I. "Due to their efforts only we no more hear about sati." A. The BJP had also opposed the Commission of Sati (prevention) Act 1987 which made commission of sati and its glorification an offence. Several BJP leaders in Rajasthan had launched a campaign against the Act saying the Sati was a part of Rajput tradition and government should not interfere in it. They argued that a woman burning herself along with husband’s body is a ‘natural act’ of devotion. The then Congress government was initially reluctant to bring a law but had to do so under public pressure and the Act was passed despite opposition. The Act was brought after Roop Kanwar, an 18-year-old young girl in Deorala village of Rajasthan was burnt alive on the funeral pyre of her husband. Many, including a couple of BJP leaders, were booked for glorifying Sati. However, all were acquitted in 2004 because of lack of evidence.
(Excerpted from 'Tradition a mask for regressive ideology' at <http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Introspection/tradition-a-mask-for-regressive-ideology/>.) B. Many senior BJP/RSS leaders are PRO-Sati. Here is what went down in Rajsthan after the Deorala Sati incident in 1987....Vijayraje Scindia, widow herself and vice-president of the BJP, which sponsored the formation of the Dharam Raksha Samiti to defend sati, went on record to say that "sati formed a part of Hindu faith and no woman wishing to be sati could be deprived." (Excerpted from 'RSS, RSS-stooges and Sati' at <http://indiapulse.sulekha.com/forums/coffeehouse_rss-rss-stooges-and-sati>.) II. "And doing everything in its power to eliminate caste, gender, class discrimination." A. The book’s 5,000 copies were printed, but it wasn’t distributed because of the electoral code of conduct. Top PSU, Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation, was roped in to fund the book. And lo, I found something interesting, worth reporting. A colourful book carrying lovely photographs, on pages 48 and 49, ***Modi qualifies the Valmikis’ centuries-old caste-based vocation – of cleaning up others’ filth, including toilets – as “experience in spirituality”!*** [Emphasis added.] Modi says, “I do not believe that they have been doing this job just to sustain their livelihood. Had this been so, they would not have continued with this type of job generation after generation.” He adds, “At some point of time, somebody must have got the enlightenment that it is their (Valmikis’) duty to work for the happiness of the entire society and the Gods; that they have to do this job bestowed upon them by Gods; and that this job of cleaning up should continue as an internal spiritual activity for centuries. This should have continued generation after generation. It is impossible believe that their ancestors did not have the choice of adopting any other work or business.” (Excerpted from 'Modi’s spiritual potion to woo karmayogis' at <http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/true-lies/modi-s-spiritual-potion-to-woo-karmayogis/>.) B. Adityanath [now UP Chief Minister, and no less] made a case in the essay that women required protection and should not be allowed independence, as “it may lead to wastefulness or destruction of women”. “Shastras have talked about giving protection to women. Just like urja (energy) left free and unchecked causes destruction, women also don’t need independence, they need protection. Their energy should be channelised to be used productively,” Adityanath said in the article. Further, he added, “Stree shakti (women’s power) is protected by the father when a child, by the husband when an adult and by the son in old age.” He attributed certain qualities to both sexes that were exclusive to them and could not be exchanged. “If a man was to ever get the same attributes as women – that of humility, love and compassion – then he is equivalent to god. But if a woman adopts the qualities of men – that of bravery (shaurya) or masculinity (purusharth) – then she becomes a devil (rakshasa).” (Excerpted from 'Adityanath’s 2014 Article Equating Women With Demons Comes Back to Haunt Him' at <https://thewire.in/125708/adityanath-womens-rights-triple-talaq/>.) So much of pure nonsense! Sukla On 21/05/2017, sanjeev kulkarni [email protected] [issuesonline_worldwide] <[email protected]> wrote: > It is ridiculous to equate neo-Hinduism with anything islamic.Neo-Hinduism > is nothing but a reformist movement which aim to eradicate evil customs and > practices from the society.Due to their efforts only we no more hear about > sati. And doing everything in its power to eliminate caste, gender, > classdiscrimination. Of course thousands of years' old customs donot change > over night but the steps are taken in the right direction.Once the aim is > considered strengthening the society and makingit homogeneous by > eliminating all weaknesses and anything that comes in it's way, it is > comparatively easy to convince the soceityto change the evil customs and > practices. So neo Hinduismwhich seeks to develop scientific temper and get > rid of superstitionis to be welcomed and can never be equated with anything > Islamicwhich takes pride in not changing even a single word of their'divine > guidance' handed over to them 1400 years ago. It isfutile exercise just to > appear balanced. > Sanjeev > > From: "Sukla Sen [email protected] [issuesonline_worldwide]" > <[email protected]> > To: foil-l <[email protected]> > Sent: Sunday, 21 May 2017 11:14 AM > Subject: [issuesonline_worldwide] The Battle Lies Within: Neo-Islam, like > neo-Hinduism, is injurious to India’s pluralism > > [Muslims, one of the most deprived communities in 21st century India, > have been the most adversely impacted by communal politics in recent > years. The result of the UP Vidhan Sabha elections and subsequent > developments in the state have shaken the foundation of “inclusive > politics”; the state government has criminalised some traditional > occupations of the community. > ... > A deeper look into the problems reveals that traditionalists among > Muslims and neo-Islamists are also responsible for the community’s > social, economic and educational backwardness, and its adverse > reputation. Triple talaq, halala, an avoidance of appropriate mehr, > the usurpation of women’s property rights and the practice of female > circumcision among certain sections of the community are justified as > “belief”, though they run contrary to the concept of insaaf, justice > in Islam, and modernity. > ... > The neo-Islamists also emphasise religious and educational practices > that undermine male-female equality in the public sphere. These also > undermine progressive relationships between religion, politics and > economy, and between communities. The cultural imports have slowed — > even scuttled — reforms on women’s rights (including triple talaq) and > the modernisation of the traditions of the Muslim community. > Neo-Islam, like neo-Hinduism, is injurious to India’s pluralism.] > > http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/the-battle-lies-within-politics-muslim-community-neo-islamists-triple-talaq-halala-mehr-indias-pluralism-4664458/ > > The Battle Lies Within > Neo-Islam, like neo-Hinduism, is injurious to India’s pluralism > > Written by Abdul Shaban | Updated: May 20, 2017 11:38 am > > The neo-Islamists also emphasise religious and educational practices > that undermine male-female equality in the public sphere. > (Representational Image.) > > ***Muslims, one of the most deprived communities in 21st century > India, have been the most adversely impacted by communal politics in > recent years. The result of the UP Vidhan Sabha elections and > subsequent developments in the state have shaken the foundation of > “inclusive politics”; the state government has criminalised some > traditional occupations of the community.*** [Emphasis added.] > > Frustrated with such developments, many Muslims advocate that the > community take a sabbatical from electoral politics for some time, > make its identity in politics invisible, and concentrate on rebuilding > its progressive and developmental institutions. > > ***A deeper look into the problems reveals that traditionalists among > Muslims and neo-Islamists are also responsible for the community’s > social, economic and educational backwardness, and its adverse > reputation. Triple talaq, halala, an avoidance of appropriate mehr, > the usurpation of women’s property rights and the practice of female > circumcision among certain sections of the community are justified as > “belief”, though they run contrary to the concept of insaaf, justice > in Islam, and modernity.*** [Emphasis added.] > > The neo-Islamists have discovered a new form of Islam as a result of > contact with West Asia. Religio-cultural imports from West Asian > countries have considerably changed the cultural behaviour of Muslims. > Dresses like the naqab, hijab and afiah, alien to Indian Muslims till > a few decades ago, have become prevalent in the community in many > parts of the country. Some of these cause divisions between religious > communities and are inimical to the effective participation of women > in everyday social, political and economic activities. > > ***The neo-Islamists also emphasise religious and educational > practices that undermine male-female equality in the public sphere. > These also undermine progressive relationships between religion, > politics and economy, and between communities. The cultural imports > have slowed — even scuttled — reforms on women’s rights (including > triple talaq) and the modernisation of the traditions of the Muslim > community. Neo-Islam, like neo-Hinduism, is injurious to India’s > pluralism.*** [Emphasis added.] > > Although economic compulsions and availability, not choice, shape the > engagement of Muslims with educational institutions, the > traditionalists’ emphasis on Urdu and Urdu medium schools have led > them to ignore modern languages like English. A large share of Muslim > students get educated in Urdu or vernacular medium schools, which have > poor infrastructure and teachers of poor quality. > > Urdu is neither the first language of the state, nor the market, so > children educated in Urdu medium schools and madrasas add to > unskilled, casual and menial workers. Maharashtra, where about 46 per > cent of Muslim students are enrolled in such schools, is an example of > such backwardness. > > The drop-out rate among Muslims across states, after middle-level > education, is high. Only a very small proportion of students from the > community complete higher education, mainly from low-grade > universities and colleges. Most of these graduates are not able to > relate to modern economic sectors or to find gainful employment. > > The community’s elites have acted strategically to maintain their > class position by reinforcing obscurantism and encouraging neo-Islamic > practices. The community lacks modern schools and higher educational > institutions, especially in the social sciences, that can promote new > research and precipitate reforms. > > Significantly, the progressive elements from the community have been > at the receiving end of right-wing elements, both from within and > outside the community. Reformists and critics within have distanced > themselves from the community, which prefers sycophants who eulogise > obscurantist practices. The lack of space within the community for > reformists has forced some to join the parties and groups they had, > for a long time, blamed for being antithetical to communal harmony and > national unity. > > Interesting class divisions have emerged in so far as the expression > of religiosity in the community is concerned. The neo-rich perform Haj > multiple times and overspend on sacrificing animals, festivals and > marriages — all this, while the poor and lower classes struggle to > survive and face the brunt of Hindutva. The profligacies of the > neo-rich have immense social and economic opportunity costs for the > Muslim community, especially when it is in an adverse relationship > with prevailing political powers, and is being asked to respond to its > own problems. > > The writer is deputy director, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, > Tuljapur Campus. 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