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हा तोच गड आहे ज्या गडावर छत्रपतीनी बालपणापासून स्वराज्य स्थापनेचे स्वप्न पहिले व वयाच्या १६ व्या वर्षी स्वराज्य स्थापले ते तोरणा गड घेवून. त्या मोहिमेचे डावपेच याच राज गडावर आखण्यात आले, हाच राज गड मात्र आज वेदनेने विव्ह्लतो आहे, कारण अधुनेक्तेची पट्टी डोळ्याला बांधून याच गडावर तरून व तरुणीन कडून होणाऱ्या धीगाण्याने, हयाच गडाने कधी काळी स्वराज्याखातर प्राण पणाला लावलेले शिवरायाचे मावळे बघितले आहे पण आज हाच गड रडत आहे तो त्याच्या अपमानाने.

मागच्या वर्षी ह्यच डीसेबर महिन्यात संभाजीनगरचे (औरंगाबादचे) माझे मित्र जे दुर्ग प्रेमी आहेत त्यांनी  मला राज गडावर येण्याचे आमंत्रण दिले व राज गड मोहिमे बद्दल सांगितले. मुळात ट्रेकिंग हा माझा आवडीचा भाग असल्यामुळे मी लगेच होकार दिला त्यासाठी आम्ही निघालो ते २८ डिसेम्बरच्या रात्री व २९ ला सकाळी पुणे गाठून आम्ही राज गडाकडे निघालो या पूर्वी राज गड कधी पाहिलेला नसल्याने तो पाहण्याची उत्सुकता लागली होती. दुपारी १२ च्या सुमारास गडाच्या पायथ्याशी आमचा मूक्काम होता. व तेथील गड प्रेमी हि येवून पोहचलेले होतेच त्याच्याशी आमचा परिचय झाला व त्यांनी आम्हाला तेथील कार्यक्रमाची माहिते दिली त्यात महत्वाचे मुद्दे म्हणजे ३० डिसेम्बारच्या रात्री येणाऱ्या तरुणाना कडून दारू , गुटखा , इतर व्यसनाचे समान काढून घेणे व नंतर त्यांना गडावर जाऊ देण्यास परवानगी देणे हे होते शिवरायांनी स्थापलेल्या स्वराज्यातील सर्व गडावर असलेली गाड श्रद्धा व प्रेम असलेले सगळे तरून तेथे आलेले होते, मी पहिल्यादा ह्या मोहिमेत सामील झाल्यामुळे मी खूप उत्सुक होतो . जशी जशी संध्याकाळ होऊ लागली तसे तसे तरून व  तरुणी तेथे जमा होऊ लागले त्यात काही मोठी मंडळी हि होती जी बँक व कंपनी च्या मोठया हुद्यावर काम करणारी होती. पुण्यातील गड प्रेमीनी  सरकारने लावलेल्या पण गंज चढलेल्या न दिसनाऱ्या इशाऱ्याच्या पाटी कडे कोणाचे लक्ष जाणार नाही म्हणून मोठे फ्लेक्स गडावर कोणतेही दारूच्या बाटल्या व इतर अश्लील साहित्य नेवू नये ते इथेच काडून टाकावे अशा इशाऱ्या सह लावलेले होते, पण हे तरून मंडली त्याकडे हेतू पुरस्कर दुर्लक्ष करतांना दिसले व ते लगेच राज गड चढण्याचे प्रयत्न करत होते. मी  नवीन असल्या मुळे मला पहिल्या चेक पोस्ट वर ठेवण्यात आले व त्यांची तपासणी करण्याची सूचना करण्यात आली , त्या तयारीत मी उभाच होतो तितक्यात तिथे काही तरून जे ११ वि मधील होते ते आले त्याची तपासणी केली असता त्याच्या ब्याग्स मध्ये ७ दारूच्या बाटल्या निघाल्या नीटश्या मिशा न फुटलेल्या त्या तरुणा कडे पाहून मला धक्काच बसला त्यातील काही तरून तर मित्राकडे अभ्यासाला चाललो हे घरच्यांना सांगून आलेले होते

जस जसे रात्र होत गेली तसे तसे अनेक तरुणांनाकडून ४ पोते दारूच्या बाटल्या १ पोते  गुटखा व इतर साहित्य जमा करण्यात आले हे पाहून माझी तर झोपच उडाली होती शिवरायाचा व स्वराज्याच्या एका सक्षिदराचा होणारा अपमान हा सहन करणारा नव्हता

त्यात काहींनी तर जुनाट विचारी लोक जग पुढे चालले व हे लोक अजून इथेच अशा प्रकारे ओरड करत आमच्याशी भाडू देखील लागले पण त्यांना तुम्ही आज जे करता ते का शक्य जाले याची तुम्हाला जाणीव आहे का असे विचारले असता मात्र ते गप्प झाले.

त्यातील एक प्रसगी तर एक तरुणी मी डॉक्टर आहे असे ओरडून भांडायला लागली त्यात आमच्या सोबत असलेल्या डाक्टर ने तिला त्याचे विजीतिग कार्ड दिले व ती माफी मागून निघून गेली. पण हे सर्वे अनुभव इतके दुर्दैवि व दुखद होते.

रात्रीचे १२ वाजले होते आत्ता कोण येते असे माझ्या मनात होते माझे काही मित्र झोपी गेले होते तर काही शेकोटी जवळ बसलेले होते माझी झोप उडाल्याने मी हि तिथेच बसलेलो होतो तेवढ्यात एका दुचाकीचा आवाज आला त्यावर एक तरून व तरुणी आले इतक्या रात्री ह्या जंगलात कसे हा विचार सर्वाना पडला त्या तरुणाची तपासणी केली असता त्या कडे गुटखा पुडी व्यतिरिक्त काहीच नव्हते तरी आमच्यातील एकाला हे पटेना त्यांनी त्या तरुणीला तिचे पर्स व खिश्यातील वस्तू बाहेर काढायला सांगितले तेव्हा बघतो तर काय त्यात निरोधचे पाकीट निघाली या विषयी विचारले असता इथे नेहमी चेकिंग होते तुम्ही तरुणीची चेकिग करणार नाही यामुळे हे पाकीट माझ्या कडे देण्यात आले असे त्या तरुणीने सांगितले हे एकूण मात्र आम्ही आवाक झालो,हे तर सोडा सकल चौकशी केली असता तो तरून फक्त १० वि फेल उच् गोरा व तरुणी MBBS च्या ३ रया वर्षाला शिकत असल्याचे आढळून आले हे एकतच ती तरुणी हि आशर्यचकित झाली आज पर्यत तिला त्याचा शिक्षण बद्दल माहीत नव्हते तो फक्त उच् गोरा असल्यामुळे मला त्याच्याशी प्रेम झाले असे सांगण्यात आले ती तरूनी कोलेज पासून घर ३० कि.मी आहे म्हणून कॉलेजच्या होस्टेल वर राहत होती या घटने कडे पाहून मनात विचार आला प्रेम खरेच आंधळे असते का ?

सकाळी उठून राजगड चढायचा असल्याने आम्ही रात्री ३ च्या आसपास झोपी गेलो ते ह्या सर्वे घटना मनात ठेऊन सकाळी ७ वाजता राजगडावर चढणे सुरवात केली व ११ वाजे ला वर पोहचलो तेथील शांत निसर्गरम्य परिसर पाहून मन प्रसन्न होण्येवजी दुखी होते कारण रात्री घडलेल्या त्या सर्वे प्रकारामुळे गडावर सुद्धा काही दारूच्या बाटल्या आढळल्या त्या बाटल्या आम्ही सर्वानी जमा केल्या व पोत्यात भरून ठेवल्या गडाच्या भिंतीना जास्त थडी मुळे व धुक्या मुले ओलावा जाणवला पण तरी मनात विचार आला हा गड रडत तर नसेल ?

दुपारी ४ वाजेच्या सुमारास आम्ही पुन्हा खाली आलो व सर्वाना पुन्हा दुसऱ्या दिवशी कामावर जायचे असल्याने पुन्हा घरी निघण्याची तयारी चालू केली त्यात सापडलेल्या सर्वे दारू सांडून देऊन व गुटखा पुड्याची होळी करून नंतर तेथील महादेव मंदिरात आरती करून पुन्हा आम्ही प्रतीचा प्रवास सुरु केला त्या वेदनेने भरलेल्या ह्रदयाने .शेवटी एकच ह्या तरुणांना सांगावेसे वाटते तुम्ही दारू प्या अथवा आणखीन काहीही करा याला आमचा विरोध नाही तो तुमचा व्ययक्तीक प्रश्न पण हे सर्वे गडावर व कोणत्याही पवित्र स्थळी करण्यास आमचा विरोध आहे.

सावित्रीबाई फुले : विद्रोही सुधारक, आधुनिक कवयित्री

साभार लोकसत्ता 

http://www.loksatta.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=36841:2010-01-02-14-52-24&catid=41:2009-07-15-03-58-17&Itemid=81

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जास्वंदी वांबुरकर उटगीकर, पदव्युत्तर इतिहास विभाग,

एस. एन. डी. टी. महिला विद्यापीठ

आधुनिक भारतातील एक जहाल सुधारक व आद्य शिक्षिका म्हणून सावित्रीबाई फुले यांचे (१८३१-१८९७) कार्य खूप मोलाचे आहे. मात्र जोतीराव फुले यांच्यासारख्या महापुरुषाची पत्नी असल्यामुळे सावित्रीबाईंच्या कार्याची स्वतंत्रपणे फारशी दखल घेतली गेली नाही. तीन जानेवारी २०१० ही सावित्रीबाईंची १७९ वी जयंती आहे. या निमित्ताने त्यांचे समाजकार्य व साहित्य यावर प्रकाश टाकणारा हा लेख..

महाराष्ट्राच्या किंबहुना भारताच्या प्रबोधनाचे शतक हे १९ वे शतक होते. १८१८ मध्ये महाराष्ट्रात पेशवाई संपुष्टात आली व ब्रिटिश अंमल सुरू झाला. एका परकीय सत्तेच्या अमलाखाली महाराष्ट्रात आधुनिकता साकारू लागली. जातीअंताची चळवळ, अस्पृश्यता निर्मूलनाची चळवळ व स्त्री-सुधारणा चळवळ या महाराष्ट्रात सामाजिक क्षेत्रात सुरू झालेल्या प्रमुख चळवळी होत्या. या तिन्ही चळवळींच्या संदर्भात जोतीराव फुले (१८२७-१८९०) व सावित्रीबाईंचे योगदान आजही पथदर्शक असे आहे.

तीन जानेवारी १८३१ रोजी पुण्यापासून जवळ असलेल्या नायगाव येथे सावित्रीबाईंचा जन्म झाला. १८४० साली म्हणजे वयाच्या नवव्या वर्षी त्यांचा जोतीरावांशी विवाह झाला. जोतीरावांनी घरी शिक्षण देऊन त्यांना शिक्षिका बनविले. तसेच अहमदनगर व पुणे येथेही त्यांनी अध्यापनाचे शिक्षण अनुक्रमे फरारबाई व मिचेलबाई यांच्याकडे घेतले होते.

१८४८ साली म्हणजे वयाच्या २१ व्या वर्षी जोतीरावांनी पुण्यात भिडेवाडय़ात मुलींची पहिली शाळा सुरू केली. या शाळेत सावित्रीबाईंनी शिक्षिका म्हणून काम सुरू केले. त्या वेळी त्यांचे वय अवघे १७ वर्षांचे होते. त्यानंतर १८९७ सालापर्यंत म्हणजे जवळपास ५० वर्षे त्यांनी स्वत:ला समाजसेवेत झोकून दिले. फुले दाम्पत्याने पुण्यामध्ये १८५१ साली दोन व १८५२ साली एक अशा मुलींच्या तीन शाळा काढल्या. ‘‘हे कार्य म्हणजे हिंदू संस्कृतीच्या इतिहासातील एका नव्या युगाचा आरंभ होय’’, अशा शब्दांत तत्कालीन ‘दी पुना ऑब्झव्‍‌र्हर अ‍ॅण्ड डेक्कन वीकली’, या वृत्तपत्राने त्यांच्या कार्यारंभाचा गौरव केला. नेटिव्ह फिमेल स्कूल्स व दी सोसायटी फॉर प्रमोटिंग दी एज्युकेशन ऑफ महार्स, मांग्ज अ‍ॅण्ड एक्सेट्राज’ या दोन शिक्षण संस्थांमार्फत पुण्याजवळ त्यांनी अनेक शाळा सुरू केल्या. त्यांच्या शाळेतील मुलींची प्रगती सर्वाना स्तिमित करणारी होती.

एकोणिसाव्या शतकाच्या प्रारंभी स्त्रियांची स्थिती दयनीय होती. बालिका हत्या, बालविवाह, जरठकुमारी विवाह, हुंडापद्धती, सती, केशवपन, विधवा विवाह बंदी अशा दुष्ट प्रथांच्या त्या बळी ठरल्या होत्या. स्त्रीविषयक सुधारणा चळवळीने या प्रश्नांना हात घातला. मात्र स्त्रियांच्या संदर्भातील या विविध समस्या सोडविण्यापुरते फुले दाम्पत्याचे प्रयत्न मर्यादित नव्हते. स्त्रियांना दुय्यम लेखणारी पुरुषी मनोवृत्ती व पुरुषप्रधान व्यवस्था बदलण्याचा त्यांचा प्रयत्न होता. स्त्रीचे कौटुंबिक, सामाजिक, धार्मिक, आर्थिक, राजकीय व लैंगिक पातळीवरचे स्वातंत्र्य त्यांना अभिप्रेत होते. ‘ज्ञानोदय’मध्ये निबंध (१८५५) लिहिणारी मुक्ता व ‘स्त्री-पुरुष तुलना’ (१८८२) सारखा प्राक- स्त्रीवादी (स्र्१ी-ऋी्रेल्ल्र२३) ग्रंथ लिहिणाऱ्या ताराबाई शिंदे या स्त्रिया म्हणजे फुले दाम्पत्याच्या चळवळीचे साक्षात फलित होते.

पारंपरिक समाजविचाराने उच्चवर्णीय स्त्रीला विधवा विवाह नाकारला व दुसरीकडे योनी शुचितेवर भर दिला. हा पुरुषी दुटप्पीपणा फुलेंनी नाकारला. त्यांनी केवळ तात्त्विक पातळीवर स्त्रीच्या लैंगिक स्वातंत्र्याचा पुरस्कार केला नाही तर १८६३ साली बालहत्या प्रतिबंधकगृह काढून आपल्या विचाराला कृतीची जोड दिली. फुले दाम्पत्याने आपल्या बालहत्या प्रतिबंधगृहातील एका बाईचा मुलगा दत्तक घेतला. त्याला वैद्यकीय शिक्षण देऊन डॉक्टर केले. हाच डॉ. यशवंत फुले!

ब्राह्मण विधवांच्या केशवपनाविरुद्ध नाभिकांना जागृत करून त्यांचा संप घडवून आणण्याची प्रेरणा सावित्रीबाईंनीच दिली. या संपाबद्दल इंग्लंडमधील स्त्रियांनी त्यांना अभिनंदनाचे पत्र पाठविले.

महात्मा फुलेंनी स्थापलेल्या सत्यशोधक समाजाच्या सावित्रीबाई सक्रिय कार्यकर्त्यां होत्या. या समाजातर्फे कमी खर्चातले, पुरोहिताशिवाय व हुंडय़ाशिवाय विवाह लावून दिले जात. जोतीरावांच्या मृत्यूनंतर सत्यशोधक चळवळीची धुरा सावित्रीबाईंनी आपल्या खांद्यावर घेतली. सन १८९३ मध्ये सासवड येथे झालेल्या सत्यशोधक परिषदेचे अध्यक्षपद त्यांनी भूषविले. जोतीरावांच्या अग्निसंस्काराच्या वेळी त्यांचा दत्तक मुलगा यशवंत याने अग्नी देण्याबाबत जोतीरावांच्या नातेवाईकांनी आक्षेप घेतला. त्या वेळी सावित्रीबाईंनी स्वत: अग्नी दिला. पत्नीने पतीच्या चितेला अग्नी दिल्याची ही घटना भारताच्या इतिहासात बहुधा पहिल्यांदाच घडली असावी. सन १८९७ मध्ये पुण्यात प्लेगची साथ आली तेव्हा मृत्युला न घाबरता त्यांनी रुग्णांची सेवा केली व त्यातच त्यांना मृत्यू आला.

एक कवयित्री म्हणून सावित्रीबाईंचे कार्य फारच दुर्लक्षित राहिले आहे. सन १९८८ मध्ये ज्येष्ठ अभ्यासक डॉ. मा. गो. माळी यांनी ‘सावित्रीबाई फुले- समग्र वाङ्मय’ प्रकाशित केले. ज्या मराठी समीक्षकांनी सावित्रीबाईंच्या साहित्याला अनुल्लेखाने मारल. विसाव्या शतकात फुले दाम्पत्याच्या साहित्याची उपेक्षा करणारे वाङ्मय समीक्षक हाच चिपळूणकरी वारसा सांगणारे व पवित्रा घेणारे होते.

क्या खबर? जितनी मुर्ती उतनी कबर....

लेखक : जयेश मेस्त्री 
ई पत्ता: smartboy.mestry5@gmail.com

  काश्मीरमधून हिंदु आबालवृ्द्धांना नेसत्या कपड्यानिशी मुस्लिमांनी हाकलून लावले. आज हे काश्मीरी हिंदु पंडीत निर्वासीत म्हणून आयुष्य जगत (नव्हे मरत) आहेत. काश्मीरमद्धे ही परिस्थीती कशी निर्माण झाली? याचे उत्तर आपल्याला कुराणात सापडू शकते. फक्त भोंदू धर्मनिरपेक्षतेचा धुर्त चष्मा काढून टाकायला पाहीजे, म्हणजे सर्व स्पष्ट होईल. पण गांधीगिरीच्या चिखलात माकलेल्या आपल्या भारत देशाला ते कितपत शक्य होईल, हे सांगता येत नाही. इथे एक विनोद आठवतो, "तीन मित्र असतात, अगदी जिवाभावाचे. एक हिंदु, मुस्लिम आणि ख्रिश्चन. तिघेही धर्मनिरपेक्ष (तुमच्यासारखे). ते तिघे रोज बसमधून कामाला जायचे एकत्र, तिघेही एकाच कार्यालयात कामाला होते. पण रोज मुंबईच्या गर्दीतून बसमधून प्रवास करणे म्हणजे जीवाचे हाल. म्हणून एकदा त्यांनी विचार केला, की आपण दुचाकी (बाईक) घ्यायला हवी. जेणेकरुन कामाला जायला व कामावरुन यायला कुठल्याही प्रकारचा त्रास होणार नाही. तिघांनी मिळून एकच दुचाकी खरेदी केली, कारण धर्मनिरपेक्षता. तिघेही वेगवेगळ्या धर्माचे असल्यामुळे दुचाकीचे उद्घाटन कसे करायचे, या विचारात पडले. पहिल्यांदा ते मंदिरात गेले. हिंदु मित्र दुचाकी मंदिरात घेऊन गेला, बाकीचे दोघे बाहेरच उभे. थोड्यावेळात तो हिंदु मित्र बाहेर आला, तर पाहतो काय? बाईकची हेडलाईट फ़ुटली होती. हिंदु मित्राला त्याबद्धल विचारले तेव्हा त्याने उत्तर दिले की, आमच्यात नारळ फोडण्याची पद्धत आहे. नारळ फोडायला दुसरी जागा सापडली नाही म्हणून,..... आता तिघे चर्चमद्धे गेले. अर्थातच ख्रिश्चन मित्र आत गेला, थोड्यावेळाने बाहेर आला, तर काय? बाईकची सीट जळाली होती. म्हणे मेणबत्ती पेटवायला जागाच मिळाली नाही म्हणून,.... आता तिघेही मशिदीजवळ आले, स्वाभावीक आहे मुस्लिम मित्र मशिदीत गेला, अहो पण बाहेर येईना. अर्धा तास होऊन गेला तरीसुद्धा हा बाहेर येत नाही, दोघांनाही घाम फ़ुटू लागला. तेवढ्यात मुस्लिम मित्र बाहेर आला. युद्ध जिंकल्याचा ब्रह्मानंद त्याच्या चेहर्‍यावर होता. हिंदु आणि ख्रिश्चन मित्र बाईक पाहू लागले, आता नेमकं काय तुटलं? पण त्यांना काहीच दिसेना. त्यांना वाटले मुस्लिम किती महान असतात, बाईकला जराही इजा झाली नाही, वाह. तिघेही आनंदाने बाईकवर बसले कार्यालयात जाण्यासाठी. हिंदु मित्र बाईक चालू करू लागला. पण बाईक चालू होईना. त्यांना कळेना की नेमके काय झाले? त्यांनी बाइकच्या सगळ्या दिशेला पाहिलं आणि त्यांनी जे पाहिलं त्याच्यावर त्यांचा विश्वासच बसेना. मुसलमान मित्राने बाईकचा (सुंता) सायलेंसर अर्धा कापला होता." हीच आहे आपल्या भारताची धर्मनिरपेक्षता, सर्वधर्मसमभाव. मुळात सर्वधर्मसमभाव नसतोच तर सर्वधर्मआदरभाव असतो. सगळे धर्म समान आहेत असे आपण मानू शकत नाही. पण सगळ्या धर्मांचा आदर नक्कीच करु शकतो. मजहब नही सिखाता आपस मे बेर रखना, हे वाक्य धादांत खोटे आहे. उलट मजहब ही हमे सिखाता आपस मे बेर रखना, हेच सत्य आहे कितीही कडू असले तरी.

    मुसलमान राष्ट्र मानत नाही, धर्म (नव्हे पंथ) मानतात. सगळेच मुसलमान आतंकवादी नसतात, हे खरे असले तरी सगळे आतंकवादी मुसलमान असतात, हे ही तितकेच खरे. १९२१ चे केरळमधील मोपल्यांचे बंड असो किंवा १९४६ च्या कोलकात्यातील दंगली असो, मुस्लिमांनी हिंदुंवर जे अत्याचार केले आहेत ते त्यांच्या पंथाच्या/धर्माच्या प्रभावाखाली केले आहेत. ह्याचे रहस्य त्यांच्या धर्मग्रंथात आहे, हे हिंदुंनी जाणले पाहिजे. एखाद्दा विभागात मुस्लिमांची संख्या २०% झाली तर ते त्यांची ताकद दाखवतात. आणि मग काश्मिरमद्धे जसे घडले तसे कुठेही होऊ शकते. हिंदु बेघर होऊ शकतात. काश्मीरसारखी समस्या मुंबईत/महाराष्ट्रातही होऊ शकते. कारण महाराष्ट्रात त्यांची ताकद वाढत आहे. ते बिंधास्तपणे टोपी आणि बुरखा घालून हिंडत असतात. आम्हाला मात्र कपाळावर टीळा लावायला लाज वाटते किंवा संकोच वाटतो. काश्मिरमद्धे ११ वर्षाच्या मुलीवर ८ मुसलमानांनी बलात्कार केला और उसका उन्हे फ़क्र है? ही मानसिकता वैयक्तीक नव्हे तर धार्मीक आहे. म्हणून हिंदुंनी धर्माचरण करायलाच पाहिजे. कपाळावर टीळा लावायलाच पाहिजे. धर्मासाठी कसे जगावे हे छत्रपति शिवरायांकडून शिकावं आणि धर्मासाठी कसे मरावे हे छत्रपति शंभूराजेंकडून शिकावं. मला माझ्या हिंदु राष्ट्रातील मातांना विनंती करायची आहे की, हे मातांनो पुष्कळ इंजिनीयर, डॉक्टर जन्माला घातलेत, आता राष्ट्रभक्त जन्माला घाला. आज त्यांचीच जास्त गरज आहे.

    हा लेख लिहीताना मला फार अस्वस्थ वाटत आहे. त्याचे कारणही अस्वस्थ करण्यासारखेच आहे. २६ नोव्हेंबर २०११ या दिवशी मी आणि माझी सौ महाबळेश्वरला गेलो होतो. सकाळी ५.३० वाजता महाबळेश्वरला पोहोचलो. पण हॉटेलच्या रुमची चावी ९ वाजता हाती लागणार होती, म्हणून मी सहज फेरफटका मारण्यासाठी गेलो. तिथे मला चहाची टपरी दिसली, म्हटले वाह ! कडाक्याची थंडी आणि चहा, उत्तम. म्हणून मी चहा प्यायला टपरीत गेलो, ते एका मुस्लिम काकांचे दुकान होते. मी चहा मागवला, तेव्हा तिथे तीन तरुण पठाण आले. ते फारच मस्करीच्या मूडमद्धे होते. छान भंकस रंगत होती, त्याचवेळी तिथे एक वृद्ध मुस्लिम गृहस्थ आले. त्या तीन तरुण पठाणांपैकी एकाने त्या वृद्ध मुस्लिम गृहस्थाला विचारले "क्या चाचा, क्या खबर?" तेव्हा त्या वृद्ध मुस्लिम गृहस्थांनी जे उत्तर दिले, ते ऎकून माझ्या पायाखालची जमीनच सरकली आणि मला भारताचे भयाण भविष्य दिसू लागले. ते वृद्ध गृहस्थ म्हणाले "क्या खबर? जितनी मुर्ती उतनी कबर (ही त्यांची म्ह्ण आहे)." म्हणजे मुर्तीपुजक हिंदुंची जेव्हढी मंदिरे आहेत तिथे कबर बांधायची आहे, हिंदु धर्म नष्ट करायचा आहे. माझ्या सन्माननिय हिंदुंनो, हे चित्र फार भयानक आहे. आपल्या म्हणी धार्मीक किंवा विनोदी असतात. पण त्यांच्या म्हणीसुद्धा विध्वंसक आहेत. यावरुन त्यांची मानसिकता लक्षात येते. जर आपले राष्ट्र, आपले अस्तित्व टीकवायचे असेल तर आपण एकत्र यायलाच पाहिजे. आपण ८०% असूनही आपण याचक आहोत, कारण आपली मतं १००% नाही. शुक्रवारी वांद्रे स्टेशनचे गेट बंद केले जातात नमाजासाठी. उद्या सबंध हिंदुस्थान बंद केला जाईल. म्हणून आपण आता गांधीवाद फेकून दिला पाहिजे आणि सावरकरवाद आत्मसात केला पाहिजे. हिंदुंच्या राज्यात मुसलमान सन्मानाने जगू शकतात पण मुसलमानांच्या राज्यात हिंदु जगूच शकणार नाही. हिंदुंनो तुमच्या मंदिराची कबर होऊ द्दायची नसेल तर हिंदु संघटन करा, सगळे वादविवाद विसरुन हिंदु म्हणून एकत्र या. ख्रिस्थी "ना"ताळ किंवा १ जानेवारी नववर्ष म्हणून साजरा करू नका. फक्त हिंदुंचे सण साजरे करा. "डे" पाळण्याची दळभद्री प्रथा मोडून काढा. निवड्णूकीत हिंदुत्ववादी राजकीय पक्षांना निवडून द्दा. बौद्ध आणि जैन पंथांनी सुद्धा हिंदुंना हिंदुराष्ट्र उभारण्यासाठी मदत केली पाहिजे. इथे बाबासाहेब आंबेडकरांचा एक किस्सा आठवतो, "फाळणीच्यावेळी पापस्थानात असलेल्या बौद्धांवर मुस्लिमांनी अमानुष अत्याचार केले, स्त्रियांवर बलात्कार, कत्तली केल्या. तेव्हा बाबासाहेबांनी तेथील बौद्धांना संदेश पाठवला की तुम्ही सर्व बौद्धजन पाकिस्थानातून हिंदुस्थानात या. कारण इथे हिंदु बहूसंख्य आहेत. ते तुम्हाला कुठलाही त्रास देणार नाही." यावरुन हेच स्पष्ट होते की हिंदुंच्या राज्यात सगळे सुखात राहू शकतात.

 एक इंग्रजी लेखक म्हणतो "तुमच्या राष्ट्रातील तरुण मुलं कोणती गाणी गातात यावरून तुमच्या राष्ट्राचे भविष्य कळते". आज आपल्या देशातील तरुण मुलं कोणती गाणी गातात हो? मुन्नी बदनाम हूई... ह्याचा अर्थ स्पष्ट आहे, भविष्यात आपल्या मुन्न्या म्हणजे आपल्या आया, बहिणी, मुली बदनाम होणार. याकडे पालकांनी लक्ष्य दिलं पाहिजे. हिंदु राष्ट्राच्या स्थापनेसाठी सर्व हिंदु नेत्यांनी एकत्र यायला पाहिजे, आपापले वादविवाद चूलीत टाकून. मी मराठी, मी मराठी असं बोंबलणार्‍या नेत्यांनीसुद्धा मराठीच्या बुरख्यात मुसलमानांना प्राधान्य देऊ नये. याचे परिणाम भिषण होऊ शकतात, हे मी नाही सांगत, इतिहास सांगतो. जाता जाता इतकेच सांगतो की तुम्ही ज्या ईश्वराला मानत असाल, त्या ईश्वराला स्मरून सांगा, तुम्ही सुरक्षीत आहात का? तुमच्या आया-बहिणी सुरक्षीत आहेत का? तुमच्या आया-बहिणींची अब्रू कधीच लूटली जाणार नाही, तुम्ही कसाबसारख्या जिहादींचे शिकार होणार नाही, याची शाश्वती तुम्ही देऊ शकता का? जर याचे उत्तर "नाही" असेल तर हिंदु संघटन साधणे हाच एक अमोघ उपाय आहे. जर असे झाले नाही तर "जितनी मुर्ती उतनी कबर". 

दैनिक सामना

दैनिक सामना

Four Hindu Doctors Gunned Down in Pakistan

CHAKRA) The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) condemned the brutal attack on four Hindus earlier this week in a small town in Sindh province, Pakistan. The attack resulted in the deaths of three doctors: Drs. Ajit Kumar, Naresh Kumar, and Ashok Kumar, while a fourth, Dr. Satia Pal, received serious injuries and is currently in intensive care in a Karachi hospital. The incident has caused widespread fear and apprehension amongst Hindus in Sindh, who frequently complain of inadequate protection from the police.

Such violent attacks on the Hindu community are fairly common in Pakistan according to the Foundation, which publishes an annual human rights report that documents the plight of Hindu minorities worldwide.

“This horrific act is yet another example of the religious intolerance that pervades Pakistani society,” said Samir Kalra, Esq., HAF Director and Senior Fellow for Human Rights. “Hindus and other minorities are routinely subjected to violence and persecution, while the government and police sit idly by and do nothing.”

The victims were reportedly gunned down by members of the Muslim Bhayo community after an alleged dispute involving a Muslim “dancing girl.” Members of the Hindu community, however, maintain that they had been receiving threats for the past three months, since they stopped paying “protection money” to the Muslim Bhayos. Hindus and other non-Muslims are often forced to pay “protection money” to Muslim gangs in order to safeguard their community from violence.

Following funerals for the victims, Hindus throughout Sindh, including in the cities of Shikarpur, Larkana, Umarkot, Tharparkar, and Nawabshah, initiated an indefinite strike and closed their businesses to protest the murders and demand justice. Police authorities have reportedly made arrests in connection with the case, but it is unclear as to whether any of the arrested persons will be charged or prosecuted.

“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families of the victims,” said Arvind Chandrakantan, HAF Executive Council Member. “We urge the government to take all necessary steps to bring the perpetrators to justice and provide protection to the Hindu community.”

Why Gilani is man of peace for Manmohan

    Friday, November 11, 2011, 

 Addu: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's praise of his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani as "man of peace" attracted a lot of attention here, with New Delhi clarifying that the assessment was made on basis of the frequent meetings between the two leaders. 

    The prime minister's assessment was based on frequent meetings he had with Gilani, Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai told reporters when asked why Manmohan Singh described Gilani as "man of peace" at a joint press conference the two leaders held after their talks on Thursday. 

    The nature of talks he has had with Gilani supported this assessment, Mathai said. 

Manmohan Singh's pursuit of peace with Pakistan and the resonance he finds in his talks with Gilani to strengthen the relationship explains it, said Mathai. 

    Manmohan Singh and Gilani have met four times in the past 30 months, including their meetings in Sharm el Sheikh on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement summit in July 2009 and in Thimphu on the margins of the SAARC summit in April 2010. 

    Gilani accepted Manmohan Singh's invitation to watch the World Cup semifinal in Mohali in India's Punjab in March. In their meeting in the Maldives on the margins of the SAARC summit here Thursday, both leaders struck an optimistic note and vowed to open a new chapter in their bilateral relations. 

Togadia calls for death sentence for conversion

(The Hindu -AHMEDABAD, November 9, 2011)

Vishwa Hindu Parishad international general secretary Pravin Togadia has sought death sentence to those who attempt to convert Hindus to other religions.

Dr. Togadia was addressing the concluding session of a three-day Akhil Bharatiya Dharmaprasar Karykarta Sammelan on Monday. VHP workers from all over the country took part in it.

The sammelan was held close to Pirana Dargah, on the outskirts of the city, sending the police into a tizzy, particularly because it coincided with Bakrid.

The convention, however, ended peacefully, with the trustees of the Pirana Dargah contributing Rs 1.11 lakh to the VHP for assistance towards schools, hospitals and other humanitarian aid being run by the Parishad. Incidentally, the Pirana dargah is run by a Trust that has both Hindus and Muslims as members. Its present chief is Nanakdasji Maharaj, a Hindu.

While anti-conversion measures were a priority, re-converting the Hindus converted to Islam or Christianity was a bigger priority. Large-scale conversion of Hindus to other religions was being carried out only because of the “appeasement politics” of all major political parties, he said.

DIG AT MODI

Dr. Togadia had a dig at Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Without referring to Mr. Modi's recent controversy when he was offered Muslim headgears during his “Sadbhavana Mission” fast here and again in Navsari, Dr. Togadia said of late it had become a “fashion” for him (Mr. Modi) to hobnob with the minorities and offer them “sumptuous biriyanis as being done to Mumbai attack convict Ajmal Kasab.”

Narayan Sai, son of the controversial self-styled “Godman” Asaram Bapu, felt that Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists should be considered part of the Hindu religion for, “their line of thinking is no different from that of Hindus” except for some rituals.

Pak schools teach Hindu hatred: US commission

Islamabad: Text books in Pakistani schools foster prejudice and intolerance of Hindus and other religious minorities, while most teachers view non-Muslims as 'enemies of Islam,' according to a study by a US government commission released on Wednesday.

The findings indicate how deeply ingrained hardline Islam is in Pakistan and help explain why militancy is often supported, tolerated or excused in the country.

"Teaching discrimination increases the likelihood that violent religious extremism in Pakistan will continue to grow, weakening religious freedom, national and regional stability, and global security," said Leonard Leo, the chairman of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.

Pakistan was created in 1947 as a homeland for the Muslims of South Asia and was initially envisaged as a moderate state where minorities would have full rights. But three wars with mostly Hindu India; state support for militants fighting Soviet-rule in Afghanistan in the 1980s; and the appeasement of hardline clerics by weak governments seeking legitimacy have led to a steady radicalization of society.

Religious minorities and those brave enough to speak out against intolerance have often been killed, seemingly with impunity, by militant sympathizers. The commission warned that any significant efforts to combat religious discrimination, especially in education, would 'likely face strong opposition' from hardliners.

The study reviewed more than 100 textbooks from grades 1-10 from Pakistan's four provinces. Researchers in February this year visited 37 public schools, interviewing 277 students and teachers, and 19 madrases, where they interviewed 226 students and teachers.

The Islamization of textbooks began under the US-backed rule of army dictator Gen Zia-ul-Haq, who courted Islamists to support his rule. In 2006, the government announced plans to reform the curriculum to address the problematic content, but that has not been done, the study said.

Pakistan's Islamist and right-wing polity would likely oppose any efforts to change the curriculum, and the government has shown no desire to challenge them on the issue.

The report found systematic negative portrayals of minorities, especially Hindus and, to a lesser extent, Christians. Hindus make up more than 1 percent of Pakistan's 180 million people, while Christians represent around 2 percent. Some estimates put the numbers higher.

There are also even smaller populations of Sikhs and Buddhists.

"Religious minorities are often portrayed as inferior or second-class citizens who have been granted limited rights and privileges by generous Pakistani Muslims, for which they should be grateful," the report said. "Hindus are repeatedly described as extremists and eternal enemies of Islam whose culture and society is based on injustice and cruelty, while Islam delivers a message of peace and brotherhood, concepts portrayed as alien to the Hindu."

The books don't contain many specific references to Christians, but those that "that do exist seem generally negative, painting an incomplete picture of the largest religious minority in Pakistan," the report said.

Attempts to reach Pakistan's education minister were not successful.

The textbooks make very little reference to the role played by Hindus, Sikhs and Christians in the cultural, military and civic life of Pakistan, meaning a "a young minority student will thus not find many examples of educated religious minorities in their own textbooks," the report said.

"In most cases historic revisionism seems designed to exonerate or glorify Islamic civilization, or to denigrate the civilizations of religious minorities," the report said. "Basic changes to the texts would be needed to present a history free of false or unsubstantiated claims which convey religious bias."

The researchers also found that the books foster a sense that Pakistan's Islamic identity is under constant threat.

"The anti-Islamic forces are always trying to finish the Islamic domination of the world," read one passage from a social studies text being taught to Grade 4 students in Punjab province, the country's most populated. "This can cause danger for the very existence of Islam. Today, the defense of Pakistan and Islam is very much in need."

The report states that Islamic teachings and references were commonplace in compulsory text books, not just religious ones, meaning Pakistan's Christians, Hindus and other minorities were being taught Islamic content. It said this appeared to violate Pakistan's constitution, which states that students should not have to receive instruction in a religion other than their own.

The attitudes of the teachers no doubt reflect the general intolerance in Pakistan — a 2011 Pew Research Center study found the country the third most intolerant in the world — but because of the influence they have, they are especially worrisome.

Their views were frequently nuanced and sometimes contradictory, according to the study. While many advocated respectful treatment of religious minorities, this was conditional upon the attitudes of the minorities, "which appeared to be in question," the report said. The desire to proselytize was cited as one of the main motivations for kind treatment.

According to the study, more than half the public school teachers acknowledged the citizenship of religious minorities, but a majority expressed the opinion that religious minorities must not be allowed to hold positions of power, in order to protect Pakistan and Muslims. While many expressed the importance of respecting the practices of religious minorities, simultaneously 80 percent of teachers viewed non-Muslims, in some form or another, as "enemies of Islam."

Hindu organisation slams Agnivesh for participating in `Bigg Boss`

Rohtak: The Hindu organisation, Arya Samaj, on Wednesday criticized social activist Swami Agnivesh for making his debut in the television show `Bigg Boss`, and said that the latter has hurt the religious sentiments of the saffron clan through his act.

The chief of Arya Samaj in Haryana, Acharya Baldev, said that the image of the entire saffron clan has taken a beating due to Agnivesh`s act.

Acharya Baldev said that if Agnivesh wanted to become a part of the television programme then he should have shed the saffron attire.

"Not only Arya Samaj, but entire society will face its consequences because he (Swami Agnivesh) has coloured his clothes (in saffron colour). So, all those who have coloured their clothes are in trouble. He would have gone (in the television reality show) after removing his saffron colour clothes," said Acharya Baldev.

"He has hurt religious sentiments of everyone including ancient Hindu organisation and all Arya Samaj as he had harmed the image of the saints and sacred people," he added.

Acharya Baldev further said that the entire Arya Samaj would not allow Agnivesh to participate in the future events of the organisation.

"We have already boycotted him from the Arya Samaj and in the coming future also we will go on with this boycott. We will completely ban his entry on any functions of Arya Samaj, we won``t let him attend any such events. All the intellectuals from the country will share stage, but he would not be allowed," he added.

Swami Agnivesh had earlier on Tuesday said that he would use his stay in the reality show Bigg Boss 5 to create awareness about various maladies that exist in Indian society and to promote steps to remove them.

The 72-year-old social activist, who entered the Bigg Boss House on Tuesday night, further said that he would use the reality show as a medium to initiate a dialogue with middle class youth on various social issues.

The fifth season of the much-hyped reality show Bigg Boss kick-started on October 2 with the unveiling of the 14 contestants. This show is an Indian version of a UK show, Big Bother.

Hindus observe shut down in Sindh to protest killings

PTI | Nov 9, 2011, 07.10PM IST

KARACHI: Angry over killing of three Hindus, the community members today observed a shut down in Pakistan's southern province of Sindh as part of an indefinite strike to protest the deaths, as police arrested 13 people in the case. 

The Pakistan Hindu Council which had initially said that four Hindu doctors were gunned down on Eid day later clarified that three Hindus were killed in the attack. 

"It is now confirmed that those killed included a doctor, Dr Ajit Kumar and two of his relatives who were businessmen, Naresh Kumar and Ashok Kumar," Dr Ramesh Kumar, a former lawmaker and chief patron of the PHC, told PTI. 

He said a fourth person, Dr Satia Pal, was badly wounded in the attack and is now under intensive care in a Karachi hospital. "He is still struggling for his life," Kumar said. 

Police have so far arrested 13 people in connection with the killings, a police official said. 

Since the funeral of the three Hindus killed allegedly by the Muslim Bhayo community in a town near Shikarpur, the community has been observing an indefinite strike in many parts of Sindh including Shikarpur, Larkana, Umarkot, Tharparkar, Nawabshah. 

"The Hindu community has shut down its businesses and are observing the strike until the killers are apprehended," said Pitanbar Sewani, an elected representative of the Hindu community belonging to Sukkur district. 

The community members closed down their business in protest and announced an indefinite strike till those responsible for the killing are brought to book.

How to wipe out Islamic terror: The Moment of Truth Has Arrived

Subramanian Swamy

Indian Express First Published : 31 May 2010 12:33:00 AM IST

source :http://www.janataparty.org

From recent history, a lesson to be learnt in tackling terrorism in India is that the Hindu is the target and that Muslims of India are being programmed by a slow reactive process to become radical and thus slide into suicide against Hindus, argues Subramanian Swamy

According to the latest Union home ministry Annual Report to Parliament, of the 35 states in India, 29 are affected by terrorist acts carried out by all kinds of forces. Terrorism, I define here as the illegal use of force to overawe the civilian population to make it do or not do an act against their will and well-being. 

There are about 40 reported and unreported terrorist attacks per month in the country. That is why the recent US National Counter-Terrorism Centre publication A Chronology of International Terrorism states: ‘India suffered more terrorist acts than any other country’. 

While the PM thinks that Maoists’ threat is most serious, I think Islamic terrorism is even more serious. If we did not have today the present Union home minister, PM, and UPA chairperson, then Maoists can be eliminated in a month, much as I did with the LTTE in Tamil Nadu, as a senior minister in 1991, or MGR did with the Naxalites in the early 1980s. 

Why is Islamic terrorism our number one problem of national security? About this there will be no doubt after 2012. By that year, I expect a Taliban takeover in Pakistan and the Americans to flee Afghanistan. Then, Islam will confront Hinduism to ‘complete unfinished business’. 

Let us remember that every Hindu-Muslim riot in India since 1947, has been ignited by Muslim fanatics — if one goes by all the commissions of inquiry set up after every riot. By today’s definition these riots are all terrorist acts. Muslims, though a minority in India, still have fanatics who dare to lead violent attacks against Hindus. Other Muslims of India just lump it, sulk or rejoice. That is the history from Babar’s time to Aurangzeb. There have been exceptions to this apathy of Muslims like Dara Shikoh, in the old days, or like M J Akbar and Salman Haidar today who are not afraid to speak out against Islamic terror, but still they remain exceptions. 

Blame the Hindus 

In one sense, I do not blame the Muslim fanatics for targeting Hindus. I blame us Hindus who have taken their individuality permitted in Sanatana Dharma to the extreme. Millions of Hindus can assemble without state patronage for Kumbh Mela completely self-organised, but they all leave for home oblivious of the targeting of Hindus in Kashmir, Mau, Melvisharam and Malappuram and do not lift their little finger to help organise Hindus. For example, if half the Hindus vote together rising above their caste and language, a genuine Hindu party will have a two-thirds majority in Parliament and Assemblies. 

The secularists now tout instances of Hindu fanatics committing terrorist attacks against Muslims or other minorities. But these attacks are mostly state sponsored, often by the Congress itself, and not by Hindu ‘non-state actors’. Muslim-led attacks are however all by ‘non-state actors’ unless one includes the ISI and rogue elements in Pakistan’s army which are aiding them, as state sponsoring. 

Fanatic Muslim attacks have been carried out to target and demoralise the Hindus, to make Hindus yield that which they should not, with the aim of undermining and ultimately to dismantle the Hindu foundation of India. This is the unfinished war of 1,000 years which Osama bin Laden talks about. In fact, the earliest terror tactics in India were deployed in Bengal 1946 by Suhrawady and Jinnah to terrorise Hindus to give in on the demand for Pakistan. The Congress party claiming to represent the Hindus capitulated, and handed 25 per cent of India on a platter to Mohammed Ali Jinnah. Now they want the remaining 75 per cent. 

Forces against Hindus 

This is not to say that other stooges have not targeted Hindus. During the last six decades since Independence, British imperialist-inspired Dravidian movement led by E V Ramaswamy Naicker, in the name of rationalism tried to debunk as irrational the Hindu religion, and terrorised the Hindu priestly class, ie, the Brahmins, for propagating the Hindu religion. 

The movement’s organisational arm, the Dravida Kazhagam (DK), had venerated Ravana for 50 years to spite the Hindu adoration of Rama and vulgarise the abduction of Sita, till the DK belatedly learnt that Ravana was a Brahmin and a pious bhakta of Lord Shiva too. Abandoning this course of defaming Ramayana, the DK have now become stooges of the anti-Indian LTTE which has specialised in killing the Hindu Tamil leadership in Sri Lanka. Of course the DK has now been orphaned by the decimation of the LTTE. 

Civil war situation 

In the 1960s, the Christian missionaries had inspired the Nagas. The Nagas also wanted to further amputate Bharat Mata by seeking secession of Nagaland from the nation. In the 1980s, the Hindus 

of Manipur were targeted by foreign-trained elements. Manipuris were told: give up Hinduism or be killed. In Kashmir, since the beginning of the 1990s, militants in league with the Pakistan-trained terrorists also targeted the Hindus by driving the Hindu Pandits out of the Valley, or killing them or dishonouring their women folk. 

Recognising that targeting of Hindus is being widely perceived, and that Muslims of India are largely just passive spectators, the foreign patrons of Islamic terrorists are beginning to engage in terrorist acts that could pit Muslims against Hindus in nation-wide conflagration and possible civil war as in Serbia and Bosnia. Muslims cannot be divided into ‘moderates’ and ‘extremists’ because the former just capitulate when confronted. Recently, Pakistan civilian government capitulated on ‘kite flying’ and banned it because Taliban considers it as ‘Hindu’. Moderate governments of Malaysia and Kazhakstan are now demolishing Hindu temples. 

Collective response 

Hence, the first lesson to be learnt from recent history, for tackling terrorism in India is that the Hindu is the target and that Muslims of India are being programmed by a slow reactive process to become radical and thus slide into suicide against Hindus. It is to undermine the Hindu psyche and create fear of civil war that terror attacks are organised. 

And hence since the Hindu is the target, Hindus must collectively respond as Hindus against the terrorist and not feel individually isolated or worse, be complacent because he or she is not personally affected. If one Hindu dies merely because he or she was a Hindu, then a bit of every Hindu also dies. This is an essential mental attitude, a necessary part of a virat Hindu (for fuller discussion of the concept of virat Hindu, see my Hindus Under Siege: The Way Out Haranand, 2006). 

Therefore we need today a collective mindset as Hindus to stand against the Islamic terrorist. In this response, Muslims of India can join us if they genuinely feel for the Hindu. That they do, I will not believe, unless they acknowledge with pride that though they may be Muslims, their ancestors are Hindus. 

It is not easy for them to acknowledge this ancestry because the Muslim mullah and Christian missionary would consider it as unacceptable since that realisation would dilute the religious fervour in their faith and also create an option for their possible re-conversion to Hinduism. Hence, these religious leaders preach hatred and violence against the kafir ie, the Hindu (for example read Chapter 8 verse 12 of the Quran) to keep the faith of their followers. The Islamic terrorist outfits, eg the SIMI, has already resolved that India is Darul Harab, and they are committed to make it Darul Islam. That makes them free of any moral compunction whatsoever in dealing with Hindus. 

Brihad Hindu Samaj 

But still, if any Muslim does so acknowledge his or her Hindu legacy, then we Hindus can accept him or her as a part of the Brihad Hindu Samaj, which is Hindustan. India that is Bharat that is Hindustan is a nation of Hindus and others whose ancestors are Hindus. Even Parsis and Jews in India have Hindu ancestors. Others, who refuse to so acknowledge or those foreigners who become Indian citizens by registration can remain in India, but should not have voting rights (which means they cannot be elected representatives). 

Hence, to begin with, any policy to combat terrorism must begin with requiring each and every Hindu becoming a committed or virat Hindu. To be a virat Hindu one must have a Hindu mindset, a mindset that recognises that there is vyaktigat charitra (personal character) and a rashtriya charitra (national character). 

It is not enough if one is pious, honest and educated. That is the personal character only. National character is a mindset actively and vigorously committed to the sanctity and integrity of the nation. For example, Manmohan Singh, our prime minister, has high personal character (vyaktigat charitra), but by being a rubber stamp of a semi-literate Sonia Gandhi, and waffling on all national issues, he has proved that he has no rashtriya charitra. 

The second lesson for combating the terrorism we face today is: since demoralising the Hindu and undermining the Hindu foundation of India in order to destroy the Hindu civilisation, is the goal of all terrorists in India we must never capitulate and never concede any demand of the terrorists. The basic policy has to be: never yield to any demand of the terrorists. That necessary resolve has not been shown in our recent history. Instead ever since we conceded Pakistan in 1947 under duress, we have been mostly yielding time and again. 

Bowing to terrorists 

In 1989, to obtain the release of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed’s daughter, Rubaiyya who had been kidnapped by terrorists, five terrorists in Indian jails were set free by the V P Singh’s government. This made these criminals in the eyes of Kashmiri separatists and fence sitters heroes, as those who had brought India’s Hindu establishment on its knees. To save Rubaiyya it was not necessary to surrender to terrorist demands. 

The worst capitulation to terrorists in our modern history was in the Indian Airlines IC-814 hijack in December 1999 staged in Kandahar. The government released three terrorists even without getting court permission (required since they were in judicial custody). Moreover, they were escorted by a senior minister on the PM’s special Boeing all the way to Kandahar as royal guests instead of being shoved across the Indo-Pakistan border. 

Worse still, all the three after being freed, went back to Pakistan and created three separate terrorist organisations to kill Hindus. Mohammed Azhar, whom the National Security Advisor Brijesh Mishra had then described as “a mere harmless cleric”, upon his release led the LeT to savage and repeated terrorist attacks on Hindus all over India from Bangalore to Srinagar. Since mid-2000, Azhar is responsible for the killing of over 2,000 Hindus and the attack on Parliament on December 13, 2001. Omar Sheikh who helped al-Qaeda is in jail in US custody for killing US journalist Daniel Pearl, while the third, Zargar is engaged today in random killings of Hindus in Doda and Jammu after founding Al-Mujahideen Jingaan. 

This Kandahar episode proves that we should never negotiate with terrorists, never yield. If you do, then sooner or later you will end up losing more lives than you will ever save by a deal with terrorists. 

Moment of truth 

The third lesson to be learnt is that whatever and however small the terrorist incident, the nation must retaliate—not by measured and ‘sober’ responses but by massive retaliation. Otherwise what is the alternative? Walk meekly to death expecting that our ‘sober’ responses will be rewarded by our neighbours and their patrons? We will be back to 1100 AD fooled into suicidal credulity. We should not be ghouls for punishment from terrorists and their patrons. We should retaliate. 

For example, when Ayodhya temple was sought to be attacked, this was not a big terrorist incident but we should have massively retaliated by re-building the Ram temple at the site. 

This is Kaliyug, and hence there is no room for sattvic responses to evil people. Hindu religion has a concept of apat dharma and we should invoke it. This is the moment of truth for us. Either we organise to survive as a civilisation or vanish as the Persian, Babylonian, and Egyptian civilisations did centuries ago before the brutal Islamic onslaught. For that our motto should be Saam, Dhaam, Bheda, Danda. 

Poverty is no factor 

What motivates the Islamic terrorists in India? Many are advising us Hindus to deal with the root ‘cause’ of terrorism rather than concentrate on eradicating terrorists by retaliation. And pray what is the root ‘cause’?

According to bleeding heart liberals, terrorists are born or bred because of illiteracy, poverty, oppression, and discrimination. They argue that instead of eliminating them, the root cause of these four disabilities in society should be removed. Only then terrorism will disappear. Before replying to this, let us understand that I have serious doubts about the integrity of these liberals, or more appropriately, these promiscuous intellectuals. They seek to deaden the emotive power of the individual and render him passive (inculcate ‘majboori’ in our psyche). A nation state cannot survive for long with such a capitulationist mentality. 

It is rubbish to say that terrorists who mastermind the attacks are poor. Osama bin laden for example is a billionaire. Islamic terrorists are patronised by those states that have grown rich from oil revenues. In Britain, the terrorists arrested so far for the bombings are all well-to-do persons. Nor are terrorists uneducated. Most of terrorist leaders are doctors, chartered accountants, MBAs and teachers. For example, in the failed Times Square New York episode, the Islamic terrorist Shahzad studied and got an MBA from a reputed US university. He was from a highly placed family in Pakistan. He certainly faced no discrimination and oppression in his own country. The gang of nine persons who hijacked four planes on September 11, 2001 and flew them into the World Trade Towers in New York and other targets were certainly not discriminated or oppressed in the United States. Hence it is utter rubbish to say that terror is the outcome of the poverty terrorists face. 

If we accept the Left-wing liberals argument, does it mean that in Islamic countries, the non-Islamic religious minority who are discriminated and oppressed can take to terrorism? In the Valley, where Muslims are in majority, not only Article 370 of the Constitution provides privileges to the majority but it is the minority Hindus who have been slaughtered, or raped, and dispossessed. They have become refugees in squalid conditions in their own country. 

It is also a ridiculous idea that terrorists cannot be deterred because they are irrational, willing to die, and have no ‘return address’. Terrorist masterminds have political goals and a method in their madness. An effective strategy to deter terrorism is therefore to defeat those political goals and to rubbish them by counter-terrorist action. How is that strategy to be structured? In a brilliant research paper published by Robert Trager and Dessislava Zagorcheva this year (‘Deterring Terrorism’ International Security, vol 30, No 3, Winter 2005/06, pp 87-123) has provided the general principles to structure such a strategy. 

Goal-strategy 

Applying these principles, I advocate the following strategy to negate the political goals of Islamic terrorism in India, provided the Muslim community fail to condemn these goals and call them un-Islamic: 

Goal 1: Overawe India on Kashmir. 

Strategy: Remove Article 370, and re-settle ex-servicemen in the Valley. Create Panun Kashmir for Hindu Pandit community. Look or create opportunity to take over PoK. If Pakistan continues to back terrorists, assist the Baluchis and Sindhis to struggle for independence. 

Goal 2: Blast our temples and kill Hindu devotees. 

Strategy: Remove the masjid in Kashi Vishwanath temple complex, and 300 others in other sites as a tit-for-tat. 

Goal 3: Make India into Darul Islam. 

Strategy: Implement Uniform Civil Code, make Sanskrit learning compulsory and singing of Vande Mataram mandatory, and declare India as Hindu Rashtra in which only those non-Hindus can vote if they proudly acknowledge that their ancestors are Hindus. Re-name India as Hindustan as a nation of Hindus and those whose ancestors are Hindus. 

Goal 4: Change India’s demography by illegal immigration, conversion, and refusal to adopt family planning. 

Strategy: Enact a national law prohibiting conversion from Hindu religion to any other religion. Re-conversion will not be banned. Declare caste is not birth-based but code of discipline based. Welcome non-Hindus to re-convert to the caste of their choice provided they adhere to the code of discipline. Annex land from Bangladesh in proportion to the illegal migrants from that country staying in India. At present, northern one-third from Sylhet to Khulna can be annexed to re-settle the illegal migrants. 

Goal 5: Denigrate Hinduism through vulgar writings and preaching in mosques, madrassas, and churches to create loss of self-respect amongst Hindus and make them fit for capitulation. 

Strategy: Propagate the development of a Hindu mindset (see my new book Hindutva and National Renaissance, Haranand, 2010). 

India can solve its terrorist problem within five years by such a deterrent strategy, but for that we have to learn the four lessons outlined above, and have a Hindu mindset to take bold, risky, and hard decisions to defend the nation. If the Jews can be transformed from lambs walking meekly to the gas chambers to fiery lions in just 10 years, it is not difficult for Hindus in much better circumstances (after all we are 83 per cent of India), to do so in five years. 

Guru Gobind Singh has shown us the way already, how just five fearless persons under spiritual guidance can transform a society. Even if half the Hindu voters are persuaded to collectively vote as Hindus, and for a party sincerely committed to a Hindu agenda, then we can forge an instrument for change. And that ultimately is the bottom line in the strategy to deter terrorism in a democratic Hindustan at this moment of truth.