[Reader-list] Indian Islam, nationhood etc.
Krishna Chaithanya
tulunadu at hotmail.com
Mon Jan 21 14:37:33 IST 2008
It all depends on how you want to feel people and religion
MAYA was the one I was born into. I had no choice in this matter, like you didn't.
I believe in my Dharma, not in shaving my head and dancing to the rythm of drums and hare hare.
Hope this answer helps you to feel MAYA
KC
> Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2008 14:01:29 +0500
> From: radhikarajen at vsnl.net
> Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Indian Islam, nationhood etc.
> To: chanchal_malviya at yahoo.com
> CC: tulunadu at hotmail.com; reader-list at sarai.net
>
> Hi,
>
> which shanti and Maya are you talking about, - the one you had as girlfriend during your education or the one you have had after embracing the cult ? Even in hindu way of life, dharma is a means of earning dollars and having princely life with krishna conscious, hope you are not of that type. ? Such have only superficial grasp of Geetha as told by the Lord and get mired in maya of dollars. !
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: chanchal malviya <chanchal_malviya at yahoo.com>
> Date: Monday, January 21, 2008 10:54 am
> Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Indian Islam, nationhood etc.
> To: Krishna Chaithanya <tulunadu at hotmail.com>, reader-list at sarai.net
>
> > You are a selfish person... Realizing Shanti only for you...
> > The mantra is far deep than you can even think...
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----
> > From: Krishna Chaithanya <tulunadu at hotmail.com>
> > To: reader-list at sarai.net; chanchal_malviya at yahoo.com
> > Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2008 10:37:06 PM
> > Subject: RE: [Reader-list] Indian Islam, nationhood etc.
> >
> > What I know can not be expressed in words. I feel peace within me
> > when I Chant OM SHANTHI SHANTHI SHANTHI.
> >
> > It appears like you you understand what is OM and why there is
> > Three Shanthi. But how come there is no sign of peace!
> >
> > I don't care if any other religion has such slogans in their
> > religious books.
> > It doesn't make any difference to my belief and faith in the Supreme.
> >
> > KC
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2008 08:44:33 -0800
> > From: chanchal_malviya at yahoo.com
> > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Indian Islam, nationhood etc.
> > To: tulunadu at hotmail.com
> >
> >
> > Do you understand also... what is OM and why is there Three
> > Shanti...
> > Do you know any other religion which has such slogans in their
> > religious books...
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----
> > From: Krishna Chaithanya <tulunadu at hotmail.com>
> > To: chanchal malviya <chanchal_malviya at yahoo.com>
> > Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2008 6:28:20 PM
> > Subject: RE: [Reader-list] Indian Islam, nationhood etc.
> >
> >
> > Om Shanthi Shanti Shanti hi
> >
> > KC
> >
> > Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2008 04:53:35 -0800
> > From: chanchal_malviya at yahoo.com
> > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Indian Islam, nationhood etc.
> > To: tulunadu at hotmail.com; reader-list at sarai.net
> >
> >
> > How many bombs you have thrown..
> > Ask this to them... Not us...
> > We are reacting.. They are acting...
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----
> > From: Krishna Chaithanya <tulunadu at hotmail.com>
> > To: reader-list at sarai.net
> > Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2008 6:19:37 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Indian Islam, nationhood etc.
> >
> >
> > Violence can be stopped only with violent means.Then peace will be
> > on the society....!?
> >
> > We bomb them
> > and they bomb us
> > and we bomb them
> > and they bomb us
> > together we bomb us
> > then who is left to bomb...?
> >
> > KC
> >
> > > Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2008 14:33:09 +0500
> > > From: radhikarajen at vsnl.net
> > > To: chanchal_malviya at yahoo.com
> > > CC: reader-list at sarai.net
> > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Indian Islam, nationhood etc.
> > >
> > > Hi, true, it for too long hindus have been tolerent leading to a
> > sarcastic comment that they are cowards, may be Nehru was coward
> > when India was divided for his greed,may be Krishna menon loved
> > chinese vaginas more than indian ones, but now it is time that
> > hindu understood the value of SAMA, Dana, BHEDHA are over, dandam
> > dashagunam bhaveth. Violence can be stopped only with violent
> > means.Then peace will be on the society.
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: chanchal malviya <chanchal_malviya at yahoo.com>
> > > Date: Sunday, January 20, 2008 7:24 am
> > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Indian Islam, nationhood etc.
> > > To: Javed <javedmasoo at gmail.com>, reader-list at sarai.net
> > >
> > > > It is time for Hindus to rise now...
> > > > And no dicussion or virtual communities can stop it...
> > > >
> > > > Swami Vivekanand said - India have enough of religion..
> > > > And it is time now to say this to Christian and Muslims who
> > force
> > > > conversions the same thing..
> > > > If Sanskrit is the mother of all languages, Hinduism is the
> > mother
> > > > of all Religions... (But two religions have in particular
> > always
> > > > learnt to abuse their mother(Hinduism) - Islam and
> > Christianity)...> > It is time now to stop the nation from
> > producing more Kashmirs...
> > > > It is time now to stop the non-Independent Religious India...
> > > >
> > > > So go on my dear friends as much as you like to abuse Hindus..
> > > > It hardly matters now..
> > > >
> > > > Ramayan is proving to be a reality, Mahabharat is a reality..
> > > > History will also change..
> > > > It is Hindus that have taught peace to the world.. but to do
> > that
> > > > again, the two attackers have to be checked now..
> > > > People are doing that.. And will do that..
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ----- Original Message ----
> > > > From: Javed <javedmasoo at gmail.com>
> > > > To: reader-list at sarai.net
> > > > Sent: Saturday, January 19, 2008 6:00:16 PM
> > > > Subject: [Reader-list] Indian Islam, nationhood etc.
> > > >
> > > > India's Islam
> > > > by Arun Nair
> > > >
> > > > Firstly, I must apologise if this article smacks of an impolite
> > > > urgency and prescriptive-ness. I mean not to be arrogant, but as
> > > > someone addressing you on a matter of deep concern to us all,
> > I felt
> > > > that there was little room for ceremonial apologies before every
> > > > sentence. Also, as an Indian middle-class Hindu who grew up in the
> > > > Babri-masjid 90s, it is easy for me to say some of the things
> > I say
> > > > here.
> > > >
> > > > Secondly, I address you, the reader, as an Indian citizen, not
> > as a
> > > > saintly Kabir or Gandhi preaching love for humanity. Our
> > collective> > interests are being threatened by communal forces
> > from within and
> > > > without. WE MUST ACT. We must not merely lament about our
> > respective> > versions of helplessnesses and others' faults. We
> > are free today
> > > > because India's greatest generation shook off the ghosts that
> > > > bedevilled them, and took action to protect our interests. I
> > implore> > you to continue that legacy.
> > > >
> > > > Thirdly, while I will go into what in my opinion are highly
> > plausible> > theories of Indian nationhood and nationalism, my
> > primary aim here is
> > > > not to write any treatise on politics or sociology, but to
> > protect our
> > > > rights to belong equally to India – our common ancestral land
> > – as
> > > > Indians, and as free, dignified humans.
> > > >
> > > > Fourthly, my ideas will be presented largely based on first
> > > > principles, also known as common-sense.
> > > >
> > > > My thesis is this: India must boldly assert its claim on Islamic
> > > > civilisation in the subcontinent. That is the key to end our
> > communal> > woes.
> > > >
> > > > This does not mean that India must become Islamic, or that Indian
> > > > Muslims must be somehow Hinduised. The idea, instead, is to
> > campaign> > relentlessly for India's Islamic civilisational
> > authenticity.> >
> > > > In the Indian psyche, Pakistan stands for Islam. Sadly for us and
> > > > admittedly in a weaker form, Islam is also synonymous with
> > Pakistan> > and everything Pakistani. This wouldn't have been so
> > bad if Pakistan
> > > > wasn't, well, un-Indian. We must use every tool at our
> > disposal as a
> > > > people to destroy the entrenched idea of Pakistani ownership of
> > > > subcontinental Islam from within India. More importantly, this
> > idea> > must be attacked from without it, because that is where it
> > originates.> >
> > > > Our chief weapon to eliminate Islam-Pakistan hyphenation from the
> > > > subcontinent will be an authentic claim: the centre of Islamic
> > > > civilisation in South Asia has always been undivided India,
> > and after
> > > > partition, India is its natural primary heir. The fact that a few
> > > > million Muslims left India during partition to settle in our
> > erstwhile> > outlying provinces doesn't change this. Neither does
> > the fact that the
> > > > Indian people chose a progressive, secular, democratic polity for
> > > > their republic.
> > > >
> > > > In our minds and in the world's view, subcontinental Islam is
> > under> > Pakistani occupation. The historical Indo-centric nature of
> > > > subcontinental Islam should be used to throw off this
> > psychological> > yoke. I urge Indians to rally together once again
> > as our greatest
> > > > generation did to protect our collective interests as the
> > people of
> > > > India. I urge friends of India all over the world to join us.
> > Both in
> > > > terms of geography and spirit, Islam in the subcontinent that
> > > > coexisted and flourished alongside Indic cultures, has always been
> > > > more Indian than Pakistani. If any single country represents
> > > > subcontinental Islam as it historically was, it is India. Not
> > > > Pakistan.
> > > >
> > > > India's Mughals. India's Qutub Minar, Gol Gumaz, and Taj Mahal.
> > > > India's Kabir. India's Tipu Sultan, Shah Jahan, Akbar, and,
> > why not,
> > > > Aurangazeb. India's Urdu. India's Ghalib and Khusro. India's
> > Delhi,> > Lucknow, Mysore, Hyderabad, Malabar, and Agra.
> > > >
> > > > Good history has to be deliberately written
> > > >
> > > > The people of India inherited thousands of years of history and
> > > > associated baggage that we didn't really ask for.
> > > >
> > > > Keep in mind though that history is not a dead object - it is
> > > > unfurling even as you read this. We may not be able to change what
> > > > happened in India 200 years ago. But 200 years from now when
> > people> > look back, they will see the Indian history that our
> > generation wrote.
> > > > It becomes then our duty, both as Indians and as sensible
> > humans, to
> > > > write it well.
> > > >
> > > > It is a great privilege to deliberately be able to write a
> > part of
> > > > something grand like the history of India. The first
> > generation of
> > > > Indians who did a coordinated job of writing our history was
> > the one
> > > > that won us our independence – our "freedom-generation". They
> > could> > have attempted to write their Indian chapter any way they
> > wanted to.
> > > > We could have had a dark, China-style communism, for instance.
> > But,> > given the Indian context, the freedom-generation chose the
> > most> > egalitarian, elegant, and humanist theme they could come
> > up with: a
> > > > secular, liberal, constitutional, democratic republic, that
> > takes its
> > > > strength from its inherent pluralism and its inheritance of
> > one of
> > > > mankind's greatest civilisations.
> > > >
> > > > The freedom-generation's legacy for us is the deliberate and
> > > > intelligent manner in which they forged an Indian national
> > identity.> > Thanks to their efforts, our nationality is a solid
> > concept. An Indian
> > > > from Karnataka has a robust nationalistic bond with Indians
> > say from
> > > > Punjab, Gujarat, Assam, or Delhi. Regardless of what languages we
> > > > speak, we all recognise Marathi, Tamil, Bengali and Telugu as
> > Indian> > languages – ancestral assets that all Indians
> > collectively own.
> > > >
> > > > It is a mistake, however, to think that the nation-building
> > task they
> > > > began is complete. Indian nationalism is not an idea frozen in
> > time,> > but an evolving one. We, the successors of India's
> > freedom-generation,
> > > > must exercise our prerogative to define its finer contours and
> > bring> > in new ideas to enrich it. Furthermore, we have an
> > obligation to both
> > > > our founding fathers and India's posterity to do this while
> > being true
> > > > to our quintessential Indian-ness, the just, egalitarian
> > nature of our
> > > > country as embodied in our constitution.
> > > >
> > > > Given that India's situation is not as pressing as it once
> > was, new
> > > > nationalist leaders – giants of the stature of Mahatma Gandhi,
> > Khan> > Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Subhash Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh,
> > Jawaharlal> > Nehru, Abul Kalam Azad or Vallabhai Patel – may be
> > difficult to
> > > > emerge. There is no need to though. We succeeded them, and we must
> > > > take this task upon ourselves. The freedom-generation watches
> > over us
> > > > in the form of our fraternity as Indians which they moulded at
> > a great
> > > > cost, and our constitution.
> > > >
> > > > Indian Nationalism - the idea of Indian brotherhood
> > > >
> > > > Amidst all this noisy consternation of Taslima Nasrin, Babri-
> > masjid,> > BJP-Congress etc., its easy to lose sight of the really
> > big pictures.
> > > > Consider, for instance, this question: what really is the
> > essence of
> > > > Indian nationalism? Why do we all feel so closely tied to
> > India
> > > > and to
> > > > each other?
> > > >
> > > > My answer is that, to put it simply, without the land we call
> > India,> > Indians either have no identity, or very anaemic
> > identities. All
> > > > Indians share this same curious relation to India.
> > > > When we are born to the same human mother, we are brothers. Our
> > > > constitution formed by our freedom-generation explicitly asserts
> > > > fraternity among the Indian people. Fraternity – brotherhood.
> > In what
> > > > sense are we brothers?
> > > >
> > > > Indians are brothers in the sense that the motherland that
> > birthed my
> > > > identity, also birthed yours. India is our ancestral land, and we
> > > > should be proud of everything associated with it. Everything
> > in India,
> > > > its religions, its good and its bad, its languages, its
> > glories and
> > > > struggles, its rivers, its emperors, its heroes and villains,
> > > > everything – is intricately weaved into our consciousnesses of
> > who we
> > > > are, where we come from, what our place in this world is, and how
> > > > other humans see us. Without that identity, we are crippled.
> > > >
> > > > Ours is no ordinary brotherhood. Indian people didn't come
> > into being
> > > > merely a few centuries ago. We are an ancient civilisation,
> > and what
> > > > we have is a civlisational brotherhood – a bond arising from
> > all of
> > > > our belonging to the civilisation that unfolded in the same land,
> > > > India. That brotherhood was formally declared through the
> > constitution> > in 1949, but it existed much before that. Before
> > our greatest
> > > > generation gave it a concrete wording in the 20th century, it
> > was well
> > > > moulded in the crucible that is our land, in the fire of the
> > previous> > several dozen, if not more, centuries.
> > > >
> > > > Every country of the world has stories that define their national
> > > > essences. What is the most essential feature of Indian
> > > > nationalism? It
> > > > is our Indian identity – our being tied to India, and our
> > > > civilisational brotherhood to each other in being bonded so. All
> > > > Indians, regardless of their religion or language, has this
> > bond with
> > > > India and with each other.
> > > > Indians must pause for a while and think why our anthem's
> > going over
> > > > our landmarks is so emotive. Or why Hindu-Muslim-Sikh-Christian
> > > > insignia are powerful. Or why merely thinking of our history,
> > or our
> > > > Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, UP, Punjab and Bengal moves
> > all of us
> > > > equally.
> > > >
> > > > It's because they remind us of our organic ties to India, and the
> > > > brotherhood that we have with each other. This natural bond
> > given to
> > > > us by our glorious and at times bloody history is important.
> > If we
> > > > don't uphold this bond with the ferocity that our greatest
> > generation> > did, if we don't use it to protect our common
> > interests, our country
> > > > will remain weak.
> > > >
> > > > Our country's nature
> > > >
> > > > What is the nature of our country? What does it mean for
> > something
> > > > to be Indian?
> > > > For one, if all of us Indians could get together today and
> > declare in
> > > > one voice that India stands for certain values, then that
> > would be an
> > > > authoritative statement. India is what Indians say it is. If,
> > say, the
> > > > people of the then-Indian civilisation – Hindus, Muslims,
> > Christians,> > Buddhists, Sikhs, and Jains – had made such a
> > statement 400 years ago
> > > > and preserved its spirit through centuries, that would have
> > probably> > have been one of the greatest Indian texts.
> > > >
> > > > If you will recall, a very similar event actually did happen
> > in 1949,
> > > > when the founding fathers of the Indian republic adopted,
> > enacted, and
> > > > gave to ourselves - the sovereign people of India - our
> > constitution.> > The preamble reads,
> > > >
> > > > "WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to
> > constitute India
> > > > into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to
> > secure> > to all its citizens:
> > > > JUSTICE, social, economic and political;
> > > > LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;
> > > > EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among
> > them all
> > > > FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the
> > unity and
> > > > integrity of the Nation.
> > > > IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixth day of November,
> > 1949,> > do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS
> > CONSTITUTION."> >
> > > > In an absolute sense, the values of justice, liberty, and equality
> > > > have an intuitive appeal to all humans everywhere. However, the
> > > > formidable authority of our constitution comes from the
> > crushed but
> > > > proud people who paid a very high price for our right to live as
> > > > equals and as dignified humans in India. We must take their
> > word for
> > > > what India is – they must have known and dreamt quite a bit
> > about it.
> > > >
> > > > India's greatest generation definitely realised that divisivism,
> > > > self-doubt, and other demons from our past would haunt the
> > republic> > they formed. Which is why the constitution is
> > important. It helps us
> > > > protect our country from ourselves.
> > > >
> > > > The Constitution. Indian Nationalism. How we will defend India.
> > > >
> > > > Those who doubt the moral power of our freedom-generation, our
> > > > constitutional ethos, and Indian nationalism need only look at
> > > > Pakistan, which renounced all these in its attempts not to be
> > seen as
> > > > Indian. Pakistan's leaders, in trying to defend their divisve
> > national> > philosophy, forced the most horrible bankruptcy on its
> > people.> >
> > > > Rather than using Indian nationalism and the constitution to
> > tackle> > our communal issues, I am appalled at the general trend
> > to merely
> > > > lament that India is on its way to being declared an non-
> > secular state
> > > > - the hundreds of millions of Indians fully intent on
> > preventing this
> > > > notwithstanding.
> > > >
> > > > Pakistan-style Islamism, Ummah-isation of Hinduism, alienation
> > of
> > > > Indian Muslims
> > > >
> > > > There are three major trends in India today that are relevant
> > to
> > > > our topic.
> > > >
> > > > Firstly, India has very serious conflicts of interest with
> > Pakistan.> > We have gone to war with that country several times.
> > Its society has
> > > > issues with radicalisation and a general religious orthodoxy. Its
> > > > regimes have relentlessly attacked India's internal fault-
> > lines over
> > > > the past few decades in the name of Islam. Tens of thousands
> > of Indian
> > > > soldiers have died defending our country against them. It is
> > > > distinctly un-Indian and anti-Indian.
> > > >
> > > > Secondly, Hinduism is, for the lack of a better word, Ummah-
> > ising, and
> > > > this at times takes horrifyingly militant forms. I, given my
> > personal> > biases, am all for Hindu solidarity and abolishing
> > pseudo-secularism.
> > > > However, an argument for Hindu-solidarity should not be
> > allowed to
> > > > take the form of an un-Indian religionalism that goes against
> > the very
> > > > spirit of India.
> > > >
> > > > Thirdly, Indian Muslims feel alienated from their own country. In
> > > > India, Pakistan is synonymous with Islam. Unfortunately, Islam
> > is also
> > > > weakly synonymous with Pakistan. This has significantly undermined
> > > > Indian Muslims' political standing in India vis-a-vis their fellow
> > > > citizens.
> > > >
> > > > The havoc all this has wreaked on our society must not be ignored.
> > > > India was home to one of humanity's greatest Islamic cultures
> > for well
> > > > over 1000 years. It is not, by any means, a dead part of our
> > > > culture -
> > > > nearly 160 million Indians are Muslims, several national icons are
> > > > Muslims, mosques and Islamic architecture litter the country, and
> > > > Muslim holidays are shared by all. And yet, to a lot of
> > Indians, Islam
> > > > doesn't feel Indian, but Pakistani. Despite their respective
> > religious> > majorities, it is odd that Buddhism doesn't feel Sri
> > Lankan, or
> > > > Hinduism itself, Nepali.
> > > >
> > > > The partition of India and secular India's deprivation of its
> > Islamic> > authenticity
> > > >
> > > > Has anyone thought what has actually happened here? Why is it
> > that in
> > > > India, an ancient civilisational land which has a unique Islamic
> > > > culture just like Egypt, Iran, and Iraq, Islam is seen as somehow
> > > > foreign? That is not because of Islam's being inconsistent
> > with India
> > > > – 1000 years and more of history and our combined freedom struggle
> > > > should have proven this by now.
> > > >
> > > > During partition, founders of Pakistan expropriated the
> > subcontinent's> > Islamic identity for defining their nation,
> > Pakistan. Pakistan's
> > > > struggle to keep its ideology alive has robbed us of our Islamic
> > > > authenticity. India's secular nature not-withstanding, the
> > ardour with
> > > > which Pakistan argued itsideology and pushed its exclusivist
> > national> > philosophy within the larger Islamic community ensured
> > that it gained
> > > > some traction in the Indian society. Pakistan's military conflicts
> > > > with "Hindu" India only amplified this.
> > > >
> > > > It only takes a few of decades of intense activity for a new
> > Zeitgeist> > to take root in a society. Consider denazification of
> > Germany, China's
> > > > turn into capitalism, and India's own economic liberalisation. 30
> > > > years – that is all it takes for a young generation to grow up
> > shaped> > by a pervasive ideology.
> > > >
> > > > Though quite smaller than India, Pakistan is by no means a tiny
> > > > nation. It is the world's 6th most populous country, one of
> > its major
> > > > economies, and a prominent player during the cold war. One
> > cannot find
> > > > fault with it - Pakistan had to defend its national
> > philosophy. It has
> > > > expended a tremendous amount of national effort over the last
> > 60 years
> > > > in achieving a strong association between subcontinental Islam and
> > > > itself.
> > > >
> > > > They have succeeded splendidly. Islam in the subcontinent
> > today is
> > > > seen as prominently Pakistani and India's secular fabric
> > warped by
> > > > that perception. Pakistan is an Islamic nation - this somehow
> > gives> > them a stronger claim on everything Islamic in the
> > subcontinent. The
> > > > world simply does not recognise India's Islamic authenticity, and
> > > > neither do many Indians within. India continues to be associated
> > > > primarily with Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism, but not Islam.
> > > >
> > > > Does religious brotherhood entirely negate the organic bonds a
> > human> > has to his ancestral land and its history, and to his
> > fellow humans
> > > > who share the same bonds as him? I don't really know. What I
> > do know
> > > > is that this is not the principle on which the Indian republic was
> > > > founded, and its definitely not an Indian value. Religious
> > supremacism> > and breaking up of Indian people are un-Indian
> > philosophies. It goes
> > > > against the very spirit of our freedom struggle, nationalism,
> > and our
> > > > constitution.
> > > >
> > > > Indians must remember that new Pakistani generations do not
> > even have
> > > > the same right to speak for India's Muslims that their earlier
> > > > generations might have had. Indian democracy has proven this
> > > > unnecessary anyway.
> > > >
> > > > Indo-Pak culture-drift and attempts at an unnatural bonhomie
> > > >
> > > > There is a delusion among the political class and Indian
> > people that
> > > > our shared past can be used to achieve friendly relations between
> > > > India and Pakistan. My view is that in doing so, we are only
> > > > reinforcing the internal Islam-Pakistan hyphenation.
> > > >
> > > > When historical developments asunder a people, over a period
> > of time
> > > > the newly formed groups drift increasingly farther from one
> > another.> > Once upon time, Myanmar and Sri Lanka were part of
> > India, just like
> > > > Pakistan and Bangladesh. Afghanistan was part of several Indian
> > > > empires. Today, though at a national level we have very cordial
> > > > relations, they are distinctly unfamiliar to us.
> > > >
> > > > Such a natural drift has definitely taken place between India and
> > > > Pakistan. The strongest bond between us that keeps us in each
> > others'> > national memories is not anything positive that we
> > share, but the
> > > > acrid legacy of partition. It's hard for me as an Indian, for
> > > > instance, to imagine such an Islamism taking hold of Pakistan
> > if it
> > > > were under Akbar's rule. That is, if it were under genuinely
> > > > Indian-style Islamic rule.
> > > >
> > > > I am not suggesting we should actively pursue enmity with
> > Pakistan or
> > > > vilify it. However, its being clumped together with Indian
> > Muslims is
> > > > simply not healthy for India. What has Pakistan's 'leadership' of
> > > > subcontinental Muslims, its advocacy of religious supremacism
> > within,> > and its enmity with India effectively accomplished? It
> > has robbed
> > > > India of its genuine Islamic authenticity in the world's eyes, and
> > > > caused non-Muslim Indians to reject the culture of an un-
> > Indian enemy.
> > > > Pakistan has highlighted Indian Muslims' being Islamic and
> > > =3E consistently de-emphasized their being Indian.
> > > >
> > > > Pursuing an unnatural bonhomie with Pakistan and stressing our
> > > > similarities with them will only weaken our case for our
> > differences,> > which are very real. To uphold our national
> > interest, we must assert
> > > > and amplify these differences.
> > > >
> > > > Replace Islam-Pakistan hyphenation with Islam-India
> > hyphenation in the
> > > > subcontinent
> > > >
> > > > I urge Indians to spearhead a change of perception of Islam in the
> > > > subcontinent. Anything that prevents Indian Muslims' fully
> > asserting> > their claim on India as Indian citizens is against
> > the national
> > > > interest. The strong association in India between
> > subcontinental Islam
> > > > and the present day un-Indian Pakistan must go.
> > > >
> > > > It is tempting to claim that all South Asian countries share
> > Islamic> > civilization equally. It may be polite and civil to do
> > so, and it may
> > > > even have some historical merit, but it's a weak claim for our
> > > > purposes. It doesn't have the necessary boldness and self-
> > conviction> > to be effective. It also doesn't forcefully argue
> > for India's Islamic
> > > > authenticity. Our aim is to end Islam-Pakistan hyphenation for the
> > > > welfare of a billion humans, not to be fair observers of
> > history. We
> > > > must hence push the strongest nationalistic claim possible:
> > Islam in
> > > > the subcontinent is Indian, and it always has been.
> > > >
> > > > Indian Islam never 'went' anywhere – it is alive and well
> > amidst us.
> > > > Our nationalism and constitution are guarantees that it will
> > > > thrive if
> > > > Pakistan would let go of it. When the world thinks of Hinduism in
> > > > South Asia, it thinks of India. Sikhism, it thinks of India.
> > Buddhism,> > India. When it thinks of Islam in South Asia, it must
> > think of India.
> > > > Everyone in the subcontinent will be better off. Everyone.
> > > >
> > > > The idea that Islam in the subcontinent is primarily Indian
> > can gain
> > > > currency only through a concerted nationalist campaign. No
> > apologies> > should be made for such a movement. No one need be
> > convinced of its
> > > > proponents' "patriotism". The obvious worthiness of the cause, its
> > > > truth, and its urgency are justifications enough.
> > > >
> > > > What ideas might such a campaign seek to make current?
> > > >
> > > > The countries in our region share an intertwined, messy
> > history. We
> > > > have a lot in common - languages, religions, culture, quirks - all
> > > > part of our common and colourful heritage.
> > > >
> > > > However, if our historical and religious assets must be divided
> > > > amongst us, then the worthiest inheritor of Islamic heritage
> > in the
> > > > subcontinent can only be India. Not Pakistan, not Bangladesh,
> > not Sri
> > > > Lanka, not Myanmar, not Nepal. India is the only nation that
> > has been
> > > > true to the historical spirit of Indian Islam – that of
> > flourishing> > alongside other Indic faiths in India.
> > > >
> > > > Slay our demons ourselves
> > > >
> > > > Has it ever struck you that in our country, we have a vicious
> > > > circularity of the following sort: we feel dismayed that the
> > > > country/political class/leadership has done nothing for us; a
> > form of
> > > > apathy and resignation sets in; the country/political
> > class/leadership> > continues to do nothing; we feel increasingly
> > more dismayed.
> > > >
> > > > We are a democracy. We individually must act. Things won't
> > happen
> > > > if we don't.
> > > > I urge Indians to assert India's secularism and nationalism to
> > fight> > alienation of the Muslim community from Indian
> > mainstream. This battle
> > > > is the easier one to win – there are hundreds of millions of
> > > > reasonable Indians, the Indian constitution, the liberal
> > press, the
> > > > legacy of our freedom-generation, and truth and justice on our
> > side.> >
> > > > I also urge Indians to fight Pakistani supremacy of subcontinental
> > > > Islam from the outside. That is the root of all our problems.
> > That is
> > > > the key battle in India's war against communalism. We must
> > learn to
> > > > say, "Thanks, but no thanks. I understand what you mean, but
> > this is
> > > > not really true" to anyone who stresses commonalities of any
> > sort in
> > > > the subcontinent.
> > > >
> > > > Who will go first?
> > > >
> > > > Based on the concept of ownership of our destiny, what are the
> > answers> > to these questions:
> > > >
> > > > "But how can non-Muslims claim that Islam in the subcontinent is
> > > > Indian when it is represented by Pakistan and Indian Muslims
> > > > themselves imply so?"
> > > >
> > > > "How can Indian Muslims make the Indo-centric claim when there
> > is a
> > > > genuine sense of their alienation in India and rest of Indian
> > society> > accuses them of siding with Pakistan. We cannot move
> > against Pakstani
> > > > Muslims. There is a lot in common between us."
> > > >
> > > > I don't know! I am definitely going, in my own way. That I
> > know. I
> > > > will not ever treat any Indian by as automatically allied with a
> > > > foreign, inimical power. I will continue making people aware
> > of the
> > > > need to end the subcontinental Islam-Pakistan association and
> > replace> > it with Islam-India.
> > > >
> > > > We shall NOT vilify. We shall have faith.
> > > >
> > > > Indians should stop vilifying each other. Not because it would be
> > > > saintly to do so, but because it only weakens our unity.
> > > >
> > > > Our nationalism and our constitution are solid stuff. Our greatest
> > > > generation did their job well. If we must challenge our fellow
> > > > Indians, invoke these instruments. Face with stead-fast
> > stoicism any
> > > > slurs, any accusations of you being an anti-Indian Muslim or a
> > > > communal Hindutvawadi. Let the diatribe die down. Repeat your
> > > > arguments invoking our nationalism, constitution, and your
> > reasoning> > again. Do not ask anyone to 'prove' his or her
> > patriotism. It's
> > > > demeaning to do so.
> > > >
> > > > Satyameva Jayate – truth alone triumphs. If you are right, you
> > will> > win. Have faith in our country and in every Indians'
> > goodness and
> > > > genuine attachment to their land.
> > > >
> > > > Augmenting India's ideological basis
> > > >
> > > > Earlier I mentioned that our work on Indian nationhood is not
> > a frozen
> > > > process, but a continuing one. We can and must correct any earlier
> > > > mistakes that continue to torment India's communal harmony.
> > > >
> > > > If the greatest challenge the freedom-generation faced was
> > ending the
> > > > British rule and forming a stable republic, the greatest challenge
> > > > before us is to take back leadership of subcontinental Islam from
> > > > Pakistan. Our challenge is to do this without sacrificing India's
> > > > secular nature.
> > > >
> > > > To tackle our new communal challenges in the 21st century, I
> > propose> > the following:
> > > > 1. Secularism will continue to remain the Indian union's lynch
> > > > pin. It
> > > > should not, however, require any particular religious group's
> > giving> > up their right to assert religious solidarity. We should
> > genuinely> > address any concerns about hypocrisy in the name of
> > secularism.> >
> > > > 2. India is a mature concept, and we should actively use it to
> > tackle> > the challenges before us. Secularism is an integral part
> > of our
> > > > nationhood and a historically irreversible development. It follows
> > > > that religionalism – wherever it is practised – is distinctly
> > > > un-Indian. Within India, it is also anti-Indian in the sense
> > that they
> > > > weaken India and goes against its spirit.
> > > >
> > > > 3. The natural heir to Islamic civilisation in the
> > subcontinent is
> > > > India. Subcontinental Islam has always been an Indian phenomenon.
> > > > Pakistan's oft-reinforced association with Indian Muslims must be
> > > > destroyed.
> > > >
> > > > 4. India's brotherhood with its neighbours is dying. Soon
> > there will
> > > > be an Indian generation which doesn't have a single Indian
> > born before
> > > > partition. Every single human in the subcontinent would have
> > been born
> > > > in the countries as they existed after partition. The continuing
> > > > attempts to maintain an unnatural bonhomie with India's hostile
> > > > neighbours is not a tenable project - Pakistan has moved too
> > far away
> > > > from what was once India.
> > > >
> > > > Indian Muslims. India's Islam.
> > > >
> > > > A shockingly large amount of our national energy is wasted in
> > > > countering the effects of Islam-Pakistan hyphenation in the
> > > > subcontinent.
> > > >
> > > > The solution is simple. Reclaim the part of Indian identity
> > that was
> > > > robbed of us some 60 years back. If India is Hindu, then for
> > similar> > reasons, it is also Buddhist, Sikh, Christian - and
> > Islamic. Purported
> > > > authority over sub-continental Islam by other entities in the
> > > > subcontinent is an outrageous farce that must be ended right away.
> > > >
> > > > There is no obligation to do this meekly. India doesn't have
> > > > merely a
> > > > substantial claim or merely an equal claim. It simply has more
> > right> > to subcontinental Islamic heritage than anyone else by an
> > > > overwhelmingly large margin, period. We must use it for our
> > national> > well-being.
> > > >
> > > > Who can assert subcontinental Islam's Indian nature boldly,
> > loudly,> > without an iota of self-doubt or hesitation? Who needs
> > this to be done
> > > > most urgently? Who suffers from a deprivation of their right
> > to belong
> > > > to India the most? The Hindus? Sikhs? Buddhists? Christians?
> > Jains?> > Clearly not. Who else?
> > > >
> > > > The Indian Muslims. The others are left distinctly poorer and
> > their> > country's communal harmony stressed, but their Indian
> > genuineness is
> > > > unquestioned within India and the world over. There is not
> > going
> > > > to be
> > > > an un-Indian leader-nation for India's Sikhs, Hindus, Jains,
> > Buddhists> > and Christians in our neighbourhood any time soon.
> > > >
> > > > http://indianmuslims.in/indias-islam/
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