Re: [Assam] Son-Preference: How to stop this attitude? Jihad-reform doctors and teachers

Sun, 02 Apr 2006 17:05:50 -0700

I don't know about others, but I read Jihad to have the same meaning as Dharmayudhya. The Christian crusade. When we say Dharmayudhya, we may actually drag the meaning to whichever way we want. Naturally if one is not a Muslim, one will try to define the meaning in a narrow sense. Similarly if one is not a Hindu he might try to define the Dharmayudhya of Kurkshetra in a very narrow sense.  We don't have to go to Dictionary meaning to know what it is. Now please note that Dictionary meaning may not be always correct. If you simply look at the definitions of Hinduism in different dictionaries, you will know what I mean.
 
RB 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, April 01, 2006 7:04 PM
Subject: Re: [Assam] Son-Preference: How to stop this attitude? Jihad-reform doctors and teachers

Himendra-da,
 
Now I realise why you take so much umbrage when someone comments about what your write. Let me remind you that the Net is a much more informal gathering that terms like accusations or slander cannot be used unless severe personal insult has been made.
 
In discussions it is common to have differences of opinion and an exchange of ideas to seek common ground.  I just made a comment about what I felt you understood by Jihad. As far as looking it the English dictionary to check its meaning -- let me see -- I never tried to do that -- just relying on the inetrepreation by Islamic leaders - proposed on newsmedia. Still I would venture to do so now: http://www.askoxford.com/results/?view=dict&freesearch=jihad&branch=13842570&textsearchtype=exact this search shows that you said was true. I stand corrected.
 
[I am right too -- see this by the  best American dictionary : http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/jihad the second meaning -presumably used exclusively by Muslims is :  : a crusade for a principle or belief ]
 
However, I did not make a comment but a question using a question mark --about Haryana's doctors --not US ones --- asking for opinions and not stating a fact. The fact is that doctors and teachers in India are in need of reform about their business practices -- I do not think you have read the World Bank report .
 
I wonder if you have any poverty stricken relatives in rural areas who had cause to suffer when no doctors were in the govt clinics. Please enlighten what you feel about the suffering of poor due to absentee doctors and teachers.
 
Also if the cause of female foeticide is son-preference that can only be corrected if females are allowed to be educated properly. Without teachers in the schools - who are playing hookie - how can the problem be eradicated. Without doctors to take care of their health - children will die more - and thus wanna be parents would seek to have sons only - if they have to have ony two (as per govt orders and incentive schemes) - lest one of them dies. If like US or UK health systems were good - a start could be made in rural areas in India to have only two children - one of them being a girl.
 
So it is a vicious cycle - doctors and teachers don't do their job -- causing female foeticide.
 
 
 
Umesh
 
PS: Jihad's Arabaic root means "effort" see link above . thus efforts have to made to take care of the problem.


Himendra Thakur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Dear Umesh,
 
You accused me that “Himendra-da, Jihad -as understood by Muslims is an act of reform to cleanse the system- not of violence. I think you misinterpreted the meaning of Jihad.”
 
Please be aware of the fact that I did not “misinterpret” --- I understood the meaning of jihad as defined in THE AMERICAN DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE as “Jihad --- A Moslem holy war against infidels” . I did not describe what Jihad means, and I did not talk about any violence ---- that was NOT the topic of my letter. I only commented that, by coining the term "Jihad against doctors",  you committed a tremendous disservice to the doctors.
 
The main topic of my letter was to request the netters to discuss/find the root causes of “Son-Preference” that pushes people to go for selective female-feticide.
 
The Government enacted the PNDT law as a punishment against selective female feticide, but if the desire of “Son-Preference” was not eradicated from the mind of people, law alone would not stop selective female feticide, as per the opinion of the Supreme Court of India on October 10, 2003.
 
However, you have got to divert the issue to the meaning of the word Jihad. Now you are trying to divert the issue further by bringing up more discussions against doctors. I have noticed this unproductive tendency of diverting the issue before.
 
For example, I wrote about eradicating hereditary caste system, and some netters diverted the discussion into the definition of Hinduism --- whether it is Varnashrama Dharma, or Sanatana Dhama, etc., etc., and the main issue to eradicate hereditary caste system was lost in that imbroglio.
 
I once again request the netters to find/discuss the root cause of “Son-Preference” --- To get started, let me point to the following as the cause of “Son-Preference” :
 
(1) DOWRY: In the dowry infested areas of India, a son enriches the family by dowry money brought by his bride, whereas a daughter drains out the family who will have to pay a hefty dowry when she will be married. No wonder people prefer a son, and abort a female fetus. The number of female babies in the age group of 0-6 has fallen to a dangerously low level in these areas.
 
(2) FINAL RITES: Hindus have a wrongly perceived belief that only a son can do final rites at the cremation grounds.
 
(3) DYNASTY NAME: After marriage, a daughter must change her last name. For the continuation of the Dynasty Name, one must have a son.
 
(4) AGRICULTURAL WORK: In rural India, a farmer must have a son who will be able to control the bullocks while tilling the land.
 
There maybe more reasons. I urge the netters to think about all the possible reasons of “Son-Preference” and what can be done to eradicate this harmful attitude. Let us have a positive, result-oriented discussion.
 
With the best wishes,
Himendra
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, April 01, 2006 4:58 PM
Subject: Re: [Assam] Son-Preference: How to stop this attitude?

Pl. also see what great service majority of doctors in India are doing - by being absent for govt jobs (which pays them salary) and building up their privvate practice. I mentioned this link in an earlier post.
 
Himendra-da,
 
Jihad -as understood by Muslims is an act of reform to cleanse the system- not of violence. I think you misinterpreted the meaning of Jihad.
 
Umesh
 


Himendra Thakur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Dear Umesh,
 
We need medical doctors and psychologists to come forward with the solution of the problem. To use titles like "Jihad against doctors" is a great disservice to the cause. There are exceptions, but most of the doctors are wonderful people --- they save our lives. One must avoid stereotyping and insinuating people, which appears to be a widespread misbehaviour at the net.
 
However, I thank you for the link in the Internet about a medical doctor being punished under the PNDT Act for selective female feticide. I most sincerely congratulate Dr. B.S. Dahiya, Haryana's former Health Chief for his fight. If possible, please give me his telephone number so that I may talk with him and invite him to the "Eighth International Conference Against Dowry, Female Feticide & Son-Preference" to be held in Kanyakumari on December 27,28 & 29, 2006.
 
PNDT is a punitive law which cannot really stop the menace unless there is a "Change of Mind-Set" in the country as adjudicated by the Supreme Court of India on October 10, 2003.
 
To "Change the Mind-set", we must work at the root of the attitude called "Son-Preference". I request the netters to discuss about the causes of "Son-Preference" and the actions needed to reform this wrong notion.
 
With the best wishes,
Himendra
 
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 9:23 PM
Subject: [Assam] IE: Jihad against doctors in Haryana??

http://www.indianexpress.com/story/1501.html

Umesh Sharma
5121 Lackawanna ST
College Park, MD 20740

1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]

Ed.M. - International Education Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Harvard University,
Class of 2005
Win a BlackBerry device from O2 with Yahoo!. Enter now.



Umesh Sharma
5121 Lackawanna ST
College Park, MD 20740

1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]

Ed.M. - International Education Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Harvard University,
Class of 2005
Yahoo! Photos – NEW, now offering a quality print service from just 8p a photo._______________________________________________
assam mailing list
[email protected]
http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org



Umesh Sharma
5121 Lackawanna ST
College Park, MD 20740

1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]

Ed.M. - International Education Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Harvard University,
Class of 2005
To help you stay safe and secure online, we've developed the all new Yahoo! Security Centre.



Umesh Sharma
5121 Lackawanna ST
College Park, MD 20740

1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]

Ed.M. - International Education Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Harvard University,
Class of 2005

Yahoo! Messenger NEW - crystal clear PC to PC calling worldwide with voicemail

_______________________________________________
assam mailing list
[email protected]
http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
_______________________________________________
assam mailing list
[email protected]
http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org

Reply via email to