The beginning…
A friend asked me a few days ago why did I start this and what triggered the idea?
The first was rage and the feeling of deep frustration and helplessness that was triggered by the failed attempt on our Parliament in Dec 2001. The plan failed but the audacity was breathtaking. As expected, the government promptly condemned Pak-sponsored terrorism but did not feel potent enough to do anything about it – and this was the BJP government with Shri Advani (aka “the hardliner”) in power at the Centre. See e.g., “India-Pakistan tensions rise following Parliament Attack”.
In spite of having photographic evidence of terrorist camps across the border (which we rarely miss a chance to tell the world about, (e.g. India gives ultimatum to Pakistan to dismantle “terrorist camps”, and “Terrorist camps thriving“), the government lacked the guts to tackle the problem head on.
Just three months before that, we had watched with awe and fascination, US forces bomb remote areas of Afghanistan within days of Sept 2001 and without waiting for any explicit �permission� from any higher authority.
This was something that I could not comprehend.3000 people die and a “superpower” declares war. We had many times over that number killed in J&K alone (more than 30,000 in a decade, according to a report in CNN) and yet we still did not have the political will to take action.
Three and a half years on, other than the terrorists who were shot, only two people have been indicted in the attack. Two others have been acquitted due to the absence of concrete and unimpeachable evidence.This was the deep frustration and helplessness.
Today there is also rage.
The second incident that really shocked me to the core was the Beslan massacre . It was, in a way, the last straw.
I became convinced that we were fighting an enemy so deadly and so ruthless that our whole value system and the fundamental principles of humanity were at stake. Beslan shook me to the core – and I decided we have to fight, each one of us, in our own little way -Â but fight we must.
For the enemy will not rest – and what is at stake is not Chechenya or Kashmir or Afghanistan or the West -Â it is the entire world, the entire humanity – the idea that life must be held sacred, the idea of tolerance, that people are different and diversity should not be tolerated but accepted, respected even, and celebrated – this was at stake – and unless we fight, it would be lost.
Everything that we had learnt over the last thousands of years, all the progress that had been made, all the expressions of beautiful ancient cultures, in India, China and elsewhere, the art and architecture that flowered during the Renaissance, our collective cultural heritage, the symbols of modern technological progress – all of this would become hostage to these mad zealots.This was the impulse that led me to strongly feel that something must be done. The time for transient expression of frustration and anger was past.
And what could be better than to begin by understanding – to learn and to comprehend – what kind of ideology breeds this madness? How does it spread and what nurtures it? How could this bigotry thrive in a society that has given birth to a Gandhi and how ironic that one of its most horrendous expression of hatred should be in the country of Martin Luther King?
Some of you may think I am a Hindu fascist or, if you are feeling charitable, a neo-conservative. I am neither. I would like to think of myself as a liberal who is prepared to fight to defend his ideals, his beliefs and his principles.
And these include the belief in some core principles e.g. country above self and patriotism before one’s own needs. And it includes pride in being a Hindu, pride in belonging to an ancient culture that has given the world not just numbers, language and a great religion, but that has produced some of the most profound philosophical thoughts known to mankind.
And about the culture and religion, I can hardly talk enough. “Hindu Dharma” – the oldest surviving major religion in the world today – and the only one that gives you the choice, the freedom and the luxury of beliefs that is un-afforded in any other extant set of beliefs which has, as one of its core tenets, the one-ness of all life – which professes that in spite of diversity and external dissimilarity, all beings are one, all life is sacred and all creatures are part of one eternal truth – the “Brahman”.
A religion and culture that had articulated, defined the concepts of tolerance and mutual respect even as most of mankind was still deep in the hinterlands of cultural and spiritual enlightenment.
So I am proud, very proud to be a Hindu and I felt it was time, also, to begin learning more about it, about examining how it can be made more relevant to the world today and how can we create a unifying ideology based in its fundamental tenets.
All these strands have come together in a blog that I have simply called “Hindu Dharma” – it includes my thoughts and essays on topics as wide ranging from al-Qaeda to the essence of “Hindu-ism”. It is dedicated to my country, “matrubhoomi” – Bharat, and to my religion, culture and way of life – “Hindu-ism”.
If this has set you thinking, I will feel very satisfied and proud. Proud that I have been able to at least stir someone somewhere. I do not expect much of anyone reading this – but if we could all, in our own little ways, make the world aware of the dangers being posed by a violent and extremist ideology, it would be a big step forward.
And to my fellow countrymen, Indians – who may be reading this, I would beg you to think, to become aware of the challenge that we face and say to you (as Shri Krishna said to Arjun when he was hesitant going into battle with the Kauravas):
Cast off this petty faint heartedness and wake up!
Touch someone, somewhere – please try and make a difference.
This is the time when inaction is not an option and indifference will be suicidal.
Jai Hind…
*****
This site is inspired by the national motto of India: “Satyameva Jayate” (literally, “Truth Alone Triumphs“).
The phrase occurs in a mantra in the Mundaka Upanishad. See this post for more: Source of “Satyameva-Jayate”
Please also read: 3 yrs, 300 posts, 900 comments
I can relate to this.
I had felt similar frustration and helplessness in the aftermath of the parliament attack. As a proud Hindu and a even
more staunch believer of Sanatana Dharma, I congratulate you in your efforts and wish you great luck.
No more is it Bharat and I wish there was no Dharma
Pareen: Not sure what you mean but “Bharat” is (still) the official name of India – especially for all the non-angrezi speaking people.
As for your comment on “Dharma” – you are probably confusing it with “religion”.
Please read this post to understand the true context of the word:
https://satyameva-jayate.org/2005/11/14/excerpts-from-word-as-a-weapon/
thank you shantanu.
we hindus have to strike hard and and strike to win. no half way solution.
these christian evengilists should be treated as invaders and thrown out or shot. this should be a permanent solution.
sadly, this is the duty of the country to protect its security but with sonia gandhi, a chrisitian ruling us, no chance. she is in a hurry to make india christian
i am shocked that one billion hindus have come under her rule. now it isthe turn of italians to rule us.
this is our history. a few muslims could rule witht he help of hindus, a few british, could rule us with the help of hindus.
Came across this excerpt from Atanu Dey’s recent article, “Exporting Islam“. It struck a chord:
“To oppose those who actively seek your destruction is an eminently reasonable position to me. Islam in India came as the ideology of conquerors and even now India is an unfinished business for the forces of Islam. I value my cultural heritage and I don’t care how the pseudo-secular brigade wants to wipe it out but I will defend it with all that I have. I am willing to live and let live but I will oppose as a moral duty—my dharma—any attempt at the Islamization of my land…”
Pl. read in the context of what I have written above.
Nice writeup. I think there are lots of people who feel angry about the raw treatment meted out to people who practice the Sanathana Dharma. And the kind of spineles and castrated political leadership that exists in the country. Good luck to your efforts. I think somewhere down the line soner rather than later the majority of people are going to stand up and say I too feel the same. BTW there is this nice site called esamskriti. If u can please visit it. even better if you can provide a link.
regards,
Anoop: Thanks for your kind words and encouragement.
I will have a look at esamskriti.
Hope to see more of you here on this blog.
Interesting Shantanu!
I like your drive and zeal,moreso the need to stick to the roots of the country.
Altho’ dont you feel that this identity that we are trying to hold onto ‘hindu-dharma’ is what is building walls not allowing us to exchange love and live in a global-eccumenical world?
Leena: Thanks for your comment.
I do believe that in its truest sense, the concept of “Dharma” in Hinduism is very inclusive, very open and respectful of other beliefs and values…
In that sense, it will help us in our quest for global peace and harmony – rather than building walls – which of course is counter-productive.
Do read this article whenever you have some time:
“India as A Role Model for Global Peace and Prosperity” https://satyameva-jayate.org/2007/02/10/india-role-model-for-world/
Dear Sir,
Great reading. You have put into action what other people wish to . Even I felt impotent rage at what has happened to my country and my countrymen and I did not know how and where to begin. Thanks for giving me an opening to express my thoughts.
A beginning has been made and we should put our shoulders to it to see that all that has happened over a thousand years shall never be repeated again.
The following of Sanatana Dharma will actually actualise our thinking and it will no way prevent us from being a global! Let me assure you, speaking for myself ,that living what our Dharma states will lead us to be more aware of what we have in this world and learn to live with it beautifully.
If not for the Dharma of this land the “Parsees” who ran away from their land fearing persecution will not have had a place to live in and we would not have the TATA’s, the Wadia’s and other great legendary Indians today.
If not for the “Dharma” of this land we would not have had Thomas being permitted to talk of a thought process that was totally alien to the way of thinking in this land.
How much “Global” an a country be?
I will try to continue on my thought process later.
Regards,
vck
Thank you vck – for your encouragement and support.
Dear Shantanu:
I noted your following comments under the heading Arunachal – Sleepwalking into a disaster
[One of my objectives when I started this blog was to make myself and others better informed and aware about matters of national importance and urgency…
But when I see things like these being sidelined by mainstream media, it is hard to continue being an optimist….
As Nandan said in another comment: “Optimism is a good thing. But straightening the dog’s tail and ensuring that it remains so do not appear to me as goals which could be attained easily by mere optimism.”
Sigh.]
It is really a bummer being exposed to the kind of news that we see everyday. It is even more exasperating to be forced to put up with the tripe and wisecracks of our leaders many of who would be of better service to the nation from behind bars than from inside the Assembly halls.
I would be the last person who wants you to turn away from your stated objective. The sentence which you have quoted above was not just an expression of my frustration at the woeful lack of loyalty and a sense of honour in the nation’s heritage among our leaders, but also an understated articulation of distress deep within my heart that more needs to be done, not individually but collectively. The power of franchise, if effectively used, is a powerful tool in the hands of the discerning public.
To be able to achieve this goal, we need more committed people of your kind to help the common man glean the grain from the chaff. Truth needs to be blazoned over the walls all over the town so as to give it a chance to be noticed. Have you not seen the missionaries and their undying spirit? We must vow to disseminate truth with similar evangelical fervour.
Please accept my best wishes for success in all your patriotic endeavours.
Nandan: Don’t worry…I did not take your comment in a negative way…
You just expressed and articulated the frustration and despair that we all sometimes feel…
I am forever grateful for the support and encouragment that you and other readers of this blog have constantly given me…
At times, when the cause looks all but lost, this is what gives me strength to carry on …and in many ways, the journey has barely begun…I see this as the first phase of years of struggle…
As you said, we need more committed people – I am certain there are others who write a lot better than me and who are equally, if not more passionate about these issues…we need them to come forward, share their ideas and spread the word…
This is not a one-man job..It can never be. United we stand and divided we will fall…
Thank you, as always, for sharing your thoughts.
Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.
Dear Sir,
It is very apparent that the seculars are on the backkfoot and seeking a place to regroup to continue with their nefarious activities.
The number of blogspots willing to go deeper into the history of India, the weaknesses of the exisisting society, the non acceptance of certain dogmas prescribed by the western educated foot lickers, the willigness for the Indian educated masses to accept that talking in their native language, wearing ethnic dresses, celeberating festivals with gusto, acceptance that going to temples is a way of life and not a weakness, speaks well for your goals.
I am sure with the continous denting of the confidence levels of the Christian Educated Intellectual and his cohorts and his media there will be a breakthrough. It is an uphill task, but the ball has been set rolling and we should as Indians should not leave the agenda unfinished.
I would like to end my comment with the following words of Eric Allenbaugh ” If you don’t take charge of shaping your own destiny, others will apply their agenda to you”.
Regards, and wish you all the best once again,
vck
*** COMMENT MOVED HERE by MODERATOR ***
Hi Shantanu,
I am really enthralled and feel extremely happy that people like you have started out on this mission to enlighten Hindus of India. I was a typical Secular stooge as conceived and designed by CONGRESS and COMMUNISTs controlled education system in India. Everything changed the day I visited Delhi in December 2004. My visit to Qutub-Minar and subsequently to Mathura made a completely different man in less than a year after the visit. I saw the destruction heaped on my Culture by Arabs/Mughals. However I was incited not merely by their act but the treachery and the deception heaped on me by Congress and Communists. They have systematically denied my pride and robbed me off my source of inspiration and encouragement.
November and December of 2007 leading up to Gujarat elections became the last nail in the coffin of Sickularism.
Since then I have started blogging and leaving my comments wherever I could find men/women like you. I think it is time we mobilise opinion and prepare something that could change our country. I have always been a lover of my country and its tradition. I am proud of its history and contribution to the world. I am more proud of its wonderful concept of Sanatana Dharama.
I wish you all the very best .I have discovered several people like in the last 3 months. Please keep up the good work. We have a long fight against Sickular media and folks in our country. First mission is to throw this Italian missionary out of power and ensure every self-respecting Indian takes a stand against this dynastic misrule dished out to Indians.
Shanth…
Brother Shantanu,
May Peace and blessing of Almighty creator be upon you.
First off all I would like to congratulate you for being active citizen.
Today people are not bothered about even if our neighbor is hungry and in need of food, which is a sign for dead person.
Do you know that our country is becoming slave of capitalist countries/individuals.? And sooner or later whether you and I support BJP or Congress, we all are going to loose our freedom.
Have you ever pondered on who am I ?
Who created me? What is the purpose behind my existence? What is life after death? What our religious scriptures teach us?
I will be happy to receive individual emails from you.
Brother, I would like you and me and many others to work together and try to bring just systems in the world.
With warm Regards,
Ahmed
It does sometime seem that India’s secularists are only a front for Islamists in India. Others have tried jumping on their bandwagon in the hope of getting some power but have found their questionable values self-defeating and opted out e.g. Dalits
That leaves the Indian citizen who is truly secular and just wants to go about his daily life with no other options than a BJP as shown in many of the State elections
Shanth, Ahmed and Hrishi: Thanks for your comments.
***
@ Shanth: I am glad that you liked the blog…Do spread the word and I hope to see you here more often…
***
@ Ahmed: Thank you for your kind words…
As for your questions re. “Have you ever pondered on who am I ? Who created me? What is the purpose behind my existence? What is life after death? What our religious scriptures teach us?”
the simple answer is “yes”, I do think about these things…and a great source of learning (I believe) on these matters are the Vedas and the Upanishads…
Re. your offer: “I will be happy to receive individual emails from you.”
I would strongly prefer you discuss your views here – so that others can benefit too – and it is only through discussion and debate that the “truth” can emerge..
***
@ Hrishi: “Secularism” in India is a joke…It has become, at best, a lazy label for the intellectually pretentious…at worst, it is a convenient tool to shut up others with whom you may not agree…
Anyways, welcome to this blog and I hope to see more of you here…
Udoyer pawthe shuni kaar banee bhoy nai
orey bhoy nai,
Nihsheshey praan jey koribey daan khhoy nai
tar khhoy nai – Rabindranath.
“Whose voice do we hear coming from the sunrise,
Saying to us `Fear not! Fear not’!
There is no death for him who will lay down his life.”
we the indians,never bowed our head to anybody-we have great people power-the unversal love of humanity-the wide heart to absorb even our enemies.who came to conquer us-but become conquired.
DIBE AR NIBE MULABE MILIBE-JABENA PHIRE.
AEI BHARATER MAHAMANVER SGARA TIRE.
do not worry,we have atom bombs,we have defence.we have internal enemies as well as external.
All we have to be – VIGILLENT.
and we have to wake up to the call of our sarathi-UTTISHTHA PARANTAPA.
just lift your bow and fight-my dear arjuna.
we have our motto – “SATTYA MEVA JAYATE”
Dear Shantanu,
You have a wonderful blog. Please keep up the good work.
If possible, please add the following two links to your website:
1) http://www.BengalGenocide.com
2) The new website of FACT USA’s online exhibits on Kashmir and Bengal (as the old one with .com does not work)
: http://www.factusa.info
3) Online Book: “My People Uprooted: A Saga of the Hindus of Eastern Bengal” by Tathagata Roy:
http://bengalvoice.blogspot.com
4) Faith Freedom International: http://www.faithfreedom.org
Thanks,
Tejas
@ Tapas: Thanks for the couplet…
***
@ Dear Tejas, Thanks for the kind words and the links…I will have a look…(FactUSA is already on my blogroll links)
I am reproducing below a brief exchange of comments which will help many of you to understand why I started this effort:
*** COMMENT by CONSCIENCE MATTERS ***
Shantanu,
I honestly think that you should do a lot of introspection as to what you really want to achieve through this blog site of yours (Satyameva Jayate). Be ruthlessly honest and sincere with yourself.
Is your objective really to improve things, relationships, atmosphere in a constructive way around the people in India (which for sure I fail to see how through any, yes any, of your blogposts)?
However one thing that VERY CLEARLY stands out in all your Posts as well as your Comments is that they mostly help only to create rift, disharmony and issues.
You deliberately create issues where there are none. You don’t encourage love and forgiveness, instead you justify revenge and hate. You only write things that kind of defends and justifies the wrongs of some.
Aren’t such posts only destructive in nature? Are they not fomenting hate and creating only ill feelings one against the other.
I don’t want to judge you, but can’t help being tempted very strongly to believe that this is exactly what you want through this Blog site.
*** MY RESPONSE ***
@ Conscience: You came late to the party (in a figurative sense) so let me share with you why I started this effort…
I started the blog to understand a bit about Hinduism, about Indian culture, religion, history and politics. All of these are contentious issues and have no easy answers…
So one has two choices: Not to ask the hard questions and pretend everything is hunky-dory…or ask the hard questions and try and find the answers through discussion and debate..
To some this activity might look an utter waste of time…to others, it may look like a deliberate attempt to “create rift, disharmony and issues.â€
I dont think it is worthless and I certainly don’t do this to create trouble (unless you consider seeking truth as leading to trouble)
But we as a society cannot progress unless we understand each other…and to understand each other, one does – at least occassionally – have to ask hard questions…and a sign of maturity is to address those hard questions without descending to the level of gutter-politics. Would you disagree with that?
Trying to ask hard questions may not appear to be “constructive†but only to those who are afraid of what they might unearth…I am not afraid of the “truth†– however unsettling it might be….which is why for example, I do not hesitate for a moment to admit that the way Hinduism is interpreted and practiced leaves much to be desired…
But in any case why should the “truth†scare or upset people? Why should a discussion about Taj Mahal and its history sour things and create hatred?
Why should a discussion about Jamia Nagar anger make someone angry? and why should an attempt at understanding aggressive Christian evangelism in India create “rift�
“Conscienceâ€: The “riftâ€, “disharmony†and “issues†that you talk about are already there…I did not create them…and I don’t want to pretend that they don’t exist…
I dont have to write this blog…I have a family and a job and enough other occupations to keep me busy…but somewhere deep inside, it troubles me that people do not want to ask questions and/or discuss “issues†openly…
I strongly feel an open discussion and freedom to air discordant views is your best guarantee against deep social divisions, alienation and social unrest…
But you don’t have to agree with any of this…
I respect your right to disagree…Likewise, I expect you to respect my right to express my opinions freely…You of course have a choice of not reading this blog or the comments.
Finally, here is a list of my last 15 posts….Please help me understand how they have helped “create rift, disharmony and issues†or how they are “fomenting hate and creating…ill feelings one against the otherâ€
*** Last 15 Posts ***
What is stopping you from joining active politics?
“Biharnomics†Examined
“Three Hundred Ramayanas†& “The Jewel of Medinaâ€
The amazing story of pointReturn
The painless way to build a 125×125 banner ad
W’end Reading: Truth about Gujarat, Contacting Voters & an Unusual Call-Centre
Jamia Nagar: A dangerous cocktail…
Excerpts from “Art of Warâ€
Are politicians irrelevant in the post-modern era?
Alaskonomics and Bihar – Part I
This is how China treats its religious minorities
A tribute to Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma
Why are Christian Missionaries targeting India – III
Comment moderation policy relaxed
The “right†and the “left†– Shaping the debate
Hello Shantanu,
I am impressed at the groundswell of support that you have received for your thoughts and ideas. As you and many others, I have been tormented by a sense of impotent rage when I read about the all round attacks on Sanatana Dharma, from various quarters – fanatical Islam, evangelical Christianity, communism and the vote-hungry politicians. Yes, it is time we stand up for our faith NOW, else it would be too late. ‘Dharmo raskhati rakshitaha’ – Dharma protects those who protect Dharma.
Your blog provides a great platform for discussing the issues, coming up with ideas, and laying out the plan of action. It is heartening to note that like-minded people/organizations are joining the bandwagon, and enriching the blog with their perspectives.
This is indeed a great beginning and I would love to be part of this process. Over the years, I have come up with some ideas, and I would also like to run them by this group.
Let me share an article entitled ‘ 6000 muftis to slap fatwa against terror’ – an encouraging news amidst the gloom!
http://www.telegraphindia.com//1081104/jsp/nation/story_10060020.jsp
@ Parmesh: Thanks for your comment and you are always welcome to share your thoughts and ideas here…
I will look forward to hearing more details from you and will also have a look at the link you have referred to above…
It indeed feels very encouraging.
YOu have expressed the voices of many indians who were puzzled at why deadly bomb blasts happens but nothing came out of investigation..
Great that you have started this site, and wishing you more success to bring out the truth..
This excerpt from a recent speech by John Howard (PM of Australia) is particularly apt with reference to one of the paragraphs* I wrote above:
* This is the paragraph I am refering to:
Shantanu, when you use the term “liberal” you may want to qualify it. There’s classic liberal (Europe) which is the same as “libertarian” in the US. And for the US “liberal” – I don’t know what the equivalent term in Europe is. This has the potential to cause confusion among those who don’t know the difference.
@ Kaffir: well spotted and thanks for alerting me to the potential for confusion…
My understanding of a “liberal” is closer to the European tradition than as is (mis-)understood in the US (or sometimes even in India).
For all those who are severely perturbed by the above mentioned incidences:
Start your blogs and your websites.
Publicize the issues and the causes to many e-activists as you can.
Sign and initiate online petitions criticizing these kind of incidences.
Try to raise an army of e-warriors that will destroy e-enemies and e-terrorists.
:)) Sounds like a video game.
Debate without real action is like intellectual masturbation – you enjoy it but it does not yield any useful product.
Happy Blogging
Ranjan Shah
Debate without real action is like intellectual masturbation – you enjoy it but it does not yield any useful product.
And taking knee-jerk actions without discussing, debating and understanding the issues properly – a pre-requisite for coming up with pragmatic solutions – is nothing but stupidity that yields unending cycles of suffering. As they say, fools rush in…
BTW, how did you deduce that the people discussing issues here are not taking any meaningful actions in their lives? You must be blessed with divya drishti. 😉
So I am proud, very proud to be a Hindu�and I felt it was time, also, to begin learning more about it, about examining how it can be made more relevant to the world today and how can we create a unifying ideology based in its fundamental tenets.
I share the same feelings you expressed in your blog.
Voltaire Francois Marie Arouet (1694-1774) France’s greatest writer and philosopher wrote:
“I am convinced that everything has come down to us from the banks of the Ganges, – astronomy, astrology, metempsychosis, etc.” ” It is very important to note that some 2,500 years ago at the least Pythagoras went from Samos to the Ganges to learn geometry…But he would certainly not have undertaken such a strange journey had the reputation of the Brahmins’ science not been long established in Europe…”
Friedrich von Schlegel (1772-1829) German philosopher, critic, and writer, declared in 1803:
“Everything without exception is of Indian origin…†“Whether directly or indirectly, all nations are originally nothing but Indian colonies.”http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-lzaXqyA_abWzgBjxq1ftMTp3RQ–?cq=1&p=105
Yes I am indeed very proud to be Indian.
So, you guys are proud of an “accident” of birth?
Strange.
@Patriot, Do you see anywhere anyone mentioning ‘born as hindu’, i could only see ‘being hindu’.
Are you sure, Is it so ‘strange’ to feel proud on an accidental incident?
Wouldn’t you be proud of your ‘accidental’ parents if you find them good people compared to your neighbours?
Wouldn’t you be proud of your ‘accidental’ school if it turned out be producting great people and top scorers?
Wouldn’t you be proud to be born in a land of great leaders, accidentally?
mm. Strange it is..
“Do you see anywhere anyone mentioning ‘born as hindu’, i could only see ‘being hindu’.”
Ummm, is it your hypothesis that these folks are converted hindus, eh? I went by the hypothesis that they were born into hinduism …. as other posters on this blog who have converted have said as much.
It is surely strange to be PROUD of something you did not control or could not decide or did not do yourself …. that is how cults are born …. and i do hold various alumni groups to be such cults!
Indeed, humans are a strange lot.
You did not answer the questions in #34.
“is it your hypothesis that these folks are converted hindus” – Its strange that you think one can ‘be’ something only if they ‘convert’. Is this your hypothesis eh?
And you didn’t answer other questions. Strange in deed..
@ Nanda –
what were your specific questions that I did not answer? I thought that I did answer them.
““is it your hypothesis that these folks are converted hindus†– Its strange that you think one can ‘be’ something only if they ‘convert’. Is this your hypothesis eh?”
Sorry, what are you on about? Why try to insinuate something which I did not say?
@ Nanda –
Did you mean this stuff –
“Wouldn’t you be proud of your ‘accidental’ parents if you find them good people compared to your neighbours?
Wouldn’t you be proud of your ‘accidental’ school if it turned out be producting great people and top scorers?
Wouldn’t you be proud to be born in a land of great leaders, accidentally?”
Actually, if you have not contributed in any way to any of the above stuff, then it is all reflected glory – and, a matter of chance, probability.
It is akin to a rich man’s son putting on airs and trying to throw his weight around, because his father is rich, although he has contributed not one paisa to the creation of that wealth.
So, be proud if you wish to be.
I find such (misplaced) pride irrational and a cause of wars.
@ Nanda –
Let us take your questions again from a different angle –
““Wouldn’t you be proud of your ‘accidental’ parents if you find them good people compared to your neighbours?”
Yes, but only if I have imbibed of this goodness and they have taught me this goodness.
“Wouldn’t you be proud of your ‘accidental’ school if it turned out be producting great people and top scorers?”
Yes, if they also teach me to be great (whatever that mean, but that is another topic). And top scorer????? hahahahahahahahahahaahahahahaha! No.
“Wouldn’t you be proud to be born in a land of great leaders, accidentally?”
Yes, if that nation practices its greatness today, instead of leaning on a history that is long dead and gone and of little use to people starving in the same “great” nation.
And, more importantly, if that nation provides an environment TODAY where the least of its people can live a productive life.
@Nanda –
BTW, I am curious, why do you not live in the nation that you are so proud of?
Thanks
Stumbled across this article by Dr Walid Phares Beslan: Jihadism against Children Must Trigger Global Response. Reminded me of one of the reasons I had started this blog.
Excerpts from his post:
..Five years after the massacre of Russian children in Beslan at the hands of “Caucuses Jihadists” (Jihadiyu al Qafqaz), this attack is still catalogued as the lowest form of Salafi Jihadi Terror on civilian population.
…Wars have always had inhuman results, no matter what is the scale. Since the early 20th century, terrorism has perpetrated mass killing of innocents, condemned by all moral values. Salafi jihadism in particular has produced extreme scales of bloodshed against civilians, comparing with the monstrosity of totalitarian regimes under Hitler or Pol Pot, among others.
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union and throughout the 1990s, Salafi terror groups operating from the Philippines to Algeria have butchered families, students, journalists, elderly, and the weakest elements of civil society.
Children, too, have been murdered during these ghazwas (jihadi raids). In the post 9/11 era, al-Qaida, the Taliban, Indonesia’ Jemaa, the Janjaweed in Darfur, and the Shabab of Somalia, among others, have bombed and slaughtered kids. The al-Muhayya bombing in Saudi Arabia, the Amman bloody wedding, and the Baghdad’s surreal infanticides are only examples as to how Salafi jihadists and Khomeinist operatives have gone in their devastation of children’s lives.
Obviously, the young souls lost in New York, Madrid, and London testifies to the universality of jihadi terror. The latter’s ideologues do not exclude children from their operations, regardless of any consideration: The “caliphate†can be built on the skulls of all enemies, Muslims and non Muslim alike. But five years ago in Beslan, the zombies of jihadism took the Caucuses’ population to an unreached low.
Not only did the so-called “separatists†target specifically a school in the Russian town of Beslan, but they built their tactical goals on causing pain to the kids and their parents. We now know the details of the operation and have seen the atrocious pictures of boys and girls laying dead or being whisked out from the premises covered in blood.
…Beslan’s killings have something peculiar in its horror: a calculated will to display the scenery of captured children via media all over the world: The Jihadi Kamikazes were proud of doing it. For whatever the “Chechen cause†is, and regardless of the political debate surrounding it, Beslan’s savage “intention†shattered any demands the armed terrorists were allegedly advancing.
…The real message from that tragic episode, at least the one that has registered in Russia and around the world, is that jihadi terrorism has no moral bounders.
…Mumbai’s urban jihad alerted citizens across the planet that it can happen in any city. But Beslan’s butchery awoke basic instincts of parents: it can happen in any neighborhood, any school.
I am reproducing below a brief exchange of views, along the lines of comment # 23 above.
This was prompted by the following observations of “factcheck” to which I responded.
*** COMMENT by FACTCHECK ***
In all this concern about Muslims becoming radicalized, have you realized that you folks have become extremely radicalized yourself?!- and unmentionable in polite conversation. I am sure all of you have a laundry list of justifications for why you have become thus. Just check with the jihadis, they have a similar list of deeply held grievances too. And in your propaganda, both of your class use the same tools- generalization, paranoia of the mainstream, conspiracy theories about media, etc. FYI, there are a ton of mind-control weirdos out there too. And btw, nothing Dharma about what you are doing….regds
So Shantanu, I am astounded as I read more about you on your website. So you are ex-IFS, and have lived and worked in the liberal West, yet you post and give others the opportunity to post as if you are a fringe hate group?
You blame the incompetent Indian media- do you think the UK media will allow you to generalize about groups as you freely do?
I am saddened that your apparent epiphany did not reveal this great truth- that hate and divisiveness is never productive, that it will seduce you with its apparent logic. How do you distinguish yourself from the base divisive passions of the jihadi? And then you call your website satyameva-jayate! What did they say about this being kali-yuga…feel free to delete my posts..regds
*** MY RESPONSE ***
@ factcheck: I have not seen you here before, so welcome.
I will briefly address your comments…and I do hope you respond…
1] “you folks have become extremely radicalized yourself?!- and unmentionable in polite conversation“. Can you pl. help me understand just how a discussion such as above is an indication of “radicalization”? Or did I miss something?
I am aware that a lot (probably most!) of what I write is unmentionable in polite conversations…That is a choice others have made – not me. I have no idea where you are based or where have you lived/grown-up in India. But the portents in India are ominous. You can choose to discuss these issues – or have a polite conversation about the weather. I have made my choice.
“…generalization, paranoia of the mainstream, conspiracy theories about media“. Specifics please.
“…And btw, nothing Dharma about what you are doing…” Can you please share what is your understanding of “Dharma” – so we can discuss whether this is “dharmic” or not?
“You blame the incompetent Indian media- do you think the UK media will allow you to generalize about groups as you freely do?” My concern is not so much with the Indian (or UK) media – as it is with issues that are likely to shape developments in India over the coming decades.
“…hate and divisiveness is never productive” – I agree. But you cannot paper over fundamental differences in values under the guise of maintaining “unity” and “harmony”. One can choose to be blind about these things but that does not make them go away.
“…feel free to delete my posts..” – Nice try! If you had spent some more time on the website you would have realised that I don’t delete comments just because they are critical of me – or my approach.
If you are really serious and concerned about the direction this site is taking, I hope you will engage in a debate and a conversation – and suggest alternative approaches to dealing with some of the issues I address…rather than making sweeping generalisations.
Pl. note the last few lines of the post above…I will repeat them below: “Where is the debate on these trends? Where is the discussion? Where is the analysis?”
Welcome to the debate.
P.S. And finally, a request: if you do not wish to share your email address on this site, pl. type satyacomment AT gmail.com in the email address field. Otherwise your comment is likely to get stuck in the moderation queue. Thanks.