hindu scriptures. He like his predecessors provided new heights to this mutt established in 9th century by Sri Adi Shankaracharya, enjoying similar status the way Vatican enjoys amid Christians. However, clash of interests between J Jayalalithaa and DMK chief Karunanidhi, who represented anti- Brahminical movments, ensured that this highly revered pontiff got disgraced.
Prominent media analysts of that period conveyed the impression that “police would not have acted unless they had sufficient evidence.” Ironically, the prosecution at that time was supremely confidant about involvement of Kanchi seers in abetting murder of Sankararaman, claiming that it had “incriminating evidence”. The investigating officer Prem Kumar came out with version that made mutt head appear guilty: “We have strong evidence about the involvement of Sri Jayendra Saraswathi in Sankararaman’s murder. There has been animosity between the two for the past four years and further investigation is on to corroborate the evidence collected on the involvement of the Kanchi Acharya.” The allegations had deepened with revelations of Tamil magazine Nakkeeran. Amid these bizarre turn of events, the case got transferred to Pondicherry to ensure fair trial. To make the matters worse for Kanchi mutt head, even allegations of sexual exploitation surfaced. (The Hindu)
However, the truth had the last laugh when verdict delivered by a special court in Pondicherry acquitted all the accused involved in this sensational murder. The verdict was delivered on November 27, 2013 after nine years of suspense and drama of all sorts. They were acquitted of all the charges which included “criminal conspiracy, misleading the court by giving false information, criminal trespass and supply of funds to carry out the criminal activity.” The main witnesses failed to corroborate the prosecution’s theory. More than 80 witnesses went against the story presented by the prosecution.
Well, it’s true that Kanchi seers got acquitted but in the process it caused irreparable damage to the reputation of an institution, which represented the collective psyche of Hindus. This “collective psyche” of Hindus made its presence felt again the way Kanchi Mutt Head responded to this verdict: ” Dharma has prevailed. Truth has won. That is what matters…I have been trained by my Guru to bear everything. There is no question of situation being tough. Times were challenging because we were facing completely new set of situations. ..There are several invaders who vandalized our temples. Today when you see the disfigured temples you remember the invaders and their acts of vandalism. What was perpetrated on the mutt has been termed as an act of vandalism by several people.” (Kanchi Sathya Org)
Swami Shraddhanand: Killed By A Muslim Fanatic in 1926. He Was Part Of The Movement To Reconvert Muslims Back To Hinduism!
It’s really saddening that moments allegations against Hindu saints surfaces, the whole mainstream media goes berserk and paints them in wrong colours, forgetting that its main task is to report the incident and not to conduct trials. Worse, when the allegations are found false and saints get acquitted the same news item does not get prominence. Acquittal is never important than false stories planted by vested interests. No wonder acquittal of Kanchi’s Shankracharya did not get the same coverage. After all, it strengthens cause of Hindus, which is antithetical to secular spirit of this nation. The mainstream media is more interested in propaganda than emergence of truth.
The secular forces always convey the impression that no one is above law. And so will they dare to arrest Shahi Imam Syed Ahmad Bukhari against whom so many cases have been registered? Will they dare to bring in open and convict Christian missionaries involved in conversion of tribals in remote corners of India? That will never take place. The law exists only for Hindu saints. It’s an instrument of oppression for Hindus and all that which represents self-pride of Hindus. It’s there to support propaganda and not to sustain truth.
Swamy Lakshmanananda Saraswathi and four of his disciples namely Sadhvi Bhaktimayee, Baba Amritanand, Kishor Baba and Puranjan Ganthi at his Ashram in Jaleshpatta of Kandhamal district in Orissa by a group of Christian zealots on the Janmashtami day, 23 August, 2008. But the mainstream media made no uproar!
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Muzaffaranagar Riots: Would The Real Reasons Which Caused The Riots Ever Get Revealed?
Akhilesh Yadav: Miserably Failed To Rise Above Dirty Politics!!
(Also published in Northern India Patrika, Sep. 28, 2013)
Uttar Pradesh expected better developments in the regime of young Chief Minister. However, such expectations turned out to be a great illusion. Akhilesh Yadav, who represents the spirit of youth, gave way to same means exhibited by worn out old minds, proving beyond doubt that mere youth force is of no use but youth force backed up by noble vision and sound policies does the real magic. No wonder Uttar Pradesh is today witnessing one of the darkest phases of its existence as a state. Since the time of his becoming Chief Minister, a year and a half, the state has witnessed series of riots, making it a disturbed zone. The bureaucratic system has fallen prey to casteist politics, to an extent that even an impartial constitutional body like Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) is finding hard to retain its glory of yesteryear. The honest bureaucrats like Durga Shakti Nagpal are being harassed and bullied on concocted grounds. Ironically, the real culprits who are actually disturbing the communal harmony, a ground cited as a cause for suspending IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal, are roaming scot free.
Coming to riots of serious magnitude which hit Muzaffarnagar couple of weeks ago, one needs to know the actual reasons which triggered them. The mainstream media circulated state sponsored corrupt version of actual reasons, marred by half lies and manipulation of facts. It’s believed that an incident of eve teasing led to this riot. However, that’s an insignificant reason blown out of proportion to hide the real factors. It has been very cleverly suppressed that for past few months Muzaffarnagar region was simmering with anger over series of rapes with Hindu girls committed by Muslim youths. The ineffective state machinery remained mute spectator to such rising number of sexual assaults on Hindu girls. It’s real shame that although this nation witnessed an unprecedented level of protest in case of Nirbhaya the Damini gang-rape case, the series of brutal rapes in this part of Uttar Pradesh were not taken into cognizance by anybody. Any conscious citizen would like to know why were state machinery and Central government so unconcerned about these rape incidents?
As a result of this bureaucratic apathy and partisan approach of mainstream media in reporting such incidents with same intensity, the local community organised a mass meeting to deal with such grave developments, mainly to ensure the safety of women and daughters. On September 07, the participants going to attend this meeting were attacked, leading to tense situation, which later spiralled out of control. What added fuel to the fire was that subsequent developments were remote controlled to allegedly benefit Muslim community. It’s learned that Jat-Muslim equations in this area constitute a huge vote bank. That was cited as a main reason as to why riots came to hit this area. However, it’s far away from truth. This might be one of the reasons but not a strong ground to give way to riot of this volatile nature, which made even the prime minister Manmohan Singh hail it as a “big tragedy”.
Mazaffarnagar riots, one of the worst riots to hit this country, revealed shades of murkier politics involved in riots, making it clear that riots are often well planned in advance and execution of these nefarious designs take place effectively by the hidden hands at a suitable time. The witnesses of Muzaffarnagar riots categorically stated before the media that police did not respond to the calls of victims crying for help. The victims also stated about inaction of police before the PM and other senior leaders from the Centre. This corroborates the alleged involvement of State Minister, who was seen in a sting operation instructing a police official to act in a irresponsible way!
In fact, Union Minister Jairam Ramesh bluntly stated that Akhilesh Yadav was “masterly inactive” during the heated phase of riots. “On Muzaffarnagar, none of us will keep quiet. What he (Akhilesh) has done is inexcusable.” Let’s not forget that one of the allegations against Narendra Modi is that he did not act swiftly during the riots in Gujarat, and thus, secular media quickly labelled him as the architect of pogrom in Gujarat. Ironically, the same secular media remained silent over the Godhra victims and Muslim perpetrators involved in burning of the train- a prime cause that led to the start of riots! Will these riots be attributed to Akhilesh as controlled pogrom the Gujarat way?
Illegal Arms Supply To The Minorities: How Would You Curb It?
- Arms and ammunition in large quantity were seized by police in aftermath of the riots. This proves beyond that misguided forces in minority community are involved in illegal arms racket. So what were Intelligence agencies doing when these illegal weapons got supplied to these anti-social elements? One of the problems faced by this country is that appeasement of Muslims has spread like a plague. It never allows Intelligence agencies to act in effective manner. The moment any strict action is taken against the anti-social elements present in the minority community, it leads to shrill cry of harassment of minorities in India by the so-called secular forces operating in India and abroad.
This is a serious issue which involves a key question: What is the way to ensure the complete elimination of anti-social elements present among the minorities? Since we cannot expect political heads to answer this sensitive question, the Supreme Court, taking suo moto cognizance of such critical developments needs to deal sternly with such anti-national developments. Why should members of one particular community be not subjected to stern actions in an attempt to wipe out wrong elements? It’s laughable that Muzaffarnagar riots are being stated as fallout of eve-teasing incident, making the focus of probe get limited by minor aspects. These riots have exposed serious loopholes in our intelligence mechanism besides revealing the nexus of politicians with negative forces. It’s these aspects which need to be dealt with by the mainstream media and legal enforcement agencies.
Social media which is not the part of paid media, dictated by politicians, should stop the great game played in name of empowerment of women and upliftment of minorities. It should honestly reveal the unsaid. Needles to state that most of the programmes in the garb of improving the lives of women and minorities have wrecked the citadels of Indian society. They both have become convenient way to enter in crude vote bank politics. The institutions like Supreme Court, High Court, and impartial bodies run by conscious citizens should come to the fore to prevent the nation from going to dogs. There is no other way left to make this nation safe from anti-social elements. The Muzaffarnagar riots have revealed that so-called politicians talking about honouring the ideals of democracy cannot be relied upon. They are dangerous wolves masquerading as human beings.
Uttar Pradesh Is Passing Through One Of Its Worst Phases Of Its Existence!
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गुजरात के दंगो का सच: वो बाते जो सेक्युलर मीडिया नहीं बताता है या तोड़ मरोड़कर कर पेश करता है!
क्यों सेक्युलर मीडिया इस आदमी की तस्वीर का गलत इस्तेमाल करके इसका जीवन नर्क सामान बना दे रहे है?
गुजरात की बात होती है तो 2002 के दंगो का जिक्र अवश्य होता है। खासकर अगर सेक्युलर मीडिया गुजरात के बारे में कुछ कह रहा हो तो। जब भी मै सेक्युलर मीडिया द्वारा प्रायोजित इन चर्चाओ को सुनता हूँ तो इस उम्मीद में कि कभी इन सेक्युलर प्रवक्ताओ की आत्मा जागेगी और ये सच बोलेंगे। लेकिन ये लकीर के फकीर जड़ मानसिकता से लैस लोग सिवाय झूठ और अर्धसत्य के कुछ नहीं बताते। असल में इनका अस्तित्व ही झूठ की बुनियाद पे खड़ा है सो सच बोलना इनके लिए आत्मघाती सरीखा सा कदम हो जाता है। इसलिए 24 प्रतिशत हिन्दू जो मारे गए इन दंगो में इनके बारे में जिक्र करना ये कभी जरूरी नहीं समझते।
यहाँ पे मै कुछ बाते रख रहा हूँ जो मेरी बात बिलकुल नहीं है। ये बाते किसी चर्चा में मीनाक्षी लेखी ने रखी, जो भारतीय जनता पार्टी की राष्ट्रीय प्रवक्ता है। मुझे उनकी बाते सारगर्भित लगी। कम शब्दों में उन्होंने सेक्युलर झूठ को तार तार करने की एक सफल कोशिश की है। मै उनकी बातो को ठीक वैसा ही रख रहा हूँ जैसा कि उन्होंने चर्चा में व्यक्त किया। इसके लिए मै आभारी हूँ अपने सोशल मीडिया के मित्रो का जिन्होंने मुझे इन तथ्यों से परिचित कराने में मदद की।
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1. एक अंसारी नाम का मुस्लिम युवक जो पुलिस के सामने हाथ जोड़ रहा था,उसकी हाथ जोड़ते हुए की फोटो को मीडिया वालो ने ऐसे प्रसारित किया जैसे वो पुलिस से अपनी जान बख्श देने की भीख मांग रहा हो जबकि वो युवक अपनी जान बचाने के लिए पुलिस का हाथ जोड़ कर धन्यवाद कर रहा था.
2. गोधरा में ट्रेन में आग लगाने वाले कांग्रेस के मुस्लिम कार्यकर्ता थे पर मैं उनको मुस्लिम कम और कांग्रेसी कार्यकर्ता ज्यादा मानती हूँ.
3. जिस तीस्ता सीतलवाड़ को लेकर आप मीडिया वाले मोदी जी पे कीचड़ उछालते हैं उसने गुलबर्ग सोसायटी से खूब माल बनाया है और इस बात को लेकर उसके ऊपर हाईकोर्ट में केस चल रहा है ये बात आप मीडिया वाले क्यों नही बताते हैं?
4. भारत में अब तक जितने भी दंगे हुए हैं और दंगो के बाद सरकारों ने जो भी कदम उठाये हैं और गुजरात के दंगो के बाद मोदी जी ने जो कदम उठाये उनकी तुलना आप अपने मापदंडो पे करके देश को सच बताये की किस सरकार ने दंगों से निबटने के लिए सबसे ज्यादा प्रभावशाली कदम उठाये थे?
5. 1969 के गुजरात दंगो; 1984 के सिख दंगो; 1986, 1992 के मुंबई दंगो; मुरादाबाद के दंगो; बिहार के दंगो; गोपालगड, राजस्थान में हुए दंगो और अभी असम में हुए दंगो के लिए कौन सी पार्टी जिमेदार है?
साभार: मीनाक्षी लेखी, राष्ट्रीय प्रवक्ता, भारतीय जनता पार्टी।
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और क्या सेक्युलर मीडिया ने अंसारी के बारे में इस खबर को भी उजागर किया? और अगर नहीं किया तो क्यों नहीं किया?
“अंसारी का कहना है कि लोग अपने फायदे के लिए मेरे फोटो का उपयोग करते हैं। दंगों के कई साल बाद भी मुझे चैन नहीं है। लोगों ने मेरी शांति को नष्ट कर दिया है। मैंने जिंदगी में आगे बढ़ने की कोशिश की लेकिन कहीं न कहीं, कोई न कोई मेरा फोटो दिखाकर मुझे फिर पीछे मुड़कर देखने के लिए मजबूर करता है।अंसारी ने खुद को कलंक के रूप में पेश करने को लेकर फिल्म निर्माताओं को कानूनी नोटिस भी भेजा है। 38 साल के अंसारी खुद की तस्वीर को बार बार दिखाने से तंग आ चुका है। उसका कहना है कि मुझे दया के पात्र के रूप में दिखाया जाता है। मैं अपनी प्लास्टिक सर्जरी करवाना चाहता हूं ताकि लोग मुझे नहीं पहचान सके।”
साभार: That’s Me
गोधरा सेक्युलर मीडिया को कभी सही संदर्भो में क्यों नहीं याद आता?
In Conversation With British Author Jeremy Seabrook: Analyzing The Sexual Beliefs In The Modern Indian Society!
Sex education alone holds no meaning if it is not backed up by strong ideals.
I feel really privileged that few well-known established authors had some time saved for me as well as they came to express their views on some sensitive issues. The issue at hand ” The changing sexual beliefs in modern Indian society’ is a very sensitive in nature. The views which I have shared here in this article have already found place in various other articles but it would be interesting to inform the readers that they first appeared in this discussion with Jeremy Seabrook.
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My Viewpoint:
This has reference to Jeremy Seabrook’s article “Sex Education And The Free Market” published in The Statesman ( March 28, 2005). Unveiling the road-map for future, it’s evident that we cannot dispense with observance of better principles including those related with sexual attitudes. You ( read Jeremy Seabrook) have touched the issue in a thought-provoking manner, unfolding the requirements in an unambiguous style. However, having said that, there are missing elements as well, which I would like to highlight. The Indian society has always treated sex not as a taboo subject but considered it an essential element of balanced human life. This is why it finds place in four “Purusharthas” ( objectives) laid down in Hinduism as Kama; Dharma, Artha and Moksha being the other three objectives, which help the man to go up the ladder of evolution. It’s not very clear how did it come to attain its present distorted form.
One reason for it could be that long Muslim rule plus gradual inclination of Indian towards Victorian Ideals/perceptions during the British regime distanced them from its glorious aspects. While it’s true that taking refuge in Indian values cannot rescue impressionable minds from the mess, which has become part and parcel of the modern times, however, it could still be stated without doubt that had traces of Hindu ideals been altogether absent the damage would have been irreparable. If there is still a ray of hope, it’s only because Hindu ideals are still there doing what they have been doing since time immemorial- soaking the impurities without their lustre.
In nutshell, what I wish to state is that better results could be obtained by combining sex education with revival of past values. Sex education alone holds no meaning if it is not backed up by strong ideals. The issues you have touched has a very complicated angle as well. It’s a bitter truth that pornographic stuff helps us to relieve sexual tension, more so in age which keeps women at par with “use and throw objects”. Women liberalization movements may or may not have taught women to honour progressive ideals but it has certainly capped them with ability to use her body for commercial interests in the market-oriented world of ours. As a result their bodies no longer evoke innocent delight but feelings mired in sexual fantasies.
How can you expect these young minds to behave like “expert yogis’ adept in controlling their senses? Interestingly, adults themselves are surrounded by illusions of all sorts in these matters. Indeed, we are living in strange times. In my city, the prominent magazine corner lies adjacent to a theater showing “BF”. If that’s not enough, cast a glance around and eyes are soon going to intercept posters showing semi-clad women in suggestive postures.
Globalization has brought sea-change in our mannerism. Not only it has distanced us from finer values but also turned women into object of pleasure rather than turning them into instruments for attaining higher ends. The Western world has cleverly dumped its dubious habits in this country ( read India). Or, in other words, the Indians failed to borrow West’s glorious analytic abilities and instead zeroed-on their dark aspects to an extent that to many their bubble gum literature became the source of enlightenment. It may far fetched but it’s true that global powers have effectively projected woman’s false image to deviate Indian minds from higher concerns. Who knows they may have plans to shackle this nation again in their chains? Young minds, after all, they have no knowledge of corrupt practices of the adult world, are bound to collapse, being too inept to counteract its charms.
Against this backdrop, it’s not hard to imagine why pornographic magazines, X-rated movies, and etc. have bombarded the lives of young people. That’s why their unusual interest in these matters should not leave us in shock and awe. This is bound to happen since aping Western values has become the prestige issue for both middle and elite class, even if that means deterioration of Indian ethos. Let me make it very clear that I am not trying to legitimize the existence of pornographic materials in our society. On the contrary, I am of the opinion that cheap titillation of the senses should give way to deep and mature relationship between man and woman. In my eyes, this can never be achieved by roping in sex education. It demands more.
The dynamics between man and woman and society at large needs to be governed by refined and elevated principles-the hallmark of Indian ideals. Sex education does serve the purpose but in a flimsy manner. The perfect mantra for survival is possible only through tryst with Hinduism, or in secular terms, by once again establishing firm bond with the nation’s roots.
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Jeremy Seabrook’s Viewpoint:
Many thanks for your e-mail message, which I much appreciated. Of course, I agree much of what you say- in the West also women have shifted from being drudges, servants and comforters of men to being sex-objects. This is not what I understand by liberation. On the other hand, the repression and subordination of women is also indefensible. And there is no possibility of going back to the past- to some degree the past can inform one’s values and ideas which can be carried forward, but it is irrecoverable.
It is not a happy position, and I don’t think many people would have chosen to be where we are now; but we have no choice but to start from here. These are all intractable questions, and there is no obvious way forward. That does not however, mean we should stop trying and seeking.
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About Jeremy Seabrook:
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My first book was The Unprivileged, 1967, the story of my own family, a path breaking oral history from the late 18th century to the 1960s. This was followed by City Close-Up, a portrait, through the words of the people, of Blackburn in Lancashire.
In the 1970s, I wrote What Went Wrong? Working People and the Ideals of the Labour Movement; a book which, when published in the USA, was sub-titled Why hasn’t Having More Made People Happier?
Mother and Son, a memoir, appeared in 1980, and an indictment of Thatcher’s Britain,Unemployment, in 1982.
Work on India and Bangladesh followed, notably, Notes from another India and Children of Other Worlds, a comparison of child labour in nineteenth century London and present-day Dhaka in Bangladesh. My book, Love in a Different Climate, described how male same-sex relationships in India differ from those in the West.
I have contributed to most major newspapers in Britain over the years, and have written for Granta. I am a regular contributor to New Internationalist – which has published three of my books in the last decade, most recently Consuming Cultures: Globalization and Local Lives. I write for Race and Class and Third World Resurgence, based in Penang, Malaysia.
Courtesy: http://jeremyseabrook.net/biography.html
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More About Jeremy Seabrook:
“He became an associate honorary fellow at the University of Bradford’s Department of Peace Studies 1995 to 1998 and an associate at the Institute of Race Relations, UK, from 2004 onwards.
He has made several documentaries for BBC radio and TV on social, environmental and developmental issues.
Since 1963, Seabrook has written for publications including: New Society, the Guardian, the Times, the Independent, New Statesman, New Internationalist, Race and Class, Third World Resurgence, Third World Network and others.
He has also written over 40 books, including;
Travels in the Skin Trade – looking at the psychology of western men who travel to southeast Asia for sexual adventures (Pluto Press).
A World Growing Old – the implications of an ageing population, north and south (Pluto Press).”
Courtesy: The Guardian
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Suggested Reading:
1. Vaibhav Mani Tripathi: Democracy and globalization: Are they really compatible? ( An article published in “Aavartan” – A quarterly bilingual journal of academic activities in social sciences, environment and literary arena )
It’s a brilliant article which deals with the impact of globalization from many angles.
Excerpt from it:
” But the educational system what globalization promotes is focused in making technocrats so that they get huge work force with technical abilities. Democracy also needs well-educated people for its growth. But democratic societies flourish in a value based educational system and not a technology based system. The technology based educational system is result oriented and it has nothing to do with the values which human beings nurtured for generations so that they can live as human beings.”
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2. Jeremy Seabrook: “Sex Education And The Free Market” published in The Statesman ( March 28, 2005).
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Pics Credit:
सरबजीत: आपको मरना ही था!
“तुमने जिस ख़ून को मक़्तल में दबाना चाहा आज वह कूचा-ओ-बाज़ार में आ निकला है कहीं शोला, कहीं नारा, कहीं पत्थर बनकर”
सरबजीत की मौत बेहद दुखद खबर है। ये अलग बात है कि मुझे आश्चर्य नहीं हुआ। ये मौत सम्भावित थी। ये एक तयशुदा मौत थी। पकिस्तान जैसे कानून विहीन और अराजकता के शिखर पर स्थित देश के लिए किसी की मौत क्या मायने रख सकती है! वो तो केवल ओसामा बिन लादेन को शरण दे सकती है फूलप्रूफ। दाऊद इब्राहिम और अजहर महमूद को ही बेहतर पनाह दे सकती है। सरबजीत की हिफाज़त करके उसे क्या मिलता? लिहाजा सरबजीत का मरना तय था। कसाब और अफज़ल गुरु के फांसी लग जाने के बाद अन्दर ही अन्दर सुलगते पाकिस्तान के लिए सरबजीत से बेहतर बलि का बकरा तो कोई हो ही नहीं सकता था। सरबजीत की मौत तो उसी वक्त तय हो गयी थी जब पाकिस्तान समर्थित दो आतंकवादी कसाब और अफज़ल गुरु फांसी पे लटका दिए गए।
ये शान्ति वार्ता की नौटंकी, सरबजीत को माफ़ी देने की नौटंकी, उसका बेहतर इलाज़ कराने की नौटंकी ये सब आवरण उस कुटिलता को छुपाने के लिए था जिसकी झलक हर नज़र रखने वाले को साफ़ साफ़ दिख रही थी। सिर्फ ना देख पाने का भ्रम भारत की सरकार कर रही थी। खैर सरबजीत की मौत से एक बात तो साफ़ हुई। दो राष्ट्रों की राजनीति में मोहरे बनते है आम आदमी। जब मै राष्ट्र शब्द का इस्तेमाल कर रहा हो तो इसका मतलब ये नहीं है कि पाकिस्तान को मै एक राष्ट्र के रूप में देख रहा हूँ। ये एक राष्ट्र नहीं है। शैतानी लोगो का हुजूम है। शैतानी लोगो का भीड़ तंत्र है जहा पे राष्ट्रपति कोर्ट से भागकर नज़रबंद हो जाता है। खैर मै बता रहा था कि दो राष्ट्रों की दुश्मनी का शिकार सबसे कमज़ोर और मासूम लोग होते है।
कोई बताये सरबजीत का गुनाह क्या था कि पहले तो सोलह साल जेल में काटे बिना किसी गुनाह के और फिर इस तरह बर्बर मौत? उसकी मौत का जिम्मेदार कौन सा राष्ट्र ज्यादा है? रीढविहीन नेताओ के जरिए शान्ति की बात करता भारत या गुनाहों को साए में पलता पाकिस्तान? खैर एक बात तो समझ में आई की जेल में कैदियों को न्याय पाने की आशा से नहीं रखा जाता है बल्कि अक्सर सरकार की आँख की किरकरी बन चुके लोगो को चुपके से खत्म कर देने के लिए रखा जाता है। चूकि मौत पाकिस्तान में एक भारतीय की हुई है लिहाज़ा मानवाधिकार की वकालत करने वालो का ना भौकना लाजमी हो जाता है। ये तब भौकते है अगर भूले से कोई जम्मू कश्मीर में कोई भारतीय सैनिक के हाथो मारा जाता है। इनकी मुखरता तब देखते बनती है।
सरबजीत की आत्मा को शान्ति मिले। मेरी तरफ से यही विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि है सरकारी नौटंकी के इस दौर में। सबसे दुखद यही है कि मरते सिर्फ मासूम आदमी ही है। बिलखते है शोक संतप्त परिजन ही है। मुल्क के नेता तो हर अवसर को कैश कर लेते है। दुःख हो या सुख हर रास्ता सत्ता की तरफ ही मुड़ जाता है।
” तुमने जिस ख़ून को मक़्तल में दबाना चाहा
आज वह कूचा-ओ-बाज़ार में आ निकला है
कहीं शोला, कहीं नारा, कहीं पत्थर बनकर
ख़ून चलता है तो रूकता नहीं संगीनों से
सर उठाता है तो दबता नहीं आईनों से
जिस्म की मौत कोई मौत नहीं होती है
जिस्म मिट जाने से इन्सान नहीं मर जाते
धड़कनें रूकने से अरमान नहीं मर जाते
साँस थम जाने से ऐलान नहीं मर जाते
होंठ जम जाने से फ़रमान नहीं मर जाते
जिस्म की मौत कोई मौत नहीं होती “
*साहिर लुधियानवी*
Celebrations, After Ajmal Kasab’s Execution, Hold No Meaning Until Islamic Terrorism Gets Wiped Out Totally
That’s Mumbai 26/11 Reeling Under The Impact Of Islamic Terrorism
Well, we Indians are always desperate to elicit happiness from even the most insignificant happenings. That too when almost every alternate day, we are involved in this or that celebration. Have taste of the recent cause of celebration: Terrorist Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving Pakistani terrorist of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, hanged till death. Is this news worthy of receiving that much attention, the way Indian mainstream newspapers flashed it on their front pages, highlighting the jubilant mood which prevailed in the nation in aftermath of the death of Kasab? It was turned into an event as if India had carved a defining moment in world history at that point of time. It appeared as if our always tight-lipped PM Manmohan Singh, started roaring like a true lion, with deafening intensity! Let me make it very clear, instead of putting it figuratively, that we need to intercept critical issues not in light of such minor gains. Instead of going overboard with such idiotic style of celebration, let’s learn to delve deep into resultant implications, when the issue pertains to sensitive issues.
The mainstream media is guilty of projecting the whole episode the wrong way. It first informed us about in a sensational style, the high level of secrecy maintained by the people involved in hanging process of Ajmal Kasab, adding that it was carried under the direct supervision of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, making the whole process bear close resemblance with Laden’s killing by USA, which was perfectly executed under the supervision of Barack Obama. Such colouring is absolutely out of place. Next we are informed by some sections of media about the high level of commitment of this UPA government, caught between the devil and the deep blue sea most of the time, in keeping at bay the threats imposed by terrorism. Isn’t mainstream media guilty of first giving rise to such flawed contrast in covert manner, and later, projecting it as some sort of moral victory for the government?
That’s certainly not the case. The death of Kasab got brutally delayed because of the slow judicial process, as he had been declared guilty way back in 2008. It would not be hard to imagine that government would have spent huge amount of taxpayers’ money in providing him great security, in offering food and lodging. So is there any merit in celebrations which took place? Does this government, failure on every front deserve any credit? If it’s that committed to send strong signals to Islamic terrorists, what’s the reason of delaying the death of 2001 Parliament attack death row convict Afzal Guru? If it’s that alert to avoid fresh attacks, why the same loopholes prevail, in measures concerned with internal security, which prevailed at the time of Mumbai attack? The commoners are still susceptible to same threats and a fresh attack remains a great probability. So isn’t our happiness misplaced?
This paid media, sponsored by vested interests, is corrupting the sensibilities of average readers by such crass sensationalism of minor happenings. It’s trying to deviate away our attention from more pertinent concerns- the real issues. It’s weakening our ability to frame any issue in right perspective. Such crass reporting of vain developments is no less than sweet poison, rendering ineffective the impact caused by uneasy questions. Let me put the record straight. I am not ardent fan of Bal Thackeray, but I must admit that I liked his view that these dreaded terrorists do not need convictions after such lengthy trials. On the contrary, they need to be immediately shot dead. I mean what’s the point in subjecting a terrorist to trial, who was caught live on cameras killing people in cold blooded manner, with no sign of remorse, tainted with sadistic pleasure? But you ensured that he dies only after rejection of his mercy petition by the President- a petition which is never meant for such people! Never forget that had dedicated team lawyers under the headship of Ujjawal Nikam, didn’t pursue the case with that much sincerity, it would have simply not been possible to ensure conviction of such dreaded criminal.
In light of such facts, it’s really hard to believe that death of Ajmal Kasab highlights the strong commitment on part of the weak UPA government to erase Islamic terrorism from Indian land. The slow process involved in the elimination of such dangerous minds is only indicative of its lackadaisical approach and any conscious observer shall never treat it as sign of strong will. Strong will gets depicted when you get involved in serious manhunt of dreaded terrorist for years and kill him on the spot-the way USA killed Laden. Strong will gets projected when you ensure the killings of dictators by attacking a nation despite huge protests, sacrificing lives of so many of our own people. The targeted drone attacks engineered by CIA’s programme, in various parts of Pakistan’s tribal heartland, is what truly represents will to eliminate dangerous minds! The strong commitment becomes evident when you ensure that such lethal attacks become a remote possibility, and for that you ensure that even foreign dignitaries have the taste of tough measures. It’s better this government stops fooling people, boasting of its so-called commitment.
Let me bring into light some of the important aspects related with hanging till death of Ajmal Kasab, which the mainstream media deliberately kept it away from the focal point of an average reader’s eyes, blocking him to form a substantial perspective. In a news item published in The Hindu, it was reported, citing recent UN General Assembly’s human rights committee’s resolution calling for a global moratorium on the death penalty, that ‘execution was an “unconstitutional act” of the State’. The Amnesty International, like always reacting in hypersensitive way in India related affairs, wondered about “unusual speed with which the mercy petition was rejected’, labeling it as something that would give rise to a “dangerous precedent”. The Kafila publications, best place for anti-India secularists to publish their outburst, taking a similar stance as one taken by The Hindu, stated that “the very fact that Kasab had indeed committed an unpardonable crime is what renders him eligible for mercy”. One writer, belonging to the same publication, went ahead in unleashing his frustration, termed the jubilant mood of the victim’s families of 26/11 as “barbaric”. I am die-hard champion of freedom of expression but I wish to know do such anti-India sentiments constitute freedom of expression? Very recently, a cartoonist was sent to jail for dishonouring national symbols and this writer is interested in knowing from the government what actions has it taken to stop such publications from repeatedly hurting the national pride?
Almost challenging the so-called commitment of this UPA government, just after the execution of Ajmal Kasab, the commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) was quick in communicating his intentions to news agency Reuters: “He was a hero and will inspire other fighters to follow his path.” The news of Kasab execution came as a bolt from the blue for the Taliban leaders in Pakistan who were badly hurt that a “Muslim has been hanged on Indian soil”. If that was not enough, Pakistan’s failure to keep its promises intact of acting against perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack has only added fuel to the fire. It still insists on not having enough evidences sustainable in court, which is a blatant lie in eyes of India, as it had already presented enough concrete evidences. Strangely, a major political party in Pakistan, headed by cricketer turned politician, Imran Khan, has demanded the hanging of Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh. Such a knee jerk reaction is enough to suggest the level of derailment of Pakistani leaders.
In a shocking disclosure in The Economic Times, B Raman, additional secretary (retd), Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India, virtually shattering the myths spread by the Government that it’s fully prepared to counteract terrorism iron-hand way, stated that “we were a soft state before 26/11 and we continue to be a soft state after 26/11 and the execution of Kasab”. The government, I am sure would take political mileage, but it would be better for it, if it pays attention to words of sensible minds like B Raman and take appropriate measures, instead of fooling the people with help of mainstream media with rhetoric and crass sentimentality. “Kasab is no more, but the jihadi terrorist threat posed by the state of Pakistan and its non-state creations remain as serious as before. We need a comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy to deal this. We do not see any signs of it so far.” (B Raman) What’s the point in feeling glad, after the execution of Kasab, when it has utterly failed to put right pressure on Pakistan to heed its line of action?
Let’s stop being swayed by such misplaced emotions. The citizens of India should not be influenced by such rhetoric, and, instead, put pressure on government to ensure its safety in a proper way. It should replace this government with one which better suits the destiny of nation, allowing better rulers to be in the driver’s seat. The country needs few more souls like Indira Gandhi, K P S Gill and Jagmohan, to name a few, to teach fitting lesson to dangerous organisations like Indian Mujahideen (IM), aided and funded by foreign nations including Pakistan. That’s why it becomes imperative for citizens to use their voting rights sensibly, and a failure in this regard, only ensures an unstable future. So ‘wake up sid’ it’s now a do or die situation! Act before it’s too late.
Killing The Petty Criminal Means Nothing, Kill Their Commander!
References:
Pics Credit:
Pic One
Islamic Ideology And Peaceful Co-existence: The History Suggests A Big No
Does A Dagger Ensure Peace?
My previous article created sound and fury of unprecedented type and a serious attempt to understand the alienation of Muslim society and its inability to mix with the other societies in homogeneous way was labeled as propaganda, sponsored by CIA and Mossad. However, such knee and jerk reaction proves one thing quite well: Muslim societies prefer to remain frogs in the well. At the very outset, I wish to make it very clear that I am neither interested in hurting the religious sentiments of Muslims nor interested in painting them in wrong colour. However, here arrives the mother of all questions: Why the attempt to understand the elements involved in the making of Muslim mind creates so much anxiety within the Muslim world? Why an outsider is always prevented to understand them in free flowing manner and his/her efforts are viewed with suspicion? Why such efforts are perceived as an attempt to desecrate Islam? This exhibition of flawed hypersensitivity on part of Muslim minds, wherein efforts to understand them ultimately gets reduced to Jews/Christian vs Muslims thing of sort has left this author aghast. This narrow-mindedness is quite baffling in modern world, leading to another important consideration: Is Islamic ideology inherently flawed, which does not believe in expansion of societies based on other religions, and to prevent their expansion it’s not hesitant enough to give way to violent means? We need to travel back in the history to understand the Muslim mindset and for this very reason episodes from the Medieval Indian history are being presented to establish that Islamic ideology is not about harmonious living; it’s all about dominance of Islam.
It’s pretty interesting that forget outsiders, even the attempts of conscious minds, belonging to the Muslim world, like Salman Rushdie and Tasleema Nasrin face great resistance from rigid minds-the hardliners within the Muslim circles. Very recently, when Rushdie tried to attend a meeting organized in Jaipur, he was forced to cancel his visit at the last moment under pressure from various Muslim organizations. Ironically, they have no problem in hearing the lectures delivered by the likes of Dr.Zakir Naik, who has nothing to offer but brutal suppression of facts and twisted logic, which ultimately upholds supremacy of Allah. One also finds hard to ignore that they are in conflict with original inhabitants right from Spain to China. China, which kept itself above from nuisance created by the elements operating within the dangerous Muslim world, is now struggling hard to curb the negative Muslim forces. The recent violent demonstrations in Central Sydney, Australia, brings back in our memories the words of John Howard, former Australian PM, who had explicitly stated that”jihad and extreme attitudes towards women were two problems unique to Muslims that previous intakes of migrants from Europe did not have’. He had to make an appeal that Muslims have to abide by Australian mainstream values. “It is not a problem that we have ever faced with other immigrant communities who become easily absorbed by Australia’s mainstream.”
The Muslim world offers unique logic that it’s a small percentage of misguided people, who have given way to extremist philosophy.What they fail to explain or conveniently ignore is that these so-called small percentage has hugely bothered peaceful democratic nations across the globe,leading to formation of tough laws to keep Jihadi elements out of their society. For example, India is comprised of minorities which include people belonging to Buddhist and Parsi community but they never come in conflict with Indian mainstream society. However, when it comes to Muslim society, even the so-called liberal mind, Poet Iqbal, the composer of Saare Jahan Se Achha Hindustan Hamara (India is best in the world), played an active role in formation of Pakistan with help of Jinnah! The Indian historians like Romila Thapar, belonging to secular group, never fail to refer to Ganga-Jamuni Tehjeeb (merger of opposite cultures) but what they never bothered to explain why the same balanced approach, which talked of peaceful co-existence, did not prevent Jinnah from declaring that:”To yoke together two such nations under a single state, one as a numerical minority and the other as a majority, must lead to growing discontent and final destruction of any fabric that may be so built up for the government of such a state.”
Well, it would be difficult to understand such a flawed mindset which refuses to honour the values prevalent in other societies, and instead tries to influence or topple it, unless we make a serious study of the Medieval History. The author is presenting episodes in Indian context only but that would be suffice to make any conscious reader gain perfect insight.
The author sincerely thanks the owner of this website, Hindunet, for providing him access to excerpts from article “The Magnitude of Muslim Atrocities” written by Rajiv Verma.
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The Magnitude of Muslim Atrocities
(Ghazanavi to Amir Timur)
The world famous historian, Will Durant has written in his Story of Civilisation that “the Mohammedan conquest of India was probably the bloodiest story in history”.
India before the advent of Islamic imperialism was not exactly a zone of peace. There were plenty of wars fought by Hindu princes. But in all their wars, the Hindus had observed some time-honoured conventions sanctioned by the Sastras. The Brahmins and the Bhikshus were never molested. The cows were never killed. The temples were never touched. The chastity of women was never violated. The non-combatants were never killed or captured. A human habitation was never attacked unless it was a fort. The civil population was never plundered. War booty was an unknown item in the calculations of conquerors. The martial classes who clashed, mostly in open spaces, had a code of honor. Sacrifice of honor for victory or material gain was deemed as worse than death.
Islamic imperialism came with a different code–the Sunnah of the Prophet. It required its warriors to fall upon the helpless civil population after a decisive victory had been won on the battlefield. It required them to sack and burn down villages and towns after the defenders had died fighting or had fled. The cows, the Brahmins, and the Bhikshus invited their special attention in mass murders of non-combatants. The temples and monasteries were their special targets in an orgy of pillage and arson. Those whom they did not kill, they captured and sold as slaves. The magnitude of the booty looted even from the bodies of the dead, was a measure of the success of a military mission. And they did all this as mujahids (holy warriors) and ghazls (kafir-killers) in the service of Allah and his Last Prophet.
Hindus found it very hard to understand the psychology of this new invader. For the first time in their history, Hindus were witnessing a scene which was described by Kanhadade Prabandha (1456 AD) in the following words:
“The conquering army burnt villages, devastated the land, plundered people’s wealth, took Brahmins and children and women of all classes captive, flogged with thongs of raw hide, carried a moving prison with it, and converted the prisoners into obsequious Turks.”
That was written in remembrance of Alauddin Khalji’s invasion of Gujarat in the year l298 AD. But the gruesome game had started three centuries earlier when Mahmud Ghaznavi had vowed to invade India every year in order to destroy idolatry, kill the kafirs, capture prisoners of war, and plunder vast wealth for which India was well-known.
MAHMUD AND MASOOD GHAZNAVI
In 1000 AD Mahmud defeated Raja Jaipal, a scion of the Hindu Shahiya dynasty of Kabul. This dynasty had been for long the doorkeeper of India in the Northwest. Mahmud collected 250,000 dinars as indemnity. That perhaps was normal business of an empire builder. But in 1004 AD he stormed Bhatiya and plundered the place. He stayed there for some time to convert the Hindus to Islam with the help of mullahs he had brought with him.
In 1008 AD he captured Nagarkot (Kangra). The loot amounted to 70,000,000 dirhams in coins and 700,400 mans of gold and silver, besides plenty of precious stones and embroidered cloths. In 1011 AD he plundered Thanesar which was undefended, destroyed many temples, and broke a large number of idols. The chief idol, that of Chakraswamin, was taken to Ghazni and thrown into the public square for defilement under the feet of the faithful. According to Tarikh-i-Yamini of Utbi, Mahmud’s secretary,
“The blood of the infidels flowed so copiously [at Thanesar] that the stream was discolored, notwithstanding its purity, and people were unable to drink it. The Sultan returned with plunder which is impossible to count. Praise he to Allah for the honor he bestows on Islam and Muslims.”
In 1013 AD Mahmud advanced against Nandana where the Shahiya king, Anandapal, had established his new capital. The Hindus fought very hard but lost. Again, the temples were destroyed, and innocent citizens slaughtered. Utbi provides an account of the plunder and the prisoners of war:
“The Sultan returned in the rear of immense booty, and slaves were so plentiful that they became very cheap and men of respectability in their native land were degraded by becoming slaves of common shopkeepers. But this is the goodness of Allah, who bestows honor on his own religion and degrades infidelity.”
The road was now clear for an assault on the heartland of Hindustan. In December 1018 AD Mahmud crossed the Yamuna, collected 1,000,000 dirhams from Baran (Bulandshahar), and marched to Mahaban in Mathura district. Utbi records:
“The infidels…deserted the fort and tried to cross the foaming river…but many of them were slain, taken or drowned… Nearly fifty thousand men were killed.”
Mathura was the next victim. Mahmud seized five gold idols weighing 89,300 missals and 200 silver idols. According to Utbi, “The Sultan gave orders that all the temples should be burnt with naptha and fire, and levelled with the ground.” The pillage of the city continued for 20 days. Mahmud now turned towards Kanauj which had been the seat of several Hindu dynasties. Utbi continues: “In Kanauj there were nearly ten thousand temples… Many of the inhabitants of the place fled in consequence of witnessing the fate of their deaf and dumb idols. Those who did not fly were put to death. The Sultan gave his soldiers leave to plunder and take prisoners.”
The Brahmins of Munj, which was attacked next, fought to the last man after throwing their wives and children into fire. The fate of Asi was sealed when its ruler took fright and fled. According to Utbi, “…. the Sultan ordered that his five forts should be demolished from their foundations, the inhabitants buried in their ruins, and the soldiers of the garrison plundered, slain and captured”.
Shrawa, the next important place to be invaded, met the same fate. Utbi concludes:
“The Muslims paid no regard to the booty till they had satiated themselves with the slaughter of the infidels and worshipers of sun and fire. The friends of Allah searched the bodies of the slain for three days in order to obtain booty…The booty amounted in gold and silver, rubies and pearls nearly to three hundred thousand dirhams, and the number of prisoners may be conceived from the fact that each was sold for two to ten dirhams. These were afterwards taken to Ghazni and merchants came from distant cities to purchase them, so that the countries of Mawaraun-Nahr, Iraq and Khurasan were filled with them, and the fair and the dark, the rich and the poor, were commingled in one common slavery.”
Mahmud’s sack of Somnath is too well-known to be retold here. What needs emphasizing is that the fragments of the famous Sivalinga were carried to Ghazni. Some of them were turned into steps of the Jama Masjid in that city. The rest were sent to Mecca, Medina, and Baghdad to be desecrated in the same manner.
Mahmud’s son Masud tried to follow in the footsteps of his father. In 1037 AD he succeeded in sacking the fort of Hansi which was defended very bravely by the Hindus. The Tarikh-us-Subuktigin records: “The Brahmins and other high ranking men were slain, and their women and children were carried away captive, and all the treasure which was found was distributed among the army.”
Masud could not repeat the performance due to his preoccupations elsewhere.
MUHAMMAD GHORI AND HIS LEUTENANTS
Invasion of India by Islamic imperialism was renewed by Muhmmad Ghori in the last quarter of the 12th century. After Prithiviraj Chauhan had been defeated in 1192 AD, Ghori took Ajmer by assault.
According the Taj-ul-Ma’sir of Hasan Nizami, “While the Sultan remained at Ajmer, he destroyed the pillars and foundations of the idol temples and built in their stead mosques and colleges and precepts of Islam, and the customs of the law were divulged and established.”
Next year he defeated Jayachandra of Kanauj. A general massacre, rapine, and pillage followed. The Gahadvad treasuries at Asni and Varanasi were plundered. Hasan Nizami rejoices that “in Benares which is the centre of the country of Hind, they destroyed one thousand temples and raised mosques on their foundations”.
According to Kamil-ut-Tawarikh of Ibn Asir, “The slaughter of Hindus (at Varanasi) was immense; none were spared except women and children, and the carnage of men went on until the earth was weary.”
The women and children were spared so that they could be enslaved and sold all over the Islamic world. It may be added that the Buddhist complex at Sarnath was sacked at this time, and the Bhikshus were slaughtered.
Ghori’s lieutenant Qutbuddin Aibak was also busy meanwhile. Hasan Nizami writes that after the suppression of a Hindu revolt at Kol (modern day Aligarh) in 1193 AD, Aibak raised “three bastions as high as heaven with their heads, and their carcases became food for beasts of prey. The tract was freed from idols and idol worship and the foundations of infidelism were destroyed.”
In 1194 AD Aibak destroyed 27 Hindu temples at Delhi and built the Quwwat-ul-lslam mosque with their debris. According to Nizami, Aibak “adorned it with the stones and gold obtained from the temples which had been demolished by elephants”.
In 1195 AD the Mher tribe of Ajmer rose in revolt, and the Chaulukyas of Gujarat came to their assistance. Aibak had to invite reinforcements from Ghazni before he could meet the challenge. In 1196 AD he advanced against Anahilwar Patan, the capital of Gujarat. Nizami writes that after Raja Karan was defeated and forced to flee, “fifty thousand infidels were dispatched to hell by the sword” and “more than twenty thousand slaves, and cattle beyond all calculation fell into the hands of the victors”.
The city was sacked, its temples demolished, and its palaces plundered. On his return to Ajmer, Aibak destroyed the Sanskrit College of Visaladeva, and laid the foundations of a mosque which came to be known as ‘Adhai Din ka Jhompada’.
Conquest of Kalinjar in 1202 AD was Aibak’s crowning achievement. Nizami concludes: “The temples were converted into mosques… Fifty thousand men came under the collar of slavery and the plain became black as pitch with Hindus.”
A free-lance adventurer, Muhammad Bakhtyar Khalji, was moving further east. In 1200 AD he sacked the undefended university town of Odantpuri in Bihar and massacred the Buddhist monks in the monasteries. In 1202 AD he took Nadiya by surprise. Badauni records in his Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh that “property and booty beyond computation fell into the hands of the Muslims and Muhammad Bakhtyar having destroyed the places of worship and idol temples of the infidels founded mosques and Khanqahs”.
THE SLAVE (MAMLUK) SULTANS
Shamsuddin Iltutmish who succeeded Aibak at Delhi invaded Malwa in 1234 AD. He destroyed an ancient temple at Vidisha. Badauni reports in his ‘Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh’:
“Having destroyed the idol temple of Ujjain which had been built six hundred years previously, and was called Mahakal, he levelled it to its foundations, and threw down the image of Rai Vikramajit from whom the Hindus reckon their era, and brought certain images of cast molten brass and placed them on the ground in front of the doors of mosques of old Delhi, and ordered the people of trample them under foot.”
Muslim power in India suffered a serious setback after Iltutmish. Balkan had to battle against a revival of Hindu power. The Katehar Rajputs of what came to be known as Rohilkhand in later history, had so far refused to submit to Islamic imperialism. Balkan led an expedition across the Ganges in 1254 AD. According to Badauni,
“In two days after leaving Delhi, he arrived in the midst of the territory of Katihar and put to death every male, even those of eight years of age, and bound the women.”
But in spite of such wanton cruelty, Muslim power continued to decline till the Khaljis revived it after 1290 AD.
THE KHALJIS
Jalaluddin Khalji led an expedition to Ranthambhor in 1291 AD. On the way he destroyed Hindu temples at Chain. The broken idols were sent to Delhi to be spread before the gates of the Jama Masjid. His nephew Alauddin led an expedition to Vidisha in 1292 AD. According to Badauni in Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh, Alauddin “brought much booty to the Sultan and the idol which was the object of worship of the Hindus, he caused to be cast in front of the Badaun gate to be trampled upon by the people. The services of Alauddin were highly appreciated, the jagir of Oudh (or Avadh – Central U.P.) also was added to his other estates.”
Alauddin became Sultan in 1296 AD after murdering his uncle and father-in-law, Jalaluddin. In 1298 AD he equipped an expedition to Gujarat under his generals Ulugh Khan and Nusrat Khan. The invaders plundered the ports of Surat and Cambay. The temple of Somnath, which had been rebuilt by the Hindus, was plundered and the idol taken to Delhi for being trodden upon by the Muslims. The whole region was subjected to fire and sword, and Hindus were slaughtered en masse. Kampala Devi, the queen of Gujarat, was captured along with the royal treasury, brought to Delhi and forced into Alauddin’s harem. The doings of the Malik Naib during his expedition to South India in 1310-1311 AD have already mentioned in earlier parts.
THE TUGHLAQS
Muslim power again suffered a setback after the death of Alauddin Khalji in 1316 AD. But it was soon revived by the Tughlaqs. By now most of the famous temples over the length and breadth of the Islamic occupation in India had been demolished, except in Orissa and Rajasthan which had retained their independence. By now most of the rich treasuries had been plundered and shared between the Islamic state and its swordsmen. Firuz Shah Tughlaq led an expedition to Orissa in 1360 AD. He destroyed the temple of Jagannath at Puri, and desecrated many other Hindu shrines. According to ‘Sirat-i-Firoz Shahi’ which he himself wrote or dictated,
“Allah who is the only true God and has no other emanation, endowed the king of Islam with the strength to destroy this ancient shrine on the eastern sea-coast and to plunge it into the sea, and after its destruction he ordered the image of Jagannath to be perforated, and disgraced it by casting it down on the ground. They dug out other idols which were worshipped by the polytheists in the kingdom of Jajnagar and overthrew them as they did the image of Jagannath, for being laid in front of the mosques along the path of the Sunnis and the way of the ‘musallis’ (Muslim congregation for namaz) and stretched them in front of the portals of every mosque, so that the body and sides of the images might be trampled at the time of ascent and descent, entrance and exit, by the shoes on the feet of the Muslims.”
After the sack of the temples in Orissa, Firoz Shah Tughlaq attacked an island on the sea-coast where “nearly 100,000 men of Jajnagar had taken refuge with their women, children, kinsmen and relations”. The swordsmen of Islam turned “the island into a basin of blood by the massacre of the unbelievers”.
A worse fate overtook the Hindu women. Sirat-i-Firuz Shahs records: “Women with babies and pregnant ladies were haltered, manacled, fettered and enchained, and pressed as slaves into service in the house of every soldier.”
Still more horrible scenes were enacted by Firuz Shah Tughlaq at Nagarkot (Kangra) where he sacked the shrine of Jvalamukhi. Firishta records that the Sultan “broke the idols of Jvalamukhi, mixed their fragments with the flesh of cows and hung them in nose bags round the necks of Brahmins. He sent the principal idol as trophy to Medina.”
THE PROVINCIAL MUSLIM SATRAPS
In 1391 AD the Muslims of Gujarat complained to Nasiruddin Muhammad, the Tughlaq Sultan of Delhi, that the local governor, Kurhat-ul-Mulk, was practising tolerance towards the Hindus. The Sultan immediately appointed Muzzaffar Khan as the new Governor. He became independent after the death of the Delhi Sultan and assumed the title of Muzzaffar Shah in 1392 AD. Next year he led an expidition to Somnath and sacked the temple which the Hindus had built once again. He killed many Hindus to chastise them for this “impudence,” and raised a mosque on the site of the ancient temple. The Hindus, however, restarted restoring the temple soon after. In 1401 AD Muzaffar came back with a huge army. He again killed many Hindus, demolished the temple once more, and erected another mosque.
Muzaffar was succeeded by his grandson, Ahmad Shah, in 1411 AD. Three years later Ahmad appointed a special darogah to destroy all temples throughout Gujarat. In 1415 AD Ahmad invaded Sidhpur where he destroyed the images in Rudramahalaya, and converted the grand temple into a mosque. Sidhpur was renamed Sayyadpur.
Mahmud Begrha who became the Sultan of Gujarat in 1458 AD was the worst fanatic of this dynasty. One of his vassals was the Mandalika of Junagadh who had never withheld the regular tribute. Yet in 1469 AD Mahmud invaded Junagadh. In reply to the Mandalika’s protests, Mahmud said that he was not interested in money as much as in the spread of Islam. The Mandalika was forcibly converted to Islam and Junagadh was renamed Mustafabad. In 1472 AD Mahmud attacked Dwarka, destroyed the local temples, and plundered the city. Raja Jaya Singh, the ruler of Champaner, and his minister were murdered by Mahmud in cold blood for refusing to embrace Islam after they had been defeated and their country pillaged and plundered. Champaner was renamed Mahmudabad.
Mahmud Khalji of Malwa (1436-69 AD) also destroyed Hindu temples and built mosques on their sites. He heaped many more insults on the Hindus. Ilyas Shah of Bengal (1339-1379 AD) invaded Nepal and destroyed the temple of Svayambhunath at Kathmandu. He also invaded Orissa, demolished many temples, and plundered many places. The Bahmani sultans of Gulbarga and Bidar considered it meritorious to kill a hundred thousand Hindu men, women, and children every year. They demolished and desecrated temples all over South India.
AMlR TIMUR
The climax came during the invasion of Timur in 1399 AD. He starts by quoting the Quran in his Tuzk-i-Timuri: “O Prophet, make war upon the infidels and unbelievers, and treat them severely.”
He continues: “My great object in invading Hindustan had been to wage a religious war against the infidel Hindus…[so that] the army of Islam might gain something by plundering the wealth and valuables of the Hindus.” To start with he stormed the fort of Kator on the border of Kashmir. He ordered his soldiers “to kill all the men, to make prisoners of women and children, and to plunder and lay waste all their property”. Next, he “directed towers to be built on the mountain of the skulls of those obstinate unbelievers”. Soon after, he laid siege to Bhatnir defended by Rajputs. They surrendered after some fight, and were pardoned. But Islam did not bind Timur to keep his word given to the “unbelievers”. His Tuzk-i-Timuri records:
“In a short space of time all the people in the fort were put to the sword, and in the course of one hour the heads of 10,000 infidels were cut off. The sword of Islam was washed in the blood of the infidels, and all the goods and effects, the treasure and the grain which for many a long year had been stored in the fort became the spoil of my soldiers. They set fire to the houses and reduced them to ashes, and they razed the buildings and the fort to the ground.”
At Sarsuti, the next city to be sacked, “all these infidel Hindus were slain, their wives and children were made prisoners and their property and goods became the spoil of the victors”. Timur was now moving through (modern day) Haryana, the land of the Jats. He directed his soldiers to “plunder and destroy and kill every one whom they met”. And so the soldiers “plundered every village, killed the men, and carried a number of Hindu prisoners, both male and female”.
Loni which was captured before he arrived at Delhi was predominantly a Hindu town. But some Muslim inhabitants were also taken prisoners. Timur ordered that “the Musulman prisoners should be separated and saved, but the infidels should all be dispatched to hell with the proselytizing sword”.
By now Timur had captured 100,000 Hindus. As he prepared for battle against the Tughlaq army after crossing the Yamuna, his Amirs advised him “that on the great day of battle these 100,000 prisoners could not be left with the baggage, and that it would be entirely opposed to the rules of war to set these idolators and enemies of Islam at liberty”. Therefore, “no other course remained but that of making them all food for the sword”.
Tuzk-i-Timuri continues:
“I proclaimed throughout the camp that every man who had infidel prisoners should put them to death, and whoever neglected to do so should himself be executed and his property given to the informer. When this order became known to the ghazis of Islam, they drew their swords and put their prisoners to death. One hundred thousand infidels, impious idolators, were on that day slain. Maulana Nasiruddin Umar, a counselor and man of learning, who, in all his life, had never killed a sparrow, now, in execution of my order, slew with his sword fifteen idolatrous Hindus, who were his captives.”
The Tughlaq army was defeated in the battle that ensued next day. Timur entered Delhi and learnt that a “great number of Hindus with their wives and children, and goods and valuables, had come into the city from all the country round”.
He directed his soldiers to seize these Hindus and their property. Tuzk-i-Timuri concludes:
“Many of them (Hindus) drew their swords and resisted…The flames of strife were thus lighted and spread through the whole city from Jahanpanah and Siri to Old Delhi, burning up all it reached. The Hindus set fire to their houses with their own hands, burned their wives and children in them and rushed into the fight and were killed…On that day, Thursday, and all the night of Friday, nearly 15,000 Turks were engaged in slaying, plundering and destroying. When morning broke on Friday, all my army …went off to the city and thought of nothing but killing, plundering and making prisoners….The following day, Saturday the 17th, all passed in the same way, and the spoil was so great.that each man secured from fifty to a hundred prisoners, men, women, and children. There was no man who took less than twenty. The other booty was immense in rubies, diamonds, garnets, pearls, and other gems and jewels; ashrafis, tankas of gold and silver of the celebrated Alai coinage: vessels of gold and silver; and brocades and silks of great value. Gold and silver ornaments of Hindu women were obtained in such quantities as to exceed all account. Excepting the quarter of the Saiyids, the Ulama and the other Musulmans, the whole city was sacked.”
CREDIT/SOURCE: This article first appeared on Hindunet website and it’s written by Rajiv Varma. The author has merely re-produced it from this website with due credit given to owner of Hindunet.
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The small percentage often leads to creation of a different Islamic nation!
References:
Hindunet
The Magnitude Of Muslim Atrocities
Is Islam The Cause Of Fragmentation Of Peaceful Societies
All India Muslim League(Formation Of Pakistan)
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गन्दी राजनीति के भंवर में डूबते हिन्दू मुस्लिम सम्बन्ध
मोदी: इनके अच्छे कार्यो का कोई महत्त्व नहीं क्योकि हमको सिर्फ गन्दा देखना है
नरेन्द्र मोदी से ज्यादा सहानभूति नहीं मेरी. ना मै उनका कोई बहुत बड़ा प्रशंसक हूँ क्योकि अतिवादिता या उग्र विचारधारा का समर्थन मै उचित नहीं मानता. ये अलग बात है कि इस आदमी का जिस पैमाने पे और जिस तरीकें सें विरोध होता है उसको देखते और समझते रहना आपको बहुत कुछ सिखा देता है. ये दिखा देता है कि गन्दी राजनीति किसे कहते है. ये सिखा देता है कि किसी के भूत के नुमाइश में किस तरह कुछ संस्थाएं खुद भूत जैसे सलंग्न है. अब ये आदमी कितना भी अच्छा कर जाए कुछ लोग इसको देखते ही “गुजरात के दंगो” नाम के महामंत्र का उच्चारण शुरू कर देते है. खैर इस आदमी कि उपलब्धिया दुर्लभ है क्योकि जब केंद्र से किसी राज्य के आंकड़े छतीस के हो तो उस राज्य का प्रोग्रेस के पैमाने पे सबसे खरा उतरना एक विलक्षण घटना है.
मै इस आदमी को इस मामले में अधिक रेटिंग देता हूँ, सम्मानीय मानता हूँ कि इस देश में भरे भ्रष्ट नेताओ से ये बेहतर है क्योंकि कम से कम ये आदमी अपनी बात डंके के छोट पे खरी खरी कहता है और नितीश कुमार की ही तरह इसकी सोच विकास-उन्मुख है. साफ़ साफ़ दो टूंक बात कहना आसान नहीं होता जब तक आप के अन्दर मनन करने की काबिलियत ना हो. आप विवादास्पद हिन्दू मुस्लिम समीकरण को ही लें. इस देश में आज़ादी के समय से सत्ता पे काबिज़ कांग्रेस के रूख को देखे तो समझ में आएगा कि इस पार्टी ने सेकुलर हितो के रक्षा के नाम पर कितनी घिनौनी राजनीति कि जिसका दुष्परिणाम देश में हुएँ भयानक दंगे है. आप ये विडियो देखे और आपको समझ में आ जायेंगा कि कांग्रेस और नरेन्द्र मोदी में फर्क क्या है. आप के ये समझ में आ जाएगा कि कौन है जो हिन्दू बनाम मुस्लिम बाते करता है घिनौने तरीके से. कुल मिला के प्रोग्रेस का पैमाना क्या हो? ये हो कि कुछ ख़ास नाकाबिल लोगो को उच्च पदो पे बिठा दिया जाए क्योकि वे एक वर्ग विशेष का प्रतिनिधित्व करते है?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ruZLBeelhs&feature=player_embedded
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अंत में थोडा सा हटके.. फालतू और वाहियात के कार्यो में सलंग्न लोगो को भारत रत्न देने की सिफारिश होती है क्योकि इनसे बहुत से लोगो के राजनैतिक हित सध जाते है. इस गंदे समीकरण में आनंद कुमार जैसे काबिल लोग कभी फिट नहीं बैठते. इसलिए ये उपेक्षित रह जाते है. पर क्या सूर्य को काले बादल कभी हमेशा ढके रह सकता है? कभी नहीं. आनंद कुमार की प्रतिभा मेरा सलाम जिसने उपेक्षित प्रतिभाओ का सही सम्मान किया उन्हें उनकी सही जगह दिला कर.
आनंद कुमार की प्रतिभा को मेरा सलाम जिसने उपेक्षित प्रतिभाओ का सही सम्मान किया
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