Outcry over the cruelty is meaningless

Before independence lower casts were called untouchables. Later on, to lessen their inferiority, the term 'harijan' coined by Gandhi ji was being used. Along with that the term of scheduled cast and scheduled tribes were derived in the country's constitution. The word 'harijan' when lost its meaningfulness as Gandhiji's concept, this was stopped. Now in the newer terminology they are called dalits. During the freedom fight and after that very big scholars and writers were born among them. Many among them consistently kept writing and speaking against the prejudice of brahmin system. In the villages and rural areas the hue and cry over the cruelty is a continual act. But the just fact is that they do not have any moral right to complain. Their hue and cry is completely invalid, meaningless and baseless. Because these communities voluntarily accepted the brahminic social system. They are practicing it since a long time and even today they are part of it. The believes given by the founders of this system, they beieved in those. The idols which were assigned, they started worshipping. Marriage, birth, death and matters of daily life which ever family pandit is allocated, they depend on him and follow for generations.

This is not oppression but punishment
So why complain ? Whatever happens with them, which they call oppression that is actually the punishment of the violation of the social system etiquettes. For example if brahmin decided that lower cast people can not go to the temples of higher cast, then why do they go ? When they go they are beaten. They can not take water from superior cast people's well, why they try to take water. A dalit officer, why takes service from a brahmin janitor. When they do not have right to hold property, respectable names then why do they try to have it ? It is as simple as if you do not violate rules you will not be punished. And yes, if the voluntary acceptance is not there. That is if in the past if the stronger and clever groups of people forcibly made the weaker groups of people to be bound, then it should be looked into as if they resisted it or not. Goutham Boudh, Mahaveer and Krishn etc were the personalities to whom the founders of the system either made failed or by acceptoing them as the branches of their own system made them quite. In the recent past Chaitanya, Jyothi Baphule, Dr Ambedkar and Rama Swamy Naekar and just a while ago scholars like Kanshi Ram roused against brahminism.

But the question is of the current era
Leave this all. The question is of the current era. The discovery of the new branches of knowledge, development of science and technology and the era of internet who can force anybody that be tied to the unjust system thousands of years older. But the fact is that, they are forced, but with some other methods. Like by providing quota in the government jobs for scheduled casts. Tough laws against the oppression over dalits. The scheduled casts and tribes commission to monitor the protection of dalit rights and the implementing of laws for their protection. And these things are enough for dalit communities. They are satisfied as well with that. If not satisfied they could have demanded the national commission instead of the scheduled casts and tribes commission to investigate as cast system when and why was founded. Weaker groups accepted it voluntarily or was there any force for that. What is the rationality of it in the present times ? who needs it ? Then what ever result this investigation brings, that should be accepted. That is either this system has to be embraced whole heartedly or completely rejected. If embraced it, no complains of cruelty should be there. And if rejected , one should call to himself a free and respectable human being and try to understand life with the new beginning. There is no middle way. If there is any middle way that is only like U.P's Maya sit in a corner of a classroom and also keep crying.
16/08/09 khabar-O-Nazar by Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by: Ibrahim Shaikh

The first lesson of innocent girl

A detailed report about the cruelty on the dalit families in Uttar Pradesh and the inhuman behaviour of the society with them, was published in Asian Age of 20th July. In the foreword of the report, a lady reporter Amita Verma mentioned about the first day experience of an innocent girl, at a government school, was like this. "6 years old Maya was very happy that morning as she was all prepared to go to school for the first time, her family members were happy too. Mother gave her bath, did beautify her, made her wear the school uniform. When she reached in the class room, she sat with other kids. She just had sit there and the school teacher spilled the poison in her ears. "O girl, stand up and go and sit in that corner, you can not sit with these kids." Then she came to know that she belongs to a lower cast that is why she is made to sit seperate from others. And this way it is the first lesson that Maya got in her first time in school." In the same report, with reference to a NGO, 'Maqsad' it was told that in the 90% of the government schools in Uttar Pradesh, there is discrimination against the dalit kids, where as the government over there is of a dalit woman. The news about the denial of eating the food cooked by dalit women in the schools keep coming every other day.

Something else
In The Times of India, 27th July, its reporter Sabodh Ghildiyal showed with reference to a survey that even though the tough laws against the cruelty on dalits are present, people fear them too, also the dalit community has come into the striking position, countrywide the untouchability is continued. The situation in rural areas is worst. The statistics of the different type of hurtful harrassment were given too. Again on 3rd August a detailed report of Shobha John was published which comprised of many journalists reports. In that one also, it was showed with supporting statistics that where and what type of harrassment is faced by dalits in the country. Right during these news reports, in the evening of 4th August a news from Maharashtra has come that the state government had decided to implement tough sections of the central law regarding scheduled cast and tribes. Any village where any of the dalit family or any its individual is harrassed, the entire village will be penalized and its development fund will be decreased. After Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra is the second state where most of the tyranny exists against dalit casts.

This is just a glimpse
These reports about the cruelty against dalit casts just show a glimpse of the actual situation. The problem is more complex and wider than that. It is noticed that when these reports come, they come for many days continuously, but when do not, remain quite for weeks. More over the reporting style also depends on the reporters, as what mind set they are of. About media it is not required to tell as in whose hands it is. ____ This situation of cruelty with dalit cast... though government had made very tough laws to eliminate it. Also for supervising the implementation of these laws and for protection of the dalits a national commission has been established as well. Central and state governments do lot of things for the betterment of these communities. Apart from these, numerous NGo's are active for their welfare. Dalit politics is on its peak these days. But the cruelty against them is not stopping at all. The rural communities and their illiterate families and poor communities keep shouting and crying anyway, in the cities, educated dalits and higher government officials complain about the discrimination as well. That is because a brahmin janitor hates his I.A.S. officer.
13/08/09 khabar-O-Nazar by Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by: Ibrahim Shaikh

One More Question on the Muslim Personal Law

The commission set up by the Government to supervise and improve the present system of law, has submitted it’s report to the central Law Minister Veerappa Moily. It should be kept in mind that since the past few days dissatisfaction is being expressed over the present system in the country specially the Judicial system. Some groups have stated that it is very important to remove some of the evils that are present. There is dissatisfaction over the structure too. The way corruption has started engulfing this system, concerns are also raised over this. Stress has been given to make justice simple and easy and the harms of not getting justice at the right have also been included. Talks have also been done to make the judicial system better because the weight of such cases is going on increasing in which the decision is pending. This can be realised from the fact that the number of such cases have risen up to fifty thousand and in other higher courts that is 21 High Courts the number of such cases has become even more than 37lakhs and it is still going on increasing. The complaints of malpractices and corruption are also increasing. Like politics, even on the courts the shadow of the anti social elements is not only cast it is increasing, so much so that doubts on the character of some of the higher officials of the judiciary have been expressed. In this regard, this matter is also worth considering that the process of impeachment of the judges should also be made easy and their complete picture should come out in front of the public. Just like it is necessary that all important information regarding the politicians should be public in the same way this should be applicable for the judges as well.

Keeping all these things in mind the Government formed this commission, it’s chief was the former Chief Justice A R Lakshman. Where on one hand the commission has diverted the attention of the government towards various other things and presented their opinion, also given recommendations, together with it they have also raised a very sensitive issue. It is not clear whether it was in it’s scope or not, meaning whether it’s opinion was asked for or not. If not then why did it feel the need to express it’s opinion on it, it is therefore necessary to ponder upon this matter. The sensitive issue which it has been touched is related to Muslim Personal Law. According to the information received it has raised questions about the number of wives in it’s report. They have not only raised objections but they have also given the verdict that the law of having multiple wives which is prevalent among the Muslims is against the real teaching and soul of Islam. This is an obsolete thought which has a lot of bad things included in it. Although the commission also have the knowledge that in India among the Muslims the tradition of keeping more than one wife is very less and very few men can be found with more than one wife. In spite of that the commission feel the need to change this tradition. It is being told that one argument which the commission has presented in support of it’s opinion or thought is that in most of the Muslim countries either this law is nullified or it has been restricted rather legal actions are being taken in order to make it non-functional. However the commission has not stated in clear terms that there should be a change in Muslim Personal Law. One reason for this could be that keeping in view the sensitivity of the matter and fear that some pandemonium might start, no such recommendation was made. However the things mentioned in the remarks are not new, the old things have been repeated. Moreover by doing so it has renewed the old debate and probably has also made it clear that this matter is still alive. The final verdict is to be made yet.

10/08/09 Editorial, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by: Asma Anjum Siddiqui

Misbehaviour with Bible

Recently there was a Bible show in Glasgow city of Britain. This was held by Tax Payers council of Britain. Different editions of different times of the holy book of christian faith were presented. A copy of very old time was kept as well. In these type of shows usually a register is kept in which the viewers write their comments and feedback. In this show as well, the register might have been put. But the viewers started writing on the copies of the Bible itself. Or may be with all the copies some blank papers were added. On which the viewers wrote their feedback. The thing making news out of this news is that some individuals wrote such vulgar, immoral and embarrasing sentences that according to agencies, which are not mentionable. (Siasat / 29th July). Organizers invited the homosexuals too. Perhaps thinking that by seeing Bible they may get corrected. But nothing like that happened. Contrary to that people have thrown arrows of criticism over Bible. Over this misbehaviour, the anger of the leader of catholic christians Pope Benedict is quite natural. He condemned the event harshly. He bashed at the organizers as well that why this type of show was held.

The point which needs attention
Upto this point there is nothing special in this news. Anger of Pope is valid too. The point which need attention was the reference of Quran in Pope's statement. After hearing about misbehaviour with Bible the Pope Benedict 16th very angrily said: "Can anyone dare to do such misbehaviour with The Qura'an." Very honest and true depiction the pope made. Surely any person who think and call himself a Muslim can not do that with the holy book of Islam. If anyone else do it, can not tolerate. It is of pleasure that the pope knows atleast a fundamental reality about muslim nation and Islam. Thus, now the question ahead of him is that why is it so ? If muslims respect their book (which actualy of all human beings) why they respect and if Christians do not do that, then why do they not ? And this point is quite interesting too, as being a Leader of a worldwide religion, whose followers are over 200 crores, America and Europe are whose patron, is asking to learn from the followers of a religion, against which, there is propaganda day and night, and the followers of which are defamed worldwide, and followers of which are passing through a very hard time of the history.

Witness of a Christian Justice
Before the answer to the question raised by chief pontiff is sought, citing one more statement in favour of the pontiff's statement looks suitable. In 1989, addressing a meeting of christian intellectuals in Nairobi University, chairman of Law Reforming Commission of Kenya, Justice Emmanuel Okoba said: "After twenty years of experience as a Majistrate and High Court Judge, as a result, i have seen a big difference between the behaviour of christians with Bible and behaviour of muslims with Qura'an, if a muslim in any case, has to testify by taking oath of Qura'an, 75% of his testification will be true, but if any christian, holding Bible if testify, beleive me the only thing he will say true is just his name." Justice also appealed the chritians that take Bible seriously and respect Bible the same way Muslims do respect Qura'an. (Book 'News and Insight', with reference to Daily Nations). It is known that Christian intellectuals and religious leaders comprehend the real situation since a long time. Now the question is about the situation. The honest fact is that, for this, the new and previous religious leadership of chritian faith is responsible.


The concealed invitation for priests
And that is, the christian clerics did nothing to keep Bible safe in its original format and language. They themselves ruined its teachings. Changed the context. If they could have saved its originality, there could not have been so many different and contradictory editions. The maliciousness of priests left Bible to be criticisable for christians themselves. And the biggest extortion which chritian leaders did with the personality of Jesus the Messiah, whihc is the proof of their maliciousness, that they renounced the book in which the testimonial of Jesus and his prophecy is demonstratedly mentioned. Not only they rejected but also sought enemity with that. And the enemity is also such that the teachings related to Jesus which resemble even with Bible, were codemnable to the priests. After such misdemeanor with Bible, how come the priests expect the respectfulness from the informed and conscientious chritians. We do not say that in the common christian behaviour there is any affect of the behaviour of christian religious leaders which they have towards Islam. But this is for sure that not being satisfied with Bible teachings many virtuous people in the west are coming towards Islam. In their behaviour, there is a hidden invitation for priests as well, to think again about their behaviour towards The Qura'an and Islam.
10/08/09 khabar-O-Nazar by Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by: Ibrahim Shaikh

Problem of Compensation is Solved, Justice is Left

In the matter of the famous case of fake encounter of Sohrabuddin Sheikh, after nearly four years of hard work and with much difficulty, path was cleared for the compensation for the relatives of the deceased but justice is still a far away dream. Even this compensation they received after the intervention of the Supreme Court, otherwise the state government had overlooked even this. In the hearing of the application given by Sohrabuddin’s brother Rubabuddin the Supreme Court instructed the state government that if it had already accepted that the encounter was fake then it had to pay compensation to the family of the deceased. Although the Supreme Court did not fix the amount of compensation and left the decision on the state government with the instruction that the state government give the reply in the next hearing scheduled on 11^th August. As far as the criminal prosecution in the fake encounter case by the police officials is concerned, the petitioner also took up this issue and expressing dissatisfaction over the CID enquiry ordered by the state government asked for a CBI enquiry. The court did not accept this plea rather it passed an difficult order for the state government that it gives a reply as to why not this fake encounter enquiry should also be given to the special enquiry team which was investigating the special matter of mass murder during the Gujarat riots which the above mentioned court itself had formed in last March, which will carry out the hearing in the related cases in the state courts but it will only be answerable to the supreme court. Neither the state courts nor the state government can interfere either in it’s power or it’s enquiry.

Sohrabuddin fake encounter case, which after staying in the news for a long time had all of a sudden vanished from the limelight, the above mentioned instructions by the supreme court has once again brought it back in news and has increased the difficulties for Narendra Modi’s state government. The above said matter is of November 2005. Not only Sohrabuddin’s fake encounter was done but the two eye witnesses Sohrabuddin’s wife Kausar bi and his friend Tulsiram Prajapati were also killed by the police so that the evidences are buried and everyone believes in the fabricated tale. But the police was not successful in it’s plan. After facing disappointment from all quarters Sohrabuddin’s brother Rubabuddin knocked the doors of the Supreme court for justice then the state government on the orders from the court carried out an enquiry by the CID and accepted that this is a case of fake encounter. Then all the convicts especially the chief of the Gujarat Anti-terrorist Squad D G Vanzara, Superintendent of Police Raj Kumar Pandian and the higher police officer of the Rajasthan Police Dinesh Kumar were send behind the bars and now they are in jails but the affected people were neither given any compensation nor any justice.

Those police officers of Gujarat who along with the police officers of Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh had said that Sohrabuddin was a terrorist of Lashkar-e-tayyaba and had claimed to have killed him in an encounter, they were themselves proved to be terrorists in the enquiry. They not only killed Sohrabuddin after abducting him from a bus, moreover they also killed Sohrabuddin’s wife and burnt her dead body and dispersed the ashes in the fields so that all the traces were removed. Later on in order to cover up the false and wrong deeds they also murdered Prajapati in a fake encounter. But in the end the games of the police were unmasked. Gujarat CID brought the truth out in the open and unmasked the convicts and sent them to jail but due to the lack of interest of the state government they could not be brought to justice. The matter has once again reached the Supreme court. From the initial stand of the court it can be expected that the way in which doors were opened for the compensation for the affected people similarly road to justice will also be cleared.

07/08/09 Editorial, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by: Asma Anjum Siddiqui