[Reader-list] AMAN KI AASHA

[Shuddhabrata Sengupta]

Aditya,

I regret that you have once again abused the space of liberty on this  
list by forwarding this idiotic poem, which I have wasted my time by  
reading.

I am normally not a fan of the Times of India, or the Jang Group of  
Newspapers, but, I have to say, that the steady stream of opposition  
that their 'Aman Ki Asha' initiative seems to be gathering from the  
usual suspects makes me even more interested in what the 'Aman ki  
Asha' initiative is all about. I sincerely hope that it sets a trend,  
and that other media corporations and other agencies mirror it by  
setting up their own initiatives for sustaining the resources of  
peace in South Asia, and especially between India and Pakistan, in  
these difficult times.

Having tasted a bitter defeat after attempting their thuggery on the  
'My Name is Khan' issue, the lunatic right is now seeking a fruitless  
second wind, by riding the waves of the regrettable bomb blast that  
occured in the German Bakery in Pune. Your effort to surf this wave  
is pathetic. The xenophobia agenda is dead and buried, and no amount  
of impotent roaring from Matoshtree will make it walk again.

I find the poem that you sent, strongly objectionable, because it  
makes no attempt to distinguish between different kinds of opinion  
and publics in Pakistan.

The poem says -

> Dilli, Mumbai Ahemdabad ne, jab ki thi jaane qurbaan,
> man hi man khush hote they, yahi paki haiwan.

For those who do not understand Hindi. These lines can be translated  
as follows -

"When in Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad, lives were sacrificed
In their hearts, Paki monsters rejoiced"

I am aware of the fact that time and again, whenever terrorist  
atrocities occur in India, a significant section of Pakistani  
political society condemn acts of terrorism in no uncertain terms.   
Many people in India do the same when terrorism occurs in Pakistan.  
To lump all Pakistanis (or for that matter, all Indians) as  
'monsters' who 'rejoice in their hearts' when loss of life occurs, is  
disgusting. I find your endorsement of this disgusting sentiment  
shameful.

There is a very strong body of public opinion in Pakistan that wants  
peace in South Asia, and realizes that peace is the only way forward  
in Pakistan. They act vigilantly against war-mongers and preachers of  
prejudice in Pakistan, exactly as many of us act vigilantly against  
the constituency that advocates permanent aggression here. That  
includes our vigilance against your hate filled agenda.

Whenever an atrocity like what happened in Pune occurs, I find that  
the constituency of rabid right-wing nationalism comes crawling out  
like maggots to feast on the dead. As if they were waiting for  
tragedy to strike to once again find their reason for existence.

Have none of these people any shame? Have you none at all?

Shuddha





On 17-Feb-10, at 1:07 PM, Aditya Raj Kaul wrote:

> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Irma Razdan
> Date: 2010/2/17
> Subject: Fwd: AMAN KI AASHA
> To:
>
> For my Hindi speaking followers, this is a poem that was authored  
> by a mod
> of a forum which is my frequent haunt. It is a take on the recent  
> 'Aman ki
> Asha' program by the Times of India and Jang group of Pakistan,  
> which is
> supposed to be an Indo-Pak peace project. Newbies, please refer to  
> link.
>
> घर घर में आज जगती है, हर  
> सुबह अमन की आशा,
> टाइम्स ऑफ इंडिया और  
> दैनिक जंग का, देखो नया  
> तमाशा,
>
> पीठ में ख़ंजर भोंका  
> जिनने, मानवता को ही छला,
> आज बोलते चले हैं वोही,  
> कैसी शांति की भाषा,
>
> ज़मीन के लालच को धर्म का  
> मुखौटा पहना,
> जिन जल्लादों ने छीना  
> भारत माँ का गहना,
> आज उन्ही से रखनी होगी,  
> हमको प्रेम की अभिलाषा
> वाह रे टाइम्स ऑफ  
> इंडिया, क्या खूब है तेरी  
> आशा.
>
> देखो कैप्टन कालिया, ऐसा  
> हुआ आपका बलिदान,
> आज अफ़ज़ल गुरु और क़सब  
> को शायद मिल जाये जीवनदान,
> छब्बीस-ग्यारह दोहराने  
> को बेचैन हैं जिनके जेहादी,
> दोस्ती का राग सुना रहे,  
> वही कियानी, ज़रदारी और  
> गीलानी,
> कौआ चले हंस की चाल, देखो  
> इनकी मीठी भाषा,
> हमें दोस्ती का पाठ  
> पढ़ाएंगे, अब सूजा अहमद  
> पाशा.
>
> हमारे अपने नेताओं ने,  
> देश को भी नहीं बख़्शा
> नपुंसक से भी कम पौरुष  
> जिनमें, वो करेंगे देश की  
> रक्षा?
> बातचीत के ज़रिये ये,  
> मिटा देंगे सारे भेद
> आधा कश्मीर खोने का, इनको  
> ज़रा नहीं खेद,
> राष्ट्र को किया लज्जित,  
> दी शर्म-अल-शेख़ में निराशा,
> समझे नहीं हम किसने लिखी  
> आख़िर उस दस्तावेज़ की  
> भाषा.
> कब तक जयचंदों को जनती  
> रहेगी हे माता!
> कब तक तेरे बच्चों को होती  
> रहेगी हताशा,
>
> आतंकवाद की आग में जब जल  
> रहा है पाकिस्तान,
> ऐसी हालत में इनके हृदय  
> में जागा है इंसान,
> दिल्ली मुंबई अहमदाबाद ने  
> जब की थीं जानें क़ुर्बान,
> मन ही मन खुश होते थे यही  
> पाकी हैवान,
> देखो भारतवासियों, रखना  
> इतना ध्यान,
> राष्ट्रभक्तों के हाथ  
> में ही सदा देना तुम कमान,
> झूठे धर्म-निरपक्षों से  
> रहना तुम सावधान,
> वोट बैंक बनकर कभी मत करना  
> मतदान.
>
> बोस, पटेल, सावरकर ने, जिस  
> देश को है तराशा,
> लूट ना ले उसको फिर, यह  
> झूठी अमन की आशा.
> घर घर में आज जगती है, हर  
> सुबह अमन की आशा,
> टाइम्स ऑफ इंडिया और  
> दैनिक जंग का, देखो नया  
> तमाशा.
>
> English Transliteration:
>
> Aman Ki Aasha
>
> Ghar ghar mein aaj jagti hai, har subah aman ki aasha,
> Times of India aur dainik Jang ka, dekho naya tamaasha,
>
> Peeth mein khanjar bhonka jinnay, manavta ko hi chhala,
> aaj bolte chale hain wohi, kaisi shanti ki bhaasha,
>
> zameen ke lalach ko dharm ka mukhauta pehna,
> jin jallado ne chhena, Bharat Maa ka gehna,
> aaj unhi se rakhni hogi, hamko prem ki abhilaasha,
> wah re Times of India, kya khoob hai teri Aasha.
>
> Dekho Captain Kalia, aisa hua aapka balidaan,
> Aaj Afzal Guru aur Qasab ko, shayad mil jaaye jeevandaan,
> Chhabees-Gyarah (26/11) dohraanay ko, bechain hain jinkay jehadi,
> hame dosti ka raag sunaa rahey, wohi Kiani, Zardari aur Gilani
> Kawwa chale hans ki chaal, dekho inki meethi bhaasha,
> hamen dosti ka paath padhayenge, ab Sooja Ahmed Pasha.
>
> Hamare apne netao ne, desh ko bhi nahi baksha,
> Napunsak se bhi kam pourush jinme, woh karenge desh ki raksha?
> baatcheet ke zariye ye, mitaa denge saare bhed,
> aadha Kashmir khoney ka, inko zara nahi khed,
> Rashtra ko kiya lajjit, di Sharm-Al-Shekh mein niraasha,
> samjhe nahin hum kisnay likhi , aakhir us dastavez ki bhasha.
> Kab tak Jaichando ko janti rahegi he maata,
> Kab tak tere bachcho ko, hoti rahegi hataasha.
>
> Atankwaad ki aag mein, jab jal raha hai Pakistan,
> Aisi halat mein inke hriday mein, jaaga hai insaan,
> Dilli, Mumbai Ahemdabad ne, jab ki thi jaane qurbaan,
> man hi man khush hote they, yahi paki haiwan.
> Dekho Bharat vasiyon, rakhna itna dhyan,
> Rashtrabhakto ke haath mein hi, sada dana tum kamaan,
> Jhoothey dharm-nirpayksho se, rehna tom saavdhaan,
> vote bank bankar kabhi, mat karna matdaan.
>
> Bose, Patel, Savarkar ne, jis desh ko hai taraasha,
> loot na le usko phir, yeh jhooti aman ki aasha.
> Ghar ghar mein aaj jagti hai, har subah aman ki aasha,
> Times of India aur dainik Jang ka, dekho naya tamaasha.
>
> Courtsey : Kumpal Madrasi
>
>  ------------------------------
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Shuddhabrata Sengupta
The Sarai Programme at CSDS
Raqs Media Collective
shuddha at sarai.net
www.sarai.net
www.raqsmediacollective.net