THE KASHMIR CONFLICT - BATTLE OVER LAND, WAR OVER IDEOLOGIES

THE KASHMIR CONFLICT – BATTLE OVER LAND, WAR OVER IDEOLOGIES

The Kashmir Problem, which remains the chief defining condition for the start of any peace negotiations, between the two Nuclear Neighbours - India and Pakistan is not merely a battle over a part of land, which each of the countries claim to be their’s. But more importantly, it represents a bilateral conflict, where the very foundational central themes on which the existence of the two nations is based, are at loggerheads with each other, representing one of the most complex and largest ethno-religio-communal divide and hostilities on the planet.

Kashmir, the veritable Paradise on Earth, is going through a hellish state of affairs. The land is presently the battleground between the two giant nations – India and Pakistan. The two countries were once upon a time one nation, or let us say more accurately, were a single political entity under the dominion of The Great British Empire. The hostilities between the two nations is basically the fallout of the rivalry and competitiveness between the two broad and major religious communities residing in this region known as The Indian Subcontinent, which now has a purely geographical connotation, namely The Original Natives of this land – The Hindus and the other who came from Central Asia with the foreign invaders but gradually acquired local touches and became the Naturalized Citizens of this land, The Muslims or the Mohemmedans.

These two communities lived together for centuries, setting an example of Unity, Tolerance and Brotherhood. It was not merely an example for the outside world but as much an issue of pride and sense of bonding, for the local people. This was demolished gradually. Some scholars pinpoint at the Britishers for this act of separation, division, splitting or as some people call it ‘the parting of ways between the two brothers.’ But, in my opinion, the premise is not completely true. Undoubtedly, the Coming of the Britishers and the process of Urbanisation which it brought about was instrumental in setting the trigger for this Great Schism. However, there was something more deep-rooted, something inherent in the very so called ‘Structure of Co-Existence’, which preceeded this incidental trigger, that was the real cause for this separation.

India was a Nation which was ruled Mostly by the Muslims. The Rulers at Delhi, and even at many of the regional levels were all Muslims. But this should not have bothered the liberal and universalist Hindus. The Hindus were constantly at the receiving end. Temple destruction was a common feature, practiced by many of the Muslim Rulers. The conversion of large number of Hindus into Islam by force and coercion was an even more common feature. This had created a deeply ingrained, serious and intense prejudice in the minds of most Hindus with Respect to Muslims, a feeling which persists even today and affects Indian politics. To cut it short, The Hindus and Muslims never lived as equals right since the Days of Mohammad Ghori till the coming of the Britishers. The Cunning Britishers used this discrepancy to their fullest advantage by setting Muslims against Hindus and the Vice Verca. Moreover, Muslims, the rulers of India, would never want to be ruled as minority by the Majority Hindus in a Hindu Dominated India, an idea they abhorred and thus the Creation of Pakistan and subsequently Bangladesh.

Today, the Two Nations – The Hindu Dominated India and the Puritanically Islamic Pakistan are following the legacy of the ideals of their Culture and Religious Identity. India, which inherits the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, believed and still believes that Hindus and Muslims are the Children of the same God and hence they can peacefully and amicably live together, grow and flourish together, that any religion ultimately teaches the Common Love for God and Universal Brotherhood of Mankind. The needs of the people are same, irrespective of religion, and these need to be addressed by a modern nation state.

On the contrary, Pakistan the Champion of the Muslim Cause, the avowed follower of the progenitor of the Two Nation Theory, Mr Mohammad Ali Jinnah, thinks completely different. So that is the Crux of this problem. Pakistan tries and wants the World to believe that Islam is at the Centre of the Muslim Society and unless it is given primacy over other issues, things will suffer like anything. It wants to prove again and again to the World that a Muslim Dominated Province namely Kashmir can not even survive, forget thrive in a Hindu Dominated India. It will lead to inter-cultural and inter-communal conflicts between Kashmir and the Rest of India, which would ultimately destroy the Muslim Culture of Kashmir and hence imperil the Holy Religion of The Prophet in the region.

Any sane person will surely side with India on this, if he knows the truth fully and well. However, we got to be cautious in this respect. This war should remain a war of principles, from India’s side, if they are to continue to remain on the Moral High-ground. The demand for the abolition of Special Status for Kashmir is dangerous. Kashmir is a special case and it is in right earnest that it has been accorded some special privileges. Moreover, we must maintain communal harmony within India and not give in to narrow minded politico-religious mindsets. After all India stands for Peace, Brotherhood and Secularism. That is our heritage which we got to preserve at any cost.

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RED STORM RISING

RED STORM RISING

The slow but continuous rise of Ultra Leftist-Naxalite movement in India’s hinterland bodes ill for the country’s largely peaceful democratic traditions.

In the last few months certain states of India mainly Chhatisgarh, Jharkhand, west Bengal, Bihar, Madhya-Pradesh, Orrisa, Andra-Pradesh etc have seen an exponential rise in the aggressions of Ultra Leftist Marxist Maoist movement chiefly led by Naxalism. These attacks have targeted both the civilians and police forces and have gradually reached to a near alarming level. So much so that a prominent expert in the Ministry of Defence has apprehended the possibility of a Naxalite takeover of the Indian nation by the year 2050.

Naxalisms, like all ultra Marxist militant movements is strongly anti-capitalist and anti rich. The Naxalite movement is a broad umbrella for the numerous leftist terrorist organizations. The Maoist of Bihar and Jharkhand are their closest ideological siblings. This movement dreams to establish a communist state in India.

Though the movement has been in existence for at least last 3-4 decades, but what is worrying the establishment is the substantial increase in its support base over a short period of time. The most committed and loyal supporters of Naxalism obviously are the impoverished, exploited and helpless tribals, this is the reason why it is so strong in the Chota Nagpur and it’s surrounding regions now lexiconed as the red corridor.

India, the land of poverty and misery, will obviously have lot of scope for Ultra Leftism. This movement basically in cashes the frustrations of the common people with their lives in general, which is directed as a seething anger and hostility towards the Indian nation state.

THE RISE OF THE ULTRA LEFT

India is a vast vast country, where by world standards at least 70-75% of the population lives in some or the other form of economic deprivation. Though economic growth and development have accelerated over the last two decades, but it has hardly reached the vast multitude of the common masses. Like the proselytizing religions of Christianity and Islam, Ultra Left extremism also promises a dream to its follower. Albeit an economic dream, the vision of classless society, a world where there no rich and poor, all are equal and there is no exploitation.

Some may argue that Communism has failed worldwide as a political system and economic philosophy, thus Naxalism would always remain on the fringes of Indian society and never be able to occupy the centre stage. But this premise seems to be unlikely, the movement is gaining ground at a very fast pace, particularly among the disadvantaged communities and vulnerable sections of society. Modern history is replete with examples where nations have been won over by ideological groups which were, strictly speaking in a numerical minority.

And there is a strong possibility as the movement gains momentum and strength it may as well gain the sympathies and the moral support of the cultured classes (Bhadra Jan). Though it all sounds like speculation at the moment but it would be in the best interest of the Indian nation state to curb this threat in its nascent stage, if not given proper attention and its growth checked this extremist movement could prove disruptive and potentially disastrous for the country’s cherished and envied peaceful democratic traditions.

The Government must use all tactics (Sam- Dam- Dand- Bhed) to win this war of righteousness. This could include more and better police presence and vigil in remote rural areas, large scale financial aids to the people living in the areas infested with this ill in the form of development of infrastructure, propagating and educating the masses about the real face of the terrorist and so on. It has to be a policy mix which includes both, bridging the economic gap between the haves and the have nots on the one hand and severely punishing the violent culprits on the other.

Finally it is hoped and believed that India, the valiant fighter, will survive this threat as well, and emerge stronger, more matured and evolved than before.

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INDIA - BEYOND RAM AND BABAR

INDIA –BEYOND RAM AND BABAR

India has come of age. It has outlived the contentious Ayodhya issue and in the process become more resistant and immune to big internal troubles, leading to a more matured and civilized nationhood.

The destruction of the Babri mosque at Ayodhya on 6th December, 1992 by Hindu karsevaks continues to sharply divide India on ideological and communal lines. However its force and intensity are fastly subsiding and it is highly improbable that issues of such types will gain popular support ever again in India.

The movement which surrounded the issue of the liberation of Lord Rama’s birth place (Shri Ram janm bhoomi) was essentially political in character. But it went way beyond politics owing to the emotiveness of the issue which is linked to the devotion of millions and millions of Hindus to Lord Rama. The destruction of Babri structure was much more than what it looked like. It essentially was a litmus test for the ardently secular India to protect its tolerance and multiculturalism from the onslaught of fundamentalist. And it was a test which they failed. Congress Government at the centre could not save the ill-fated Babri mosque which symbolized the victory of opportunism over sanity. Indeed it was a black day in the history of independent India.

But the entire issue doesn’t merely point to the simplistic tussle between the multicultural India and the forces of opportunism. It also needs to address the core issue of relationships between religious communities and the way politics influences religion in India. In the eyes of many, the demolition of the mosque was the general outburst of the common Hindus against the policy of appeasement practiced by the successive Congress Governments over the decades. Certain sections of intellectuals allege that the Government, over the decades had been practising the policies of regressive secularism, which was moulded and rechristened as pseudo secularism for the first time by the main driver of the Ayodhya movement Mr. L.K. Advani.

A point in case is the infamous Shah Bano episode. In the mid 1980s, a landmark judgement given by the honorable Supreme court in favour of divorced Muslim women, which would have helped solve certain social evils in the Muslim community, was overnight reversed by the then Congress Government headed by the late Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, just to appease fundamentalist sections in the Muslim community. This move of the Government unnerved the liberals and the seculars and brought many fence sitters to the Hindutva fold. Arguably this event was instrumental in the grand success of a massive anti-secular, pro-Hindutva movement in large parts of Northen and Western India, in the early 1990s, culminating in the destruction of Babri mosque, which was a symbolic victory of Hindutva over secularism.

But what is most heartening, is that over the last few years we have seen India move ahead of Mandir and Masjid. In spite of repeated attempts by the hard-line sections of Sangh parivar, all attempts to revive the Ayodhya issue or rake up the issues of Kashi and Mathura have failed miserably. This all shows a sense of maturity which is developing in the Indian people and its political culture. several reasons can be attributed to the evolution of India from a medievalistic mindset to a much more modern and progressive thinking. The rise of the civil society and the intellectual class, increasing judicial activism, more accountability required from the politicians now, and the most important the serious drubbing which the saffron chauvinists received in the elections which immediately succeeded the demolition have proved conclusively that communal politics cannot be made to dominate the culture of this country, whose foundations are embedded in deep liberalism and which has a very enlightened heritage.

This doesn’t mean that BJP is completely unwelcome.As the representative of the right wing nationalism, it has an important role to play in the national political system. As a moderate Hindu minded party, it can voice its concerns, if in opposition and frame policies, if in power, through democratic and peaceful means, which do not infringe on the basic fundamental secular character of this country.

The people of India have seen massive social and political upheavals in the past which has shown a new path and led to growth and evolution. This all has made the country stronger and its future brighter.

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MAN'S FOUL PLAY WITH NATURE AND THE IMPENDING ECOLOGICAL OUTBURST

MAN’S FOUL PLAY WITH NATURE AND THE IMPENDING ECOLOGICAL OUTBURST

Man’s growing developmental needs and the failure of a consensus between the nations of the world to cut down on their pollution-causing industrial production might prove dangerous for the well being of our beautiful blue planet and result in a horrific future for the Humankind, characterized by grave and aggressive ‘acts of reaction’ from the Nature, imperiling the life and livelihood of millions and millions of people in different parts of the world, by seriously disturbing the harmony of climate cycles and weather systems.

Man is undoubtedly the most wonderous and unique creation of nature, having been evolved after millions and millions of years of churning process of the Natural World. He is immensely potent. But, ironically today the humankind collectively are not behaving as a responsible lot. In the pursuit of economic development, lakhs and lakhs of hectares of forests are being cut each year for various purposes. The harmful and toxic chemical wastes are being thrown out of the factory chimneys and from the vehicles into the atmosphere. The chemical fertilizers being used at a very large scale at present are causing serious damage to the soil and dangerous chemicals are entering Our Food Cycle, resulting in serious illnesses and handicaps.

These and many other factors will and to some extent are already beginning to show disastrous consequences. Cracks are forming in the crucial ozone layer, an outer atmospheric layer of air, which prevents certain dangerous carcinogenic rays of Sun from entering the Earth’s Atmosphere. This could cause cancer and many other serious skin ailments becoming a common feature, affecting vast number of people- a prospect which is both horrifying and unnerving. But what is most disturbing and alarming are the Prospects of what Climatologists, Geologists and other Scientists call as THE GLOBAL WARMING.

Global Warming is the term used to describe the consistently and relatively quickly happening process of warming of the Earth’s Atmosphere, as a result of toxic industrial pollutants in gaseous, liquid and solid forms, being thrown into the atmosphere. The pace of industrialization of the world is increasing very quickly with many fastly growing major economies like China, India, Russia, Brazil, South Africa, etc, etc. rapidly setting up modern industries to grow fast and catch up with the developed World.

As a result, the largely carbon containing wastes which is going into the atmosphere is increasing the general level of temperature of the atmosphere. It is feared that this would result in the melting of Polar Snows at a massive scale, increasing the sea levels at most coastal regions, causing massive floodings and drowning many islands and island nations and coastal regions under water.

Apart from this, there are many other and more implications which could result from this dangerous ongoing phenomenon. Entire climate cycles could be disturbed and Weather Systems completely altered. It is predicted that, if such a scenario is allowed to happen then The Indian Subcontinent may see large floods initially as a result of massive melting of Himalayan Snows and might eventually become Large Desert, when the snows have finally melted. It is apprehended that USA, the Premiere Nation of the World, may turn into a dust bowl over the next 150-200 years.

LEADERS, LEADERS WAKE UP…..!!!!

It’s indeed a wake-up call for all the responsible and enlightened ‘Citizens of The World’ to take charge and put pressure on the leaders of their respective nations to take initiative and cut down on their industrial production in it’s present pollution-causing form and develop and gradually adapt bio-friendly and eco-friendly means of productions of goods so that pollution does not increase and on the contrary efforts should be made to reverse it. Someone has to take this bold step and say yes I am going to cut down on my industrial production and adapt alternative measures, come what may. It is the best if this decision is taken uniformly by all the countries of the World unanimously or at least by all the major powers. The desire for economic growth has to be sacrificed for a better, sustained and an ensured future.

This should not become a dirty tug-of-war between the Developed and Developing Countries with each group putting the onus for this initiative on the other. Both the Groups have responsibilities towards their people, The World Community of Nations and 6.75 billion strong Humanity. Unless this Emergent Situation is addressed Urgently, this missed bus would be lost forever and so would be the chance for Environmental Balance and Climatic Harmony of this Planet.

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DISHONOUR THE KHAP

DISHONOUR THE KHAP

IN MODERN TIMES, THE KILLING OF PEOPLE BY THE KHAP PANCHAYATS ON THE GROUNDS OF SAME GOTRAS AND INTERCASTE MARRIAGES SHOULD BE SEEN AS A SERIOUS ANTI SOCIAL CRIME WHICH DESERVES SEVERE INTELLECTUAL CONDEMNATION AND PUNITIVE LEGAL ACTION.

Indian news papers and media, these days, are flooded with reports of honour killings carried out by the Khap panchayats. Khap panchayats, which are largely Jat bodies, have increasingly taken themselves as the custodians and guardians of the community and are enforcing medieval practices through coercion and violence.

They have been numerous cases recently in various parts of Northern India particularly Haryana and surrounding regions where couples who married against the community norms like outside their caste or within the same gotra have been intimidated, harassed and even killed for their bold and “unsocial actions”.

These events speak very poorly about the civilisational status of Indian society. It proves beyond doubt that large sections of the society are still deeply rooted in a thinking which isn’t merely regressive but also disregard the dignity of human being and sanctity of individual freedom. The arguments given by the proponents of Khap mentality, that religion clearly and strongly condemns marriages between different castes as illegal, immoral and potentially degenerative for the society, that since gotras are like large extended families, the people who are common descendents of the same Guru (The Great Teacher) thus marring in the same gotra tantamounts to incest, a big social and moral sin prohibited and punishable even under the Indian legal system. But these are absurd arguments. It is proved scientifically and goes by common sense as well that inter caste marriages if anything will only increase the chances of improving the heredity stock and thus ensure a brighter future for the coming generations. Similarly the argument that the gotras are like large extended families is equally absurd and illogical. We have a limited number of gotras and crores and crores of populations, so that each gotra of each caste includes at least lakhs of people. It is not possible that such a large number of people belong to one extended family.

Basically, these honour killings are about the anger at the prospects of polluting the supposed sanctity and purity of one’s caste and the social norms and traditions associated with it. It is indeed very sorry state of affairs. No doubt today, India is socially fragmented into different mental time zones, we have ultra modern, modern, moderate, conservative, orthodox and extremely narrow minded all existing side by side. This again is due to the lopsided development which has taken place in the thinking of different people. But to kill a couple brutally because they have married according to their choice, which incidentally goes against the social mores is brutality at its lightest. What is more disappointing that the custodians of the community do it in the name of saving their honour, which shamefully is supported by most of the community members sometimes even by the close relatives.

PURGE THE KHAP MENTALITY, KNOCK OUT REGRESSIVE MEDIEVALISM

The government must take strong legal actions against the perpetrators of these heinous crimes. These could include giving severe punishments ranging capital punishment to life imprisonment to the people who are directly involved in these crimes and those who are indirectly involved even they should be punished. Certain special legal provisions can be made to deal effectively and in a tough manner with these murders carried out by the khap panchayats. To eliminate any caste conspiracy which may be made to enter the minds of the people, the situation should be handled tactfully and with care. It should be a double pronged strategy, where by there should be exemplary fear against performing such crimes. This can be brought about by tough and fast execution of the culprits. Apart from that, massive social awakening is required through various channels.

People should be educated and made aware of the irrelevance of caste and gotra in modern day marriages. We can say, in a nut shell, that khap panchayats are but instruments which are perpetuating the regressive remains of medievalism. These structures can only be demolished completely when the government and the civil society take to address the issue on a war footing.

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THE STORY OF ISLAM

THE STORY OF ISLAM- THE SIEGE WITHIN AND THE SURGE OUTSIDE

Islam, in the contemporary world, presents a very gloomy picture of itself. With the fundamentalists taking over its institutions rapidly, the non Muslim world is increasingly seeing this religion as completely violent and exclusivist, totally ignoring its moderate and liberal side.

Islam, the holy religion of Prophet Mohammad, today stands at a very critical crossroad. While the growing western influence resulting in a fear of western domination has stimulated jingoistic, communal and racist movements across many parts of the non western world, the extent and intensity of this xenophobia is most pronounced in the Islamic world.

Muslim today constitute about 1/5th population of the world, numbering around 140 crores spread all over the globe but predominant in a wide stretch of land beginning from Morocco in Northern Africa and reaching up to Indonesia in South East Asia, referred sometimes as the Green Belt. Almost in all of the 54 Muslim countries, there is being felt or experienced a sense of increased religiosity which almost always turns into demand for the creation of an Islamic state or a ‘More Islamic State’. (Whatever the case may be).

Islam is today baffled with a double edged serious trouble. In my opinion, this religion has two big enemies. First the fundamentalists within, which disturbingly form or influence a very large section of the community. As an impact of this section, Islam today is seen completely incompatible with democracy and modern liberal thought. Resultantly, Islam is completely resistant to modernity, westernization or any thinking which breaks its dogmatic line. The religion is also increasingly getting intolerant towards other religions. And the second enemy of Islam is again – large sections within the non Muslim world who genuinely or by influence paint all the Muslims and entire Islam with the same brush.

The brunt is borne by the educated, enlightened, liberal and progressive sections within the Muslim society. They face double whammy. While the non Muslim world distrusts them for being “violent” Muslims. The Muslims abuse them for being Godless, atheistic infidels (Kafirs). Some experts believe that a resurgent Islam is slowly catching up challenging the might and domination of the western world. This is taking the shape of a ‘Clash of Civilizations’.

The attack on the World Trade Center in U.S.A on September 11th, 2001 was the most daring and destructive attack on the symbol of Western might. The person who masterminded these attacks, Osama Bin Laden is the new face of the most violent and aggressive version of militant Islam. He is a household name for many fanatical Muslims and considered a Messiah. Although Taliban has been dismantled, Al Qaida is in disarray and Iraq has been tamed in, but the U.S has hardly won this war. The sympathisers of Osama and his movement all over the world are dying to avenge this dishonor with their blood and life.

The problem of Islam today is that it lives and makes people live in a medievalistic mindset and tolerates no change. But there is also another side to Islam. The all embracing Sufi tradition of Persia and India, the synthetic legacy of the great Indian emperor - Akbar, the novel example of Indonesia, Malaysia and India where large number of Muslim live by enlarge peacefully and cordially with the non Muslims and the enlightened support given by lakhs and lakhs of

Muslims to secular and humanist causes, from across the globe including some of those who live in the orthodox countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran. These all are a testimony to the softer, benign and benevolent side of Islam. It is these sections who got to be encouraged and brought up by all well wishers of a peaceful Islam and desirers of a harmonious humanity. The hot headed and insensitive approach of the U.S. and Europe won’t work. Need is to build bridges with the Muslim world, to come to rescue of liberal Muslims and ultimately isolate the fundamentalists so that eventually they loose their influence and finally their existence. We in India also need to follow a double pronged strategy. On the one hand we should create an atmosphere where Muslims feel safer and provide them better access to education and employment; on the other hand we need to act tough on trouble makers, those spreading ill will against Hindus and other non Muslims must be strictly punished. Those who promote and impose medievalistic thinking such as compulsory growing of beard and wearing of burkha should be discouraged. India needs tough laws against both terrorism and communal riots.

Ultimately it is hoped that hoped that all Muslims will come out of their cocoons and live harmoniously alongside their non Muslim brethren with honour, pride and a sense of progressiveness.

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THE BATTLE FOR AFRICA

THE BATTLE FOR AFRICA

IN RECENT TIMES, THE AFRICAN CONTINENT HAS COME TO SYMBOLIZE THE SOCIO-CULTURAL FLASH POINT BETWEEN THE CHRISTIAN AND ISLAMIC CIVILIZATIONS.

Africa, the most diverse geographical and demographic entity in the world today has become a new battle ground between the two civilizational poles- Christianity and Islam.

One of the most serious challenges which the modern world is facing is the growing Islamic fundamentalism on the one hand and increasing western imperialism and interference on the other. This has undoubtedly and clearly led to a clash of interests between Christendom and Crescentdom which unfortunately is taking the shape and form of a major Clash of Civilizations.

While the West and Islam are engaged in countering each other in various parts of the world, the theatre of this clash in the African continent presents a somewhat different picture. Africa is largely tribal, extremely diverse, where modern civilization is yet to take firm roots. This has made the religio-cultural situation here much more fluid than in other continents. While religion, here too, is a sensitive issue, but still religious conversions and religion change are happening at a much larger scale. While Christendom and Crescentdom are fighting political, strategic and bloody battles in the rest of the world; in Africa the issue is, by en-large which civilization would dominate the cultural and social mindscape and landscape and thus be the psychological and strategic winner.

Africa, is in a very broad sense ethnically divided into two parts- the vast desert regions in the north- called the Sahara which is inhabited by the completely Muslim

Arabs and then there is the Sub Sahara Africa, also called black Africa, which includes the central and southern regions of the continent. This is the land of Negroes, the black people. The northern Arabs do not constitute more than 20% of the African population, but being exclusively Muslim, Islam gets an easy advantage. The majority of the Negroes are Christian but it is very doubtful, arguable and contentious as to which religious community dominates overall in the continent. While most statistics give a wafer thin advantage to the Christians in the ratio of 55:45 but there are others who claim it is just the other way round.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS FLASH POINT

Africa is the only continent where Christians and Muslims, the two rivals compete neck to neck with each other. In all other continents there is no direct internal fight, positions and conditions are well defined, but in Africa, large scale conversions are a common fact. The battle for Africa is not just a psychological war. Africa is the richest continent in mineral wealth and natural resources. Both the religious civilizations are using somewhat different tactics to control the continent.

While in Christianity, the Pope and the well organized and centralised clergy dreams and attempts to fulfill its unfinished agenda of converting Africa. Huge sums of money are being pumped into Africa from Christian lands, supposedly, for humanitarian works, but it is clear that the tacit intention is propagation and strengthening of Christianity. On the contrary, this war is being fought by Islam from a much more grass root level where even the common man is making his contribution to win this Holy War (Jehad).

As this civilizational cold war intensifies and takes up more aggressive overtures, the claim over Africa which is already keenly contested will attract more and more attention of the holy followers of the two communities. This is not a very bright prospect for this not so Dark Continent.

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THE CULT OF BABA AMBEDKAR

THE CULT OF BABA AMBEDKAR – A FORCE THAT CHANGED INDIA

THE EMERGENCE OF DR. B.R.AMBEDKAR ON THE INDIAN POLITICAL LAND SCAPE WAS A DEFINING MOMENT IN THE COUNTRY’S HISTORY, AS IT INITIATED THE PROCESS OF DISMANTLING THE UPPER CASTE HEGEMONY ON THE PATH TO THE ESTABLISHMEN OF AN EQUAL INDIA.

The Indian nation owes a great deal to Dr. Ambedkar, the chief architect of our constitution and the messiah of the downtrodden. His role in the making of post-independence modern India is often overlooked or misunderstood. Dr. Ambedkar, the most invoked of all dalit icons, began his journey in a sleepy village of Maharastra. He saw and faced the menace of untouchability and exploitation. But this did not deter him to go ahead in life, he fought all odds bravely and went up to become the chief architect of the Indian constitution, as he was a prominent member in the constituent assembly which drafted the Indian constitution.

This war, victory and achievement of such an exalted status symbolizes the triumph of the struggle against exploitation and injustice which he undertook throughout his life. Under the leadership of Dr. Ambedkar, special provisions were made in the Indian constitution to discourage, deter and eventually eliminate the worst forms of caste exploitation.

It is beyond doubt, that India on coming in contact with the western culture, was changing very fast. The process of social transformation, to end inequality based on birth began much before the coming of Ambedkar. But it was under him and later on under his name that the forces of social justice were galvanized and brought under a single banner. Today his name symbolizes not merely a need for social adjustment but also a strong anger against people who disregard the novel humanist principle of dignity and equality of all human beings. The life and achievements of Dr. Ambedkar have turned into a heritage for the proud dalits which they consider as glorious, heroic and sacred.

His tireless efforts, which was later on, carried on by his supporters and descendents became a social factor to reckon with. He and his name unleashed a process which would go on heightening the self esteem and empowerment of not merely the dalits but also the other backward castes.

The dalit factor became so strong in the Indian political and social milieu that being pro- dalit was not merely fashionable but even mandatory. Baba Ambedkar was a revolutionary, beyond a point. He was not reconciliatory or compromising. He demanded justice for the downtrodden. He asked for equality, nothing less. He didn’t believe in gradual or slow transition. He represents the militant, aggressive and yet the most popular face of Dalit activism.

In the year 1956, he embraced Buddhism with about 5 lakh supporters. He exhorted that all dalits should embrace Buddhism, an Indian religion which he found eagalatarian and caste free. This was a clear warning to the Brahminical establishment. The orthodox upper castes realized the gravity of this threat and were ready to give in more concessions to the dalits. The process which began with him reached one aspect of its culmination, when in 1997 Dr. K.R. Narayanan was sworn in as the President of india. He was the first dalit head of state and it was a wonderful gift to the nation on the 50th anniversary of its independence.

The heritage of Ambedkar has produced many dalit super icons like Smt Mayavati and Shri Ram Vilas Paswan who cherish Prime Ministerial ambitions. The cult of Ambedkar lies at the core of current day dalit movement. His name evokes a sense of modernization, revolution and the dawn of a new era in the life of Indian nation.

Salutations to the man who brought the unjust and cruel caste system to doldrums, bringing liberation, equality and scope for growth into the lives of millions. Indeed he is one of the major makers of modern India.

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AFRICA - THE BRIGHT CONTINENT

AFRICA- THE BRIGHT CONTINENT

IN POPULAR WESTERN PERCEPTION, AFRICA IS OFTEN DUBBED AS “THE DARK CONTINENT”. BUT IF WE GO A STEP FURTHER AND ANALYSE THE SITUATION IN ITS ENTIRETY, THE FUTURE PROSPECTS INCLUDED, WE COME TO A PREMISE WHICH IS FAR FROM THIS STEREOTYPED ADJECTIVE.

The African Continent tests the limit of human comprehension. Geographically diverse, ethnically varied, ecologically rich and physically vast, this land mass presents a status of uniqueness, which no other continent or part of Earth can boast of.

What is more appealing is the fact that with all its diversity and richness, Africa is a monolith. Across its various regions, cultures and geographies, there is a thread of commonality which binds all of them together in a loose but defining link. Unlike Asia, Africa is structurally homogeneous. It is this ‘common feel’ of ‘An African-ness’ which provides unity in diversity, a factor which is important for the integration of the continent.

Even though Anthropologists consider it as a cradle of the present hominoids, the Homo Sapiens (The Human Beings), Africa’s past and history are covered with inglory. Africa has been exploited by the western countries since centuries and the first thing which comes to over minds when we see a Negro In a historical perspective is slavery and the worst form of racial exploitation. It is often perceived that Africa is the first home of savage and African (Negro) personifies the lowest status of human civilization.

The present can’t be abruptly discontinuous with the past and so is true for Africa as well. Its long history of tribalism, feudalism, lack of civilization and its eventual exploitation by the influential powers continues to influence its present. Africa today is the poorest, the most corrupt, lawless and most backward of all the regions in the world, where development is yet to begin seriously, modern human values have still to take roots. In short the continent is yet to come out of its past sloth, wildness and tribalism.

But all that is reading the book from only a single side. The spirit of human being is indomitable. He fights the situation and is never vanquished. In Africa too we find changes taking place. Africa is now divided into modern nation states which have enlightened constitutions and development is finally happening, albeit too late, too slow. Africa cannot be an island unto itself. The sweeping changes which are taking place around the world are making influence here as well. Even though the African economy remains in doldrums, but there is comparative improvement in the overall political culture of the continent. Tribe and clan are slowly and gradually being replaced by nation as the foremost collective identity of the people. Ethos and values are being instilled and an intellectual class have developed who are being instrumental in guiding this change.

However the most heartening and encouraging feature of the present day Africa is the birth and slow but gradual rise of Pan African Nationalism. Africans, particularly the Negros, are now increasingly thinking as one people and one civilization. The replacement of erstwhile OAU (Organisation of African Unity) with the radical African Union is a point in case which justifies this.

African Union which is formed on the model of European Union dreams to integrate socially, economically and eventually politically the African people. The popularity of this movement is growing day by day and it is being fervently supported by the intellectuals and the enlightened class. This is a revolution in the life of Africa, even if it is, at present, on a conceptual level. The Pan African Nationalism will eventually wipe out all the narrow minded tendencies and make nation state the most important. The Pan Africanist movement will catalyse big social and economic changes in the African continent. For the first time in human history, Africa will present itself as a unified civilization and it will be a force which no one can over look and ignore.

Great impetus is being provided in this direction by the huge African Diaspora at least 10 crore in number, which is spread throughout the world, with huge concentrations in the US, Brazil etc. The emergence of South Africa as a fast developing nation is testimony to this fact. The potential of Africa is huge, its population is galloping and is expected to be 200 crores by the year 2100 A.D. This will make it a huge market. Infact the 21st century won’t be merely an Asian century, will belong to Africa as well.

Africa symbolizes huge untapped potential of a section of humanity. It is a reservoir of natural wealth, the richest continent in minerals. Its strategic location, relative closeness to

Europe, Asia and the America’s make it almost the centre of the earth. Unlike Europe, none of the parts of Africa are extremely cold or completely inhospitable. The assets of Africa are its growing markets, richness in natural wealth, strategic location, a people who are strong and sturdy and hard working, the advantage of demographic youthfulness, the yet underdeveloped status of its economy which provides for scope of large scale growth.

In the light of these advantages it is clearly seen, that the African will sooner or later overcome his historical disadvantage and will rise like a hero. The cohesion will be provided by the nascent Pan African Nationalism, this will help the continent immensely in economy, and it is possible that a political union may also come on the scene. We can say, in a nutshell, that this land which produces maximum gold and diamonds has a silver lining and the prospects of its future are bright if not brilliant.

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THE ISLAMIC BLUNDER

THE ISLAMIC BLUNDER

WHY AND HOW ISLAM CEASED TO BE THE DOMINANT POLITICAL FORCE IN THE INDIAN SUB CONTINENT

The story of Islam in India forms a very interesting reading. Though the far western frontier of India (Sindh) had come under Muslim influence way back in the 8th century A.D., but for all practical purposes India was started to have been politically Islamicized only after the conquest by Mehmood of Ghazni which took place around 10th- 11th century A.D.

In 1192 Prithvi Raj Chauhan lost the battle of Tarain against Mohammad Ghori which was followed by a series of Rajput and Indian defeats paving the way for a de-facto Islamic India. It was a very unique situation, the land which was called The Land of the Hindus or Hindustan was ruled by the invading community which was numerically very small. For the next 700-800 years or so Islam continued to be the dominant political force in the Indian Sub Continent.

The Indian nation was by en large ruled by Islamic laws, with orthodoxy being practiced by nearly all the rulers with some exceptions but in some cases the degree of fanaticism was too extreme manifesting itself in the massive destruction of Hindu temples and mass conversion of local religionists. Gradually, but consistently and systematically the Muslim population increased and swelled.

The dramatic change came with the arrival of the Britishers. The revolt of 1857 would prove to be a turning point in the fortunes of Indian Islam. In 1885, the Indian National Congress was formed which heralded the birth of Indian (largely Hindu) nationalism. It became clear, sooner rather than later, to the Muslim theologians, communalists, and nationalists that India would soon be a nation in a true western sense which would be ruled and administered by the majority community.

They saw Muslim losing their pre-eminence over the Indian sub continent as inevitable and imminent. This raised the alarm and led to the feeling that the community had a hopeless future in a Hindu governed India. This culminated in the formation of Indian Muslim League.

What went wrong?

In any democratic society the major power has to and should wrest with the majority community. India was transforming from a medieval monarchy into a modern social democracy. It should have been the foresight of the Muslim leaders, they should have accepted this transition and continued to be a part of united India which would have given the community a better access to resources, opportunities and would have earned them repute and made them look progressive and modern, but only the contrary happened.

They panicked and demanded a separate homeland for the Muslims. This would eventually lead to the tri-section of the Muslims of this land into Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indian Muslims.

While 95% of Hindus reside in India which has made this country a stronger Hindu nation. Thus we can finally say that the partition of India divided the Muslims hopelessly while keeping the Hindus under one umbrella.

The moral to be learn is that it is in the interest of minority community to integrate into the national mainstream and influence the political leadership in the creation of a more, better, diverse- secular-plural nation.

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