Islam & Peace

Over the internet I have come to know of a very interesting group of people who have with them but one agenda: of convincing masses of ‘Islam is a religion of peace’. Frankly I have had no issues with them, whatsoever, initially. As a firm believer in mutual co-existence and free speech I found the issue, chosen by them, to be close to my heart and, also, to be the need of the hour.

I was, then, even relaxed to know that there were finally some men, that too within Islam itself, attempting to undo the blemish what those Wahhabis had brought to it. Though I never put in my written word of gratitude to them I was praying for them to be triumphant in their task. But today I am compelled to speak otherwise. Not without a fair and valid reason, for sure.

To ensure I realized and understood their intentions accurately, I resolutely kept an eye on their activities, rather closely, both on and off the internet, through my sources, for quiet some time. It didn’t took me long to realize their true intent. They were attempting to deceive people and motive them to convert to Islam, of which they had their own version, in rather very roguish manner by resorting to Negations.

Reactionary Hinduism

It’s virtually impossible to describe the word ‘Hindu’. You can define Muslim, Christian and people of other faiths quiet accurately, but not Hindu.

Many deem that all Hindus are idolaters – that’s certainly not true. Arya and Brahma Samajis are also Hindus, but are completely critical of Idol Worship. If you assume that Hindus are the one who adhere to Bhagavad-Gita as the ultimate Holy Scripture – Shaivas, followers of Shiva, would beg with you to differ. Sincerely, there is no description which can accurately depict Hindu. We can define the cosmos, spirit, earth and all that, but not Hinduism. But just because we cannot define it, does it mean that it doesn’t exist? Certainly not!

We, the Hindus, have based our whole existence, mostly, on God and therefore, it is credible that Hindu Society has developed in an all-comprehensive manner, with a perplexing variety of phases and forms, but with one lace of integration running intrinsically through the whole host of its expressions and manifestations. All the sects, diverse castes in the Hindu fold can be defined, but the expression ‘Hindu’ cannot.

Confessions of a bibliophile

I am a Bibliophile. Reading has been the best source of inspiration for me. I have found it to be the best mode of enlightening myself and also to comprehend skill of others, as a fellow writer. It is mostly through reading that I have learnt to structure a tale, describe character, delineate action, judge what works and what does not. A writer, some say, is ‘always hunting, looking to snatch or steal, discovering what to avoid and what to make their own’, this is emphatically accurate in my case.

I had been a frequent reviewer of books with a premier New Delhi based Newspaper. As a part of the job, they would send me a copy of a book to write a review. As an eloquent book reader I preferred to read any book twice. I employed this technique to ensure that before I criticize, or appreciate, I have made myself thorough with its contents. I solemnly deem that ‘we will be predisposed only in a pessimistic way if we read without understanding’. This practice made my submissions of reviews tardy.

Behind the Gujjar-Meena fracas

The 1857 uprising, though for a short time, unnerved the British. After the event, to ensure that this never occurred again, Britons began commencing a series of real politick measures. The Bengal army which had shown alarming camaraderie during the mutiny was disbanded. Calumny against the Brahmins, for having presented the ideological leaven for the revolt along with constituting an all India framework for the movement, was doubled. The unity of Hindus and Muslims, which was unmistakably extraordinary during the revolt, was a major budding threat for the empire in India and provision were made to dissuade it.

‘Divide et Impera was the old Roman motto,’ wrote Lord Elphinstone, then Governor of Bombay ‘and it should be ours.’ Sir John Strachey was of no dissimilar view. ‘The existence, side by side, of hostile creeds among the Indian people, is one of the strong points in our political position in India.’ he stated.