Vice Chancellor promotes Evangelism in Guindy Engineering College
Smt. Radha Rajan: source--haindava keralam

I wish to bring to your notice the fact that on Monday, 22nd December, 2008, the GuindyEngineeringCollege premises was used for Christian preaching and evangelising purposes. In the guise of Chrsitmas celebrations, the AnnaEngineeringCollege, Guindy had officially invited Dr. Paul Dinakaran the known Christian evangelist for their so-called Christmas celebrations.

This programme was ironically arranged in the Vivekananda Auditorium in the GuindyCollege premises from 3 PM onwards. At the programme were present the College Vice-Chancellor Mannar Jawahar, a Christian by faith. It is clear that the college Vice Chancellor abused his official position in a high-standing institution of higher learning to carry out Christian preaching and evangelising activities. Students present at this programme were told explicitly –

“Theeys saktigalai vazhipaduvorgal, antha theeya sakthigalai vittuvittu, yesuvai vazhipaduvadaharkku viruppapaduvorgal, kannai moodikkondu, kai uyarthhungal. Naan ungalai yesuvidam azhaithu selgiren.”

(Thjose of you who are worshipping evil forces, if you wish to give up worshipping these evil forces and want to worship Jesus Christ, please close your eyes and raise your hands. I will take you to Christ).

This is nothing but sheer Christian prosylytising by the Vice-Chancellor usuing his official position and constitutes the grossest and the most obscene violation of the law. It is my responsibility to bring this violation of the law which may constitute either a crime or a law and order offence, to the notice of the Commissioner of Police. I will also write a letter to the Chief Minister of Tamil nadu bringing his attention to this abuse of government-aided educational institutions by minority religions.

Many are not fully aware of how the Missionary war against Hinduism is happening, nor how serious it is: Stephen Knapp
From: Stephen Knapp, http://www.blogger.com/www.stephen-knapp.com

The War Against HinduismOver the years we have all heard about the many attempts that have been made in India to convert various sections of society from Hinduism to either Christianity or Islam. But only after one of my trips to India did I really get a much clearer understanding of what has been going on. Furthermore, most people, as well as many Indians, are not fully aware of how the war against Hinduism is happening, nor how serious it is. It is taking place on many levels, and because of this, in some areas the practice of Hinduism is declining rapidly.

When I was traveling in June of 2001, I had gone on a lecture tour, speaking every night at places like Mumbai, Nagpur, Warangal, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Hyderbad, Bangalore, Trivandrum, and Chennai. So I had the chance to meet with many of the intellectuals and some of the spiritual leaders in these areas, and learned how conversion was a very hot issue.

Now I don’t have anything in particular against Christianity itself. I was born and raised a Christian, so I know what it is, but also how they work. My main contention is when the teachings that are said to come from Jesus are twisted and misinterpreted into something that does not spread the genuine love of God and humanity that we are all supposed to develop, but becomes the dog-like barking and criticism against every other religion that is not Christian. This does not only go on toward every religion outside of Christianity, but also within it between Catholics and Protestants and other denominations. It seems that this faith has become not something that promotes our similarities for cooperation, but our differences in that everyone who is of an unrelated Christian denomination are all going to hell.

In regard to India, there is a great number of missionaries of various denominations who are working there right now, all competing for the most number of converts. The Southern Baptists alone are a group that has nearly 100,000 career missionaries in North India, all working to spread the “good word.” We also find that in order to make converts from Hinduism some of the numerous Catholic priests in Southern India dress like sannyasis, and call their organizations ashramas. This is to make Christianity more similar to the Vedic traditions. Bharat Natyam dance is also taught in the Christian schools, but with Christian symbols and meanings replacing the Vedic. This is all in the attempt to actively sway Hindus over to Christianity.

One way they are trying to bring Christianity deep into the culture of India is by superimposing its rituals, symbols, and even types of dress on the Hindu forms of the same. Thus, you will see the cross on the lotus, some priests dress in saffron, and some churches have the ambiance of a Hindu temple. If this keeps up, maybe one day Christianity will be more Hindu than Christian.

While traveling in the far Northeastern states of India I have seen some of the tactics that the Christian missionaries have used to help make converts, such as offering cheap polyester pants to the tribals of the Northeast if they become Christian, or even offer motor bicycles if they help convert their brothers, which also means their wives and family. In other places like Madhya Pradesh, as noted in the Neogy Report, the missionaries give small loans on interest to the tribals, who cannot pay back such loans easily. However, if they become Christian, then such loans and the interest are dismissed. This is what goes on in the democracy of India, and under the tolerance of the Hindus, while if one such incidence would ever occur in a Muslim country, the result would be an immediate expulsion of the missionary from that nation.

Another trick that has been done is that missionaries, while treating the sick, will give medicine of no value and ask the tribal to take it while offering prayers to his local deity. Naturally, no cure of disease is likely to occur with the useless medicine. Then the missionary gives the tribal real medicine and asks the tribal to take it while offering prayers to Jesus. Then when there is a recovery, it is attributed to the power of Christ and not to the medicine. Such conversion activities take place these days more often in the tribal areas under the guise of social service. However, true social service should be done without expecting anything in return, including conversion.

Another thing that takes place is mass healings at meetings similar to revivals. What they do is pay people to attend the healings portraying themselves as being sick, or invalids on crutches, etc., who then get called up and are miraculously cured of their disease. This is attributed to the power of Christ, which then convinces many tribals that they too can benefit in various ways if they become Christian. This has not had much of an effect amongst the Brahmana classes, but the lower classes who attend are more vulnerable and are impressed by such things, and are then swayed toward Christianity. This is why Christian conversion tactics have been focused more toward the tribal areas than other regions of India. So these conversions are not taking place due to pure preaching of the Bible or the message of Jesus, but are accomplished by trickery and the emphasis on material facility. This is, of course, what is being objected to by the general Hindu population. However, when or if people convert for purely spiritual reasons, then there is no objection.

Another way conversions are accomplished is with the promise to the Dalits or the lower caste Hindus that they will not have any more caste recognition by becoming Christians. However, after conversion many find out that this is not true. Even amongst the converted Christians there is found to be a caste mentality, with the lower castes forced to use separate doorways, separate seating, or have marriages performed only among equal caste Christians and in separate facilities, or to even be buried in separate cemeteries. When this becomes obvious to those who are newly converted, some of them want to come back to being Hindus again, which has been facilitated by such organizations as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).

An interesting point is that in spite of these duplicitous ways of converting that the Christians have used, the Christian churches have threatened violence against the process of reconversion back to Hinduism that had been launched by the VHP. It is as if they do not want anyone to have the right to do what they are already doing. It was Rev. V. K. Nuh, secretary of the Nagaland Baptist Convention who said, “If someone tries to impose their faith, Christians in this region will not surrender. There will be a battle and we shall have no option. There will be a physical and religious war if attempts are made to propagate Hinduism by forceful means in the Northeast.” In this same line of thinking, Rev. M.D. Oaugma, head of the Garo Baptist Convention of Meghalaya said, “It could be a threat to Christianity if we remain silent to the VHP’s game plan of mass conversion. We shall have to fight, we shall have to resist.” (Maharashtra Herald, July 11, 1998)

Of course, it is easy for Hindus to be nonchalant toward other religions because they feel that each spiritual path takes you toward God. So in this light, it is alright to be tolerant of them or let them thrive. But the problem is that not all religions feel the same way toward Hinduism. Some feel that Hinduism is a culture that should be removed or destroyed. An example of this is that in Northeast India, in states like Assam, Nagaland, and Manipur, they have witnessed a surge of nearly 200% in their Christian population in the past 25 years due to the wily tactics of foreign missionaries. Their grasp is so strong now that practicing Hinduism is forbidden in some areas. Where is the democratic freedom in that? Hindus can no longer do worship or arati in the open because of the fanaticism in parts of the land. Durga puja has become almost obsolete as deities are destroyed or stolen in broad daylight. This confrontational climate has led to numerous militant outfits sponsored by the Church who are fighting for secession from India. So now the Northeastern portion of India wants to secede from it, and another part of India will be lost if this should happen.

If the Catholic Church in particular is supposed to espouse the message that God is love, and that it is by love of God and neighbor that mankind is saved, it certainly has not shown much of that kind of love toward any other religion. With the Pope’s recent call for conversions in Asia, it certainly shows that it is not a friend of other religions, but still holds the goal that other spiritual paths should be brought down to be replaced by Christianity. This should be clearly understood. This is also the case with the Baptists and other denominations.

While I was in New Delhi, I also met with Mrs. Shanti Reddy, a member of a government agency called the National Committee for Women. She revealed that another thing that missionaries have done was to kidnap young Indian children. What one Christian missionary couple in Chennai was doing before they were arrested was to bribe tribals into giving their young baby girls to them. They would pay the tribals as little as 2000 to 5000 rupees for baby girls, and then turn around and sell the girls to foreigners for as much as $30,000 to $40,000. According to the records that had been confiscated from the missionaries’ home, this had been a thriving business, and nearly 25 of such transactions had already taken place. The Indian authorities said they probably saved 300 baby girls from such a fate from the indications on the records they found. So this has been another one of the forms of activities that such missionaries do for their own benefit and profit against the real interest of India. However, whenever Hindus react with force against such people, they are labeled as fundamentalists, antagonists, communalists, or worse. But how can you expect that Hindus should not display serious and violent reactions when such activities become obvious? It usually takes a lot to make Hindus react, as they are often most pacifistic and tolerant people. This is also why they make lousy terrorists, they just do not see things that way.

Nonetheless, another way that India is slowly losing its Vedic culture is through the process of secular or English and Christian education. Of course, in public schools all Vedic books have been removed from the curriculum. So there are no possibilities to study the ancient Indian literature or art in such institutions. So Vedic values are no longer part of what the children are taught. Furthermore, the Christian schools, often staffed by Christian missionaries, can teach Christian values in their classes, and include a short study of the Bible everyday, or the Koran if it’s an Islamic school. The so-called secular government has even helped them with free land and facilities. Since these schools offer English in their education, along with good discipline, many of the middle classes of Indians are favoring sending their children to these schools. Today, in the Indian cities, many of the parents of children are the graduates of Christian schools, who also send there own children to such schools. As this trend continues, there will be a decreasing number of Hindus in the educated sector. Thus, children in India, with the help of the secular government, are learning Christian values and perceiving their own history and culture as something less than honorable. They are taught that such important books as the Bhagavad-gita, Ramayana, Bhagavata Purana and other Vedic texts are nothing more than mythology, and not a result of one of the most profound civilizations in the world. They are also taught that their own God is but a demon and the only real way to God is through Jesus.

An example of this is that a few devotees from the New Delhi Iskcon (Hare Krishna) temple go out and give presentations to the children’s classes in schools. Some of the questions that are asked by the children are, “Who is your God?” and “hat can your God do for me?” and so on. Obviously, these questions are nothing but a direct result of the Christian and English oriented education that these children are receiving. Now I ask anyone, isn’t this practically a covert form of conversion? This form of education indoctrinates the children to doubt their own culture, and disrespect their own history and traditions. As a result of this form of education, the Hindu population is slowly forgetting the unique history and lofty culture of their homeland.

As I traveled around, it was not unusual to see elementary schools around India with a name something like “Saint Xavier’s School.” People should know that this Francis Xavier, who is now one of the greatest so-called “saints,” feverishly declared, “When I have finished baptizing the people, I order them to destroy the huts in which they keep their idols; and I have them break the statues of their idols into tiny pieces, since they are now Christians. I could never come to an end describing to you the great consolation which fills my soul when I see idols being destroyed by the hands of those who had been idolaters.” (From “The Letters and Instructions of Francis Xavier,” 1993, pp 117-8) This was his goal, to destroy Indian culture and make India a Christian nation. So it is ironic that now India embraces the schools that honor him in this way. How could they not know his true intention?

What is often not recognized is that, up until recently, for the last 50 years the politicians who have been directing the destiny of India are the ones who have an anti-Hindu attitude. They have set the economic direction and the educational policies that the country has been forced to follow. They have also promised the protection of the religious minorities with the hopes of acquiring votes. This has been one of the reasons why the secularists in the Congress party have treated everything that is Hindu with disdain.

Another aspect of the loss of Vedic culture in India is that the younger Indian people, especially ages from 15 to 25, are readily giving up Vedic customs to follow the more decadent so-called freedoms of the West. They see the western movies, they read what the celebrities say in the papers, and they admire them and want to adopt their forms of dress and lifestyles. Thus, in the big cities like Mumbai you have Indian couples living together without marriage, which is something you never would have seen before a few years back. Now the Vedic principles are looked upon as something obsolete, something that restricts the style that those who look to the West want to adopt. Thus, they are leaving Indian traditions behind and losing respect for anything Vedic. In this way, they adopt foreign standards, or lose so much respect for Indian and Vedic values that they become embarrassed to admit their Hindu background and heritage. Furthermore, Sanskrit scholars at the temples are also slowly dying out, and the modern Indians view the Ramayana and Mahabharata as merely myths or gaudy television shows.

Although India has been invaded by outsiders so many times and has always survived, what we are talking about is more than mere property or geography. What is actually being threatened is the basis of Indian culture itself. As younger generations give up their Vedic heritage, even if they return to it later when they are older and looking for more philosophical support, with whatever percentage of loss occurs with each generation, time has shown that it is never fully recovered. A portion of it is lost forever.

Another way of looking at this is that India presently enjoys an 85% Hindu majority in its population. This may sound quite significant, but in actuality this includes 15% Buddhists, Sikhs, and Jains. So it is really only a 70% majority. How many more generations will go by before we see a big drop in this percentage due to the process of secular (meaning Christian or English, or even Islamic) education, or with the present rate of conversions by tactless Christians? This percentage could easily drop well below 50% in only a few more generations at the present rate of change.How many more generations will it take before the Hindu majority is no longer a majority, but a minority in its own country? As Hinduism declines, you will see that the demands on the government and those voted into politics will also change, and the laws will also alter more in favor of the increasing minority religions at the expense of declining Hinduism. Then as the years go by there will appear only small clusters of Hindu or Vedic communities, most likely centered around prominent holy places, until the more aggressive religions act in ways to diminish these as well, in the same way that they are presently doing in other countries.

The point of all this information is that it is time for all Hindus and supporters and followers of the Vedic culture, Sanatana-dharma, to realize what is actually happening and give up your timidness or nonchalance and speak out while such freedom still exists. We must become more pro-active for defending this culture. The point is that if you do not take it seriously, I can assure you that there are others who take this inaction and tolerance extremely seriously to promote their own goals and religions in India. It is because of this that India may not always remain the homeland of an active and thriving Vedic culture as it is now. We need to protect whatever is left of it and maintain the present liberties that Hindus or followers of Vedic culture still have in India. Then we all can continue to engage in Vedic traditions without hindrance, and with full freedom. For this, we need to unite ourselves in a concerted effort to make this happen. And it most certainly is possible.Not long ago, as told to me by Professor Subhash Kak, it was noted in a reputable publication that now 1% of the Russian population claim that they are Hindu. The article stated that this was primarily due to the preaching efforts of Iskcon. This shows a major social impact. This shows what is possible if we can work together in a concerted effort. This is why I am convinced that if we all work in a pro-active way under the banner of a united family of Vedic followers, or Global Vedic Community, we can keep and even expand the present freedoms that we now have to practice Vedic and indigenous traditions, and keep India as the homeland of Vedic culture, the most ancient roots of humanity.

India must be protected and kept as the homeland and center of the Vedic heritage, Sanatana-dharma, Hinduism. Without it, what is its value, in spite of whatever else it accomplishes? The value of Hinduism and India are clearly expressed in the words of the famous English theosophist Dr. Annie Besant. She put great emphasis on the value of India, its history, the Vedic culture, and its importance to the world. As written in the cover notes from the book, Hindus, Life-Line of India, by G. M. Jagtiani, she says: “After a study of some forty years and more of the great religions of the world, I find none so perfect, none so scientific, none so philosophic, and none so spiritual as the great religion known by the name of Hinduism. The more you know it, the more you will love it; the more you try to understand it, the more deeply you will value it. Make no mistake; without Hinduism, India has no future. Hinduism is the soil into which India’s roots are struck, and torn of that she will inevitably wither, as a tree torn out from its place. Many are the religions and many are the races flourishing in India, but none of them stretches back into the far dawn of her past, nor are they necessary for her endurance as a nation. Everyone might pass away as they came and India would still remain. But let Hinduism vanish and what is she? A geographical expression of the past, a dim memory of a perished glory, her literature, her art, her monuments, all have Hindudom written across them. And if Hindus do not maintain Hinduism, who shall save it? If India’s own children do not cling to her faith, who shall guard it? India alone can save India, and India and Hinduism are one.”In this light, it is absolutely necessary that as followers of Sanatana-dharma, Vedic culture, we realize that we need to repair whatever differences we have between us regarding whatever issues there may be. This is necessary in order to work with some cooperation with whomever we can if we expect to be a substantial force in defending the Vedic cause. Otherwise, all the issues that invariably come up, although these should not be ignored, should not take so much of our attention that our preaching or sharing or promoting of our culture stops. Otherwise, we will only serve as contributors to the continuing deterioration of all spiritual standards as the age of Kali-yuga progresses. This preaching, of course, means that we must all stay in touch with and practice the Vedic standards, and be ready to let others know of its advantages, and to defend it from those who wish to see its demise.

We cannot allow ourselves to be led into the danger of endless debate that leads to inaction. We all must be pro-active in some way to help defend and spread Vedic culture. Then we can work together to keep the freedom we presently have to practice the Vedic traditions and keep India as the homeland of a thriving, dynamic, and still living tradition. Such freedom does not come without its challenges, and we must be prepared as a society to meet those challenges. To take such freedoms for granted means that it’s only a matter of time before they are lost. And that is exactly what some people want to happen. So we must be willing to work all the harder to prevent such a decline of our Vedic heritage

"Virat Brihad Hindutva"
First part of Three Part Series, By Subramanian Swamy source:haindavakeralam.com

What does the despicable terror and mayhem in Mumbai on November 26th signify for India? Shorn of the human tragedy, wanton destruction, and obnoxious audacity of the terrorists, it signifies a challenge to the identity of India from radical Islam. Cinema actor Shahrukh Khan may wax eloquent about the "true Islam" on TV, but it is clear that he and other such Muslims have not read any authoritative translations of the Koran, Sira and Hadith which three together constitute Islam as a theology, and which is a complete menu of intolerance of peoples of other faiths derisively labeled as kafirs. Hence instead of talking about the "correct interpretation" of Islam they ought instead be urging for a new Islamic theology consistent with democratic principles.

In 2003, two years after the 9/11 murderous and perfidious Islamic assault on USA, resulting in killing of more than 3000 persons within two hours, and which was perpetrated by leveraging the democratic freedoms in USA, the Saudi Arabian Embassy in the website of its Islamic Affairs Department [http://www.iad.org/] laid down what a "good" Muslim is expected to do. Dr. Steven Stalinsky of the Middle East Media Research Institute [MEMRI] based in WashingtonDC accessed it and published it in issue No.23, of the Institute newsletter, dated November 26[what irony!] 2003. I have to thank a NRI in US, Dr. Muthuswamy for this reference. In that site it is stated:

" The Muslims are required to raise the banner of Jihad in order to make the Word of Allah supreme in this world, to remove all forms of injustice and oppression, and to defend the Muslims. If Muslims do not take up the sword, the evil tyrants of this earth will be able to continue oppressing the weak and helpless"

Now who is more authoritative- Sharukh Khan or Saudi Arabia ?

Obviously the latter. The above quote is what in substance is being taught in every madrassa in India, and can be traced back to the sayings of Prophet Mohammed. I can quote a plethora of verses from a Saudi Arabian translated Koran[e.g., verses 8:12, 8:60, and 33:26] which verses justify brutal violence against non-believers. If I delved into Sira and Hadith for more quotes, then I could risk generating much hatred, so it will suffice to say that Islam is not only a theology, but it spans a brutal political ideology which we have to combat sooner or later in realm of ideas.

Some may quote back at me verses from Manusmriti about brutality to women and scheduled castes. But as a Hindu I have the liberty to disown these verses [since it is a Smriti] and even to seek to re-write a new smriti as many, for example, Yajnavalkya have done to date. Reform and renaissance is thus inbuilt into Hinduism. But in Islam, the word of the Prophet is final. Sharukh Khan and other gloss artists cannot disown these verses, or say that they would re-write the offensive verses of the Koran. If they do, then they would have to run for their lives as Rushdie and Taslima have had to do. Leave alone re-writing, if anyone draws a cartoon of Prophet Mohammed, there will follow world-wide violent rioting. But if Hussein draws Durga in the most pornographic posture, the Hindus will only groan but not violently rampage.

We Hindus have a long recognized tradition of being religious liberals by nature. We have already proved it enough by welcoming to our country and nurturing Parsis, Jews, Syrian Christians, and Moplah Muslim Arabs who were persecuted elsewhere, when we were 100% Hindu country.

Moreover, despite a 1000 years of most savage brutalization of Hindus by Islamic invaders and self-demeaning brain washing by the Christians, even then, Hindus as a majority have adopted secularism as a creed. We have not asked for an apology and compensation for these atrocities. But the position of Hindus in this land of Bharatmata, where Muslims and Christians locally are in majority, in pockets---such as in Kashmir and Nagaland, or in small enclaves such as town panchayats of Tamil Nadu, is terrible and despicable. Even in Kerala where Hindus are 52% of the population, they have only 25% of all the prime jobs in the state, and are silently suffering their plight at the hands of 48% who vote as a vote bank. .

The 26/11Mumbai slaughter therefore should teach us Hindus that the time has come to wake up and stand up

”it is now or never”.

If we do not stand up now to Islamic terrorism, then India will end up like Beirut, a permanent battlefield of international terrorists, buccaneers, pirates and missionaries.

What does it mean in the 21st century for Hindus to stand up ? I mean by that a mental clarity of the Hindus to defend themselves by effective deterrent retaliation, and also an intelligent co-option of other religious groups into the Hindu cultural continuum.

Mental clarity can only come if we are clear about the identity of the nation.

What is India ?

An ancient but continuing civilization or is it a geographical entity incorporated in 1947 by the Indian Independence Act of the British Parliament ?

What then does it means to say "I am an Indian" ?

A mere passport holder of the Republic of India or a descendent of the great seers and visionaries of more than 10,000 years ?

Obviously our identity should be of a nation of an ancient and continuing Hindu civilization, legatees of great rishis and munis, and a highly sophisticated sanatana philosophy.

If Hindu culture is our defining identity then how can we co-opt non-Hindus, especially Muslims and Christians ? By persuading them by saam, dhaan, bheda and dand that they acknowledge with pride the truth that their ancestors are Hindus. If they do, it means that they accept Hindu culture and enlightened mores. That is, change of religion does not mean change of culture.Then we should treat such Muslims and Christians as part of our Brihad Hindu family.

Noted author and editor M.J. Akbar calls this identity as of "Blood Brothers". It is an undeniable fact that Muslims and Christians in India are descendents of Hindus. In a recent article in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology, an analysis of genetic samples[DNA] show that Muslims in north India are overwhelmingly of the same DNA as Hindus proving that Muslims here are descendents of Hindus who had been converted to Islam, rather than repositories of foreign DNA deposited by waves of invaders.

Akbar thus asks rhetorically:

"When have the Muslims of India gone wrong ?"

and answers:

" When they have forgotten their Indian roots".

How apt !

Enlightened Muslims like Akbar therefore must rise to the occasion and challenge the reactionary religious fundamentalists. That is India is not Darul harab to be trifled with. In a conciliatory atmosphere the minorities would willingly accept this. It is also in their interest to accept this reality. Hindus must persuade by the time- honoured methods Muslims and Christians to accept this and its logical consequences.

This identity was not understood by us earlier because of the distorted outlook of Jawarharlal Nehru who occupied the Prime Minister's chair for seventeen formative years after 1947 and for narrow political ends, had fanned a separatist outlook in Muslims and Christians.

The failure to date, to resolve this Nehru-created crisis, has not only confused the majority but confounded the minorities as well in India. This confusion has deepened with winter migratory birds such as Amartya Sen descending on the campus of the India International Centre to preach inane taxonomies such as "multiple identities".


There has to be an overriding identity called national identity, and hence we should not be derailed by pedestrian concepts of multiple or sub-identities.

`````````Without a resolution of the identity crisis today, which requires an explicit clear answer to this question of who we are, the majority will never understand how to relate to the legacy of the nation and in turn to the minorities. Minorities would not understand how to adjust with the majority if this identity crisis is not resolved. In other words, the present dysfunctional perceptional mismatch in understanding who we are as a people, is behind most of the communal tension and inter-community distrust in the country.

`````In India, the majority is the conglomerate or Brihad Hindu community which represents about 81% of the total Indian population, while minorities are constituted by Muslims [13%] and Christians [3%]. Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, and some other microscopic religious groups, represent the remaining three percent. Though also considered minorities, but really are so close to the majority community in culture that they are considered as a part of Hindu society. Unlike Islam and Christianity, these minority religions were founded as dissenting theologies of Hinduism. Even Zoroaster can be traced to leader of Vahikas in Mahabharata who migrated to Persia. Kaikeyi in Ramayana was from Persia when that country was hundred percent Hindu. Thus these religions share the core concepts with Hindus such as re-incarnation, equality of all religions, and ability to meet God in this life. That they feel increasingly alienated from Hindu society nowadays is also the consequence of India's identity crisis caused by British historians and their Indian tutees in JNU.

The India of today would not have been in existence had the attempts to divide Hindus succeeded. In the 20th century, a sinister attempt to divide the Hindu community on caste basis was made in 1932 when the British imperialists offered the scheduled castes a separate electorate. But shrewdly understanding the conspiracy to divide India, Mahatma Gandhi by his fast unto death and Dr. Ambedkar by his visionary rejection of separate electorate, foiled the attempt by signing the Poona Pact.

But the possibility exists that such attempts at dividing India socially may be made again in the future, a possibility that cannot be ruled out . Indian patriots will have to watch against such attempts very carefully. Segmentation, fragmentation, and finally balkanization have been part of the historical process in many countries to destroy national identity and thereby cause the political division of the nation itself. Yugoslavia is a recent example of this, which has now been divided into four countries, largely due to Islamic separatism and Serbian over-reaction.

Virat Hindutva can be achieved in the first stage by Hindu consolidation that is achieved by Hindus holding that they are Hindus first and last, by disowning primacy to their caste and regional loyalties. This would require a renaissance in thinking and outlook, that can be fostered only by patient advocacy and intellectual ferment.

For this we need a new History text, and a proper understanding of the distinction between the four varnas [not birth based but by codes of behavior for devolution of power in society] and jati [which is birth based and mostly for marriages]. Just as Valmiki and Vyasa are regarded as Maharshis despite being of different jati from Parasuram, hence Dr. Ambedkar should be called a Maharishi for his sheer depth of knowledge of Indian history. That he had become bitter because of Nehru systematically sidelining him is no reason not to do so.

India thus needs a Hindu renaissance today that incorporates modern principles, e.g., of the irrelevance of birth antecedents, fostering gender equality, ensuring equality before law, and accountability for all. It is also essential to integrate the entire Indian society on those principles, irrespective of religion. Uniform civil code for example, is something that the vast majority of Muslim women want, but because this demand has been usurped by those who deny the equality of nationality to the Muslims, hence comes the resistance to a eminently reasonable value. The Muslims think that this is the first step in several to subjugate them or wipe out their identity. But Muslims have quietly accepted Uniform Criminal Code [the IPC] despite that it contradicts the Sharia.

In other words, Hindutva has two components---one that Hindus can accept [such as caste abolition, eradication of dowry etc.] without any other religion's interests to consider. The other is the embracing by minorities of the core secular Indian values which have Hindu roots. This would require, particularly Muslims and Christians, to acknowledge that their ancestry is Hindu, and thus own the entire Hindu past as their own legacy, and to thus tailor their outlook on that basis. This would integrate Indian society and make the concept of an inclusive [Brihad] Hindutva and rooted in India's continuing civilization.

Thus, if India has to decide to have or not have good relations with Israel, Pakistan, Iran or US, it cannot be on the basis how it will impact on India's Muslims and Christians, but on what India's national interests require. If India has to dispatch troops to Afghanistan, Iraq, Sri Lanka or Nepal to combat terrorism, that policy too has to be decided on what is good for India, and not what any religious or linguistic group identifies as it's interest.

Thus such an Hindutva is positive in outlook, while raw Hindu xenophobia is negative and based on Hindu hegemony which will frighten all. Such an Hindutva will resolve our current energy-sapping identity crisis, which otherwise will completely emasculate India in the long run. The choice for the patriotic Indian is thus clear: We need a clear and positive view of our national identity based on our Hindu past and a Hindu renaissance to unite the Hindus with constructive mind-set as well as persuade the minorities to be co-opted culturally with Hindu society.

Once being Indian means virat brihad Hindutva, we can tackle terrorism by an effective strategy of defence. What are the components of that strategy is the subject matter of my next column here.

மும்பை பயங்கரமும் டி.வி. சேனல்களும்

~ வனமாலி நாள்: 2008-12-06 source:tamilhindu

‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ என்ற பிரபலமான திரைப்படத்தின் இறுதிக் காட்சியில் திரைப்படத்தின் நாயகர்கள் இருவரும் ஒரு பாழடைந்த கட்டடத்துக்குள் மாட்டிக் கொள்வார்கள். சிறு திருடர்களான அவர்களை எப்போதும் போலிஸ் துரத்திக் கொண்டேயிருக்கும். ஒவ்வொரு முறையும் போலிஸுக்கு டிமிக்கி கொடுத்துத் தப்பித்து விடும் அவர்களை இந்தமுறை எப்படியாவது பிடித்துவிடவேண்டுமென்று ஒரு பெரிய பட்டாளமே அந்த கட்டடத்தைச் சுற்றிவளைக்கும். வெளியே ஒவ்வொரு அங்குலத்துக்கும் போலிஸ் நிற்பது தெரியாமல் எப்போதும் போல் தப்பித்துவிடலாம் என்று கைத்துப்பாக்கியால் சுட்டுக்கொண்டே வெளியே வருவார்கள் நாயகர்கள் இருவரும். அந்த ஃப்ரேம் அப்படியே உறைந்துபோய், இன்று உலக சினிமாவின் ஒரு முக்கியக் காட்சியாகப் பதிந்துவிட்டது.
ஆனால் Butch Cassidy-யும், Sundance Kid-உம் பாவப்பட்டவர்கள்! அவர்கள் காலத்தில் கட்டடத்தைச் சுற்றி வெளியே என்ன நடக்கிறது என்று லைவ் அப்டேட் கொடுக்க செய்திச் சேனல்கள் இல்லை. ‘இதோ சூழ்ந்துவிட்டார்கள், இந்த போலிஸ்காரர்கள் இப்போது பின்வாசல் வழியே நுழையலாமா என்று நினைக்கிறார்கள்’ என்றெல்லாம் உயிரைக் கொடுத்துக் கத்த அந்தக் காலத்தில் ஒரு பர்க்கா தத் இல்லை. அந்த கட்டடத்தின் வரைபடமோ, அதனைச் சுற்றி எங்கெங்கு போலிஸ் நிற்கிறார்கள் என்பதைக் குறித்து விளக்கும் ஒரு கிராஃபிக்ஸ் வரைபடமோ இருந்திருக்கவில்லை என்பது இன்னும் துரதிர்ஷ்டவசமான விஷயம்.
மும்பையில் தீவிரவாதிகள் தாக்கியபோது அவர்களுக்கு போலிஸ், NSG-யின் நடமாட்டம் உடனுக்குடன் செல்ஃபோனில் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டது. இந்தத் தீவிரவாதிகளிடம் பத்து இந்திய சிம்கார்டுகள் இருந்தன; அவை புதுதில்லியில் வாங்கப்பட்டு பங்களாதேஷ் வழியாக பாகிஸ்தானுக்குக் கடத்தப் பட்டிருக்கின்றன; தீவிரவாதிகள் வசமிருந்த செல்ஃபோன்களின் பேட்டரி தீர்ந்து போனபோது, தாங்கள் சுட்டுக்கொன்றவர்களிடமிருந்த செல்ஃபோன்களை எடுத்துப் பயன்படுத்தியிருக்கிறார்கள். இவை அத்தனையும் போலிஸிடம் உயிருடன் சிக்கிய ஒரே தீவிரவாதி சொன்ன தகவல்கள்! தீவிரவாதிகளுக்கு இத்தனை தகவல்கள் நம் ஊடகங்களின் உடனடிச் செய்திகளால் கிடைத்ததில் ஒரு கட்டத்தில் அரசே, இந்த ஊடகங்களை சற்று நேரம் அமைதி காக்கும்படி வேண்டிக்கொள்ளுமாறு ஆனது. ஆனாலும் நம் செய்தி ஊடகங்களைப் போர்வீரர்கள் என்றும், பொறுப்பான மகாத்மாக்கள் என்றும் சிலாகித்துக் கட்டுரை எழுதுபவர்கள் இருக்கிறார்கள்!
நாளை இதுபோன்ற புல்லரிப்புக் கட்டுரைகள் கல்கி, குமுதம், ஆனந்தவிகடன் போன்ற பல்லாயிரக் கணக்கான தமிழ்ப் பொதுமக்கள் படிக்கும் வெகுஜனப் பத்திரிகைகளிலும் இடம்பெறும். ஏன், சென்சேஷலிசப் பத்திரிகைகளில் ஒன்றான ஜூனியர் விகடன், தீவிரவாதிகள் தொடர்ந்து பாகிஸ்தானிலுள்ள தங்கள் தலைமையகத்தைத் தொடர்பு கொண்டு பேசியது கண்டுபிடிக்கப் பட்டும், அதுவும் ஏன், பிடிபட்ட தீவிரவாதியே தான் ஒரு பாகிஸ்தானி என்று வாக்குமூலம் கொடுத்தும், கூசாமல் மும்பையில் தாக்குதல் நடத்தியது இந்துக்கள் எனக் கட்டுரை வெளியிட்டிருக்கிறது. தமிழ் ஊடகங்களே இப்படிப் பொறுப்பில்லாமல், விஷமத்தனத்துடன் நடந்து கொள்ளும்போது, உலக ஊடகங்களைப் பற்றிக் கேட்கவா வேண்டும்?
பிரபலமான பத்திரிகையான ‘டைம்’, முஸ்லிம்கள் இப்படி அடிக்கடி தீவிரவாதச் செயல்களில் ஈடுபடக் காரணம் இந்தியாவில் இந்துக்களுக்கும், முஸ்லிம்களுக்கும் அதலபாதாளமான பொருளாதார வேறுபாடு இருப்பதுதான் என்றும், கடும் வறுமையில் இருக்கும் முஸ்லிம்கள் பயங்கரச் செயல்களில் ஈடுபடுகிறார்கள் என்றும் கட்டுரை வெளியிட்டிருக்கிறது. இந்தியாவில் முஸ்லிம்கள் கீழ்த்தரமாக நடத்தப்படுகிறார்கள், பொருளாதார முன்னேற்றத்துக்கான வாய்ப்புகள் அளிக்கப்படுவதில்லை என திட்டமிட்ட பிரச்சாரம் சர்வதேச ஊடகங்களில் திட்டமிட்டுச் செய்யப்பட்டு வருகிறது.
இது எவ்வளவு பெரிய பொய் என்று இந்தியாவின் கிராமங்களை ஒருமுறை சுற்றிப்பார்க்கும் எவராலும் சுட்டமுடியும். முஸ்லிம்கள் உண்மையில் தங்கள் சவக்குழியைத் தாங்களே வெட்டிக் கொள்பவர்களாக இருக்கிறார்கள். மிகப் பெரும்பாலான குடும்பங்களில் பெண்கள் கல்வி கற்க அனுமதிக்கப்படுவதில்லை. பள்ளிப் படிப்பைப் பாதியிலேயே நிறுத்தித் திருமணம் செய்து வைக்கப்படுகிறார்கள். ஆண்களிலும் கல்லூரியைத் தாண்டுபவர்களின் எண்ணிக்கை வெகு சொற்பம். இதற்குப் பொருளாதாரக் காரணங்கள் இல்லை.
இந்தியப் பொருளாதாரத்தில், ஏன், உலகப் பொருளாதாரம் இருக்கும் நிலையில், வீட்டில் ஒருவர் மட்டுமே சம்பாதித்துக் குடும்ப வண்டியை இழுப்பது எவ்வளவு சிரமம் என்பது மத்திய தரத்தினருக்கு நன்றாகத் தெரியும். இதில் அடிப்படை வாதத்தால் உந்தப்பட்டுப் பெண்களைச் சிறுவயதிலேயே திருமணம் செய்து கொடுத்தபின், வெகு சிரமப்பட்டுக் கல்லூரியை முடிக்கும் இளைஞர்களைக் கொண்டு பொருளாதாரத்தை எப்படி முன்னேற்ற முடியும்? அதே நேரத்தில், பொருளாதார முன்னேற்றத்துக்கு, கல்விக்கு முக்கியத்துவம் அளித்த எத்தனையோ முஸ்லிம் குடும்பங்கள், பொறியியல், வணிகம், மருத்துவத் துறைகளில் நுழைந்து வெகுசிறப்பான நிலைகளுக்கு வந்திருக்கின்றன.
ஒரு வாதத்துக்காக முஸ்லிம்கள் ஏழ்மையான நிலையில் இருப்பதால் தீவிரவாதிகளாக மாறுகிறார்கள் என்று வைத்துக் கொண்டாலும், இந்தியாவில் தாழ்நிலையில் இருக்கும் ஏழை இந்துக்கள் எத்தனை அரசு அலுவலகங்களைத் தகர்த்திருக்க வேண்டும்! பல்லாயிரக் கணக்கான ஏழைத் தமிழர்கள் வாழும் மும்பைச் சேரிகள் இந்நேரம் எத்தனை தீவிரவாதிகளை உருவாக்கியிருக்க வேண்டும்?
இவர்கள் சொல்லும் இன்னொரு வாதம் முஸ்லிம்கள் முன்னேறுவதற்கான வாய்ப்புகளும், ஊக்கமும் இந்தியாவில் கிடைப்பதில்லை என்பது. ராமேஸ்வரத்தில் மிக ஏழ்மையான குடும்பத்தில் பிறந்த ஒரு முஸ்லிம் விஞ்ஞானியை ஜனாதிபதியாக்கிப் பார்த்த நாட்டைப் பார்த்துக் கூசாமல் இவர்களால் எப்படிப் பொய் சொல்ல முடிகிறது? இந்திய தேசம் முழுதும் கொண்டாடும் விளையாட்டான கிரிக்கெட்டில் எத்தனை முஸ்லிம்கள் இருக்கிறார்கள்? இந்திய அணியின் கேப்டனாக இருந்த முகமது அசாருதீன் முஸ்லிம் இளைஞர்தானே! சானியா மிர்ஸாவுக்குத் தொடர்ந்த மிரட்டலும், அச்சுறுத்தலும் வருவது இந்திய அரசாங்கத்திடமிருந்தா, இல்லை இஸ்லாமிய அடிப்படைவாதிகளிடமிருந்தா?
அபூர்வமாக பதிலுக்கு இந்துக்களிடமிருந்து வன்முறை கிளம்பினால் தேசமெங்கும் கண்டிக்கப்படுகிறது. ‘நான் ஒரு இந்துவாக இருப்பதற்கே வெட்கப்படுகிறேன்’ என்ற கூக்குரல்கள் கூட அவ்வப்போது எழும்புகின்றன. நம் பத்திரிகைகளும் மை தீரும் வரை கண்டித்துத் தலையங்கங்கள் எழுதிக்கொண்டே இருக்கும். இது போன்ற அறக்கோபம் தொனிக்கும் எதிர்ப்புக் குரல்களில் நூறில் ஒரு பங்கு கூட, இஸ்லாமியத் தீவிரவாதிகளின் வெறித்தனத்தின் போது இஸ்லாமிய சமூகங்களிலிருந்தோ, நம் ‘செக்யூலர்’ ஊடகங்களிலிருந்தோ எழுவதில்லை.
ஒவ்வொரு முறை குண்டு வெடிக்கும்போதும் தவறாமல் பாபர் மசூதி இடிப்பையும், குஜராத் கலவரங்களையும் ஒரு சமநிலைக்காக முன்னணியில் வைக்கப்படுவது வழக்கமாகிவிட்டது. அப்படியானால் 64 முறை இடிக்கப்பட்ட சோமநாதபுரம் (மற்றும் எண்ணற்ற கோவில்களை) இந்துக்கள் காட்டி நியாயம் கற்பிக்கலாமே. பாமினி புத்தர் சிலைகளைத் தகர்த்ததை பௌத்தர்கள் சுட்டிக் காட்டலாம். இதெல்லாம் வாதமே அல்ல. ஆனாலும், ஒவ்வொரு குண்டுவெடிப்புக்கும் நம் ஊடகங்கள் ஏதாவது ஒரு நியாயத்தைக் கற்பித்துக் கொண்டேயிருக்கின்றன.
நேற்று ஒரு செய்திச் சேனலில் மும்பை குண்டுவெடிப்பைப் பற்றிய ஒரு தொகுப்பு வெளியானது. அதில் பேசிய ஒருவர் சொன்னது: “BJP உண்மையிலேயே தலைகுனிய வேண்டிய நேரமிது. ஏனென்றால் பாபர் மசூதியை இடித்து இதுபோன்ற தீவிரவாதச் செயல்கள் ஆரம்பிப்பதற்குக் காரணமாக இருந்ததே அந்தக் கட்சிதான்!” தொழுகைக்குப் பயன்படாத பாபர் மசூதி இடிப்புக்கு முன்னர் இந்தியாவில் முஸ்லிம் தாக்குதல்களே நடைபெற்றது கிடையாதா?
இதோ இப்போது மும்பை தாக்குதல்களை நியாயப்படுத்தி, நம் சிறுபத்திரிகைகள் மெல்ல, மெல்லத் தம் ஆஸ்தான எழுத்தாளர்களை வைத்துக் கட்டுரைகள் எழுதிக் குவிக்கும். தவறாமல் அக்கட்டுரைகளில் மோடி, குஜராத், மலேகான் போன்ற வார்த்தைகள் இடம்பெறும். ஒருவேளை இக்கட்டுரைகள் இவர்களைத் துகிலுரித்துக் காட்டிவிடுமோ என்ற அச்சம் இருந்தால், மொத்த குண்டுவெடிப்பையும் மறந்துவிட்டு ஏதாவது மேற்கத்திய எழுத்தாளரின் கதைகளை மொழிபெயர்த்து இப்பத்திரிகைகள் வெளியிடும். இவர்களுக்குத்தான் கட்டமைப்பை விடக் கட்டுடைப்பு அதிகம் பிடித்ததாயிற்றே.
மொத்தத்தில் பொறுப்பில்லாத, கைக்கூலித்தனம் இந்திய ஊடகங்களின் அடையாளமாகிவிட்டது. இருந்திருந்தால், பந்துக்குப் பந்து கிரிக்கெட் விமர்சனம் போல, பயங்கரவாதத் தாக்குதலைக் காண்பித்து விவரித்து, ISI முன்னாள் அதிகாரி ஒருவர் இங்கே செயல்பட்ட வன்முறைக் கும்பலுக்குச் சரியான அழிவுக்கு வழிகாட்ட உதவியிருக்க மாட்டார்கள். இருந்திருந்தால், மத்திய அரசுக் கட்டில் மிக நெடுங்காலமாக உட்கார்ந்திருக்கும் காங்கிரஸ் அரசின் கையாலாகத் தனத்துக்கு எதிரான மக்களின் கோபத்தை ‘அரசியல்வாதிகளின் மீதான கோபம்’ என்று திசைதிருப்பிக் காட்ட மாட்டார்கள்.
இனிமேலாவது பத்திரிகையாளர்கள், ஊடகங்கள் திருந்த வேண்டும். இல்லையென்றால் மக்கள் திருத்துவார்கள்

Sonia's presence in Delhi is costing India dearly

December 4, 2008 source:indianexpress

By Francois Gautier

In 1898, the French writer Emile Zola wrote an open letter to the then French president in the newspaper L'Aurore, titled j'accuse ('I accuse'), where he accused the French government of anti- Semitism towards Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish officer unfairly condemned for treason.


Now it is time for the people of India to say openly that which many, including within the Congress, think secretly and may utter in the privacy of their chambers.

It is not about Manmohan Singh, it is not even about Shivraj Patil, the fall guy; it is about that one person, the Eminence Grise of India. She who pulls all the strings, She whose shadow looms menacingly over so many, She who holds no portfolio, is just a simple elected MP, like 540 others, but rules like an empress.

Sometimes, one's very physical presence at the top is enough to move things, to influence the course of events. One word from Her, a glance, a frown, are enough to put the whole heavy, inert, unwilling machinery of India's bureaucracy and political system in full motion. Sometimes She need not say anything: in the true tradition of Bhakti, Her ministers, Her secretaries, interpret Her silences and rush to cater to Her western and Christian identity.

Nevertheless, she has said and acted enough so that one day she may stand accused on the pages of History for what she must have done to India.

I'accuse Sonia Gandhi as being responsible for the tragedy of Mumbai, having emasculated India's intelligence agencies by stopping them from investigating terror attacks in the last four years, including the Mumbai train blasts. She has also neutralised the ATS by ordering them at all costs to ferret out 'Hindu terrorism', which if it exists, has wrought minuscule damage compared to what Islamic terror has done since 2004. Did the US send a warning to India that there may be an attack on Mumbai and that the Taj would be one of the targets? Were these ignored because the ATS was too busy chasing Hindu 'terrorists' on Sonia's orders? I accuse Sonia and her government of having made the NSG the laughing stock of the world. How many times did the NSG (who took ten hours to reach Mumbai) claim that it had "sanitised the Taj and that the operation was over" and how many times did a bomb go off immediately after? For the last 20 years, the NSG has guarded VIPs and has become soft. See the comments of Israeli terror specialists, who said the NSG should have first sanitised the immediate surroundings of the places of conflict, kept the bystanders and press (who gave terrorists watching TV in the Taj rooms a perfect report of the security forces' whereabouts) out of the place, gathered enough information about the position of the terrorists and hostages before taking action, instead of immediately engaging the terrorists, and ensuring the deaths of so many hostages.

I accuse Sonia of having let her Christian and Western background, in four years, divide India on religious and caste lines in a cynical and methodical manner.

I accuse Sonia of weakening India's spirit of sacrifice and courage, so that 20 terrorists (or less) held at ransom the financial capital of India for more than three days.

I accuse Sonia Gandhi of always pointing the finger at Pakistan, when terrorism in India is now mostly homegrown, even if it takes help, training, refuge and arms from Pakistan; of not warning Indians of the grave dangers of Islamic terror for cynical election purposes.

I accuse Sonia of being an enemy of the Hindus, who always gave refuge to persecuted minorities, and who are the only people in the world to accept that God may manifest under different names, in different epochs, using different scriptures.

I accuse Sonia Gandhi of taking advantage of India's respect for women, its undue fascination with the Gandhi name, and its stupid mania for White Skin.

I'accuse Sonia of exploiting the Indian Press' obsession with her. She hardly ever gave interview in 20 years, except scripted ones to NDTV, yet the Press always protects her, never blames her and keeps silent over her covert role.

I'accuse Sonia and her government of trying to make heroes of subservient and inefficient men to hide the humiliation of Mumbai 26/11. Before going to his death, Hemant Karkare, the ATS chief, was shown on television clumsily handling his helmet, as someone who uses it very rarely. Why did he die of bullet wounds in the chest when he was wearing a bullet-proof vest? Either Indian vests are inferior quality or he was not wearing one.

How did the terrorists who killed him and his fellow officer escape in the same vehicle used by the ATS chief ? Why did he and his officers go into Cama Hospital without ascertaining where the terrorists were? We honour his death, but these facts say a lot about the ATS' battle-readiness.

Will someone in the Congress, someone who feels more Indian than faithful to Sonia, stand up and speak the truth? Who said, "Go after Hindu terrorists"? Who insisted on putting pressure on BJP governments in Karnataka or Orissa for so-called persecution of Christians, when Christians have always practised their faith in total freedom here, while their missionaries are converting hundreds of thousands of innocent tribals and Dalits with the billions of dollars given by gullible westerners? Who said, "Go soft on Islamic terrorism"? Who wants to do away with India's nuclear deterrence in the face of Pakistani and Chinese nuclear threats, by pushing at all costs the one sided Indo-US nuclear deal, which makes no secret of its intention to denuclearise India militarily? I am sure Sonia Gandhi has good qualities: she probably was a good wife to Rajiv, a good daughter in law to Indira and by all accounts, she is a good mother to her children. One also hears first-hand reports about her concern for smaller people, her dignity in the suffering that befell her when her husband was blown to pieces, and her courtesy with visitors.

Nevertheless, she is a danger to India.

Her very presence, both physical and occult, open the doors to forces inimical to India. Even Indian Christians should understand that she is not a gift to them: her presence at the top has emboldened fanatics like John Dayal or Valson Thampu, who practise an orthodox Christianity prevalent in the West in the early 20th century, but no longer, to radicalise their flock. Indian Christians should recognise that they have a much better deal here than Christians or Hindus have in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia or Saudi Arabia.

Under Sonia's rule, Indian Muslims, too, have been used as electoral pawns. They have been encouraged to shun the Sufi streak, a blend of the best of Islam and Vedanta, for a hard-line Sunni brand imported from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

For the good of India, her civilisation, her immense spirituality and culture, Sonia Gandhi has to go and a government that thinks Indian, breathes nationalism and will protect its citizens must be voted to power.