[Reader-list] Remembering Debates on this List

[Murali V]

Our politicians are well aware of this statistics, but they dont seem to be
bothered and are keen on ammassing wealth for their next few generations.
Jinnah said that Hindus abd muslims cannot co-exist, and that was the intent
at the time of partition in 1947. The monetary exchange in gold for the
shift of the entire muslim population was handed over to Pakistan.
Today the Hindu population in Pakistan is almost negligible, whereas in
India the population has multiplied many-fold.
The thought of yours should have some amount of reciprocation, which doesnt
seem to be there as otherwise there would be no fathwas calling for ban on
singing Vandemataram and the national anthem by the imams.
Regards,
V Murali

On Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 6:01 PM, Rakesh Iyer <rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com> wrote:

> Dear all
>
> I thought a lot that such followers of Hindutva nationalism would realize
> their folly and instead contribute to discussing about a better world. Even
> if they were simply nationalists but would have thought from the people's
> point of view (even if only Indian people), it would have been very helpful
> to discuss many issues and really get to understand more. But now this
> forum
> seems to be only for people to go about discussing religions.
>
> I read a primer on ICDS (Integrated Child Development Scheme) put up on the
> Right To Food Campaign Site. (www.righttofoodindia.org) It stated that
> 'The
> Hindu', one of the better newspapers of this country, had been publishing
> more articles on the nuclear deal, defence issues, terrorism and higher
> education than on ICDS. Infact, there were more articles published on
> primary education rather than ICDS. And strangely, the ICDS which is a
> campaign for children under six, states that if children aren't properly
> looked at till that age, then any kind of education or treatment will not
> be
> able to compensate for this lack of care and the children would be mentally
> and physically retarded.
>
> How many of us know that about 50% of the children under six in this
> country
> are malnourished? How many know that 1/3rd of the children in this country
> under six are under-weight? How many know that micro-nutrients which are
> very essential for the growth of children in this nation, are not being
> given to them in sufficient manner? And how many know that the nutrient
> value in the crops of this country has been decreasing in the past decade,
> and so to get the same amount of nutrition, the amount of food to be
> consumed would have to be increased? (The last question is something even
> the Right to Food activists should know, considering that they are fighting
> for food and nutrition for everyone.)
>
> Instead, we all have time for Hindu-Muslim debates. Even the Sarai Reader
> issue discusses about fear as a topic (for which essays are invited), in
> which one of the sections is about fear of riots. What about fear of
> hunger?
> Isn't that an important issue? (I am not an accomplished writer to discuss
> about fear in the way it was mentioned in the link, but certainly would be
> great if someone can write about the fear of hunger.)
>
> If we really feel Muslim and Hindu religions can't co-exist in this nation,
> either all Hindus and Muslims should take swords and finish each other till
> followers of only one religion exist, or alternatively bring about another
> partition of this country (in a peaceful manner) so that this time people
> of
> both religions can live separately but somewhat peacefully. (Though how
> much
> peace that would bring is itself a doubt). Or may be both India and
> Pakistan
> should sign a pact to drop nuclear bombs on themselves and give the rest of
> the world some peace and calm, and a few important lessons to learn as
> well.
>
>
> But it would only show how fickle and irresponsible we are to our brethren
> who are economically destitute, politically powerless, and socially
> subjugated. And it shows what we are: totally despicable criminals of the
> worst kind, if we still forget them and keep on chanting Hindu-Muslim,
> Ram-Allah, and fights of such kind.
>
> Regards
>
> Rakesh
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