vinodks
August 1st, 2005, 08:43 PM
Well, it’s not must-read but I would appreciate if you could take some time out to read it.
There were lots of heated arguments going on in other threads about Kashmir issue. This kind of discussion is useful in the sense that one can share his knowledge hoping other jat-bhais (or bahans?:-)) may benefit from his insight. But discussions are limited in their scope and sometime they merely serve as place where people can exhibit their ideas.
Some bhai said lets all Hindus unite. Let’s wake up. What outcome came out of discussion? Are we now better united than before? Aren’t we already wide awake?
Everyone agrees that abolition of Article 370 would change things fundamentally and millions of people agree with that. Did our agreeing on the point help in any way in removing Article 370?
People say that we should let go our defensive attitude and apply same strategy of offence on them. Are they themselves going to fight?
People say we should give up Kashmir and we will have peace. A brief look at Islamic history can show it to anyone how suicidal and foolish that move would be.
People say we Hindus are poor learner from History. For a moment’s sake they should stop giving negative feedback to themselves. We are not poor learner; we are improving. This process of improvement will speed up if we can stop blaming ourselves, politicians and doing nothing.
But what’s the point? Discussions go on in many forums and I am not being skeptical. Discussions are necessary to educate ourselves, hone our political attitude and debate over possible solutions of problems. But ultimately things happen when they are done.
I have seen people who talk aloud about India’s problems and in 2 minutes would give you all the solutions too. But when they are asked to help in, let’s say, some event by some organization etc. they escape out silently. To ye jo world hai na world, esme do tarah ke aadami hote hein, ek jo boltey hein aur ek jo kartey hein.:-))
So What can we DO? We can help people who are doing work in this direction. There are organizations abroad which work for raising funds, lobbying against terrorism in political sphere, making people aware about ground realities, fighting against factitious elements within Indians and finally expanding a community that sympathizes with Kashmir’s cause not only in term of “words” but in “acts” too. For example
KOA (Kashmiri Overseas Association) visit http://www.koausa.org
You can associate with them and know the ways in which you can help. Sometimes littlest help (monetary or voluntary) can make difference.
FACT (Forum Against Continuing Terrorism) http://terrorfact.com
FACT doing great job in lobbying for Kashmiri pundit in USA. As an example there was an exhibition few days in US Capital (http://www.factusa.org/) and some congressmen attended that too. This exhibition will be displayed in many major cities in US in coming months. So you can help them as volunteer if exhibition is in your city, there are many other ways to help if you are willing.
Likewise there are other orgns through them you can contribute. I think I already posted in forum but let me say here again. An Indian student’s organ DESI is also working in this direction, one of the volunteer did research on the topic and we discussed whole issue in depth. A summary of talk can be viewed in following link and it good enough in introducing the issue.
For first half click
http://www.wam.umd.edu/~vinods/kashmir1.ppt
For second half click (cudn’t upload whole ppt in one file.:-(
http://www.wam.umd.edu/~vinods/kashmir2.ppt
Those who are curious about knowing more and want to contribute please let me know.
Thanks
-Vinod
PS:---------------------------------------
On separate note: I just wanted to share few things about related issue….
Yesterday I had opportunity to listen to RSS’s chief Sudarshanji’s informal talk. I would just briefly share two particular historical incidents here that he mentioned. During Ranjit Singh’s time, a section of Kashmiri Muslims requested him to let them convert back to Hinduism because they realized dark realities of Islam. They were summoned near Jhelum for the ceremony for re-conversion. But then 7-8 ‘raj-purohit’(Kashmiri Pundits) stood in Jhelum water with just their head out and said if Ranjit Singh lets them convert to Hinduism they would kill themselves and sin of ‘brahmin-hatya’ would fall on Ranjit. So they had their way. By those Pundit’s arrogance and foolishness their descendants got kicked out of valley by descendants of same Muslims who wanted to come to Hinduism. They might be just small section of Muslims but I just wanted to make a point. So Hinduism should adapt itself to allow these kinds of movements.
Actually successful and interesting story related re-conversion to Hinduism happened in Rajasthan near Ajmer. Muslims have these ‘maulvis’ who keep wandering through Muslims communities through out the country to check that Islamic rules are followed stringently. In some village in Rajasthan they saw that people had Hindu-Muslim mixed names because of cultural background and forced them to keep just Muslim names. These villagers got angry and went to Ajmer’s Pushkar and said since Islam demands them to get rid of something which is has been in their tradition for centuries they want to get rid of Islam itself; and after all their ancestors were Hindus. When maulvis knew the incident they warned that they will burn their whole village. When RSS heard about it, 30 volunteers instantly came to village on cycles for protection. Few days later, whole village celebrated Janmasthami and got converted to Hinduism. Getting inspired by that nearby village also got converted. One by one total 70,000 Muslims were re-converted. And as everyone knows Arya-Samaj is excellent example which encouraged this kind of process. But it was just particular incident that I wanted share. Kashmir problem (or whole Islamic fundamentalism) involves lots of other things too.
------------------------------------
There were lots of heated arguments going on in other threads about Kashmir issue. This kind of discussion is useful in the sense that one can share his knowledge hoping other jat-bhais (or bahans?:-)) may benefit from his insight. But discussions are limited in their scope and sometime they merely serve as place where people can exhibit their ideas.
Some bhai said lets all Hindus unite. Let’s wake up. What outcome came out of discussion? Are we now better united than before? Aren’t we already wide awake?
Everyone agrees that abolition of Article 370 would change things fundamentally and millions of people agree with that. Did our agreeing on the point help in any way in removing Article 370?
People say that we should let go our defensive attitude and apply same strategy of offence on them. Are they themselves going to fight?
People say we should give up Kashmir and we will have peace. A brief look at Islamic history can show it to anyone how suicidal and foolish that move would be.
People say we Hindus are poor learner from History. For a moment’s sake they should stop giving negative feedback to themselves. We are not poor learner; we are improving. This process of improvement will speed up if we can stop blaming ourselves, politicians and doing nothing.
But what’s the point? Discussions go on in many forums and I am not being skeptical. Discussions are necessary to educate ourselves, hone our political attitude and debate over possible solutions of problems. But ultimately things happen when they are done.
I have seen people who talk aloud about India’s problems and in 2 minutes would give you all the solutions too. But when they are asked to help in, let’s say, some event by some organization etc. they escape out silently. To ye jo world hai na world, esme do tarah ke aadami hote hein, ek jo boltey hein aur ek jo kartey hein.:-))
So What can we DO? We can help people who are doing work in this direction. There are organizations abroad which work for raising funds, lobbying against terrorism in political sphere, making people aware about ground realities, fighting against factitious elements within Indians and finally expanding a community that sympathizes with Kashmir’s cause not only in term of “words” but in “acts” too. For example
KOA (Kashmiri Overseas Association) visit http://www.koausa.org
You can associate with them and know the ways in which you can help. Sometimes littlest help (monetary or voluntary) can make difference.
FACT (Forum Against Continuing Terrorism) http://terrorfact.com
FACT doing great job in lobbying for Kashmiri pundit in USA. As an example there was an exhibition few days in US Capital (http://www.factusa.org/) and some congressmen attended that too. This exhibition will be displayed in many major cities in US in coming months. So you can help them as volunteer if exhibition is in your city, there are many other ways to help if you are willing.
Likewise there are other orgns through them you can contribute. I think I already posted in forum but let me say here again. An Indian student’s organ DESI is also working in this direction, one of the volunteer did research on the topic and we discussed whole issue in depth. A summary of talk can be viewed in following link and it good enough in introducing the issue.
For first half click
http://www.wam.umd.edu/~vinods/kashmir1.ppt
For second half click (cudn’t upload whole ppt in one file.:-(
http://www.wam.umd.edu/~vinods/kashmir2.ppt
Those who are curious about knowing more and want to contribute please let me know.
Thanks
-Vinod
PS:---------------------------------------
On separate note: I just wanted to share few things about related issue….
Yesterday I had opportunity to listen to RSS’s chief Sudarshanji’s informal talk. I would just briefly share two particular historical incidents here that he mentioned. During Ranjit Singh’s time, a section of Kashmiri Muslims requested him to let them convert back to Hinduism because they realized dark realities of Islam. They were summoned near Jhelum for the ceremony for re-conversion. But then 7-8 ‘raj-purohit’(Kashmiri Pundits) stood in Jhelum water with just their head out and said if Ranjit Singh lets them convert to Hinduism they would kill themselves and sin of ‘brahmin-hatya’ would fall on Ranjit. So they had their way. By those Pundit’s arrogance and foolishness their descendants got kicked out of valley by descendants of same Muslims who wanted to come to Hinduism. They might be just small section of Muslims but I just wanted to make a point. So Hinduism should adapt itself to allow these kinds of movements.
Actually successful and interesting story related re-conversion to Hinduism happened in Rajasthan near Ajmer. Muslims have these ‘maulvis’ who keep wandering through Muslims communities through out the country to check that Islamic rules are followed stringently. In some village in Rajasthan they saw that people had Hindu-Muslim mixed names because of cultural background and forced them to keep just Muslim names. These villagers got angry and went to Ajmer’s Pushkar and said since Islam demands them to get rid of something which is has been in their tradition for centuries they want to get rid of Islam itself; and after all their ancestors were Hindus. When maulvis knew the incident they warned that they will burn their whole village. When RSS heard about it, 30 volunteers instantly came to village on cycles for protection. Few days later, whole village celebrated Janmasthami and got converted to Hinduism. Getting inspired by that nearby village also got converted. One by one total 70,000 Muslims were re-converted. And as everyone knows Arya-Samaj is excellent example which encouraged this kind of process. But it was just particular incident that I wanted share. Kashmir problem (or whole Islamic fundamentalism) involves lots of other things too.
------------------------------------