[Reader-list] The Epitaph of a Mind: Vir Sanghvi

[Rakesh Iyer]

Dear all

First of all I am very happy that such an article has been put up. Having
been a consistent reader of Vir Sanghvi's column in Hindustan Times over the
past few years, I must say that he has stopped any kind of researching,
which I consider an essential part in journalism. I believe that if research
into one area has stopped, then it should be started into some other area.
After reading Sanghvi's articles, I realize he goes on speaking about the
same things in a merry-go-round.

As far as Sanghvi's article goes, I agree with the above mentioned points
that it is quite far from reality. Considering that about 35% of the Muslim
population in the nation (based on Census and obtained from Sachar
Committee's report), lives in cities, and most of this population lives in
ghettoes (old city areas generally), and is poor, one would have to see the
way the state has abandoned itself from its responsibilites in these areas.
Looking at my own city Bhopal, I can say that not only has the
administrative work shifted to new city buildings for many purposes, what's
more, the old city suffers many problems related to water, sewage and other
kinds handled generally by the municipal corporation, on a daily basis, much
more than what the new city (read Hindu-dominated areas), face.

The economic situation of Muslims is already very poor, and most Muslim
ghettoes in India also don't have proper education facilities (or even
private based schools),  to educate their children. Hence, they have to send
their children to madrassas. And then, our Vedavati jee and their folk go
hammer and tongs at these madrassas for giving 'terrorist education' to
them, when in the first place they should talk about the lack of education
facilities given to them.

In India, we keep on asking for one ban after the other. When 'Water' was
supposed to be made in Varanasi by Deepa Mehta, the RSS goons stopped it and
created violence. When the 'revenge' had to be taken for Gujarat, the very
same organizations indulged in mass-rapes of women, something unheard of
even in pre-1992 Gujarat riots by and large. Infact, even districts
unaffected in any riot since independence witnessed massive violence. And
then our great Modi has the courage to say this: 'Not more than 100 died in
the violence, and that too due to police firing'. Later on, he said there
was no violence at all.

If there was no violence, how come there was the need for police firing??

Hence Sanghvi was definitely wrong in that article.

Inspite of this, I can say that India is on a slightly better footing while
treating its minorities in practice, for at least they are considered as
equal with the majority community (read Hindus), and even cases in
post-Godhra can be re-investigated again and again, while whether I can say
the same for Pakistan or not, is something I am not sure of. While
constitutionally Pakistan is an Islamic republic, we are a 'secular,
socialist, democratic republic', and through constant practice of democracy,
can at least get our voice heard. (Muslims did in the election mandate of
2004, critically in UP and Bihar).

The second part is with respect to this harsh truth.

I don't feel comparisons are the way to find out whether we are doing the
right thing or not. And if any comparison is to be made, let us do an
intra-country comparison to find out whether we have done enough for our
minorities, for our scheduled caste brothers, for the scheduled tribes, for
the women, for the children, for the unemployed, and for the poor, and if
yes, upto what extent did they benefit from this, across states, across
districts, and across villages in a district too.

Instead, we have set Pakistan as a benchmark in many cases. Do we too wish
to become a Hindu Pakistan? Is that what we want? Let me ask Vedavati jee
here and others as well. If in Bangladesh tomorrow 100 Hindus are burnt,
should we respond by burning 100 Muslims here? Tell me this. I think these
questions are imperative, and in times of elections, should be asked by the
media to the BJP leaders.

I think as a state, we should set up benchmarks based on principle of reason
and justice. And that's where we should move towards, rather than surpassing
China in terms of power, or becoming a Hindu version of Pakistan, and
portraying our 'mardangi' by nuking them or by killing our Muslims. I don't
think any Gujarati Hindu who went about raping women post-Godhra ever became
a 'mard' by doing so in the name of Lord Ram or revenge, for very souls of
those died in Godhra and Lord Ram himself, must be ashamed of what happened
in their name.

But I think this question should be solved for once and for all as well
here.

How many people (Indian non-Muslims) don't trust Indian Muslims? And why?

This is the question we need to ask. We have avoided this for long, and have
been giving explanations like 'our culture is composite', 'we are all human
beings', 'we are all the same' and all this. The fact is that Modi and his
folk won't listen to all this, so now we need to question them instead of
answering them. Let these folk also do some answering to their part, because
our reasons would never satisfy them unless they are forced to think
rationally too.

The other thing I feel, is that these rational discourses may still not be
useful. We have been discussing about how our culture is composite, and this
and that? May be what is needed now is conversation and communication
between people.

Hence, we need to get a public common education system being the same for
all, which should be mandatory and compulsory for all. No discrimination
must be allowed here. Moreover, colleges should not be based anymore on
minority or majority basis, and instead reservations must be provided (the
guidelines of which can be discussed certainly). Moreover, we also need to
have public forums where such issues can be discussed. And certainly,
leaders like Modi and Advani must be questioned on the issues of mistrust
they have with Muslims of India, to expose them and their party (or set of
parties), on the fallacies on which they live.

Regards

Rakesh