Dear Mr. Jogesh Motwani, You publish the articles where the wrongdoers are Hindu. This sort of censorship by the local Hindu or local liguistic outfits are wrong and is against the freedom of speech. But when the same thing is done by Christian or Muslim outfits, you keep quiet, either because you agree with them or afraid of being critical of those outfits. One example agitation against Da Vinci Code by christian outfits, when the film was shown even without cuts in a largely catholic country like Philippines. Another example is the fatwa issued by Muslim organisations, when some prominent muslims took part in Hindu festivals. A rationalist like Dr. Karunanidhi will not hesitate to critisise Hindu religion as full of superstitions. But he will not dare critisise the birth of Jesus to mother Mary, a virgin or the reincaranation of Jesus Christ. So any micro terrorism, whether it is by Hindu oufits or Muslim oufits or Christian outfits are bad. So be neutral and do not show a partisan attitude in publishing the write-ups. Most probably, you will not publish this letter. Subra
Dear Subra Srinivasan, Bush is a Christian. I rest my case. And from your name, it's clear that you are a Tamil Iyengar brahmin, but since you are pretending to be neutral, the next time I criticise the non-hindus, I expect you to jump to their defence, citing all the other religions that also do wrong. Or is your defence always selective? Jogesh PS I like your point about Karunanidhi. 2008/9/22 Jogesh Motwani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > *Now, Micro Terrorists* > > *Who will protect us from the unlawful protectors of our 'native > cultures'?* > > *DILIP CHITRE* > > A SMALL NEWS item in Pune's Marathi newspaper, Sakal, profoundly disturbed > me. The headline of the story, dated September 13, 2008 read: *Censorship > by the VHP: Curtain on children's play before its performance, Woodland > Society's play on Jesus, objected to.* > > The story reported that the children of Woodland Co-operative Society, > Kothrud, Pune, had been rehearsing for four months, to present a play at > their Ganesh festival celebrations. At the last minute, it was abruptly > called off due to strong objections by the local Vishwa Hindu Parishad > (VHP). About 50 children were to take part in this production, presenting > the universal spiritual message of Jesus Christ. The previous year, the same > children had presented the universal message of Saint Jnanadev, the Marathi > poet-saint. The children don't understand why this year's play is being > withdrawn. The parents were persuaded by the police and the local municipal > councilor to call off the production, lest it might cause local unrest. > > Are we getting used to such extra-constitutional interventions in civil > life by the many senas, brigades, dals and assorted pseudo-political goon > outfits masquerading as moral policemen? > > The VHP, Bajrang Dal, Sambhaji Brigade, Shiv Sena, Maharashtra Navanirman > Sena and even smaller local 'armies' habitually take the law in their hands > and yet, the police just placates them. In fact, it persuades citizens to > succumb to their force and avoid a confrontation to help maintain peace and > order. The destructive power and guerilla tactics of these 'armies' is not > unknown to the government and the security agencies. People live in fear of > them. Even the media is scared to inflame their wrath and now accepts > invitations to televise their protests and agitations. Our democracy has > rapidly slid from downhill to rock bottom. > > For myopic political reasons, the state in India (both the Union and the > state government) goes soft on acts of domestic micro-terrorism. These > homegrown terrorists may not be infiltrators from enemy countries, sponsored > by enemy states or international terrorist organisations. They may not > explode bombs or shoot civilians at random. But what they do, time and > again, without fear of the law, is to subvert the Constitution of the > country by depriving the silent majority of civilians of their liberty. > > Recently, Raj Thackeray, self-appointed spokesperson for the 'Marathi > manoos' challenged an Assistant Commissioner of the Mumbai Police to step > down from his chair and go out to the streets of Mumbai to learn, *'Mumbai > ka baap kaun hai?'* The message was clear: 'Only your uniform protects you > from us. We own and rule Mumbai.' > > This asserts that Raj Thackeray and the likes of him, whatever political or > communal faction they belong to, are above the law of the land. Ordinary > citizens have to suffer them because the government and the judiciary prefer > to turn the other way when such self-styled protectors of 'native culture' > tell them who's boss. > > In the 60 years since we proclaimed ourselves a republic, we have only > fabricated a grand facade of democracy, whereas real democratic values have > not yet taken root. Police codes and procedures remain virtually the same as > they were during the British Raj when ordinary people were subjects, rather > than citizens. The bureaucracy shows no inclination to be transparent and > citizen-friendly. Politicians are sworn in to hold the Constitution supreme > but do exactly otherwise. The gap between the rich and the poor is widening > and helping to increase the number of frustrated lumpen youth willing to > join a spectrum of senas, dals and other anti-constitutional activist > 'movements'. Violent demonstrations are the order of the day and citizens > can do no more than read about them in the papers or watch them on > television. The legitimisation of violent disruption of civil order, and the > glorification of its openly defiant leaders, are crimes committed by a > passive government and an overenthusiastic media. > > A proactive judiciary is only part of a possible answer. The real answer > lies with citizens who allow themselves to be misled by communal and > religious propaganda and appeals to uphold a narrow 'pride' of religion, > native history and communal culture above the Republic of India and its > broad, secular and democratic spirit. > > *(**Dilip Chitre** is a Marathi/English writer, painter and filmmaker)* > > *From Tehelka Magazine, Vol 5, Issue 38, Dated Sept 27, 2008* > > > -- > Jogesh > > Peena haraam hai na pilana haraam hai > peenay ke baad hosh mein aana haraam hai > > >
