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India-Bangladesh’s growing defense and strategic ties

Reports

johnrozario

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19 May 2022

India-Bangladesh’s growing defense and strategic ties

Fifty years ago, India was a major part of the Bangladesh War of Liberation in 1971 as it helped the then, East Pakistan turn into a new country, Bangladesh and this changed the dynamics of South Asia forever. With the birth of Bangladesh, India signed a 25-year ‘Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation.’ Today, India and Bangladesh share several civilizational links, and diplomatic, economic and security ties which have further resulted in stronger bilateral relations between the two countries in the present times. For India, Bangladesh holds a place of great importance as it is an immediate neighbour and a valuable pillar of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First Policy.

Defence, security and strategic ties are growing day by day between India and Bangladesh. India considers Bangladesh as an eternal strategic ally. India has extended a $500 million line of credit to Bangladesh for defence imports from India and has gifted 18 new 120mm mortars to the Bangladesh Army in December 2020 under army-to-army cooperation.

In January in 2021, a 122-member Bangladeshi tri-services contingent also participated in India’s Republic Day parade. Two Indian naval ships — INS Kulish and INS Sumedha — visited Mongla Port of Bangladesh from 8-10 March, marking the first naval visit that India has undertaken for the first time in the last 50 years. Bangladesh continues to be India’s “closest neighbour” and ties with the country have entered a “golden era”. As the US wants more strategic engagement with Bangladesh, India also would like to deepen its partnership with Bangladesh. Of course, it would be a win-win situation for both countries.

India’s new Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande today (May 11, 2022) spoke to his Bangladeshi counterpart Gen S M Shafiuddin Ahmed through video interaction with a focus on enhancing bilateral defence cooperation.

It is understood that the two army chiefs also exchanged views on the evolving geopolitical situation as well as its possible impact on regional security.

Defence and security ties between India and Bangladesh are on a higher trajectory in the last few years. The year 2021 marked the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Bangladesh. Both India and Bangladesh have highly skilled and professional armies and they cooperate with each other to maintain peace in the Eastern region.

Reflecting close ties, India is also hosting several events to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1971 war that led to the liberation of Bangladesh.

The defence cooperation between Bangladesh and India has been increasing gradually. The cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries has been continuously rising through different programmes including defence discussions, joint training and drill.

During Sheikh Hasina’s four-day visit to New Delhi in April 2017, Bangladesh and India signed two defence agreements, the first such agreements between India and any of its neighbors. Under the agreements, the militaries of the two countries will conduct joint exercises and training. India will help Bangladesh set up manufacturing and service centres for defence platforms that both countries possess with the aim of achieving self-sufficiency in defence manufacturing in Bangladesh, and will also provide the Bangladesh military with expert training, and technical and logistic support. India also extended its first-ever defence-related line of credit to a neighboring country, by providing Bangladesh with $500 million to purchase defence equipment.

Also, the militaries of the two countries have played quite an extensive role in taking up common issues to enhance and conduct training programmes to deal with counter-terrorism issues, natural disasters, and ensure Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR). Very, recent in March 2019, the Indian Army’s current Chief of Staff, then GOC-in-C of the Eastern Army Command, General M.M. Naravane visited the Chief of Army Staff, of Bangladesh, General Aziz Ahmed to hold talks related to boosting Intelligence sharing between the 2 countries along with developing other areas of defence cooperation. The visit has most importantly come up at the time, when Myanmar decided to take strong actions in order to act against the operating insurgent groups which were operating foiling up terrorist activities on both the sides of India and Myanmar, along with that had discussions on various options to enhance the conduction of Military exercises at a more rapid and strong scale.

Defence and security are important aspects of bilateral ties between India and Bangladesh with the armed forces of both the countries cooperating and coordinating with each other at various levels.

On 16th December, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said that Bangladesh would soon import defence-related commodities from India under the US$ 500 million Line of Credit offered by New Delhi, as certain identified items are being fast-tracked.

President Ram Nath Kovind on his first state visit to Bangladesh at the request of his counterpart M Abdul Hamid to attend the golden jubilee celebrations of Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan in 1971, met with the country’s top leadership on December 15, 2021.

President Ram Nath Kovind was received by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and the two leaders discussed a number of matters of mutual interest and bilateral cooperation. They discussed how far their complex and comprehensive bilateral ties have progressed.

During President Kovind’s conversations with Bangladesh’s highest leadership, the defence issue was discussed.

India has extended the line of credit for defence items by US$ 500 million. Several goods have been identified and are being fast expedited under this line of credit; they’re in a reasonably advanced level of processing. (According to media reports)

In 2019, India offered Bangladesh a US$ 500 million line of credit for defence acquisition in the neighbouring country. On April 11, the Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) signed an agreement with Bangladesh’s Armed Forces Division to make a US$ 500 million line of credit (LOC) accessible to the latter.

The Memorandum of Understanding is for the aim of financing defence acquisition in Bangladesh. During Prime Minister Hasina’s visit to New Delhi in April 2017, India pledged a US$ 500 million Line of Credit for Bangladesh’s defence.

President Ram Nath Kovind told the top leadership in Bangladesh that Bangladesh has a “special place” in India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy, and that the bilateral relationship, which is based on sovereignty, equality, trust, and understanding, is mature enough to deal with the “most complex of problems.”

In the sector of bilateral military cooperation, India and Bangladesh have been contributing the largest number of troops to United Nations Peace Keeping operations. Counter-terrorism is an area which has seen increased cooperation between the two Armies.

Bangladesh’s strong stand against terrorism resonated with India’s own resolve to counter-terrorism in all forms. India is conscious of Bangladesh’s efforts to deny space to terror groups that are carrying out subversive activities against India. In turn, India should continue to prevent any terror outfit to use its soil against the interests of Bangladesh.”

India had experienced adverse situations in some of the States close to Bangladesh but since the assumption of power in 2009 the Government of Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina had offered all support. It ensured that no one gets to use Bangladeshi soil to harm any neighbouring country. Bangladesh has resolved to not tolerate terrorism, and radicalism in any form and not to allow her soil to be used for this purpose.

India repeatedly lauds Bangladesh’s zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian President Ramnath Kovind, Foreign Minister, Home Minister and Chief Ministers of neighboring states had often expressed their appreciation and Gramercy.

For now, the insurgency is at its lowest in the North-eastern part of India, for which the Chief Minister of Assam, Hemant Bishwa Sharma has expressed his gratitude to Bangladesh and desire to enhance business and connectivity between Bangladesh and North-East India.

Bangladesh and India can work together in the sector of defence cooperation to further develop the defence and security component of their partnership. India can help Bangladesh reach the goal of implementing of Bangladesh’s visionary military plan ‘Forces Goal 2030; The two countries should be committed to further developing the defence and security component of their partnership based on the needs expressed and each party’s ability to respond to them using different methods, including through capacity building and potential technology transfer.

Gyanvapi, Constitution and Supreme Court

Opinions

Dr Jadabeswar Bhattacharjee

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19 May 2022

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Gyanvapi, Constitution and Supreme Court

Constitution is the framework of principles, which guides the governance of a country. However, Constitution is not an unchangeable Asmani Kitab. It can be modified through amendments as per the situation and requirement. After its implementation on 26 January 1950, Indian Constitution has been amended 122 times as of October 2021.

The Supreme Court of India is the custodian of Constitution and it has been clarifying and interpreting different Articles of Constitution on different occasions. But neither the Constitution nor the Supreme Court is “holier than thou”. What we have in those are the reference points for governance which may be optimum or sub-optimum depending on the larger context.

The 42^nd amendment of Indian Constitution has been the weirdest one. It was done in 1976 when the country was under the ‘Internal Emergency’ promulgated by Indira Gandhi government. All opposition leaders were behind the bars; Indira Gandhi government shifted the goal posts and scored the goal without any contesting team.

The 42^nd amendment incorporated two additional words in the Preamble of the Constitution specifying India as a ‘Secular’ and ‘Socialist’ country. In 1971 Bangladesh got independence from Pakistan. On 16 December 1972 Bangladesh adopted its Constitution and made ‘Secularism’ as one of its principles.

Indira Gandhi government, the thekadar of Secularism, suddenly discovered that though Indian Constitution was Secular in letter and spirit, the ‘word’ was not explicitly mentioned in Indian Constitution. She did not want to lag behind the newly independent Bangladesh in the context of ‘secularism’ and 42^nd amendment gave her that ego satisfaction.

During Bangladesh liberation war of 1971, USSR stood solidly behind India against all international odds and threats. Even USA was afraid of facing USSR in the event of its direct involvement in East Pakistan in favor of General Yahya Khan, the Pakistani Dictator. The obliged Indira Gandhi government thus incorporated ‘Socialist’ in the Preamble of the Constitution to please USSR. But nobody knew how a democratic country like India could be asked to follow the Leftist ideology by its Constitution?

It is another story that Bangladesh removed the word ‘secularism’ from its Constitution in 1977 and Islam was made its state religion in 1988. India was left with its sucking thumb. Subsequently, 42^nd amendment of Indian Constitution was challenged in the Supreme Court of India, but the Apex Court upheld the amendment. So much is the holiness of the Constitution and the Supreme Court of India.

As per Indian Constitution, there are reservations for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes from Panchyat to the Parliament and from education to employment to even promotion. The philosophy behind such Constitutional provisions has come from the fact that these two communities were persecuted for centuries by high caste Hindus, which led to their humiliation and socio-economic degradation. The ‘reservation’, thus has been an honest, moral, just and ethical approach to undo the injustice done to them for centuries prior to independence.

In the same analogy, destruction of Hindu temples by Muslim invaders and bigoted Muslim rulers in India, since early eleventh century, needs to be undone. There are tons of historical evidences about the hatred, contempt and insult Muslims showed towards Hindus by desecrating and destroying their temples across the whole India and constructing mosques on those destroyed temples at many places. The Indian Constitution, the Supreme Court and the government of India cannot force Hindus to continue to live with such humiliation in Independent India anymore.

This issue has come-up recently with the Court-directed survey that discovered a Shivling in Gyanvapi mosque of Kashi (Uttar Pradesh). The said mosque was constructed in 1664 AD at the order of Aurangzeb by destroying a part of Vishwanath temple. While Hindus are claiming to reconstruct temple part by destroying the mosque, the Islamists and Congress-Left-Liberal cabal are behaving like ‘alternating current’. They are crying for application of 1991 law and threatening Hindu community with dare consequences in the same breath. The 1991 law stipulates that the status quo of religious character of all places of worship in India should be maintained as it was on 15 August 1947.

If status quo law is morally and ethically saturated, then it should be applied in other important spheres of national interest. In 1951 census, Muslims constituted 10 percent of India’s population. As per status quo approach, only 10 percent of Muslims in India should continue to have voting right. Why Indian Constitution should expose majority Hindus to the Muslim demographic onslaught over the decades?

As a correlated point it can be said that Islamic scriptures have no concept of Dargah and Mazar. Rather these are considered to be Kufr for being idolatry. But in India, thousands of such shrines have flourished in the name of Islam since centuries. The situation is no different even now. Every day in some part of India a new such shrine comes up. Dargah and Mazar are also tools for encroaching public and private land and show-off of Islamic muscle power.

The group of Rana Ayyub, Arfa Khanum Sherwani, Saba Naqvi, Muhammed Zubair and Aakar Patel et al should introspect a little. Had there been Hindu rule in India following Plassey and had Hindus destroyed Delhi’s Jama Masjid, Ajmer Sharif and the Nizamuddin Dargah to construct Hindu temples, what would have been their state of mind on the discovery of truth now? It is irony that many Hindus are also mocking the Shivling found in Gyanvapi mosque along with the Islamists. These Hindus will not hesitate to mock their parents to score a few ‘secular points’.

The Indian Islamists and Congress-Left-Liberal cabal think that India is within Pakistan. Their idea of secularism is the continuation of humiliation of Hindu religious sentiment 24 x 7 by appeasing the Muslims. Forefathers of ninety-nine percent of Indian Muslims fought a violent fight and created Islamic Pakistan (including present day Bangladesh) in 1947. But they stayed back in India to complete the unfinished job of Ghazwa-e-Hind. The Islamists and Congress-Left-Liberal cabal are in the same boat to destroy Sanatani India. For Indian Hindus it is the time of Uttisthata Jagrata, that is, arise and awake.

काशी विश्वनाथ मंदिर और बाह्य अक्रान्ताओ का आक्रमण

Hindi

Nagendra Pratap Singh

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19 May 2022

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काशी विश्वनाथ मंदिर और बाह्य अक्रान्ताओ का आक्रमण

मेरे सनातन धर्म के महान अनुयायियों जैसा की आप को विदित है की दैवीय और असुरी शक्तियों के मध्य अनादिकाल से ही सम्पूर्ण ब्रह्माण्ड के सञ्चालन के संदर्भ में मतभेद रहे हैं और इसी कारण असुरी शक्तियों ने सदैव दैवीय शक्तियों के विनाश के लिए अनवरत प्रयास किया है| चूँकि हम मानव प्रजाति अर्थात सनातन धर्म के अनुयायी अनादिकाल से ही यज्ञ और अनुष्ठानो के माध्यम से दैवीय शक्तियों अर्थात कल्याणकारी शक्तियों की आराधना करके उन्हें और शक्तिशाली बनाते रहे हैं, इसीलिए असुरी शक्तियों अर्थात विध्वंशकारी शक्तियों के आँखों में कंटक की भांति चुभते रहे हैं|

कोई भी युग हो, असुरी शक्तियों ने सदैव हम मानवों पर अनेक प्रकार के अत्याचार करके बलपूर्वक हमें देवताओ से दूर करने का प्रयास किया है और इसके लिए उन्होंने साम, काम, दाम, दंड और भेद सभी कारको का प्रयोग और दुरुपयोग किया है| त्रेतायुग में जब इन असुरों ने ऋषियों के यज्ञ अनुष्ठान (उसमे मांस या मदिरा फेंककर, थूक कर या विष्ठा इत्यादि उड़ेलकर) नष्ट करने, ऋषि मुनियो और अन्य सामान्य मानवो की हत्या करने, उनके मंदिरो को तोड़ने, उनके गुरुकुल को समाप्त करने और मानव समाज का विध्वंश करने की अति कर दी, तब इनके विनाश के लिए महर्षि विश्वामित्र ने अयोध्या के महाराज दशरथ की सहायता ली और उनके परमप्रतापी पुत्रों प्रभु श्रीराम और लक्ष्मण ने असुरों का वध करके मानव प्रजाति को उनके अत्याचारों से मुक्ति दिलाई|

मित्रों, त्रेतायुग से लेकर आज तक असुरों का वो अत्याचार और दुराचार जारी है| आज भी असुरी शक्तियां हम सनातन धर्मियों को अनेक प्रकार से प्रताड़ित करती हैं, हमारे मंदिरो को तोड़कर, उन्हें लूटना, अकारण बड़ी संख्या में सनातन धर्मियों की सामूहिक हत्या कर देना, किसी क्षेत्र में बहुसंख्यक होते ही वहां के सनातन धर्मियों को डराकर, लालच देकर या विवश करके उन्हें अपनी आसुरी मंडली में सम्मिलित करवा लेना और ना मानने पर उन्हें उस क्षेत्र को छोड़कर कंही और जाने की रक्तपिपासु चेतावनी देना इत्यादि ये इन असुरी शक्तियों का दैनिक कार्य है|

आइये इसी क्रम में हम देखते हैं कि मंदिरों के नगर या विश्व के सबसे प्राचीन नगरों में से एक के नाम से सुविख्यात काशी में स्थित काशी विश्वनाथ जी के मंदिर के साथ कुछ पलों को जीने का प्रयास करते हैं|

वैसे तो सनातन धर्म में कुल ६४ ज्योतिर्लिंगों का वर्णन प्राप्त होता है और इसमें १२ ज्योतिर्लिंग सबसे महत्वपूर्ण माने जाते हैं| इन १२ ज्योतिर्लिंगों में सबसे महत्वपूर्ण और प्रथम ज्योतिर्लिंग अविनाशी काशी के विश्वनाथ मंदिर में स्थित ज्योतिर्लिंग को ही माना जाता है| काशी विश्वनाथ मंदिर का वर्णन स्कंदपुराण में भी प्राप्त होता है|

इस मंदिर में दर्शन करने के लिए आदि शंकराचार्य, सन्त एकनाथ, रामकृष्ण परमहंस, स्‍वामी विवेकानंद, महर्षि दयानंद, गोस्‍वामी तुलसीदास सभी का आगमन काशी में हुआ है। यहीं पर सन्त एकनाथजी ने वारकरी सम्प्रदाय का महान ग्रन्थ “श्रीएकनाथी भागवत” लेखन पूर्ण किया था, और काशीनरेश तथा विद्वतजनों द्वारा उस ग्रन्थ धूमधाम से शोभायात्रा निकाली गयी थी|

इस मंदिर का सर्वप्रथम जीर्णोद्धार इसा से ११ वी शताब्दी पूर्व इक्ष्वाकू वंश के महान सम्राट और सत्यवादी राजा हरिश्चंद्र द्वारा करवाया गया था| इसके पश्चात इसका नवीनीकरण गुप्त वंश के सबसे महान सम्राट चन्द्रगुप्त विक्रमादित्य ने अपने शाशनकाल के दौरान करवाया था| इस मंदिर की आभा और पवित्रता की देखते ही बनती थी|

इस्लामिक अक्रान्ताओ का आगमन

जैसा की हम सबको विदित है की लगभग ७१२ ई के आसपास अरब के सबसे शक्तिशाली इस्लामिक अक्रान्ता हज्जाज बिन युसूफ ने अपने ही एक रिश्तेदार इस्लामिक अक्रान्ता मोहम्मद बिन कासिम को भयानक सेना के साथ सिंध (आज पाकिस्तान में स्थित है और स्वतन्त्रता की लड़ाई लड़ रहा है) के राजा दाहिर सेन से युद्ध करने के लिए भेजा| राजा दाहिर सेन ने बड़ी वीरता से युद्ध किया परन्तु तत्कालीन भितरघातियों की सहायता से इस्लामिक अक्रान्ता मोहम्मद बिन कासिम ने राजा दाहिर सेन को पराजित कर दिया और फिर आरम्भ हुआ इस्लामिक अक्रान्ताओ का तांडव जिसके फलस्वरूप मंदिरों को तोड़ना, सनातनियो को हत्या करना, उन्हें लूटना, उनकी औरतो और बेटियों का सामूहिक शीलभंग कर उनको अपमानित करना और उन्हें इस्लामिक अक्रान्ता बनने के लिए विवश करना इत्यादि जैसी अनेक भयानक क्रियाएं आरम्भ कर दी गयी|

वर्ष ११९४ ई. में शिहाबुद्दीन उर्फ़ मुइज़ुद्दीन मुहम्मद ग़ौरी (जो १२वीं शताब्दी का अफ़ग़ान सेनापति था और १२०२ ई. में अपने भाई गियासुद्दीन मोहम्मद गौरी की मृत्यु के पश्चात, ग़ौरी साम्राज्य का सुल्तान बना।) ने तराइन के युद्ध में विजय प्राप्त करने के पश्चात अपने गुलाम कुतुबुद्दीन ऐबक (जो बाद में दिल्ली का सुल्तान बना और गुलाम वंश की स्थापना की) के माध्यम से काशी के विश्वनाथ मंदिर पर आक्रमण करवाया और मंदिर को न केवल तोड़ा अपितु मंदिर के खजाने को भी जी भर कर लूटा|

इसके पश्चात स्थानीय निवासियों के सामूहिक प्रयास से एक बार फिर भव्य मंदिर का निर्माण किया गया और फिर एक बार इस मंदिर की भव्यता और पवित्रता इस्लामिक अक्रान्ता के ह्रदय में घात करने लगी और अंतत: वर्ष १४४७ ई. में जौनपुर के सुल्तान महमूद शाह ( १३८९ ई. में, जौनपुर के एक अफ्रीकी गवर्नर मलिक सरवर ने स्वयं को जौनपुर का सुल्तान घोषित कर दिया, उसके पश्चात, वर्ष १३९९ ई में उसका दत्तक पुत्र मलिक करनफल उसका उत्तराधिकारी बना, जिसने मुबारक शाह की उपाधि धारण की, इसके पश्चात वर्ष १४०२ ई में उसके छोटे भाई इब्राहिम को उसका उत्तराधिकारी बनाया गया, इसी असुर इब्राहिम शाह का पुत्र महमूद शाह था ) ने मंदिर पर आक्रमण करके इसे तहस नहस कर दिया और वक्त मंदिर को लूटना नहीं भुला और जमकर लूटपाट मचाया|

डॉ A S Bhatt ने अपनी किताब “दान हारावली” में इस तथ्य का प्रकटीकरण करते हुए बताया है कि, वर्ष १५८५ई में राजा टोडरमल ने विद्वान श्री नारायण भट्ट की सहायता से एक बार फिर मंदिर का पुननिर्माण करवाया|

बताया जाता है की, उस वक्त इस मंदिर के निर्माण में लगभग रूपये ३५ लाख का खर्च आया था| जब यह मंदिर निर्मित होकर तैयार हुआ तो यह एक आश्चर्य की भांति था और इसकी ख्याति दूर सुदूर तक विस्तारित हो चुकी थी| इस मंदिर की भव्यता और पवित्रता एक बार पुन: इस्लामिक अक्रान्ताओ को पीड़ा पहुंचाने के लिए पर्याप्त थी | इस्लामिक अक्रान्ता प्रजाति, सनातनधर्मियों के दैवीय शक्तियों की और प्रतिबद्धता को देख भयानक रूप से शत्रुता पाले हुए थे और वर्ष १६६२ ई. में शाहजंहा नाम के इस्लामिक अक्रान्ता ने इस भव्य और पवित्र मंदिर को तोड़ने के लिए अपनी सेना भेज दी, परन्तु सनातनधर्मियों के व्यापक विरोध के कारण इस मंदिर को तोड़ने में सफलता नहीं प्राप्त हो सकीय तो असुरों ने काशी के लगभग ६५ मंदिरो का सर्वनाश कर दिया |

अब तक इस्लामिक अक्रान्ताओ में से सबसे भयानक और क्रूर अक्रान्ता औरंगजेब का काल आ चूका था (जिसने अपने अब्बू शाहजँहा को कैद में तड़पा तड़पा कर मार डाला तथा उससे पूर्व इस्लामिक अक्रान्ता प्रजाति में मानवीय गुणों के साथ पैदा हुए अपने बड़े भाई दारा शिकोह का कत्ल करवा दिया )| इस भयानक और क्रूर इस्लामिक अक्रान्ता ने दिनांक १८ अप्रैल १६६९ को एक फरमान जारी करके काशी विश्वनाथ के इस भव्य मंदिर को तोड़ने का आदेश दे दिया | आपको बताते चले की इस आदेश की प्रति आज भी कलकत्ता के एशियाटिक लाइब्रेरी में मौजूद है|

इस भयानक और क्रूर औरंगजेब के समकालीन इतिहासकार हुए हैं, जिनका नाम “साकी मुस्तइद खां” है, इन्होने अपनी किताब “मसीदे आलमगीरी” में उक्त आदेश और इसके पश्चात हुए काशी विश्वनाथ मंदिर के भयानक विध्वंश का वर्णन किया है| यही नहीं औरंगजेब को २ सितम्बर १६६९ में मंदिर तोड़ेने का कार्य पूरा हो चूका है, इसकी सूचना दी गयी|

इसी क्रूर और महाभयानक औरंगजेब ने ज्ञानवापी कुंड को घेरते हुए ज्ञानवापी मस्जिद का निर्माण करवाया जो मंदिर के टूटे अवशेषो पर ही बनाया गया और मंदिर के अवशेष आज भी चीख चीख कर इस तथ्य को प्रमाणित कर रहे हैं |

नोट :- हम आपको इस तथ्य से भी अवगत कराते चले की वर्तमान में कांग्रेस पार्टी के नेता श्री सलमान खुर्शीद ने अपनी किताब “Sunrise Over Ayodhya Nationhood in our Times” के page no. १०३ में उद्धरित चैप्टर जो काशी विश्वनाथ मंदिर से जुड़ा है , में स्पष्ट रूप से स्वीकार किया है की वो एक भव्य मंदिर है, जिसे मोहम्मद गोरी, महमूद शाह, शाहजँहा और औरंगजेब द्वारा अपने अपने समय पर तोड़ा और लूटा गया |

मराठा महायोद्धाओं दत्ताजी सिंधिया और मल्हारराव होल्कर ने वर्ष १७५२ से १७८० के मध्य मंदिर की मुक्ति के कई प्रयास किये, परन्तु इंदौर की महारानी अहिल्याबाई होल्कर ही एक बार फिर इस पवित्र मंदिर का जीर्णोद्धार करने में सफल हुई| बाद में पंजाब के शेर महाराजा रणजीत सिंह ने इस मंदिर पर स्वर्ण छत्र का निर्माण करवाया| नेपाल के राजा ने भी इस मंदिर के प्रांगण में नंदी जी के विशाल प्रतिमा की स्थापना करवाई| ज्ञानवापी का मंडप ग्वालियर की महारानी बैजाबाई द्वारा बनवाया गया|

अंग्रेजो का राज्य स्थापित हो जाने के पश्चात दिनाक ३० दिसम्बर १८१० को बनारस के तत्कालीन जिला दंडाधिकारी Mr. Watsan ने “वाईस प्रेसिडेंट इन कौंसिल” को पत्र लिखकर ज्ञानवापी परिसर सनातन धर्मियों को देने लिए कहा, परन्तु ये बात कभी आगे नहीं बढ़ पाई|

इसके पश्चात वर्ष २०२१ ई में भारत के वर्तमान प्रधानमंत्री और विश्व के सबसे ताकतवर और लोकप्रिय नेता श्री नरेंद्र दामोदरदास मोदी जी ने इस मंदिर का पुन : जीर्णोद्धार करवाया और इसकी प्राचीन भव्यता और पवित्रता स्थापित करने का प्रयास किया परन्तु इसकी पवित्रता तभी वापस आ सकती है जब इस प्रांगण को स्पर्श करने वाले ढांचे को इस मंदिर से कंही दूर स्थापित कर दिया जाये और ज्ञानवापी परिसर औरंगजेब से मुक्त करा लिया जाये|

Perarivalan: the 19 year old battery supplier that triggered the explosion that killed Rajiv Gandhi

Dr Sudhir Bisht

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19 May 2022

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Perarivalan: the 19 year old battery supplier that triggered the explosion that killed Rajiv Gandhi

About 34 years ago, the then PM of India, Shri Rajiv Gandhi, ordered Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) to wade into the Sri Lankan civil war. I think it was a poorly crafted strategy that backfired on India. However, the intent behind that order was to restore peace in Sri Lanka. The unrest in Sri Lanka was causing a massive influx of Sri Lankan Tamils into Tamil Nadu.

The decision of Rajiv Gandhi enraged the Tamil rebels (as they were called in Sri Lanka) so much that Mr Gandhi was killed by a human bomb, about three years later.

The gang that carried out the killing of Gandhi included Tamilians from India as well as from Sri Lanka.

One of the alleged gang members was a 19-year-old boy who had sold a 9 Volt battery that was used in the act of killing Rajiv Gandhi and at least 57 others who had gathered at sriperumbudur to attend a political rally.

The 19 year old was arrested and sentenced to death. The boy’s family appealed for death sentence to be reduced to life imprisonment and the Supreme Court obliged.

Today, after 30 years in jail, the boy Perarivalan, now 50 years of age has walked free. He had maintained that he had sold the battery to the people who used it to kill Rajiv Gandhi but he also affirms that he had no idea that the battery would be used for that act of terror.

I am dismayed at the celebration in Tamil Nadu at the release of Perarivalan. He is being hailed as some kind of a hero. I agree that Rajiv Gandhi made a grave error of judgement in sending IPKF to Sri Lanka.

The movement for the ‘Tamil Elaam’, the aspirational name for the Tamilian homeland in Sri Lanka, was supported by the Tamilian diaspora spread across the world. Anyone who opposed its idea was looked upon as an enemy and Rajiv Gandhi had become enemy number One for these hardliners.

The LTTE fighters who were fighting the Singhalese dominated Sri Lankan government, were hailed as freedom fighter by the Tamilians. However the fact is that LTTE killed our beloved PM Rajiv Gandhi and we Indians would always look at LTTE as a terrorist organisation.

Rajiv Gandhi himself was a man of peace and his desire was to see a strife-free Sri Lanka. He erred in his assessment of the situation but he cannot be held responsible for the eventual meltdown of LTTE

Some political parties like the DMk are celebrating the release of Perarivalan and rejoicing the event. If they want to carry out with their show of happiness, it should be muted and very, very low key.

I am also surprised that the Congress party is blaming the Union Government for the release of Perarivalan. It was the Dravidian parties that proposed the release of Perarivalan and the Supreme Court has put a stamp of approval on it. Congress party is in alliance with DMK in Tamil Nadu.

लिथुवानिया, चीन के विरुद्ध भारत का नया मित्र

Hindi

Nagendra Pratap Singh

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18 May 2022

0

लिथुवानिया, चीन के विरुद्ध भारत का नया मित्र

सोवियत संघ के विघटन के फलस्वरुप स्वतन्त्र हुआ एक छोटा सा देश है लिथुवनिया। इस देश की सीमाएं पोलैंड से मिलती हैं। लिथुवानिया अब यूरोपिय यूनियन का सदस्य है।

चीन ने श्रीलंका, पाकिस्तान और अन्य कई अफ़्रीकी देशों की तरह लिथुवनिया को भी अपने चाल में फंसा कर “Debt Trap” में लेना चाहता था, परन्तु समय रहते, लिथुवनिया ने खतरे को भांप लिया और China की पॉलीसी को अपनाने से इंकार कर दिया। इससे क्रोधित होकर चीन ने लिथुवानिया के साथ “Trade” पर प्रतिबंध लगा दिया।

बात बढ़ी तो रुकी नहीं, दिनाक २९ जनवरी, २०२२ को Washingtan Post में छपि एक खबर के अनुसार, लिथुवनिया ने Taiwan को एक स्वतन्त्र देश मान कर उसके साथ खड़ा हो गया। अब लिथुवानिया के इन दोनों कार्यों से चीन आगबबूला हो गया और उसने वंहा अपनी Embassy को भी बंद कर दिया।

अब आप सोच रहे होंगे कि आखिर लिथुवानिया कैसे भारत का मित्र बना?

मित्रों भारत को जैसे ही इस तथ्य की जानकारी हुई, यंहा कि सरकार ने तुरंत जांच की और पाया की लिथुवानिया में तो कोई Embassy है हि नहीं, तो सरकार ने पोलैंड में स्थित अपने Embassy को ही लिथुवानिया के लिए भी Embassy के रूप में स्थापित कर दिया। आप भारत सरकार की Website पर इसे देख सकते हैं। इसके पश्चात उन्होंने ळिथुवनिया कि सहायता करने कि भी घोषणा कर दी। लिथुवानिया के विदेश मंत्री भारत आए और हमारे प्रधानमंत्री और विदेश मंत्री से मिलकर गए और निसंदेह ये रिश्ता चीन को नागवार गुजरी पर Taiwan और अन्य यूरोपिय देशों को बहुत पसंद आयी।

अब भी प्रश्न वहीं है इससे भारत को क्या लाभ हुआ?

तो दोस्तों चलो थोड़ा भूतकाल में चलते हैं। वर्ष १९६२ ई में हुए युद्ध कि याद तो ताज़ा होगी, वो युद्ध हम हारे नहीं थे, अपितु हमारे देश के ही लम्पट नेताओं ने हमारी सेना के माथे पर वो कलंक लगा दिया था, क्योंकि युद्ध के लिए तैयार वायु सेना को अगर आदेश दे दिया गया होता तो चीनीयो का इतिहास और भूगोल सब बदल जाता।

हमारे यहाँ राज करने वाली अंग्रेजो की पार्टी कांग्रेस ने चीन के शक्तिशाली होने का एक छद्दम ताना बाना फैला कर रखा था। वो जनता के दिल में ये बात बैठा चुके थे की चीन बहुत ताकतवर देश है और हमें उससे युद्ध नहीं करना। कांग्रेसियों ने ये झूठा डर २०१४ तक भारतीय जनमानस के ह्रदय में स्थापित किये रखा।

उसका कुछ उदाहरण हम आपको दे रहे हैं। हम सब जानते हैं की स्वर्गीय श्री अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी जी के शाशनकाल में राजस्थान के पोखरण में बुद्धा के मुस्कराने के साथ ही भारत एक परमाणु शक्ति सम्पन्न राष्ट्र बन चुका था। परन्तु इसके बावजूद भी दिनांक ६ सितम्बर २०१३ में ” The Indian Express ” में छपि एक खबर के अनुसार, भारत के तत्कालीन रक्षा मंत्री श्री A K Antony ये कहते पाये गए की चीन से सटे LOC पर बेहतर infrastructure का निर्माण करने से चीन नाराज हो सकता है और उसके नाराजगी का सामना करना पड़ सकता है।

वही “Financial Express” में दिनांक ७ फरवरी २०१४ को छपि एक खबर के अनुसार वहीं रक्षा मंत्री श्री A K अंटोनी, ये कहते पाये गए की “सरकार के पास राफेल खरीदने के लिए पैसे नहीं है, इसलिए ये डील कैंसिल हो सकती है”!

जबकि विशेषज्ञ प्रजाति का स्पष्ट मानना था की चीन के दवाब में आकर सरकार इस राफेल सौदे से पीछे हट रही है।

अब आता है जनता के द्वारा चुने गए एक राष्ट्रवादी नेता का शाशनकाल, जी हाँ देश में आदरणीय नरेंद्र दामोदरदास मोदीजी के नेतृत्व में सरकार बनते ही, सबसे पहले भारतीय सेना और भारतीय किसान पर ध्यान देना शुरू किया जाता है।

१:- चीन से मिलने वाले LOC पर Better Infrastructures के निर्माण का कार्य युद्धस्तर पर शुरू कर दिया जाता है।
२:- चीन कि नाराजगी को उसी की भाषा में गलवान घाटी में उत्तर दिया जाता है।
३:- चीन से सटे Line of Control में better infrastructure के निर्माण के लिए (विशेषत: अरूणांचल प्रदेश में) बजट में ६ गुना वृद्धि कर दी जाती है।
४:- चीन के कई “artificial intelligence” और कम्पनीयों पर प्रतिबंध लगा दिया जाता है।
५:- कई आवश्यक वस्तुओ के व्यापार को प्रतिबंधित कर दिया जाता है।
६:- ताइवान की ओर सहानुभूति दिखाई जाती है।
७:- QUAD नामक अंतराष्ट्रीय संस्था का गठन किया जाता है और जापान और Australia के साथ मिलकर चीन के विरुद्ध रणनीति तैयार की जाती है।
८:- अब लिथुवनिया के साथ मित्रता करना।
९:-हम अपने हि देश मे ब्रह्मोस जैसी सुपर सोनिक मिसाइल का निर्माण कर रहे हैं।
१०:- आज हम दुनिया के कई देशों को आयुध का निर्यात करने की स्थिति में आ चुके हैं।

अब भारत द्वारा चीन के विरुद्ध किये जाने वाले इन साहसिक कार्यों को देखते हुए अमेरिका और यूरोपिय देशों को भारत में विश्वास उत्पन्न हुआ और उन्होंने इसे हाथो हाथ लिया। अमेरिका और EU ने दक्षिणी चीन सागर वाले क्षेत्र् को “Indo Pacific Zone” कहना शुरू कर दिया और इस प्रकार पूरे विश्व में भारत चीन के विरुद्ध सभी देशों का विश्वासपात्र साथी बन गया।

अब इससे दूसरा लाभ क्या हुआ?

१:- देखिये भारत ताइवान के साथ तो है पर वो ताइवान को अभी तक देश नहीं मानता, क्योंकि चीन, ताइवान को अपना हिस्सा मानता है, जबकि ताइवान, चीन को उसके सभी क्षेत्रो के साथ अपना हिस्सा मानता है। अब यंहा दिक्कत ये है की चीन ने भारत के अक्साई चीन पर कब्जा कर रखा है और उसे अपना क्षेत्र् मानता है, इसके अनुसार यदि ताइवान पूरे चीन कि माँग करेगा तो इसमें अक्साई चीन वाला हिस्सा भी आ जाएगा, बस इसीलिए भारत नहीं चाहता की दो देश उस अक्साई चीन वाले हिस्से को अपने देश का हिस्सा बताए।

२:- पर यंहा देखिये लिथुवानिया, ताइवान को अलग देश मानता है और उसके साथ खड़ा है, अब भारत लिथुवानिया के साथ खड़ा है, अत: ताइवान अपने आप सहयोग का पात्र बन जाता है।

३:- अब एक बार फिर देखिये ळिथुवानिया, यूरोपिय यूनियन(EU) का हिस्सा है, इसीलिए EU, चीन के विरुद्ध लिथुवानिया के साथ है। यूरोपिय यूनियन(EU) रसिया के विरुद्ध है, जबकि भारत, रसिया के विरुद्ध नहीं है, पर जब भारत लिथुवानिया के साथ आता है तो वो अपने आप यूरोपिय यूनियन(EU) का सहयोगी बन जाता है बगैर रसिया का विरोध किए।

तो इस प्रकार की विदेश नीति के चलते, भारत, एक ओर रसिया से अपनी दोस्ती भी निभा रहा है। ताइवान को सहयोग भी कर रहा है। लिथुवानियाके साथ होने पर यूरोपिय यूनियन(EU) का भी सहयोग कर रहा है। “ना काहू से दोस्ती ना काहू से बैर”!

The colonial hangover in the Indian education system

Opinions

Debasish Mishra

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17 May 2022

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The colonial hangover in the Indian education system

The British landed in India in 1608 and administered the country from 1757 to 1947. In this duration, they imbibed Indian ethos and disseminated their own. Bhabha has discussed the exchange of ideas in a postcolonial setup through terms like “mimicry” and “hybridity”. Without understanding the nerves of the country, such a long span of power would not have been possible for the British.

Notably, the British popularised the Bible and Christianity in India. The bureaucratic structure that we have now is also a reflection of the organised British system, which prevailed before independence. Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is an offshoot of the Indian Civil Service (ICS). Similarly, the growth of English as a second language should also be attributed to the British legacy. Having said that, some colonial traits which are still evident in the Indian education system are detrimental. And it is not at all a positive trend.

“Unfortunately, because of the colonial rule, our education system was such that we are not taught about the true history of our civilisation. History calls Robert Clive the great, not Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Rana Pratap,” honourable Vice President of India Venkaiah Naidu said during an inaugural ceremony at the Sant Shirobanath Ambiye Government College of Arts and Commerce in North Goa on October 28, 2021.

He further urged the vice chancellors of universities and other great institutions to modify the syllabus in order to incorporate the national and the regional heroes of the local region with emphasis on their life, their teachings and their preachings.

However, the colonial hangover precedes the syllabus of universities. As a matter of fact, we were taught in our schools that Vasco Da Gama discovered India in 1498. This statement, in a bid to be concise and informative, twists a vital part of indigenous history. The same caption still continues in several leading learning portals. To be honest, this statement is premised on a significant erasure. It would have been appropriate to say that Vasco Da Gama discovered India for the West in 1498. Plainly glorifying Vasco Da Gama’s voyage presupposes the European claim that India didn’t exist before their arrival. In fact, India flourished even before the Europeans knew of her existence.

The history of India should ideally begin with the Indus Valley Civilisation which flourished between 2800 BC and 1800 BC, with an advanced economic system. Spread over Northwest India and modern-day Pakistan, it was larger than Mesopotamian civilisation and the Egyptian civilisation. The richness of the civilisation is evidenced in the ruins of Harrapa and Mohenjo Daro, the two prominent cities of the civilisation, which include household articles, war weapons, gold and silver ornaments, properly-planned houses and deftly-designed towns. The people of this civilisation even had adequate understanding of agricultural tools and techniques as exhibited in their close proximity to rivers to optimise the fertile lands.

It was followed by the Vedic Civilisation, which gave us two of our greatest epics: Mahabharata and Ramayana. Gupta age is hailed as the golden age in Indian history because of the progress that happened in science, technology, engineering, art, dialectic, literature, logic, mathematics, astronomy, religion, and philosophy during this period.

Similarly, there were several other rulers who preceded Vasco Da Gama’s voyage. Crediting Vasco Da Gama with the discovery of India denies them their importance in the history of India. We are made to view India through the lens of the Occidents. In a way, we are othered from our own country. School syllabi should take care of such simple niceties, which threaten to tamper our understanding of history.

The colonial hangover is still a reality on the other side of the globe too. I had recently submitted an article to a European journal of repute. One anonymous reviewer suggested me to consult ‘a native academic’ to improve the chances of the paper. Even if my paper had deficiencies in language, the reviewer could have suggested me to seek the expertise of a senior academic in lieu of a native academic. The reviewer’s insistence on the prefix ‘native’ puts forth his/her/their assumption that native academicians are better than non-native academicians. Sadly, that is not the case! Indians with their technical know-how are spread across United States and United Kingdom. Indians are equal if not better than their European counterparts.

It is a pity that we are still trampled under the colonial hangover. The Left repeatedly complains about the alleged saffronisation of education. However, it is strange to note that there is no noise against this colonial relic in schools. If we don’t recognise our country and the worth of our rich history, the West won’t pay heed to us too. The vice president raises this very concern:

“I always feel that we should Indianise education. The process is on. We cannot continue with that colonial history, colonial mindset. Whatever good is there in the world, we recognize it, we welcome it. But at the same time, we must know the greatness, the values of our civilisation, the ethics that were taught by our forefathers. Rishis, Maharishis, Munis, sages and all other great people.”

In this regard, textbooks should amend the terse and inaccurate statement attributing the discovery of India to Vasco Da Gama. Instead, we can say, Vasco Da Gama discovered the sea route to India in 1498. In this way, the neocolonial trait can be undone. It is high time that we decide if India is really our mother.

Undaunted, Unfazed: The power of Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Sucharita Sen

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16 May 2022

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Undaunted, Unfazed: The power of Mahendra Singh Dhoni

MSD aka Mahendra Singh Dhoni… naam toh suna hi hoga. The man who is an epitome of legendary cricketer, captain cool and one of the greatest minds behind many success stories. Needless to say, he is one of the greatest finishers the game has ever seen. But behind this there is a stoic and calm man, who is never perturbed, disturbed, angry or fazed. His many facets have thrown light up some life goals we can follow.

A simpleton who left the job of a TTE to follow his passion, has been an inspiration for many. Even after captaining India to win all three ICC limited over trophies, leading team to number 1 spot in Test cricket for the first time, whitewashing Australia in Tests, nearly after 40 years, leading CSK to 4 IPL trophies, MSD remains grounded, calm, sane and simple. So here’s what we can learn from him.

Live life like there is no Tomorrow

Who doesn’t know about Mahi’s Helicopter Shot. But what we don’t see is his fearlessness. Fearless and bold display of flamboyance and valour. With the bat, he seizes every opportunity that comes his way. Plays boldly, like there is no tomorrow. We must learn to make the most of every moment in our lives and live like there is no tomorrow.

Stay calm

Whether it is the taste of sweet success or the bitter taste of failure, MS has faced it all with a stoic calm. Have you ever seen him stressed out, even in dire situations? Nope, never. You will rarely see him display his emotions. That’s his key to success. He is no superhuman. He is as much blood and flesh as we are. All his aggression is channelized through his game. He inspires and motivates everyone through his calmness. It is important for all of us to channelize our inner strength, anger, aggression in the right direction and remember, never lose your cool.

No ‘superiority complex’

In all these years, you have always seen him encouraging, motivating and inspiring budding cricketers and young Turks. With no ounce of seniority complex, he has often led from the front and as a leader inspired others to take charge, feel confident and go for it. This has instilled a sense of responsibility in the younger players and motivated them to do better every day. During crucial matches, he has handed over the baton to youngsters and supported them to move ahead. Created benchmarks for others to follow and never took advantage or let his superiority be any hindrance for others. No wonder everyone loves Mahi Bhai. So leave your complexes behind and encourage others to do better and be a true leader.

Never give up

Come what may, never give up is Dhoni’s mantra. Had MS stopped following his passion for cricket and continued with the job of a TTE, would we have got our Captain Cool? He has never known what it is to give up. He is always ready with his plan B. A survivor that he is, he has never been fearful of taking a path lesser known. In this year’s IPL edition, in one of the matches against Mumbai Indians, his last over heroics saved the day. The target seemed impossible, but with 3 fours and 1 six, Dhoni snatched victory from the claws of defeat. He never worries about the result or fears losing his wicket. His eyes are only on the finishing line. Even after CSK’s poor run in IPL 2022 and despite Dhoni handing over the baton to Jadeja, he came back to rescue the team. So never think that there is no way out. Never be fearful of taking the path less travelled.

Laughter is the best medicine

When the going gets tough, laugh it off. One hell of a hilarious person is MS Dhoni. He keeps everyone entertained on or off the field. Dhonisms are quite popular in the circuit. His witty one-liners keep everyone abuzz. Humour has been his trusted ally. He once told the media, “You (media) keep changing my girlfriends very quickly, at least let one of them be for long”. On the field he once said, “I do not understand Duckworth-Lewis, I just wait for the umpires decision”. So to laugh it off in tough situations is what we must learn from MS Dhoni.

Dhoni is like a pillar and an inspiration to many. Still stands tall, despite many other successors.

Un-christianizing Jesus Christ: the shape-shifting nature of Christianity seen around the world

tezxp

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16 May 2022

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Un-christianizing Jesus Christ: the shape-shifting nature of Christianity seen around the world

Christianity, the largest religion in the world, has become one, by following certain methods from the rule book. Christianity has spread rapidly through both pleasant and unpleasant ways such as simple word of mouth, evangelism, luring, crusades, inquisitions, prosecutions, conquests, and then there is another kind called ‘Transmogrification’.

Few of the various depictions of Jesus throughout the world

Christianity acts as a shapeshifter according to the place of its operation, based on the cultural and ethnic aspects of the people. Institution and Vatican working and monitoring projects in different countries very minutely, so they transformed Jesus and adjust his persona as per the culture of respective country.

For example, in the Bible, the gospel of John 1:29, it reads “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” But in places like South America where guinea pigs are more famously raised as pets, the same line reads “Behold the Guinea pig of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

It doesn’t only change the lines from the book, but also changes look of Jesus according to the ethnicity. They made a middle Eastern, white, Black, Chinese, Japanese, Indian and many other Christs in mufti ready to save the souls.

“It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, they preach Christ out of selfish ambition. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. and I’m not ashamed.” “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and spread the word of God and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” these lines are said by Paul in the bible who is considered as founder of Christianity. And pastors and evangelists take him as the inspiration for their deeds.

Imitation of Sanatan Dharma has been going on for a long time, Christianity is the primary religion trying to appropriate while Islam has appropriated mildly. We see the Muslim marriages in Pakistan & India have an element of music & dance that is not the tenet in other Islamic countries. While India is having cultural exchanges with the rest of the world for thousands of years & continues to do so even today. Many people across the world have appreciated & enjoyed the cultural richness of India. But Inculturation & Digestion are quite new concepts.

Christian marriage imitating Hindu marriages

Missionaries were always working in India to convert the Hindus to Christianity, during the British rule, the missionaries moved slowly fearing the backlash from the local kings and it may go against the established British Raj. But Post-Independence missionaries had a free hand in propagating Christianity.

Tower in front of church alike Dwajastambha

When people saw their religion as alien, they with a very sly plan created the fake theory of Aryan invasion. so that they can draw a line of similarity between the two religions. Br Ambedkar in his book ‘Who were Shudras’ debunked this theory to be false. People who take him as a reference when pointing a finger at Hinduism, don’t take this into consideration because it doesn’t suit their propaganda. When many tried to convert Ambedkar to Christianity, he declined, saying ”converting to religions which don’t have Indian origin, will denationalize people.” And later he joined Buddhism.

One of the difficulties that missionaries had was to show relevance between Hinduism and Christianity so that the uneducated lower strata of the society can see the similarity between Hinduism & Christianity. In Psalms job 9:9, job 38:31 of the Bible, words like kruthika nakshatra & mrugasira have been used, while translating to Indian languages. Words like Guru, Dharma, and karma have been used when the western doesn’t have the concept or even equivalent word for them in English.

The desperation to convert people to Christianity was so high that pastors &fathers started wearing saffron cloth, the concept of yatra was introduced to be carried out in every region. Mother Mary was ordained as YeshuMata wearing a saree and bindi. they started calling churches as Mandirs, building Dwajastambhas in-front of it and started doing Yagnas, representing Jesus in form of Hindu God, Offering coconut, shaving heads and started making prasad similar to Hindu tradition.

To further imitate Hindu culture, missionaries have started adopting Yoga & named it Christian Yoga. They try to draw parallels between Chakras & Holy Spirit. Created Yeshu Purusha Suktham and people recite it leading to the full appropriation of the Deities & converse the feeling that they are worshipping one of the Crores of deities that are in Hinduism. They also started celebrating Hindu festivals with a Christian touch. If only Jesus had come down today for ”The Judgement day”, he would be baffled, if whether they are converting the non-believers or himself.

As always, they imitate everything from our culture and later claim it to be theirs from the start. Such rampant shapeshifting is going on for many decades unchecked, it’s time for Hindus to wake up and realize that this is a wolf in a sheepskin and take note of the fact that it is not only Inculturation of the Sanatani culture but a colonial conquest on us all over again.

धार्मिक कट्टरता और सनातन परंपरा

keshavnandan

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15 May 2022

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जिस प्रकार धर्म को परिभाषित किया जाता है उसी प्रकार कट्टरता को भी परिभाषित करना आवश्यक है। कट्टरता से क्या तात्पर्य है? धर्म के नाम पर दिखावा करना, उन्माद फैलाना, प्रदर्शन करना, रूढ़िवादी होना, अन्य धर्मों के प्रति नफरत फैलाना, धर्म के नाम पर कानूनों का उल्लंघन करना, धर्म के नाम पर कुरीतियों और बुरे लोगों का समर्थन करना, धर्म के नाम पर विशेष सुविधाएं प्राप्त करने के लिए हिंसा करना आदि को धार्मिक कट्टरता की श्रेणी में रखा जा सकता है।

हिंदू धर्म में कट्टरता और धर्म के नाम पर हिंसा का कोई स्थान नहीं है। किन्तु वर्तमान की घटनाओं से ऐसा प्रतीत होता है कि धर्म रक्षार्थ खडे़ होना हिन्दुओं की मजबूरी बन गई है। क्योंकि खेल कबड्डी का चल रहा हो तो भले ही आप कितने भी अच्छे बल्लेबाज क्यों न हों, आप मैच नहीं जीत सकते। मजबूरी में आपको भी टांग खींचना सीखना ही पड़ेगा अन्यथा विरोधी टीम आपको घसीट-घसीटकर मारेगी। यही वह मजबूरी है जो भारतीयों को कट्टरता की ओर ले जाती है।

अगर सनातन परंपरा की बात करें तो कट्टरता हिन्दुओं के स्वभाव में है ही नहीं ।यहाँ परस्पर विरोधी विचार भी स्वीकार्य हैं। यहाँ सांप की पूजा भी होती है और गरुड़ की भी। जहां शाकाहार और मांसाहार दोनों प्रचलन में हैं किंतु आग्रह और महत्व शाकाहार का ही है। द्वैतवाद-अद्वैतवाद, ज्ञान मार्ग-भक्ति मार्ग, निर्गुण ब्रह्म-सगुण ब्रह्म आदि अनेक परस्पर विरोधी विचार सनातन परंपरा का एक महत्वपूर्ण अंग है। पशु-पक्षी, फूल-पत्ती, नदी-पहाड़, जल-जंगल, ग्रह-उपग्रह, चर-अचर, जड़-चेतन, कंकड़-पत्थर, सृष्टि, ब्रह्मांड सबकुछ जिसमें समाहित है उस धर्म को नियमों में बांधकर कठोर या कट्टर बनाया ही नहीं जा सकता।

सनातन धर्म में शास्त्रार्थ की परंपरा है‌। जहां तर्कों के आधार पर शास्त्रों पर प्रश्न किये जा सकते हैं।और जीवन उपयोगी दर्शन को परिभाषित कर लोगों के सम्मुख रखा जाता है ताकि लोग अपने जीवन को श्रेष्ठ बना सकें। विश्व में एकमात्र ऐसी परंपरा है जो सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिन: की कामना करती है। कहीं ऐसा उल्लेख नहीं कि सिर्फ हिंदुओं का कल्याण हो। बल्कि विश्व का कल्याण हो और प्राणियों में सद्भावना हो, ऐसा उद्घोष आज भी प्रतिदिन मंदिरों में किया जाता है।

सनातन परंपरा कोई धार्मिक संगठन ना होकर एक प्राकृतिक धर्म है। जबकि प्रायः अन्य सभी धार्मिक परंपराएं किसी ना किसी संघर्ष, असंतोष या आक्रोश की उपज है। सभी में कोई ना कोई संस्थापक है जिसने उस धर्म की स्थापना ठीक उसी प्रकार की है जिस प्रकार किसी संगठन की स्थापना की जाती है। किसी संगठन की ही भांति नए सदस्यों को शामिल करने के लिए धर्मांतरण की व्यवस्था भी प्राय: सभी धर्मों में मिलती है। किंतु हिंदू धर्म में ऐसी कोई स्पष्ट प्रक्रिया नहीं है। मजबूरी में घर वापसी जैसे अभियान चलाने पड़ते हैं। क्योंकि सनातन परंपरा केवल एक धर्म ना होकर एक संपूर्ण सभ्यता है। एक जीवन पद्धति है। आचरण है। अपने आप को श्रेष्ठ बनाने का एक माध्यम है। जिस प्रका व्यायाम करने से शरीर स्वस्थ होता है ठीक उसी प्रकार सनातन परंपराओं को अपनाकर आप अपने जीवन को श्रेष्ठ बना सकते हैं। कोई भी व्यक्ति आहार-विहार वाणी का संयम कर त्याग पूर्ण जीवन जी सकता है यही सनातन परंपरा है।

युक्ताहार विहारस्य, युक्त चेष्टस्य कर्मसु।
युक्त स्वप्नावबोधस्य योगो भवति दु:खहा।। (श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता)

यही सनातन की महान परंपरा है। सफ़ाई में प्रयोग होने वाले झाड़ू को भी नमन करने वाले लोगों में भी तब कट्टरता आ जाती है जब वे देखते हैं कि, खिलाफत तुर्की में होती है और आंदोलन भारत में होता है। कार्टून का विवाद फ्रांस में होता है और आंदोलन भारत में होता है। युद्ध, इजरायल और फिलिस्तीन के बीच होता है और धर्म के आधार पर दबाव भारत सरकार पर बनाया जाता है। कोरोना काल में कुछ टैंकर ऑक्सीजन अरब देशों से आई और धर्म के नाम पर पूरे देश पर एहसान थोप दिया। जबकि इस देश की ऑक्सीजन, पानी, भोजन सब खाकर बड़े हुए उसका कोई महत्व नहीं। मैच में पाकिस्तान जीतता है और धर्म के आधार पर पटाखे यहाँ फोड़े जाते हैं। अर्थात पानी अगर ईराक में बरसे तो लोग छतरी यहां खोल लेते हैं।

अभी कुछ दिन पहले ही पाकिस्तान में ईशनिंदा के आरोप में एक श्रीलंकाई नागरिक को जिंदा जला दिया गया। आप कहेंगे यह तो पाकिस्तान की घटना है लेकिन पाकिस्तान जिंदाबाद कहने वाले कुछ लोग तो यहां भी हैं। अभी भारत में भी एक धर्म स्थल में एक विक्षिप्त युवक अज्ञानतावश घुस गया था तो भीड़ ने उसे पीट-पीटकर मार डाला। अर्थात चारों ओर घनघोर असहिष्णुता और कट्टरता फैली हुई है। यही वे स्रोत हैं जिन से बहकर कट्टरता रूपी विष सहिष्णुता रूपी अमृत को दूषित कर देता है। जब सामने से पत्थर, तोप, तमंचे, तलवार और बम चल रहे हों और बेचारे बताकर संरक्षण भी मिल रहा हो तो सहिष्णुता दम तोड़ देती है।

Why the unfair scholarships for Muslims will lead to more terrorism

Moorthy S. Muthuswamy

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14 May 2022

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Why the unfair scholarships for Muslims will lead to more terrorism

It appears that the central government’s decision to allot 2.3 crore scholarships to Muslim children was carried out without fully considering a cost-to-benefit analysis and the decision’s long-term implications. Indian taxpayers have also subsidized two universities with Muslim character: Jamia Millia Islamia University and Aligarh Muslim University.

Yet no deed of goodwill goes unpunished. The majority community is at the receiving end of stone-pelting by the Muslim minority. Reason? Apparently, the majority community irked the minority by taking religious processions through its neighborhoods.

These widespread stone-pelting incidents are far from conveying the intention to coexist. If one doubts that, look around in the immediate neighborhood. From the Muslim-majority lands, most Hindus have been driven out to India. One may view Pakistan and Bangladesh as nearly 100% Muslim reservation lands. After driving out Hindus, even the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley became almost 100% Muslim reserved land.

These scholarships make the Muslims the privileged community not only in Islamic Pakistan and Islamic Bangladesh but also in secular Hindu-majority India! This ought to be grossly unfair as well as absurd.

There is such a thing called critical risk management, especially on existential matters. The country must assess the existential risk arising from the minority community’s intolerance vis-à-vis the majority. This is not to say that Indian Muslims are inherently intolerant people, but the circumstances that have driven them to be so must be understood and addressed.

First, a study of slain militants in Pakistan found that “poverty, limited education and time spent at a madrassa are poor predictors for determining either support for terrorism or participation in terrorism in Pakistan.” And that “some of Pakistan’s best‐educated young men are being dispatched to die in this unending conflict with India.” Another study of slain Pakistani militants who had fought in Afghanistan and India reached similar conclusions.

The above data is clearcut evidence that educated Muslims in a radicalized community are more prone to supporting and participating in violent extremism. But why is the data from Pakistan relevant to India? For one thing, India’s most literate state, Kerala, has produced the most number of ISIS terrorists. Importantly, it is because a good measure of radicalisation of Muslims in these two nations is comparable.

Public support for Sharia law is one such measure for the following reason: From my recent research involving Muslim communities in 20 nations, in 10 countries where the majority of the Muslims favoured Sharia law, jihadist groups had a strong presence in eight nations and a weak presence in the rest of the two. Among the Muslims polled, the support for Sharia law in Pakistan was 84%, while it was a comparable 74% in India. Generally, the public support for Sharia goes hand-in-hand with its support for clerics.

All of the above data undercut the wisdom of granting scholarships and reservations to Muslims. Besides, on the flip side, these opportunities would otherwise benefit the majority community. Consequently, India will likely experience a double whammy situation: worsening Muslim extremism and the weakening majority community.

To ignore this grim reality is nothing short of suicidal for the Indian nation.

The terrorist acts of stone-pelting by mobs stationed in mosques tell us that clerics constitute a dominant force behind extremism. This is not to say that all clerics are encouraging terrorism, but as I argued in my previous article, the Deoband-educated clerics, who constitute about 90% of the clerical cadre in India, could do so.

Economically disadvantaged people need help, but not when they are under the grip of violent extremism and are intolerant. A sensible policy would be to help the Muslim minorities in India by first liberating them from the forces that have made them intolerant and socioeconomically disadvantaged.

The central and state governments would be well-advised to retract all scholarships and reservations given to the minority and remove the Muslim character associated with state-funded Muslim institutions. Such a quid pro quo also incentivises the community to address its radicalised self.

Moorthy Muthuswamy is a US-based physicist and a scholar of radicalism