Eid Mubarak – JAI HIND!

“The Mumbai attack was an attack on the Nation and we condemn it” said Imam Mohammed Yaqub - and the Namaaz-e-Janannza ( mourning prayers) was offered for all those who lost their lives in Mumbai on the 26th. The Hadith was quoted at some places – “Even during war, a Muslim must not kill children, women or innocent people”. “We are against all terrorism,” was the refrain heard during the celebrations of Eid this time. Muslims wore black arms bands and shunned the regular festivity this year, which was a heartening gesture.

I don’t need to thank my Muslim brothers for taking such a stand. This country is as much as theirs to safeguard and love… They must continue to have themselves heard hereon. They must come on the streets in throngs and express their displeasure and cry out from the roof tops of their houses and say “Allah doesn’t want this meaningless killing.” Time to sit and read and understand what the Quran really says - Time to take a strong stand against all conscious misinterpretation and misrepresentation of the same.

Pakistan had sent 30 million people, mostly Hindus, to India in 1970. There were several thousands more who came subsequently – I had the good fortune to be reporting the plight of these people, who flee persecution in Pak and lived in the outskirts of Rajasthan. Hindu Singh Sodha, the convenor of the Pak Visthapith Sangh who spearheaded an entire movement to ensure that these people get Indian citizenship and a good life did a commendable job. I remember how he would often say “Will India ever consider sending back the 130 million Muslims that live as Indians today who keep pouring through the porous borders in the east?” NO! We don’t need to. Though we could if we wanted to. We have taken back the 3 million Tamils that went to Sri Lanka and we have also absorbed the expelled Indians from Uganda, Kenya, Burma….But India need not live in any form of insecurity or in fear. It has an amazing absorption capacity even though the diversity is so stark attimes. It is unfortunate that it has seen a rise in militant behaviour in the recent times, for whatever compulsions/reasons – but Indians are as such not militant by nature or choice (the basic Indian philosophy being steeped in our earliest Vedic roots)

It is time to take some decisions. And we have to take these decisions as Indians – not as Hindus or Muslims. It is important to face certain facts before we do so-
“There is a drive of Hindus is taking place wherever Muslim population crosses 50%. Some examples are Kashmir, Assam, Tripura, Eastern borders of West Bengal, Malegaon, Achalpur, Dhule, Bhiwandi, Konkan Belt, etc” says Chanchal in iVarta. If this is true then like the Australiam PM we have to ensure

• There will be no Muslim Personal Law – what is good for one will have to be good for others – We have to be Indians first.


• The Muslim population must re-evaluate the concept of “Kafir” and put it to backburner, as teach only those parts of Quran that promote peace and happiness for all, as Indians.
• All sorts of religious conversion has to stop and secularism promoted.
• Population control norms should be followed by all Indians - we simply can't see this country burst beyond its seams for economic reasons.
• All prayer meets must end with a National Anthem or atleast a Jai Hind.
  BE AN INDIAN FIRST AND ALWAYS

My Eids prayer was that song from Colonial Cousin
"Religion is the reason, The world is breaking up into pieces -Colour of the people, Keeps us locked in hate. Please release us. So come down and help us, save all the little ones They need a teacher, and you are the only one -We can't rely on, to build a better world -A world that's for children, a world that's for everyone.
So come back as Jesus, Come back and save the world- Bless all the future of every boy and girl - Come back as Rama, Forgive us for what we've done - Come back as Allah, Come back as anyone" Jai Hind!