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Tablighi Jamaat chaos- Need for improving India’s visa-regime-regulations

G Indira
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Tablighi Jamaat chaos- Need for improving India’s visa-regime-regulations

Covid-19 is shaking the world and is challenging mankind. In India, it started a little late but gained ground after the Tablighi’s massive meet at Delhi wherein thousands of Indian delegates and foreign leaders gathered. As per the recent Health Ministry officials press briefing the cases were increasing by day. These additional cases were due to Tablighi Jamaat event, they stated. Had that event not taken place, the doubling rate would have been less, the ministry briefed. 

Many in India are questioning visas given to Tablighis that have come from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and other lands. Though they have come on visiting visas, they started roaming around India on proselytizing missions. When tourist visas should not be used for evangelism, how are they allowed to do so?- is a genuine question asked by people. 

The Tablighis are a notorious sect among Muslims. Their menace struck Pakistan also recently. Owais Tohid, a leading Pakistani journalist in his column: “Pakistani Preachers Turning into Super Spreaders” (https://arab.news/9jsbb) on April 02,2020 in Arab news writes on Tablighi Jamaat spread coronavirus in Pakistan. According to him: The (recent) Pakistani Tablighi Jamaat went ahead with its annual congregation, the Ijtima (despite covid-threat)- the annual three-day event with hundreds of thousands from across the world. The preachers went across the country preaching. Because of that, reported cases of COVID-doubled (in Pakistan) in a week.

The police force had to be used to close the mosque where they congregated. People in Pakistan took to fighting with police officials demanding a re-opening. Among the Islamic clerics some called the pandemic the wrath of God, others termed it a conspiracy of the West to weaken the Muslim Ummah. Some clerics even said that they found the virus cure on national television, but were unwilling to reveal it! – So, on the whole Tablighis are crazy people. Taking them as cue, the entire Muslim community cannot be blamed. 

At the end of the column Owais Tohid, the writer, laments: “The danger looms large. Meanwhile, groups of tablighis, carrying not just their shoulder bags but possibly also the virus, continue their far flung journeys across the country.” So, the fanaticism of Tablighis is now a known-fact. To know how they entered India to preach- is the question. 

Kanchan Gupta, Head of ORF, of late, conducted an interesting @orfonline program on the topic: ‘Strict Visa norms Required for Religious Tourism’, in the context of Tablighis’ spread of coronavirus in India. Former Head of Intelligence Vikram Sood, when asked whether it was Intelligence/Police failure (to allow foreign Tablighi Jamaat leaders in India), he did not agree that the Tablighis-meet, followed by spread of coronavirus, was an intelligence/police failure. He said, Intelligence would not act on its own. However, he agreed that the host was responsible for its guest. He wanted a revamp in the system of allowing people, as both sides of neighbours for India were inimical. To watch half to one million people coming into India as tourists was difficult, as India did not have a means to do it. Hence police reforms were needed, he opined. He wanted FRRO (Foreign Regional Registration Agents) to be proactive. 

For the question of issuance of visas to Tablighis, Diplomat Navdeep Suri said, their visas were issued much before February. He said, India’s Visa-regime was too complicated. There were as many as 18-categories of visas. India would get a lot of foreign exchange through tourism in general and religious tourism in particular (such as: Radha Swamy, Buddhist events, Saranath, Kasi etc.). Police, in any case, should not often stop a tourist and ask on the status of (the person’s) Visa. That discourages tourism which gives employment to many. People should be checked at immigration counter and also to have a watch on the hosts that were organising the meet. That would suffice, he stated. 

However, Sushant Saran differed with the diplomat by saying Tablighis had a dubious reputation. The cop-station was next to Markaz. If they were for the religious congregation, how could they roam around the country, was his query. This sense of entitlement and impunity most people who enter into the country, should end. Violation of visa regulations should be checked, was his suggestion.  

In any case, Tablighi Jamaat attendees infected people of India in many states. Time can only tell how much the damage is, quantifiably. The shade of darkness caused by the coronavirus in people’s lives was dispelled by the PM’S call for lighting lamps on 5th April. A ‘Tamaso ma Jyotirgamaya’ moment. ‘Tamaso ma Jyotirgamaya’ meant: instead of cursing the darkness around, try lighting a lamp. The country answered his call with huge participation. 

In the name of god go IPL 2020 go

Narasimhan Vijayaraghavan
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In the name of god go IPL 2020 go

Covid-19 Pandemic has turned the world upside down. It appears that we are past the city, state, national lockdowns. It is now morphing into international lockdown. Thomas Friedman picked upon the Nandan Nilekani theme of World is Flat, with a New York Times best seller, when he said “Digital revolution has flattened the world with its transnational connectivity”. That was then in 2004. He was ashamed that he got it all wrong literally, as he had crowed too early and before Face Book, Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram times, in his Thank You for Being Late. The world is not merely interconnected now, it is interdependent.

The spread of Coronavirus from Wuhan, Hubei province of China, since Nov, 2017 has made mincemeat of the international borders. If Donald Trump, @POTUS was a ‘scared man today’ as Wall Street Journal (from Rupert Murdoch stable and surely not a Never Trumper), there must be something radically wrong, happening in our midst. Trump was not an incorrigible optimist. He was a bluster, never believed in science or facts and for his unflinching base, he is a cult leader. If such a narcissist as Trump, is now listening to Dr. Anthony Fauci, his 80 year old, member of Coronavirus Task Force, and a world renowned infectious disease expert, and White House orders Pentagon to purchase 1 lakh body bags, the world must take note.

As for the sporting arena 2020 Tokyo Olympics stand postponed to July 23rd of 2021. International Olympic Committee paid heed to the public upheaval. Now, it has been followed by the decision of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, popularly known as Wimbledon Championships, in 2020, being ‘cancelled’. Not postponed. But simply cancelled, which has happened, for the first time, since World War-II in 1939-45. In the US of A, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, from the epicentre now, has bemoaned that the “flattening of the curve is not happening any time soon and deaths may continue through July, 2020”. Naturally National Basketball Association (NBA), which has universal eyeballs devoted to it, is gone for now. No sporting activity is on now, almost anywhere in the world.

What of India, where cricket is religion. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has merely “postponed the IPL 2020 to commence from 15th April, 2020”. Of course, the South African tour in India was aborted before it began or just began. But no cancellation of abandonment of India Paise League. It is still on pause. Why? Why?

It discloses the moolah mindset of our cricket officianados. They want to be on pause mode, till the eleventh hour. They cannot bring themselves to cancelling it as yet. They are still hoping against hope-like Trump behaved a couple of weeks ago- that “It will miraculously be washed away as sun shines bright”. Trump has now pivoted not sheepishly, and even if shamelessly, for the science of the viral spread in the numbers are overwhelming. Even in India, the Tablighi Jamath conference where Indonesians and representatives from almost every other State attended, and many have turned positive, is in the news front and centre. Central and State administrations are on military mode to pick up the ‘escapees’ even as calls have gone out to them to present themselves for Testing. The attendees are being literally hounded for their own sake and society as well. It is that bad and serious.

But BCCI is not budging yet. We have two weeks to go for the 21 day national lockdown to cease. 15th April may just be that date. Who knows IPL league may miraculously be played? Far too much money is riding on it for cricket administration and franchisees and of course the performers, because it includes players and cheerleaders et al. Who knows? Maybe BCCI is contemplating to conduct IPL 2020 on the moon, for a change. They can afford to!

BCCI is still waiting to make that critical call. They would rather try and hold it in the summer months as they ‘may not get a comfortable window in the fixed cricket calendar’. Very touching concern in these pandemic times! Let BCCI be told by the Central Government in clear and unequivocal terms. No IPL 2020. Cancel it. Abandon it. Whatever the terminology. Go to 2021 as the next possible timeline.

India cannot imagine the conduct of IPL 2020 in 2020 for sure. The environment is too dicey. Even if there was one positive entity moving around among the teeming millions of fans, anywhere in India, the exponential viral spread would be unimaginable. IPL 2020 must be forgotten. One sincerely and fervently hopes that the Central and State administrations are not eyeing the tax collections or IPL 2020 as an economic trigger, for a spending spree, after this lockdown phase. That would be a tragedy worse than IPL managers, not cancelling the league on their own.

Cricket is religion in India. It moves the masses and it is like nothing else does it can. But that is exactly the very reason for which IPL 2020 must be a goner. That would be one poison potion in these viral climes, we simply cannot even imagine infecting us, as we celebrate IPL 2020. Time BCCI took a strong call in favour of We The People who make the game what it is, and cancel IPL 2020 here and now, in public interest and welfare. Money matters. Yes. But lives matter more.

(Narasimhan Vijayaraghavan- Author is practising advocate in the Madras High Court)

Can India ever be free from COVID 19- effects of science when enters into politics?

S Ranganathan
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Can India ever be free from COVID 19- effects of science when enters into politics?

If we consider science and scientific research to be a cricket ball, most scientists are excellent spinners of the ball, they spin in the pace over and throw fast the ball in slow bowling session, would neither contains the run nor would take any wicket. If they could rarely stop boundary or a six, wah!, that is certainly celebrated as great fete, thanks to the cricket enthusiasts in the stadium stacked up in different rows based on the price tag of the seat that they have booked. Cheerleaders are also there to clap.

The virology and immunology of Corona also enjoys the same level of confusion and pandemonium from the scientific fraternity. May be due to the knowledge limitation in advance, COVID 19 has been named as ‘novel corona’.  The prefix ‘novel’ will absolve all the blames because it is new to me, new to you and new to everyone.

Therefore the scientists need time to understand and study and until then the virus shall remain as ‘hero’ in medical field, newer and newer tell tales will emerge but never any clarity or answer to the fundamental question.

COVID 19 is undergoing rapid mutation. Therefore already those who are infected by COVID 19 and got cured are equally vulnerable to re-infection by another mutant virus. Studies on monkeys conducted by Chinese research group have recently proved the above facet of COVID 19. It means, the immunity supposed to have developed in the body after first infection due to one mutant may not work against another mutant.

It means, our immunity is not going to protect us from re-infection is the possible interpretation or inference, for the time being. Otherwise, one has to get infected by all possible mutants of novel corona; God alone knows how many mutations are possible. Scientists cannot answer the above question because it is novel corona. 

How long the corona is going to remain as ‘novel’ corona? In simple sense, as long as science wants, the corona virus will remain as ‘novel’.

Now the question is can we ever have India free of novel corona? 

From the explanations available so far about Corona from the scientific fraternity, Corona has come to stay and not to go. When the medical consequences gets lessen, corona will lose its importance; become an accepted pathogen, no more worry and no more lock down. 

The lock down may continue for indefinite period of time until our scientists certify, the novelty of corona has gone and it can enter into the list of various pathogens that live and procreate with us like tuberculosis, typhoid, cholera etc. The problem of science, even the science doesn’t know. 

Politics when enters science, we all know, it would pollute, contaminate and adulterate ‘science’.  The best example is the science around cow urine, AYUSH preparations etc. When the present ruling dispensation expresses its obsession over cow urine therapy or AYUSH, many research laboratory and scientists would immediately jump to the caldron to prove the value of all such ‘stuff’s to please the ruling dispensation.

What would be the consequence of reverse happening; science enters the political space? Simple answer is confusion and disaster.

The political decisions are partly populist and partly governance centric. The matrix of politics is quite clear, obvious; black and white and there is no wishy-washy approach. But on the other hand the medical science is highly gummy, mucilaginous, sticky and often remains as an unclear orphan.

If we ask a clinician about whether 250 mg acetaminophen is sufficient to a given patient, the answer would be vague, because the patient may require only 200 or less or more than 250 mg. How soon the patient would get benefit, again the same level of vagueness would continue, it may take 20 minutes, or more or less than 20 minutes, if you ask why such vagueness then the reply would be the age, underlying conditions, whether the drug was  taken after full meal or in empty stomach…… etc. No question shall be answered in simple language. 

The problem India face today is medico-political and governance & livelihood centric. 

Our medical fraternity and policy makers in medical and scientific field need not be competent in understanding the diversity of India and hence their medical advice centring on governance is bound to cause disaster to our country. Similarly our politicians cannot understand the nuances in science and the associated vagueness and hence won’t get any clear answer from science as how to shape the governance policy. 

Our doctors may claim they too know diversity because patient to patient, the disease may be same but treatment and diagnosis can be quite challenging due to obvious and man- made (alcoholism, smoking etc.,) variability. But India as a whole is different from the differences that exist in our huge population at individual and collective level. 

Have we messed up everything? Certainly, we have messed up everything from start to end. We should have limited the role of medical wisdom in political decisions. Considering the larger issues and our diverse, unique context, lock down should have been adopted as last option. 

Because the science that recommends lock down only now says corona is too novel, mutate fast, infection due to one mutant need not offer protection against another mutant……. etc.  It means, corona is going to stay.  It means, whether corona is going to kill more and more people or not, but certainly corona is going to kill our economy and livelihood, if lock down continues.

No political or policy decision taken by any government in India since independence has been so confusing and direction less like the present one and now we gaze at sky to ask whether lock down should continue or not and if yes, how long, and can we totally eliminate corona at all, when the lock down can be lifted etc.

Common man’s view on solidarity

seth
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Common man’s view on solidarity

COVID19 is national disaster of the same scale as the pandemic of swine flu of 1918. In 1918, unfortunately about 6% of Indian population died and it was an unmitigated human disaster. We have a monstrous problem and we need all our collective ability to reduce the effect of this deadly disease.

As the virus is spreading, people are dying. It is a death of unimaginable pain specifically when they get sick enough to get admitted to ICU. The virus eats a layer of the lungs and the lungs gets filled with blood. People who had worked their entire life and wanted to spend their rest of life in peace are removed from the face of earth suddenly. Unfortunately, even Italians, Spanish and Americans with their superior medical and public health system are dying in droves. Should we move to the community spread stage we will reach unimaginable level of human destruction given India’s health infrastructure, public health support and general level of poverty and immense population.

However, in the last 4 weeks, we have seen coming together millions of people who have made immeasurable sacrifice in the face this disaster. First starting with police, who are always maligned are spending endless hours on the beat enduring enormous amount of stress, sleeplessness and many are performing extraordinarily. Some of them are feeding the people, controlling their anger, and begging people to stay at home. Many government employees are spending whole day in the work and making enormous effort to contain the spread of virus. Most of the administrators and ministers at every level of government are visibly doing their work and many in opposition are standing by the government. The health care workers which includes doctors, nurses, support clinical persons, ambulance drivers and  public health workers who go everyday, every street and conducting survey, collecting information and in the process put their life in risk. Imagine the risk to these millions of people staying close to patients who are spreading the virus day in and day out. In a way millions of migrant workers who are uprooted are another set of heroes. These people are the foundation over which the country’s economy is built they have made to lost most of their lives worth and they are paying through enormous suffering.

Despite the great sacrifices of multiple set of people and government action there is a large and insurmountable challenge ahead of us. There is no cure now and we learn from the scientist only when the vaccine or control medicine is found this menace will go away. But that is at least 12 months away. In the meantime, untold number of theories are floated how to handle but nothing is without risk for a country like India. There are three major things we can do to make the effects of the pandemic lessoned when the pandemic goes to third phase of community spread.

  1. Test, Trace and Isolate: The government, private sector and entire academic community are working tirelessly in getting more test kits locally and from abroad.   Adding more test stations to strengthen and increase the testing to a significant level so that we can test massively to identify the infected. Trace the people who might have contacted the infected person and isolate them too. This is a mammoth proportion of task and not easy even to comprehend how will we do for a population of 1.3 B. Let us not despair we do conduct elections involving 85 crore people and we can do emergency response of test, trace and isolate in the same scale and with an urgency embodied in it. All the scientist and intellectuals can prepare a blue book for doing this activity.
  2. Enormously increase the emergency preparedness – building makeshift hospitals, ventilators, masks, medicine, technology as much as possible that will bear the burnt in the next three or months within the humanly possible speed. If the estimates of community spread that is bandied is believed even at lower end we are looking in millions. Since we are having worldwide pandemic there will be no support from the outside of India but converting the railway cars or old ships that are came for wrecking to hospitals. How far this emergency preparedness can take us is something no one can assure enough.
  3. However, the above two actions require time and it is just that we do not have at hand. In the meantime, the only option is the flattening the curve meaning slowing down the rate with which the infection spreads. Flattening to such an extent that our health care can handle reliably is what is need of the hour. Since our health infrastructure has extremely limited number of beds, ICUs, doctors and hospitals and it will break even at minor acceleration in the spread. The only way the spread can be slowed is by the absolute commitment to social distancing of all of 1.3 B people.

The social distancing is now getting broad acceptance in the country though it is still needing enforcement by police and many find it cumbersome. Some are flippantly ignoring it by false sense of security with poor understanding of consequences. It is simply irresponsible as even a small node causes a spread. It is a challenge that no one is used to, but we must learn it assiduously. The best way to do it is understanding that the life we know is no longer exists and we  adjust to new reality. But the good news once the gravity of the situation is understood the steps are so simple and I will try to make a general list.

  1. Voluntarily support by not venturing out for unnecessary reasons when in lock down.
  2. Buy items only as much as we need and buy for 2 -3 days of vegetables so that you can avoid venturing out.
  3. Follow discipline in physical distancing.
  4. Keep exercise, yoga, and other activities to make the body fit when staying inside the house. Healthy body found to have helped the immune system or if you need to help others.
  5. Pray, drink water, and do useful activities that enriches the life and sleep well.
  6. Stop the fake whatsapp and facebook and other forwards and other items and also stop using the anonymity of social media for hate.
  7. Help others in need
  8. Follow these simple rules as told by everyone on staying healthy and avoiding the spread.
    1. Do
      1. Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub
      1. Cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue or flexed elbow when you cough or sneeze
      1. Avoid close contact (1 meter or 3 feet) with people who are unwell
      1. Stay home and self-isolate from others in the household if you feel unwell
      1. Use home made face mask but dispose that often
    1. Don’t
      1. Touch your eyes, nose, or mouth if your hands are not clean

Above all the need of the hour is to spread  among our  circles, friends, guilds  groups and others and make them overcome the differences in religion, caste, creed, language, region , state and every other divisions like secular, communal, north, south and northeast. Even if someone does something wrong, try to keep sanity in difficult time. Let us overcome our differences to save the population as we know it today.

We have a special appeal to Brothers and Sisters of Islam. You had been through your challenges magnified because of some minuscule wayward people from your religion bringing disrepute. Indore incident which got such a bad publicity where the crowd chased a doctor who came to help should not have happened. Please note one of the doctors who was chased   ironically is Muslim –  Dr.Zakiyah Sayeed. She is our daughter and sister and we know this must stop. Based on science, Mecca itself is closed to public and Haj is halted, none of us can justify going to Mosque and crowding it. In many countries group of people join remotely through zoom and do prayers. The same applies to all religions and community members that the god can be reached through prayers and even electronically assemble player groups.

I do have similar appeal to some Hindus who make the Tablihi Jamaat as the reason for virus spread. It is a conference and unfortunate timing but let us not attribute motive for this. It was such an old Indian tradition of more than one hundred years to bring back piety in Islam. Stop using this for any divisive behavior. We will get over the virus, but this attribution will leave a scar for a long time.

Since we have a strong and invisible enemy against which we have no weapon, the only way we can fight is through a united and disciplined approach. Follow the simple rules and bear the pain of this period with grit. Spread the right message and do the right actions. We do not have to counter and correct all those who have differing opinions like news anchors, politicians, religious people, news papers of different viewpoints and political hues. Let us stay positive and spread the important message.

Let us hope and pray together and take our resolve when we join with the whole of India on lighting for nine minutes at 9.00 PM on April 5th for solidarity. We have just one goal -reduce the number of deaths.

भारतीय इस्लाम कि व्यथा

Santosh Pathak
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भारतीय इस्लाम कि व्यथा

भारत विभिन्न धार्मिक मतावलंबीयों का निवास स्थान है। बहुधा दुनिया के सभी धार्मिक पहचान के व्यक्ति भारत में निवासी हैं और रहेंगे, क्यूंकि भारतीय समाज का स्वभाव एकांगी नहीं है। यह प्रचलन समाज में हिन्दू कि बहुलता से है। गैर भारतीय पंथ भी जैसे क्रिस्चन आराम से भारत में निवासित हैं, और स्व-भारतीय परन्तु गैर हिन्दू धार्मिक समूह जैसे बौध, पारसी, जैन और सिख तो इसी ऋतू,रीती में घुले, मिले लगते हैं जैसे हिन्दू रहते हैं। भारतीय धार्मिक समूहों में इस्लाम ही एक मात्र गैर भारतीय धार्मिक समूह हैं जो पृथक, एकांगी हैं, तथा मिलनसार नहीं बनते। हर सामजिक समूह जो आधुनिक युग में राष्ट्र-राज्य के लकीरों में खीचे गए हैं, उन्होंने बेजोड़ तरक्की की है, लेकिन क्या भारतीय इस्लाम एक खास सपने के साथ जीता रहा है, जिसकी वजह से वह मुक्कमल तरक्की नहीं कर पा रहा? वह सपना क्या है? क्या उस सपने ने इस समाज को एक दिशा दी है, फिर उसकी दशा क्या होगी? इस दिशा में विचार करने के पीछे क्या सहायक कारण है, कौन से आर्थिक पक्ष हैं, और सामाजिक जनजागरण की दृष्टी से उन्होंने स्वयं को क्यूँ और कैसे वंचित रखा है? ये ऐसे प्रश्न हैं जिनपर भारत में कभी खुल कर बात नहीं होती हैं। आज कोरोना के चपेट में जब पूरा देश अपने घरों में कैद है तथा देश-समाज के स्वस्थ भविष्य के लिए कई प्रकार के आर्थिक चुनौतियों का सामना कर रहा है तब भी इनका व्यवहार इतना बेरुखा, नीरस, गैरजिम्मेवार एवं स्वपनिल क्यूँ है, इस पर खुल कर बात होनी चाहिए? हम उस सपने के प्रत्यक्षता को अनदेखा करके इनके व्यवहार को समझ नहीं सकते।

इस लेखन के मूल में उस सपने को उजागर करना तथा उस सपने के साधक और साधनों कि भी पहचान करना है। इसके लिए हमें देश की राजनीति का प्रकार, समाज और राजनीति का समन्वय तथा इसके लाभार्थी समूहों की पड़ताल करनी पड़ेगी।

भारत एक लोकतान्त्रिक प्रणाली का देश है, जिसमे अतीत में झांकें बिना संजीदा वर्तमान तथा सुंदर भविष्य की कल्पना है। लोकतंत्र को गुणवत्ता पूर्ण शिक्षा, वैज्ञानिक शोध, उद्योगों का विकास एवं गौरवयुक्त जीवन का आधार माना गया है। लेकिन भारत कि राजनीति 1976 के एक संवैधानिक संसोधन पर आकर टीक गयी है। राजेंद्र प्रसाद एवं बाबा साहब आंबेडकर जैसे संविधान निर्माताओं के ज्ञान को ठोकर मारकर इंदिरा गाँधी सरकार के द्वारा इमरजेंसी के दौरान 42 वें संविधान संसोधन को प्रस्तुत किया गया और विद्वानों का मत है कि इस संवैधानिक संसोधन ने संविधान के अन्दर ही एक छोटा संविधान निर्मित किया है तथा इससे भारत कि आत्मा पर आघात पंहुचा है। इस संसोधन के कई पहलु थे जिनमे सबसे बड़ा अंतर संविधान के प्रस्तावना में समाजवादी तथा सेक्युलर शब्द के जोड़े जाने से आया था।

इस संसोधन ने भारतीय मुस्लिम जमात को कांग्रेस के साथ स्थाई तौर पर जोड़ दिया और देश में नयी राजनीति की आधारशिला रखी। आजाद भारत की राजनीति में धर्म का मिश्रण इसी निर्णय से होना शुरू हुआ था। इस संसोधन के राजनितिक पक्ष तो थे ही पर इससे निकले जिन्न ने सम्पूर्ण मुस्लिम समुदाय को उस सपने को देखने हेतु एक सुंदर सेज सज़ा दी थी। 1980 के दशक में इनकी राजनितिक ताकत में इतना इजाफा हो गया था कि शाह बानो के केस में इन्होने राजीव गाँधी कि अविजित सरकार कि इंट से इंट बजा दी और सरकार को इनके सामने झुककर सुप्रीम कोर्ट के सर्वोच्च तथा संविधान सम्मत निर्णय को भी संसद से बदलवा दिया। शरियत का कानून लोकतंत्र तथा संविधान के मर्यादा का उपहास करता रहा। कुछ ही समय में सरकार के कई नीतिगत और महत्वपूर्ण फैसले दिल्ली जामा मस्जिद के शाही इमाम के इशारों पर होने लगे। इन फैसलों में तब्दीलियाँ और इनका कोई मजबूत विरोध नहीं होना इनके सपने को और बुलंद करता रहा है।

1980 के दशक के अंतिम वर्षों में इनका स्वभाव उग्र होने लगा और कई जगहों से देश भर में फतवों कि बाढ़ आ गई। ये फतवे शरिया के आधार पर जारी होते रहे, परन्तु समाज के किसी तबके से उन्हें संविधान सम्मत तथा आधुनिक परिवेश के अनुकूल बनाने कि कोशिश नहीं दिखाई पड़ी। लोकतंत्र कि अपनी मर्यादा होती है और समाज को उस दृष्टी से सींचकर खड़ा करना राजनितिक जमात का मौलिक काम होता है, लेकिन भारत के चक्रवर्ती राजनितिक परिवार एवं उसके तंत्र ने अनजाने में या जानबूझकर उस सपने के दोहन में अपना भविष्य देख लिया जिसमे उसका वर्तमान तो राजगद्दी पर बैठा है, परन्तु भविष्य शायद सुखद नहीं है। आज सी.ए.ए. और एन.आर.सी. जैसे महत्वपूर्ण कानूनों का अनुपालन नही होना और कोरोना जैसे महामारी के वक्त अस्पतालों में स्वास्थ्यकर्मियों के सामने नंगे घूमना उसी संकट कि एक कड़ी है। मंडल कमिशन के आगमन ने कांग्रेस कि लुटिया डुबो दी। कांग्रेस कि लुटिया डूबने के पीछे यही वोटबैंक कारण बना। पिछड़ों कि राजनीति का जन्म हुआ और जब इस भीड़ को यह लगा कि अगले शासक यही समाजवादी होंगे, उसने बिना हिचक कांग्रेस को धोखा दिया और समाजवादी बन बैठे। वस्तुतः एक बड़ा वोट बैंक खड़ा हो रहा था जो लोकतंत्र के मर्यादा के विपरीत बिना लाभ-हानि के ज्ञान के, बिना किसी पछतावे के भीड़ की शक्ल ले रहा था। इंदौर में स्वास्थ्यकर्मियों पर पत्थरबाजी करना उनके इसी सोंच का परिचायक है। किसी भी मर्यादित समाज के लिए जहाँ पर राजा को जनता द्वारा चुना जाना है, उसके लिए ऐसे प्रयोग अच्छे नहीं होते यह जानते हुए भी यह समाज कभी गलत को गलत नहीं कहता है। आखिर क्यों? शिक्षा, बेरोजगारी, व्यवस्थित जीवन, संविधान सम्मत न्याय, स्वास्थ्य या सामुच्य में कहें तो विकास क्या इस समाज कि अपेक्षा नहीं है? 

इस वर्ग ने अपने सपने के पीछे आर्थिक उपार्जन के मद में भी अच्छी मेहनत कि है। उस सपने के हासिल होने में अर्थ (पैसा) का होना एक अनिवार्य शर्त है। इनके पास ज़मीन नहीं है, इसलिए ये भारत के शहरों के रहवासी है। भारत के संगठित नौकरियों में इनकी पहुँच कम है क्यूंकि ये आधुनिक शिक्षा से दूर मदरसों में तालीम पाते रहे हैं, लेकिन यह समाज भारत के गैर औपचारिक (इनफॉर्मल) अर्थव्यवस्था के मूल स्तम्भ हैं। भारत में असंगठित क्षेत्र कुल कार्यरत संख्या का 93 प्रतिशत है, और मुस्लिम समाज हर वह काम करता है जिससे कैश में पैसा कमाया जा सकता है। अनाज के व्यापार में, फलों के थोक कि मंडियों पर, बाइक-कार के रिपेयरिंग में, टायर और पंक्चर के दुकानों पर, रेहड़ी लगाने वाले में, कपड़ों के ट्रेडिंग में, दिहाड़ी मजदूरी सहित हवाला के कारोबार, स्मगलिंग तथा संगठित अपराध से भी ये कैश में पैसे कमाते हैं। आई.एम् ऍफ़ के 2016-2017 के एक रिसर्च पेपर में भारत के गैर औपचारिक अर्थव्यवस्था का कुल योग पूरी अर्थव्यवस्था का लगभग 40 प्रतिशत बताया गया है। नोटबंदी के बाद में उभरी परिस्थितियों में भी आर्थिक सर्वेक्षण में यह कुल अर्थव्यवस्था का 25 से 35 प्रतिशत के आसपास बताई गयी है। क्या ये आंकड़े यह स्पस्ट नहीं करते कि ये आर्थिक रूप से इतने कमजोर नहीं हैं, जितने ये बताये जाते रहे हैं? क्या इनके पास इतने पैसे नहीं हैं कि ये उस सपने को साकार करने कि दिशा में प्रयास कर सकें?

उस सपने को साकार करने के साधनों-उपक्रमों में राजनीति के साथ साथ कुछ अन्य तत्व भी हैं जो इनकी मदद करती है। मीडिया एक महत्वपूर्ण जरिया है जो भारतीय कम्युनिज्म के साथ जुड़कर इन्हें हर मसले पर विक्टिम यानी भारतीय राजव्यवस्था के द्वारा शिकार किये गए समुदाय के रूप में प्रस्तुत करती रही है। राजव्यवस्था तथा भारत के इतिहास का लेखन करने वाले संभ्रांत लोगों के गिरोह ने इनके सपने को बल प्रदान किया है। इस समाज के गरीब तबकों में इन लोगों यह विश्वास पैदा किया है कि  भारत में उनका सामाजिक-आर्थिक शोषण होता है, जिससे इसी जमात के संभ्रांत वर्ग को उनको मजबूत एकल-दिशा में वोट करने वाले भीड़ में तब्दील करने में आसानी हुई है। भारत के मिट्टी में ही राजव्यवस्था के खिलाफ संघर्ष कि अनेकों कहानियां प्रचलित रही हैं, तब इस परिस्थिति में इस समाज के द्वारा कभी गुणवत्ता पूर्ण शिक्षा, स्वास्थ्य आदि के मद में आन्दोलन कभी क्यूँ नहीं दिखता है? तीन-तलाक़ जैसे गंभीर मुद्दे पर नरेन्द्र मोदी कि सरकार द्वारा वृहद कानून बनाये जाने के बाद भी इस समाज कि महिलाओं द्वारा उत्साह्पूर्ण अट्ठाहस क्यूँ नहीं दिखता? समय परिवर्तनशील है और समाज में भी बहुधा शोषण के खिलाफ संघर्ष से ही बदलाव आता है, फिर ये बदलाव का ज़ज्बा इस समाज में क्यूँ नहीं द्र्स्टव्य  होता है? क्या उस सपने के लक्ष्य में सभी प्रकार के शोषण गौण हो गए हैं और भीड़ तंत्र से यह समाज कुछ और जीतना चाहता है? वह क्या जीतना चाहता है?

इस लेख को पढ़कर कुछ लोग कह सकते हैं कि चुपके से भाजपा की ध्रुवीकरण कि राजनीति पर पर्दा डाल दिया गया है। लेकिन भाजपा ने तो इस वर्ग कि शक्ति को बढाया ही है। भाजपा कि मांगे क्या है, उसके दर्शन में इस्लाम मतावलंबियों के लिए कौन से कष्ट के कारक हैं? भाजपा कि प्राथमिक मांग अयोध्या में राम मंदिर का निर्माण था और इसके लिए उसने उत्तर भारत में हिन्दुओं का ध्रुवीकरण किया है। यह सत्य भी है, लेकिन क्या हिन्दुओं के अराध्य देव श्रीराम हेतु उन्ही के जन्मभूमि पर मंदिर निर्माण करना अधर्म का परिचायक है? कौन नहीं जानता कि श्रीराम अयोध्या में जन्मे और वहीँ के चक्रवर्ती सम्राट थे और बाबर ने उनके विशाल मंदिर को तोड़कर वहां मस्जिद निर्माण कराया था। क्या वेटिकेन सिटी से प्रभु यीशु का मंदिर विस्थापित किया सकता है। क्या मक्का से मस्जिद तोड़ी जा सकती है? मुस्लिम समाज से यह आग्रह क्यूँ नहीं निकला कि जहाँ श्रीराम का जन्मस्थान था वहीँ मंदिर बने? भाजपा कि दूसरी मांग थी कि देश में शरीयत का कानून हटे और और यूनिफार्म सिविल कोड लागू हो। क्या शरिया कानून शाह बानो जैसी मजलूमों में लिए भयंकर अपराध नहीं है? ये तो ऐसी मांगे थी, जिनपर राजनेताओं को पहले से काम करना चाहिए था। लेकिन उस जमात के सपने और एक दल कि शासन में बने रहने कि इच्छाओं ने इन आसानी से किये जाने कार्यों को दुर्गम बना दिया। फिर सवाल उठता है कि क्या भाजपा और कुछ अन्य दक्षिणपंथी पार्टियाँ मुस्लिम समाज के उसके पृथककरन (घेटोआइजेशन) के कारण हैं या फिर उस सपने में बाधक हैं?

यह समाज इस्लाम और हिन्दू समूहों में बंटा हुआ था। अकेले राम मंदिर के लिए इन समाज के लोगों के बीच 500 से ज्यादा वर्षों के संघर्ष कि गाथा मौजूद है। मेरा मानना है कि भाजपा उस सपने में बाधक तो कतई नहीं है बल्कि साधन अवश्य है। वस्तुतः किसी भी संघर्ष के लिए कोई ना कोई प्रत्यक्ष विपक्ष चाहिए जिसे प्रचारित करके एकत्रीकरण किया जा सके। इसलिए इस वर्ग के लिए भाजपा, कांग्रेस, समाजवादी, कम्युनिस्ट, मीडिया, लेखक, अर्थ, विक्टिम्हूड सभी सिर्फ साधन हैं। आखिर वह इतना बड़ा स्वप्न क्या है?

अपनी अनुपम कृति संस्कृति के चार अध्याय में रामधारी सिंह दिनकर लिखते हैं ‘भारत में मुसलमानों का अत्याचार इतना भयानक रहा है कि सारे संसार में उसका जोड़ नहीं मिलता। इन अत्याचारो के कारण हिन्दुओं के हृदय में इस्लाम के प्रति जो घृणा उत्पन्न हुई, उसके निशान अभी तक बाकी हैं। “इसी अध्याय में वह आगे लिखते हैं” ऐसी अवस्था में कौन वह राह है जिसपर चलकर हिन्दू मुसलमान के और मुसलमान हिन्दू के समीप पहुँच सकता है? हिन्दुओं कि मानसिक कठिनाई है कि इस्लाम का अत्याचार भूले नहीं भूलता और मुसलमान यह सोंचकर पस्त है कि जिस देश पर उनकी कभी हुकूमत चलती थी, उसी देश में उन्हें अल्पसंख्यक बनकर जीना पड रहा है।

आज हम केंद्र सरकार के बहुप्रतीक्षित सी.ए.ए., धारा 370 और राम मंदिर जैसे विषयों पर जब ऐतिहासिक कदम उठाते देख रहे हैं और साथ-साथ इनका अनर्गल विरोध और प्रलाप भी देख रहे हैं। मुस्लिम बहुल कश्मीर से हिन्दुओं के पलायन कि तस्वीरें भी देखते रहते हैं, तब क्या यह समझना कठीन है कि उनका सपना “दिल्ली के लालकिले पर फिर से मुगलिया परचम लहराता देखना है, वह सपना ‘गजवाये हिन्द’ कि स्थापना है।” यह विश्लेषण का अतिरेक नहीं है, क्यूंकि जब 1952-55 में ‘दिनकर’ इस विषय को समझ सकते थे और उस पुस्तक में प्रस्तावना लिखते हुए कि 30 जनवरी 1955 को नेहरु भी समझ रहे थे। क्या नेहरु ने उस दौर में इन अक्षरों को पढ़े बिना बिना पढ़े प्रस्तावना लिख दी थी? या वो इस चेतावनी को पढ़कर भी इसलिए शांतचित बने रहे कि वैश्विक शांति दूत कि उपाधि पा सकें? लेकिन यह ऐसी सोची समझी मकडजाल है जिसमे सब वर्तमान कि राजगद्दी से खुश हैं। आने वाली पीढ़ियों का कंटक कोई नहीं देखना चाहता।

रामचरित मानस में तुलसीदास कहते हैं कि “राजनीति समाज द्वारा संचालित हो तो समाज कि उन्नति होती है और अगर राजनीति समाज को संचालित करने लगे तो उसका पतन तय है।” इस्लाम सर्वदा से एक राजनितिक समाज का निर्माण करता है, इसलिए वे पृथक एवं एकांगी हैं। आज कोरोना जैसी महामारी के वक्त तबलीगी जमात जो कर रहा है और अनुयायियों को जो कोरोना फैलाने कि सलाह दे रहा है यह तो होना ही था। यह एक फतवा ही है। फलों, नोटों पर थूक लगाने के जो विडियो हम देख रहे हैं, और बैकग्राउंड से जो आवाजें आ रही हैं इसी दम पर तो सरकारों कि सेजें सजती आयी हैं। लेकिन उस सपने कि हकीकत जाननें के बाद हम इस खतरे पर कब विचार करेंगे और कब समाज को इनके धिक्कार करने कि दृष्टी में जागृत करेंगे, यह गंभीर प्रश्न है? याद रखें इतिहास स्वयं को दुहराता है, और दुर्भाग्य से मुगलिया परचम हमारा इतिहास रहा है, और गजवाये हिन्द उनका मकसद।

Ducking the COVID-19

Sumit Kumar
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Ducking the COVID-19

Cricket is a religion in our country and analogies from the cricket-field are spontaneous during testing times. The most pressing concerns occupying our minds is whether India can escape the general trend of COVID-19 and what can be done to further bolster the chances of escape with minimum cost to human life. The entire nation is pre-occupied with facing this existential threat. On the basis of available information so far, what could be the best way forward.

COVID-19 has come a long way from a sneaky outbreak in Wuhan, China to engulfing almost all the major countries of the world. As the responses to the challenge have varied from its initial downplaying, vacillations and misplaced bravados against the threat to strict national lockdowns, so is the price exacted by this deadly virus. India, being home to 1.3 billion people, has charted out her own strategy, reconciling the lessons learnt at international levels to the domestic realties. The fight appears to be longer and protracted one, which has necessitated frequent re-calibrations in the strategy. We are in the middle of our national lock down and should start a serious evaluation of what we have done so far. More significantly, we must look at what we need to modify in our approach.

The response to COVID-19 has so far involved twin strategy of firstly: gearing up the required medical, pharmaceutical and ancillary infrastructure to care for the prospective sudden surge in the number of COVID-19 positive patients and secondly: taking all the necessary steps to flatten the curve through either voluntary or coercive (if need arises) sudden behavioural modifications among the people. These two parts, while being very distinct to each other, are intricately juxtaposed.

The distinction can be gauzed from the fact that the first part, being related to mainly logistical challenge, is relatively easy to monitor and quick to adaptation. On the other hand, the second part (which is really very tricky) involves a very large number of people from immensely different backgrounds which renders it relatively inflexible. The dynamics of relationship is such that the second part has a direct implication on the first part of the strategy. If all the people, hypothetically, comply with the prescribed guidelines, there should not be much pressure on galvanizing massive resources for the first part of the strategy. So the level of preparation in the first part is very strategically dependent on the degree of compliance in the second part of the strategy. Therefore, we cannot underplay the role of second part (degree of compliance) in the response to COVID-19.

It is evidently clear that the easiest part is to do certain calculations about number of infected patients, the growth rate of fresh infections, emerging hot-spots of outbreak on the demand side and  per capita availability of doctors, hospital beds, PPEs, masks, hand-sanitizers, etc. on the supply side. These calculations can be comparatively extrapolated to India and churn out really scary numbers about potential scale of morbidity and mortality in India. However, the x-factor in this situation is the degree of compliance by people which can potentially upset the finest statistical simulations. Therefore, the role of voluntary and in certain cases coercive compliance on the part of people would play a really decisive role in how India fares in fight against COVID-19.

The things start becoming murkier and challenging, when we realize that voluntary compliance tends to be much more efficient and effective than coercive compliance. Coercive compliance is difficult to be enforced for a relatively longer period of time. The challenges are related to the difficulty in measuring the degree of compliance, and coming up with a strategy to ensure continued compliance until the threat disappears. There is no readily available tool to calculate the degree of compliance. It amplifies the fear of a few super-spreaders dodging the compliance for whatever (right or wrong) reasons and accidently abating the explosion of the infection. The case of Tablighi Jamaat in Nizamuddin Markaz is one such example. Therefore, the compliance should be voluntary with a very strict monitoring.

The requirement of frequent adaptations in the compliance strategy to promptly address genuine obstacles being faced by the people is also a highly complicated aspect. The compliance strategy will have to be flexible and must embed an intuitive and robust feedback-cum-correction loop. Such a strategy may require cautious decentralization of decision making without being chaotic. The decision making process must be flattened i.e. passing through bare minimum verticals in the organizational hierarchy. Such flattening can be enabled through innovate deployment of information technology. The launch of “Arogya Setu” app, holding of video-conferences of higher level authorities, are welcome initiatives which must be replicated on large scale across sectors urgently. We need many more apps to better synchronize our efforts.

In the same breath, the adherence to voluntary compliance can be further be bolstered through institutionalization of a strong reward and punishment framework. Family is an ideal primary unit that can enable forming of higher level units in a honeycomb fashion leading up to the national level. The symbolic exercises with high positive optics (gratitude expression through clapping on the day of ‘Janta Curfew’ and now lighting up the earthen lamps while switching off the electricity based lights) can also strongly boost the adherence to voluntary compliance. Similarly, the reassuring appearance of our political leaders through various social media can also play a vital role. The participation of many leaders in cooking and distribution of food for people in need is one similar example where resources are mobilized and distributed in all the sincerity. Dr. Vinay Sahastrabuddhe, Member of Parliament Rajya Sabha, has taken many such efforts involving frequent interaction with multiple stakeholders at various levels.

However, we must also effectively neutralize incidents (and even rumours with high snow-bowling effects) eroding people’s faith in voluntary compliance. Incidents of nepotism and VIP culture where people in position of power, break the norms, accrue benefits and effectively avoiding punishment, must be dealt with in a stringent and deterrent manner. Everyone needs to be equal in the rule of law and similar must be treated similarly if not equally, as per the varying individual circumstances. The people should be assured that their genuine grievances would be prioritized on the base of urgency rather than on extraneous variables. Here, ensuring practical adherence to the exhortation by the Prime Minister “We might be locked down and might be alone at homes but we are not alone. None is alone in this fight” would have a strong calming effect in this uncertainty and anxiety-ridden environment.

A high degree of voluntary compliance is in the nature of ducking the unplayable bouncer. Let us first be firmly on our feet and then position ourselves to play hook or pull some other time. Voluntary compliance, which is a practical philosophy, would decide whether India would duck the COVID-19 trends. The guiding light in these testing times can be sought in the talisman of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi:

“An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching.”

Exemplary leadership during a phase of crisis: Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma

saptarshi
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The past few months have been appalling for the prodigious world we live in, with the threat of the deadly Covid-19 virus looming everywhere. Most of us are in the process of adhering to the guidelines made public by the governments of different countries and simultaneously a colossal campaign has been undertaken by the different governments, as witnessed, to publicly spread awareness regarding the fatality of the virus and the precautions to be taken while battling this grungy virus. We have always been taught that every dark phase shows us certain positive morals as well and in this fight in which we are currently engaged in, one particular leader, amongst many others, have reminded us of such positive morals making us more and more optimistic in this fight with time. Affirmatively, this leader is none other than the honourable Minister Health and Family Welfare of Assam, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma.

On the bright side, almost the whole of Assam including many in this astoundingly large country with it’s record-breaking population have been encouraged by the work that Dr. Sarma have been putting in to keep his fellow countrymen safe. Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma has always determinedly worked for the welfare of the common people which aimed at improving their standard of living, clocking in sleepless nights without much paying any heed to his own personal health. As such the inhabitants of Assam have always found a connection with this publicly elected and highly revered Minister of the current State Government and this was clearly seen during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections where thousands of supporters and sympathisers thronged the streets of different districts of the state, dancing to the tunes of the campaign song of the ruling party. However, the prevailing situation is, in all its extremity, totally divergent. At a time when people are losing their hopes and are weakening in this battle; Dr. Sarma brings the fighting zeal back into the people, thereby taking everyone together in this fight. As a matter of fact, the frontline fighters of the state in this battle against the mentioned grungy virus have expressed that it is the determination and the combativeness of the Health Minister which have kept them going with renewed vigour, agility and alertness.

An aphoristic article as this would fall short while commending the various works done by the State Health Minister while battling Covid-19 and at the same time making people aware of the precautions to be taken while staying back at their home accepting and adhering to the norms of the lockdown. From visiting and examining the various medical colleges and treatment facilities prepared to accommodate those infected of this virus throughout the length and breadth of the state to holding video conferences with the authorities tasked to maintain the law and order and press conferences with various media houses to educate the public with the ongoing proceedings and further on to examine the processes of screening at various airports, Dr. Sarma has explored all the options at hand. A special mention needs to be made of all the labour and hard work put in to convert the illustrious Sarusajai stadium into a treatment facility accommodating 700 beds in it. In the words of Abhineet Mishra, a professional stage artist, “When China made a 1000 bed hospital in a week, Indians marvelled at their ability to execute and build. Assam is building with zero recorded cases so far. We are so caught up in criticising governments; sometimes their good work goes amiss. Well done Assam Government.”

Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma’s courageous and determined work has inspired many private companies and businesspersons alike to donate sufficient funds to lighten the burden undertaken by the State Government. Moreover, Dr. Sarma is leaving no stone unturned to fight the rising hurdles as the Minister himself tweets, “We are planning 5 pre-fabricated hospitals in collaboration with private companies to meet this emergency situation. The project might cost Rs 40-45 crore, which shall be met with the help of donations from govt agencies, MPs and public state resources.” The manner in which Dr. Sarma is tenaciously working during this tough phase, paying attention to every minute detail, upgrading the medical infrastructures by setting up numerous isolation wards and ICUs along with ventilators needs to be appreciated and applauded with utmost sincerity.

We are indeed fortunate to have such a tall leader amidst us who does not back down from challenges which this catastrophe has imposed, he is taking all the accountability and standing along the frontline fighters, joining their fight, without any hesitation. However, it pains me and indubitably many others that certain irresponsible people from amidst our society have flouted all the lockdown norms thereby ruining all the diligent efforts of the Minister and the whole state altogether. Just when gradually the whole of Assam was hoping that this state would emerge victorious and unscathed from the deadly virus, the Tabhlighi Jamaat incident totally changed and overturned the whole scenario leading to a surge in Covid-19 positive cases within the state.

The events of the past couple of days, irresponsible people flouting the lockdown norms and instances of misbehaving with our frontline fighters, deliberately makes me question, do we at all deserve such an efficient and hard-working leader amongst us who is deliberately putting himself in harm’s way trying to help us all? It comprehensively becomes our duty and responsibility to help the government, the medical staff, the policemen and the others in this arduous quest in each and every way possible without flouting the norms laid down for our own safety and this must be the sole approach for paying our debts to the frontline fighters. While winding up this concise piece, I would cordially like to thank our honourable Health Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma from my end and irrefutably from the whole of Assam for continuing this battle against Covid-19 selflessly while inspiring others at the same time. Genuinely, words fall short to denote the sense of responsibility and accountability that Dr. Sarma has shown towards the whole state of Assam.

Short story|From secularism to Hinduism and humanity

boi5hali
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Short story|From secularism to Hinduism and humanity

Now, is not the time to do blame game, bring religion into this crisis, target people because of their belief or any other reason/system they follow which is created by us, humans. We are created equal and should be treated same way.

Honestly, there was no right time and there will be no right time to do this. It’s inhuman, criminal and barbaric, whatever the context maybe.

My family taught me to see every living being as equal, including animals and plants. To extent that unless I went to convent school and was taught about ‘Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Isai’ I was not knowing that religion existed. We were never made to read our religious texts or follow any rituals. My mother had her beliefs and she practised it in her capacity never letting us dragged into it. We were given freedom to grow up and decide our beliefs ourselves or have no belief at all. Religion was not subject of discussion at our house as humanity was considered more important. My father insisted on tolerance and giving respect to other’s view points as I was always loud about mine, no matter what.

‘Jo words ya feelings tumhe hurt karti hain, wo kabhi kisi aur ko nahi bolte’ Things which you can’t bear or tolerate yourself, don’t say or push on others.- He would say.

For almost 30yrs of my life, I believed this. We never questioned the school which did not allow me to wear Mehndi or Bindi but was perfectly okay with Hijab or salwars being worn by my classmates. Graduating from an Architecture college further enhanced this aspect of ‘equality’ ‘freedom of expression’ ‘idea of India’ and how history and architecture of all other places and cultures outside India were better [This was probably also because I had never read anything till then about India in correct sense].

After working for a decade, I decided to slow down and take a break. First thing I wanted to do was detox and get healthy. All the junk I ate during hostel days in Mumbai and all the torture I did to my body while focusing on work in my growing years at work, was now backfiring.

By that time I had already experimented with Allopathy and Homeopathy. None of it could explained root cause of my problem. Ayurveda was something I decided to go for because my ‘internet gyan‘ concluded that it had no side effects even if you don’t get cured.

Not venturing into details of it but I got answers to all my health issues and they got cured over period of a few months with some tweaks in life style and food habits. Ayurveda made me understand that every human is unique and it’s deep understanding is the only way to be healthy. It teaches you how to listen to your body and act upon it. It teaches you how to remain healthy naturally without supplements.

Why I spoke about Ayurveda, because that was my first move towards understanding of something truly ancient and local about India.

Since Ayurveda goes hand in had with Yoga, I understood some things about meditation as well. Research on Meditation lead me to Sri Sri Ravishankar’s Ashram for a four day residential course at Bengaluru. Those four days brought in lot of positivity in my perspective towards life, world and every thing around me. My visits to ashram became frequent and so was buying more books on Indian history and its culture from Ashram’s book store. I was understanding how dynasties [read leadership] were crucial factor in leading the Rajya or country in right direction and imbibing right culture in its Prajaa or people.

All thanks to Mr Kejriwal, I started getting interested in Indian politics at the same time. I am sure, lot of people like me got interested in Indian politics because of him. For two years, I was a strong follower of Mr Kejriwal. In him I saw that strong, educated, secular, down-to-earth, socialist leader who would take India out of misery of corruption and babu-culture. Some of my friends with prior understanding of Politics did warn me that he is no different from others, just that he has a new approach to enter politics, which I blindly ignored until he made his first coalition Govt in Delhi. Suddenly his fight against corruption irrespective of any political party, now started targeting Modi. He let his govt fall to fight against Modi in Varanasi.

Modi – Whom I admired when I shifted to Ahmedabad in 2004. This was purely because of changes I saw with my eyes in that state since he came to power. In 2004, apart from Mumbai, I guess it was only in Ahmedabad that power supply was uninterrupted and without any fluctuations. LPG cylinder was a phone call away, delivered at your door step within 12hrs and many more of such experiences I had in my short stay of 1.5yrs there. 2002 never bothered me as I was not there and most of locals knew what he did was something any leader with right intensions would have done. Also, I had read/heard about worst riots in my own state UP than what happened in 2002.

So coming back to Mr. Kejrwal. When he started targeting and literally abusing Mr Modi finally forced me to do some counter-reading on Mr. Kejriwal and question my belief in him and Modi. I searched for authors with counter views on both politicians which ‘enlightened‘ me to great extent.

I read so much and most of them were anti-Hindu articles, criticising everything and anything that was Hindu to ensure BJP and RSS remained in bad books of people in general. All articles painted anything positive that BJP/RSS said about Hindus as communal. While anything about other religion, supported by most of other parties was considered ‘cool’ and ‘intellectual’. It did not take too much brains to understand the nexus between propaganda against Hindus – to ensure that Hindus remain in self-doubt and never appreciate or be confident about their belief system. This way they would never support BJP or RSS.

Anyway we the Hindus are mostly not taught anything about our belief systems. PS – There are only few remaining Gurukuls in India which we can count on our fingers tips, and now compare that with Madarsa and Churches who ensure that religion is taught to every child born in their families.
[Another myth I was made to believe in was that Hindus have survived for 1000s of years and there is no threat to Sanatan Dharm. In fact, a little research on history can tell us how many people and land we have lost to Radicals in those 1000s of years purely for their religious expansions. Very recent being Pakistan and Bangladesh which were taken away from us purely on religious grounds. Then Kashmir.]

I never discussed religion, caste etc with anyone. But now, I started engaging people on this topic to verify how right those articles were. I realised everyone knew what was written in Quran or Bible, but my Hindu friends could not even name one spiritual text apart from Geeta which they had never read. So is it important to read these texts? I strongly feel no. As long as you are NOT part of society which is surrounded by people who do read such texts.

Because for those 20-30% or 80% of people, their religion comes first and you and humanity comes next.

In the state of crisis you will be sacrificed first.

Because you don’t believe in their texts, you don’t exist or worst you don’t have right to exist. So your elimination is far more important than their own lives. Yes, people who read such texts and get radicalised do think that their lives can be sacrificed for killing ‘enemies’ ‘kafirs’ while you my friend, will be holding placard of humanity and secularism, they will spit on your face, slit your throat, stab you 400 times and dump you in gutter.

At this point, you will blame govt for law and order. Same govt whom you were lecturing to remain secular and not target people based on their religion. Or worst, same govt you selected because they were secular and hence had to maintain appeasement – you are not priority.

But then it’s too late, not knowing that you are secular Hindu, not knowing that you supported them on insta, FB and twitter, they will look at your religion and spit on you from bus.

With my limited ‘internet gyan‘ again, I understood that cancer cells are produced by our own body due to some malfunctions. We don’t live with it because it’s our own. We treat it first, if it doesn’t work we cut it off. But if it spreads in our entire system, it’s too late. We have no option but to wait for slow painful death, our body being consumed slowly by our own cancer cells.

Religious radicals are cancer cells of our society. If we don’t call them out, they will continue to breed and will eventually kill us. There are ample ways to serve humanity, to prove that we don’t discriminate. Many of us are already doing it. Ample examples from all communities are known to us.

#Secularism unfortunately is not one of them! We don’t have to live with cancer to gain higher moral ground.

Now is the time to call spade a spade.
Now is the time to see things as they are.
Now is the time to do research on who are working for humanity and who ready to die and kill for religion.
Now is the time to save humanity from cancerous humans!

Because if we don’t, humanity will die a slow death of secularism!

Bharat Mata ki Jai.
Jai Hind.
Jai Shri Ram!

A ludicrous attempt of defending the undefendable

Dipankar Jugran
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A ludicrous attempt of defending the undefendable

A dangerous pandemic is currently taking shape around the world. The creature responsible for this pandemic originated in one of the wet markets in Wuhan (China) might be the tiniest of creatures, but it has brought down the mightiest of nations to their knees. The Chinese coronavirus pandemic has a caliber to be a plague equal to which our ancestors went through during the 14th century. One of the most devastating pandemics humans have ever gone through, known as the bubonic plague or the black death. Scientist believes that the bacterium, Yersinia Pestis which caused the bubonic plague also originated from China and spread along the silk road to Europe. Unlike Chinese coronavirus, Yersinia Pestis didn’t spread on direct contact instead was spread by the fleas which carried the plague causing bacteria from rodents to human. The Chinese coronavirus as the name suggests is just another gift from china to the world.

Even though there are many similarities between the Black death of the past and the currently ongoing Chinese coronavirus. I don’t think that any of the sources of the 14th century mention a particular community using the virus as a weapon against the people who don’t adhere to their political ideology disguised as a religion. Or maybe they were not able to do this during the black death because the bacterium was not spreading by the human to human contact.

Our nation is also affected by the same Chinese coronavirus which has brought all the big economies of this world to a standstill. In early March, COVID19 was spreading in India at a steady rate though there was no community transmission, all the infected people had a travel history to affected nations. After awareness campaigns of social distancing and the Janta curfew by the Modi government, the new number of cases started to decline until around 1,200 people of a particular community defying all orders and ignoring all warnings, believing that they are immune and their god has sent this pandemic to kill all the ‘kafirs’, gathered in huge numbers inside a mosque in Nizamuddin to attend an event compromising the safety of the whole nation and its people.

The group also consisted of nearly 280-odd foreigners from countries such as Malaysia and Indonesian. These people after attending the event at Nizamuddin traveled across the country spreading the virus even more. 100 persons which have been found positive in Tamil Nadu have attended the Nizamuddin event and many more states have reported such cases which can be traced back to the same group. Until the arrival of these people, the cases of corona in India were less than thousand which have now increased to more than three thousand. Therefore, the credit for spreading the coronavirus can be given to these people. 60% of India’s new coronavirus cases can be traced back to the same group.

After listening to this news, most of the right-wing twitter handles started to criticize these people. While the right-wing started blaming the whole community for this type of preposterous behavior, the left-liberal intelligentsia was nowhere to be seen for few days, maybe they were trying to find a way to normalize this crime of the minority community as they always do. From Osama to Burhan Wani, turning persecutors into victims is the specialty of the pseudo-liberal left. Slowly corridors of the left started to buzz again with ‘disease has no religion’ and whataboutery. But soon more videos and news started surfacing of the very people left was trying its best to defend. Videos from spitting in food to applying spit on banknotes. From beating doctors to making lewd gestured to the nurses. The people of this particular community has left no stone unturned to prove their regressive and barbaric nature.

Left trying to provide an ideological cover by justify the actions of these minorities and trying to present them as victims are just ludicrous, especially when the left has the nerve to make fun of people who came out in the balcony and clapped to show solidarity towards the fighters of this pandemic.

I hope that deep down, even this imbecile leftist intelligentsia knows that it is just trying to Defend the Undefendable.

India’s left liberals, the perennial Muslim-appeasers, are once again up in arms against Arnab Goswami

Neelarka Roy
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India’s left liberals, the perennial Muslim-appeasers, are once again up in arms against Arnab Goswami

Arnab Goswami ‘s zeal for truth, his stands on various social issues and the fact that he is unapologetic about them has always been a bitter pill to swallow for the left-liberals, who believe in Muslim appeasement more than anything else. His tough stand regarding the Tablighi Jamaat meet at Nizamuddin Markaz has therefore faced the ire of left-liberals and Islamists masqueraded as journalists alike.

The meeting of the Tablighi Jamaat at Nizamuddin Markaz, and the subsequent incidents, have undoubtedly rocked the Nation. Far from going in quarantine like socially responsible Indian citizens, the Muslims who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat meet have since then been hiding in several places and mosques all over India, thereby spreading the virus among the common citizens, which has resulted in a sharp increase in the number of COVID-19 cases all over India. Most importantly, they have spread the disease in states like Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, which until a few days back, had not a single case of COVID-19.

As if this wasn’t enough,some of these Muslims have deliberately spat on healthcare officials,abused female doctors and nurses in the most vulgar way, and have fired on the police in Kannauj when they were being forcibly taken into quarantine.The brazenness of these people hailing from the “peaceful community” has baffled many.

Arnab Goswami, founder of the Republic TV network, had in one of the recent debates said that the Tablighi Jamaat meet was “not a rule, but an exception.” He had even asked Indians not to communalise the incident. But he had been tough with those who were justifying the conduct of the people who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat meet in his debate, and hadn’t hesitated from slamming them. He had also vented out his anger at Maulana Saad,who had organized the meet. Maulana Saad, in a leaked audio, is heard asking the Muslims to stay in mosques since Allah would protect them from the COVID-19 virus.

This was enough for the left-liberals,who have been appeasing Muslims to a point of no return, to turn against him and abuse him in the worst way possible. Arfa Khanum Sherwani, senior editor of the dubious The Wire, had even gone to the extent of calling him a terrorist in one of her tweets. Other left-liberals with blue ticks on their Twitter accounts have abused him in the worst way possible.

However, any person who is not a stranger to the field of politics and keeps a track of recent events should know how The Wire often spreads misinformation and peddles fake news. The founder and chief editor of The Wire, Mr.Siddharth Varadarajan already has an FIR lodged against him for spreading misinformation against the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mr.Yogi Adityanath.

Arfa Khanum Sherwani herself is a hardcore Islamist masqueraded as a journalist and a hypocrite to the core.In one of her tweets she had explained why “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” is communal, while in another tweet she justified why slogans like “Lailaha illallah” and “Allahu Akbar” are not communal, fundamentalist or Islamist.

The people who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat meet have undoubtedly committed a crime against humanity. Just when India was winning the war against the COVID-19 virus, these people stimulated the community spread of the virus. And on the top of it, their blatant defiance of government orders and their utter misconduct against the doctors, nurses and police have angered the common citizens of India.

Like 99% of Indians,Arnab Goswami too had been greatly angered by the conduct of the Tablighi Jamaat attendees, and he had vented it out in his debate.He had slammed Maulana Saad, who actually should be behind bars right now. The fact that he hails from Assam, and Assam until a few days back hadn’t a single case of COVID-19 has only added fuel to his anger.

In fact,he had successfully echoed the feelings of the common Indian citizens, the daily wage labourers and businessmen who are facing indiscriminate losses through his words. Republic TV, unlike Aaj Tak, doesn’t play Antakshari instead of reporting. Republic TV, unlike NDTV, The Wire and The Quint, doesn’t spread misinformation among the people.

And even if Arnab Goswami had committed a mistake,fake news peddlers like The Wire, Islamists like Arfa Khanum Sherwani, and the Indian left-liberals whose focus remains on appeasing the Muslim community should be the last persons to speak a word against him.

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