[Reader-list] My name is not Khan, I am Mr Kaul

[Rakesh Iyer]

Dear all

The real problem with the RSS lies in breast-beating. When my own
grandmother died, then on the day of the funeral, one woman stated in Tamil
(my mother tongue), that women of the house must cry. Hearing this, my two
aunts (my father's sisters) started crying like anything. The RSS also wants
such kind of breast-beating and showing of emotions. Probably in their
world-view, anybody who doesn't talk of terrorism is a supporter of
terrorists. Equally, any Kashmiri Muslim who has never come out on the
streets to protest against any injustice meted out to a Kashmiri Pandit is
simply against the Kashmiri Pandits.

Why is it necessary for me to show my emotions in front of others? Is it
really necessary at all? If I have grief for having lost someone or feel
that something is wrong, which Constitution states that it's my duty to go
out and express myself loudly and clearly? And there are many issues I am
not concerned with. According to this kind of belief, I would be someone who
supports what happened at Godhra, because I didn't go out and protest on
streets against it. And this kind of breast-beating is simply unacceptable.
It should be thoroughly condemned.

As far as the atrocities on Kashmiri Pandits is concerned, let me state this
very clearly: the Kashmiri Pandits have been a victim of the general Indian
apathy which can be seen for any issue. You look at development, you will
find this apathy. You look at issues of improving literacy rates and health
indicators amongst all communities, including Muslims, you will find this
apathy. Look at the issue of corruption, you will find this apathy. This
apathy cuts across all Indian sectors and problematic areas. It is not
confined to the Kashmiri Pandits. Look at the issue of others who have been
displaced as well: Muslims in Gujarat after 2002, Sikhs post-1984, Muslims
due to various riots, tribals due to so-called 'development projects', and
others.

It is unfair to say that Kashmiri Pandits are suffering because they are
specifically ignored. They are suffering because of the basic lackadaisical
attitude of we Indians.

This does not mean that such an attitude of apathy be appreciated. It should
be condemned and rectified. But instead of that, the RSS wants to portray a
completely different situation. They want to prove that no apathy exists for
the Muslims. If it were so, then Muslims should have had the best
development indicators, especially with regard to human development.
Statistics show otherwise.

Rakesh