[Reader-list] About Accusations on this List

[Danish Husain]

Dear Shuddha:

I think you've been very lenient by leaving out few other illustrious people
who've been libellous and have been defaming many at free will on this list.
Please expel them immediately because it's been painful to delete trash from
my inbox everyday. I am sure there are many forums who'd willingly embrace
our chest-baring jingoists. And anyway why should they waste time with few
paid commies and foreign stooges. I guess expulsion would save them lot of
heartburns and they can apply their energies more fervently on forums where
people would worship them for taking up their cause. We here are all for
freedom of words but not for freedom of spitting.

And lastly, I resisted but I can't help saying it that the "chinese
ideology" you ferreted out, let alone knowing them they can't even spell
half of them.

Thanks for speaking out on behalf of the tormented membership of this list.

Warmly,

D

On Sun, Nov 9, 2008 at 8:31 PM, Shuddhabrata Sengupta <shuddha at sarai.net>wrote:

> Dear All,
>
> I have noticed a curious and remarkable phenomenon of late on our
> list, and am wondering whether or not any of you have noticed it too.
> Unfortunately it is not without precedent.
>
> We know well by now that when those who speak for 'Panun Kashmir' and
> 'Roots in Kashmir' run out of arguments, especially when faced with
> detailed and cross referenced material that does not support their
> 'case', habitually retort with abuse, invective and insinuation. They
> express their desires to 'spit' on people's faces, exactly as their
> ABVP / Sri Ram Sena  goon allies spit on the faces of university
> lecturers invited to speak at the university.
>
> Of late, there has been another kind of 'spitting' going on in this
> list, and in the online communications emanating from individuals
> associated with 'Panun Kashmir' and 'Roots in Kashmir'.
>
>  I am speaking about a curious pattern of a specific kind of
> insinuations emanating mainly from Pawan Durani (but also of late
> from Aditya Raj Kaul) that suggest that whosoever does not agree with
> the PK/RIK gospel or the broad hardline Indian nationalist position
> on anything must be doing so because they are actively doing the
> bidding of their 'foreign masters' and further, because they are
> being 'paid' to do so. Since their ethical horizons are severely
> limited and compromised, the makers of these accusations cannot
> imagine that some of us take a principled position against the things
> that they hold sacrosant. And so, failing to account for the ethical
> basis of our opposition, they leap to accuse us of being adversarial
> purely for the sake of private and pecuniary gain. So, 'writers' and
> journalists are paid by their terrorist masters, I am a paid agent,
> Sanjay Kak was paid by Yasin Malik (this is a charge that was made
> when the debate on Jashn-e-Azadi began) and Prakash Ray is 'Sanjay
> Kak's propoganda agent on the payroll of Yasin Malik' , and so on.
>
> This allegation that ones critics are ones critics because they are
> being paid to be critics and that too by devious foreign powers or
> their local clients is the time tested 'foreign hand' and 'agent of
> the foreign hand' theory that is the Brahmastra (secret lethal
> weapon) that Indian politicians (and not only Indian politicians)
> resort to when all else fails. It is the true hallmark of a failure
> of reason, a profound disconnect with reality and dismal poverty of
> the political imagination. It attempts to hide but fails to conceal a
> rancid, rabid, raucous politics.
>
> Of course, as is evident from the emails forwarded by Sonia Jabbar on
> to the list recently, some of the illustrious company that Mr. Durani
> keeps, such as the gentleman known as Ashish Zutshi, another 'Roots
> in Kashmir' luminary, himself offered her a 'reasonable sum of money'
> to write for their cause. Perhaps the sleazy language of bribery is
> the only one that these gentlemen understand, because at least in
> this case, they seem to be doing precisely what (offering a bribe)
> that they accuse us of being beholden to. Rather, this is a case of
> one kind of influence peddlers admitting to the fact that they lament
> not having their current adversaries as their own 'paid agents'. Why
> else would they offer to pay someone who doesn't agree with them a
> 'reasonable amount' to change her mind.
>
> In the last two weeks there have been several specific occasions when
> either I, or someone broadly willing to question the PK/RIK hard line
> nationalist gospel has been called a paid 'agent'. Further, Aarti has
> been accused of selling herself 'cheaply' and Sanjay Kak has been
> accused of taking money from Yasin Malik. And there have also been
> two specific occasions when people (Aman and me, by implication) have
> been called 'puppets of the Chinese'.
>
> Now this is something that I take quite seriously. I do not take this
> casually, as I do not think that these accusations are made casually
> either.
>
> The allegations suggest, basically, that some of us are writing what
> we are writing on this list because some 'foreign power'  or
> 'terrorist' is greasing our palms. Since I am included in this list,
> I am willing to take on this matter personally. Notwithstanding the
> fact that my bank accounts suggest otherwise, I am insulted to know
> that Pawan Durani should think that my political convictions and
> reflections are available for purchase at such low rates in the
> market, or, more fundamentally, that I am a hired hack who writes not
> out of conviction but  for the sake of crumbs and leavings from my
> 'masters' table. The Reader List is a space of freedom. No one is
> paid by the hosts  or the administrator of the list to write
> anything. No payments are sought from the hosts or administrator for
> any kind of writing either. My professional responsibilities at Sarai
> do not include writing on the Reader List either.
>
> I consider this an insult to the community of the reader list, to the
> Sarai programme at CSDS and a serious affront to my reputation and my
> professional standing. I do not wish to ignore this or take it
> lightly, especially as this has been made on a very public forum. I
> may have been willing to ignore the odd barb of this nature (and it
> is not that it has not been thrown in the past) but when we get seven
> defamatory missives in two weeks, then we are looking at a serious
> and determined pattern that I do not think deserves to be ignored or
> overlooked.
>
> Let's look at each one of these instances. I have tagged each quote
> with the subject header and the date of the posting from which it is
> taken, so that they can be traced easily by all list members. My
> comments follow each quotation. Certain portions within each
> quotation have been capitalized for reasons of emphasis (mine).
>
> --------------------------
> 1.
>
> Re: [Reader-list] When will Muslims join the mainstream?
> Date: 21 October 2008 6:21:56 PM GMT+05:30
>
> (from Pawan Durani)
>
> "...Notwithsatnding a well CALCULATED EFFORT BACKED BY A FOREIGN
> COUNTRY , so called intellectuals and so called jornalists who
> created a disinformation campaign, such as in Jamia Encounter ,
> Parlaiment case are being followed more closely.
>
> Number of people are supposed to be under close scanner and their links
> ascertained. Hoping the truth and the DETAILS PAYOUTS will come out
> soon..."
>
> MY COMMENT: Pawan Durani claims to know the following -
> (a) that those raising questions about the Jamia Encounter and the
> Parliament Attack case are party to a 'well calculated effort backed
> by a foreign country'
> (b) that they are 'under a close scanner', their 'links are being
> ascertained'
> (c) that the 'details' of 'payouts' will come out soon...
>
> In all fairness, either he should furnish the list with details of
> how he can substantiate (a - which foreign country?), (b) & (c)
> above, or stand charged of making baseless allegations designed to
> malign the character and reputation of people in a public forum.
>
> In the event that he cannot prove (a), (b) & (c) I would like to know
> whether or not list members believe that this alone ought not to
> count as sufficient reason for his expulsion from the list ?
>
> 2.
>
> Re: [Reader-list] When will Muslims join the mainstream?
> Date: 25 October 2008 3:53:21 PM GMT+05:30
>
> (from Pawan Durani)
>
> "...I know I am not a master of mixing words NOR IS THIS A FULL TIME
> JOB FOR ME  FOR WHICH I GET PAID FOR..." (sic)
>
> MY COMMENT: This is specifically addressed to me. Since I am neither
> employed nor monetarily compensated to write posts on the Reader List
> on any subject whatsoever, and do so entierly of my own free will, I
> want to know what Pawan Durani means when he implies that writing on
> the Reader List is a 'full time job for which I get paid'. Again, if
> he cannot substantiate this, it will amount to defamation because it
> will imply that I say what I do, or have the political convictions
> that I have because I am paid for this. In other words, that I am a
> 'mercenary'. If he cannot substantiate this charge, I would again
> like to ask whether he should be expelled from this list, or allowed
> to continue to make allegations without basis?
>
> 3.
>
> Re: [Reader-list] Thinking Through Figures on Internal Displacement
> from Kashmir
> Date: 1 November 2008 2:11:09 PM GMT+05:30
>
> (from Pawan Durani)
>
> "...Mind it , we are fighting for ourselves and IT IS A UNPAID JOB,
> UNLIKE SOME SURROGATES WHO ACT PROXY for secessionists in Kashmir and
> support their
> cause by trying to create an opinion..."
>
> MY COMMENT: If what he is doing is an 'unpaid job' it implies, from
> reading this and the previous quote, that I am doing a 'paid
> job' (again because this is addressed to me). Once again, the
> questions I have asked immediately before this still hold.
>
> 4.
>
> Re: [Reader-list] Thinking Through Figures on Internal Displacement
> from Kashmir
> Date: 1 November 2008 5:17:49 PM GMT+05:30
>
> (from Pawan Durani)
>
> "...I dont have time like Shuddha for writing such a long mail, and
> also IT IS NOT MY PAID JOB."
>
> MY COMMENT: Implication - it is Shuddha's "paid job" to write in the
> way he does. See my previous two comments above. Same question holds
>
> 5.
>
> Re: [Reader-list] Thinking Through Figures on Internal Displacement
> from Kashmir
> Date: 2 November 2008 12:37:24 PM GMT+05:30
>
> (from Pawan Durani)
>
> "We dont need him or his lip service. LET HIM SERVE HIS MASTERS and
> we would continue to counter their agenda..."
>
> MY COMMENT: So providing a detailed set of arguments amounts to me
> "serving" my "masters". Who are these "masters"? Does Durani have a
> list of my "masters" or  any proof for the allegation that he is
> making here that I write on the list at the bidding of "masters"? If
> he does not have this proof, then again, I am constrained to ask
> whether or not he should be expelled from the list for reasons of
> defamation.
>
> 6.
>
> Re: [Reader-list] Kashmiri Pandits demand 'internally displaced
> persons' status
> Date: 3 November 2008 1:33:03 PM GMT+05:30
>
> (from Pawan Durani)
>
> "...At least WE ARE NOT PUPPETS OF CHINESE IDEOLOGY. You know what I
> mean."
>
> MY COMMENT: The implication here is that those who do not agree with
> Pawan's position are the puppets of "Chinese ideology"? What does
> "Chinese ideology" mean? Does it mean, Confucianism, Taoism, Maoism,
> Kuomintang Thought, Dengism, Falun Gong tendencies or an unnatural
> preference for Chinese cuisine?
>
> I take it (though, who knows, I could be wrong)  that Pawan is
> referring to a willingness to act at the behest of 'Chinese' masters,
> specifically those in positions of power within the Chinese Communist
> Party and the government of the Peoples Republic of China.
>
> If so, how would he explain the fact that several of the people he
> would identify as his adversaries (me, for instance) have been vocal
> critics of Maoism (all varieties), the Chinese Communist Party and
> the government of the Peoples Republic of China on this list. We have
> in fact gone on record to point out the similarities between the way
> in which the government of mainland China deals with Tibet, and the
> way in which the Government of India deals with the occupation that
> it undertakes in Kashmir.
>
> In the light of this fact, the above allegation is rendered baseless.
>
> 7.
>
> Re: [Reader-list] Kashmiri Pandits demand 'internally displaced
> persons' status
> 3 November 2008 1:42:34 PM GMT+05:30
>
> (from Aditya Raj Kaul)
>
> "It has become so usual now to SEE THESE PUPPETS SPEAK THEIR MASTERS
> TONE..."
>
> MY COMMENT: Here, Aditya Raj Kaul echoes Pawan Durani's insinuation
> that anyone who questions them (him and Durani) are "puppets" who act
> at the behest of their masters.
>
> -----------------
>
> Re: [Reader-list] SIMI Activists found with SAR Geelani CDs
> 9 November 2008 14:14:12 IST 2008
>
> (from Aditya Raj Kaul)
>
> "dear SANJAY KAK'S PROPOGANDA AGENT ON PAYROLLS OF YASIN MALIK
>
> MY COMMENT: None
> __________________________
>
> I am giving Pawan Durani and Aditya Raj Kaul exactly one day (from
> the date and time of this posting) to furnish detailed,
> substantiatable proof for what I consider to be the allegations in
> their defamatory and scurrilous postings aimed at me and others on
> this list.
>
> If they are not able to furnish these proofs within this one day. Or,
> if the proofs they furnish are found to be insubstantial, motivated
> and inadequate to the charges that they make, then I would request
> the list administrator that both of them be expelled from this list
> with immediate effect.
>
> Let me clarify one thing in closing. I am and have always been in
> favour of freedom of expression. And I have defended (over the last
> year and a half) the right of Pawan Durani and Aditya Raj Kaul and
> their allies (in serious offline discussions) to continue to torment
> this list with their rubbish time and time again when demands have
> been made for his expulsion on grounds of 'hate speech'. I am willing
> to go the extra mile to give the benefit of the doubt when someone
> stands accused of 'hate speech' especially when I do not agree with
> them, because I think that even things said in anger need a hearing.
> And I have gone that extra mile with Pawan Durani, Aditya Raj Kaul
> and their allies.
>
> But defamation and libel are offenses, not opinions. The harm that
> they can do is objectively verifiable, not a matter of speculation or
> conjecture. Opinions, no matter how vile they may be can be countered
> by arguments and better formulated opinions. But the lies that attack
> peoples personal lives and conduct, especially when they are uttered
> on public fora, spread poison if they are not dealt with exemplary
> and immediate severity. There have to be consequences for such
> conduct, no matter who does it.
>
> If someone says that I am paid to speak in the way that I do by a
> foreign power, then there is no ambiguity in this statement. EIther I
> am, or I am not. I know I am not. The mails that I am referring to
> above suggests that I am, and several others on the list are. And
> since this is a statement about concrete people, not about some
> abstractions . then the only way to settle this is to demand that the
> person or persons making the allegation proves what they say, or
> faces the consequences of bearing false witness. The reason I am
> saying this is because there actually are very serious consequences
> to being thought of as a 'paid' agent of a 'foreign power' in this
> country, at a time like what we are going through, today. Such
> accusations and labels cannot and must not be taken lightly.
>
> Either he is lying, or I am. And an untruth about a person is libel
> and cannot by any stretch of imagination be subject to protection on
> the grounds of freedom of expression. This forum would be betraying
> itself and the reasons why it was founded if it confuses the license
> to defame a person or persons with the freedom of expression.
>
> I hope I have made myself abundantly clear. I have nothing to conceal.
>
> regards
>
> Shuddha
>
>
>
>
> _________________________________________
> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
> Critiques & Collaborations
> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
> subscribe in the subject header.
> To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
> List archive: &lt;https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/>