Hindu communalism & Muslim extremism

By: M. G. Hassan Mukhtar

Terrorism in all its manifestations is bad and so is communalism. But the question is which one of the two is more dangerous. I say, communalism as it is a long term deadly disease while as terrorism can be for a shorter period. Muslims have turned to terrorism in response to Israel and American aggression/policies. Hindus have hugged communalism which is a sweet poison and its roots could go deeper and deeper while as terrorism is a short lived phenomenon terminating at the end of the solution of the problem. Communalism targets mindset while as terrorism targets physical entity. At the end, communalism could be a worst initiator of deadly terrorism while as terrorism without communalism could end anytime. Muslims and Jews have been very sensitive towards their religion from the very beginning while Christians and Hindus are not to that extent. Trouble makers know this very well. There is lot of money being pumped into Islamic sects to keep them at loggerheads either by Muslims themselves or through foreign agencies both Islamic and Christian/Jews. In case foreign money pours into India in order to keep different sections of Hindu society at loggerheads, then it will take only few years to disintegrate the whole of India.

Terrorism is a quick response to certain dangerous problems faced by the society/community while as communalism is a deep rooted conspiracy against humanity. There is no justification for any of the two. The society/community as a whole can never sustain terrorism while the same could be possible in case of communalism. Few people or persons in a negligible number can become terrorists while as community/group as a whole can turn out to be communalists in the long run. One can stop terrorism any moment during a time frame while it could take centuries to control communalism. That is why; I shall again repeat that seeds of communalism in India are to be uprooted at the earliest before they could take shape and become the base for the disintegration.

It is a sorry state of affairs that Muslims have resorted to extremism in the Indian sub-continent and Hindus are turning out to be more and more communalists. To be part of Terrorism profession it involves lot of financial support, high class technology and even sometimes superior education while as communalism needs only biased/partial and fascist minds. To join terrorism, it could take years of motivation while as to join communalists; it is a matter of minutes. Fake a story like Godhra carnage, check the results. Muslims in India are being pushed to the wall by the communal forces. That does not mean that Muslims are clear like snow and cannot be overtaken by the developments nationally or internationally. The terrorist forces in Asia or Jehadi forces working against America/Israel could influence any Muslim across the globe as the community has been pushed to the concrete wall by the policies of these two satanic states.

Terrorism is an outcome of the abnormalities in the power of defence while as communalism is an outcome of abnormalities in the power of politics. Terrorism is nowadays a commodity which could be imported or exported. It depends on the needs and requirements of a country/society. Terrorism is an American/Jewish created/sponsored agenda while as communalism is an Indian sponsored agenda. In both cases Muslims are the ultimate victims. Muslim have upgraded the axis of evil from America-Israel-Britain to Israel-America-India. America at any cost wants to rule the world by hook or by crook and does also desire to have technological superiority over the rest of the nations. It wants that most of the conflicts should continue not at their cost but at the cost of these poor countries so that its sale of arms fetch them good money. The same money would be utilised on further defence research and inventions of new sophisticated arms, missiles, rockets and nuclear war heads.

Terrorism is still an undecided issue because at some places, it is called freedom fighting particularly when it is supported by the neighbouring country or a big power like America. Communalism has been growing because of failures in Indian politics and even mainstream parties particularly Congress has propagated underground communal politics in order to get votes. The other religious Hindu political parties like BJP, Shiv Sena/RSS, Bajrangdal or ABVP are building their political base on the diet of communalism and that too against Muslims. Congress has played appeasement policy and BJP played communal politics. Both have tried to use Muslim vote bank whenever needed. Both parties have used Muslim politicians and thrown Muslims voters in dustbin. Even Mayavati and Mulayam have played Muslim cards in Uttar Pradesh.

The BJP with all its like- minded communal parties have taken Jammu region as hostage for displaying communal politics as against non-communal Kashmiris. I really don't understand what has happened to civil society in Jammu region who have always been torch bearers of communal harmony. They accommodated Kashmiri migrants (both Pandits & Muslims) and welcomed them wholeheartedly. Kashmiris on the other hand never harmed any Hindu even during peak militancy period. Some isolated incidents happened but no Kashmiri was happy over that. Kashmiris never turned their movement into communal frame although at various levels, there were agencies in India trying to put the blame but it did not work.

Terrorism is not a religion specific agenda. All communities be it Jews, Christians, Muslim or Hindus have taken part in it. But at global level, it has been branded as Muslim specific. The reason being that the global media -print, electronic or internet is controlled by non- Muslims particular the Jews & Christians. The most dangerous form of terrorism has been carried by Hindus (Tamils) in Sri Lanka against majority Buddhists (Sinhalis). But one hardly knows it as Hindu terrorism or Vedic terrorism. Similarly Bodos or ULFA terrorism is also hardly known as Hindu terrorism. Same is the case with Naxalites (Lower -caste Hindus) who have been waging a war and nearly 1/4 of total area of India is bugged by these local terrorists. Even in Nepal (the only Hindu Country in the world), the Maoist terrorists have never been branded as Hindu terrorists. India is facing more of local Hindu terrorism than foreign imported Islamic brand. The problem is that so called foreign terrorism specified generally as Muslim or Islamic terrorism hits the main cities while as the grand Hindu terrorism is in rural areas or in frontier poor states. The metropolitan city or Capital based terrorism gets more than due attention because of the existence of fourth estate and also due to being power hubs. Experience shows that even if a dog dies by the hit of a speeding vehicle in the city/capital, its jumbo photograph will be placed on the front page along with minute details but if a known personality is killed in a far flung rural area, it will hardly be a news because the problem with reporters is that they also want to be city based and depend on easy access to news/reports. That is why Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Jaipur terrorism is news but the terrorism in Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Andhra Pardesh is hardly news in national media.

Even there are perceptions that all these terrorist activities are most of the time sponsored or politically motivated. That is true, no doubt about that. The world has gone into a situation of confusion and vicious circle where no one knows what is happening or even if one is doing, the blame may come on the non-doer. The attack on Indian Parliament is a case for reference (please feel free to ask Arundhati Roy) apart from killing of 36 Sikhs in Chhattisingpora (Kashmir). The policies, programmes and secret issues of global terrorism are manufactured at Pentagon. The CIA decides what to do and how to go about it. They create theories and perceptions suited to their cause of ruling the world. They write literature against themselves and distribute it among the sponsored Muslim terrorists. It works and suits them. That is how they get engaged into the business of counter terrorism. Terrorism is not just an issue; it is an economic industry more viable than the usual industries. It is free of auditing and has unaccountable money at its disposal. The simple thing is that a country cannot keep on producing arms & ammunition without any use. Its armed forces cannot keep on firing on dead walls and mounds. The joy is to kill a human being that too with a pride. The use of arms cannot be just an imaginary drama; it has to have a practical laboratory. At present global terrorism is being managed by USA & Israel and Pakistan/Afganistan is the laboratory. Pakistan was the nucleus of export terrorism but presently uses high quality terror products for itself. India has also joined the venture. Earlier USSR was part and parcel of the whole game. They have been diluted after Afghan-USSR war and literally broken into pieces. Recently the Georgia-USSR conflict is an eye opener. If one looks at Iran-Iraq war, then one could imagine America helping Iran against Iraq and former Soviet Union helping Iraq against Iran just to supply arms & ammunition. But see at present America trying to attack the same Iran. Priorities have changed, new policies framed. During all these years after post Iran-Iraq war, Iran has peacefully progressed in all fields without the support of America or Russia. This again is pinching big powers. Therefore a stage is being managed to attack Iran under the falsehood of nuclear propaganda. I believe that even small countries like Nepal, Djibuti, etc have the right to go nuclear for their energy programme.. If it is not peaceful, then even big countries must shun it.

In a nutshell, Muslims in the global scenario are being used for terrorism by America and Israel whether hitting them directly or provoking them indirectly. The excuse of Weapons of Mass Destruction(WMD) in Iraq or that Saddam Husain was involved in terrorism against America was a myth created by CIA and therefore the nation of Iraq was made a scapegoat. By attacking Iraq through falsehood clearly indicates the global designs of America. Iraq was still better under Saddam than under USA stooges. Every Iraqi has a right to hit every American because the common sense tells you that if you spoil me without provocation, I shall be at liberty to spoil you. But the tit for tat policy will ultimately lead humanity towards disaster. The American or British and Israeli sponsored state terrorism is basically open fascism but one shall hardly hear about it. America along with Israel and Britain terrorised Iraqis through forceful occupation but it is hardly acknowledged while Iraqis trying to get their country back from occupying forces are labelled Muslim terrorists.

Looking at the partition of the Indian sub-continent, Hindus have blamed Muslims and Muslims blame Hindus. This seems to be an unending process.. Partition on the basis of religion was in reality an ugly event. Geographical partitions are still the best option. In post partition period, the population of both the countries were fed on hatred through blame game. Hindu historians of India put all the blame on Muslims for the creation of partition and Muslim historians of Pakistan blamed Hindus of India for the same. No one tried to write the truth. Who made the circumstances and which were the underground forces responsible for partition? People are yet to understand the truth. Before truth gets revealed and an understanding is forged between the two communities, another game plan is in force these days. Hindus and Muslims are yet to come out of partition politics and a wedge is being created between the two communities in a new form. The confidence building measures between India and Pakistan are an eye sore for vested interests (religious zealots and political rascals) in both the countries who shield terrorism in Pakistan and communalism in India. Some people feel, even this policy could be the handiwork of foreign agencies like America and Israel including Britian who basically do not want to see Hindus and Muslim getting together and exhibiting communal harmony. Then where/how will these countries have a say. There are fanatics in both communities who directly or indirectly subscribe to communal politics for their ulterior motives. Let me tell you that most of the common people in both communities are not communalists but it is these small big sized mouths who wish to keep themselves on the top and exploit the innocence of common man (aam aadmi). Again please bear with me that communalism is another economic industry where big money is involved without audit and accountability.

Let all common Indians understand that Kashmir is a political as well as human problem but in no case a religious issue. It is a disputed territory and in any case is not an Atoot Ang (unbreakable part) as is always quoted by these blood sucking politicians. J & K has a different constitution from the Indian constitution. Common man in India must look into why it is so. No Indian law is legally binding on the people of Jammu & Kashmir except if approved by its constituent Assembly. It is self evident from this that J &K is not part of Indian domain. Let all the people of India understand. Neither J &K is part of Pakistani domain. Let the people of Pakistan understand the same. Let us not give it a religious colour and let there be no brandishing of the Kashmir problem on the basis of communal lines. Kashmiris (people of J &K) have a genuine reason to ask for self determination as promised by the erstwhile forefathers of the republic of India. Let reason prevail upon Indians to see the naked truth. If they cannot do justice with a small community of the J & K, then how do other communities expect same from Indian dominion particularly when India boasts of having the largest and fairest democracy in the entire world? The more injustice is done to the affected party with no final solution worked out, the nation has to bleed more in future. That is the silver line. The arrogance of being a nuclear power will not come to its rescue.

It is natural on the part of globe to get divided physically on the basis of communities, races having cultural affiliations but unite otherwise. It is a natural process. Tomorrow Gujaratis or Biharis or Tamils may look out for a separate sovereign entity and there is no one in the world to stop it. It is birth right of any community. But it need not be compared with the Kashmir problem. Kashmir has historical advantage and stands legally disputed. India and Pakistan are still large countries to have further divisions but I feel sorry for the tiny Sri Lankan country caught between deep sea and the devil. It shall always pain me to see Sri Lanka divided between two ethnic groups. Had there been two Islands containing Tamils and Sinhalese, I personally would not have felt so. These two communities (Hindu Tamils and Sinhale Buddhists) must learn to tolerate each other and work for national integration. It is like dividing a drop of water into two which shall always be not only painful but even harmful.

Let historians do a favour by coming clean on the issue of Indian partition as well as communal politics. Whatever had happened in 1947 happened. Today's computer savvy generation has nothing to do with 47. But let's begin a new chapter by demoralising communalism and terrorism. It was surprising that Deobandis (Islamic sect) learnt the value of humanity after 1400 years of emergence of Islam and denounced terrorism recently. Hindus are yet to come out clean on communalism. When shall all religious Hindu bodies denounce communalism? Perhaps not in near future. India, a divergent country can in fact break into pieces if communal politics is not shunned immediately. India cannot sustain communalism and government of India should immediately rein in Shiv Sena, Bajrang Dal, ABVP, RSS etc. Communalism in India is a strong force as is evident from the electorate of these communal parties. Same is not the case with Pakistan or even Kashmir. In Kashmir, the religious parties (who India claims to be communal which they never are) have never won more than a single assembly seat. Same stands true of Pakistan. From the last couple of elections, religious parties have got a small share and that is basically on the issue of Pakistani mainstream politics or army rule favouring America. Also because Pakistani agencies have taken full participation in Afgan-Soviet war which created fanatics in the defence forces that have been keeping the religious zealots or so called militants in good humour. They utilise their services whenever needed.

The biased and negative approach the two countries have had with each other can be understood by following real life story. Some years back, a Kashmiri family had gone to Pakistan to celebrate marriage and the guests included some Hindus from India. There in Pakistan, one family friend had invited the Kashmiri family. The children of the host family requested their father to tell the Kashmiri family that they should bring Hindu guest with them as they would like to see how a Hindu looks like. The children in Pakistan were not sure of Hindus being human beings. The rulers in Pakistan must have been demonising Hindus and portraying them as ugly creatures. So the host told his friend to get Hindu guests along. When the guests reached the host's house, the children told his father in surprise that papa he (Hindu) looks like us. We thought he would be some other kind of creature. So India and Pakistan need more and more people contact at the lower level so that common people understand each other and they participate in rejecting the nefarious design of those who have made the two countries hostage to their ugly mindsets. New generation computer savvy Hindus of India and Muslims of Pakistan share good relations in Europe & America but here it is a different ball game. Kakaram's son from Jammu is in Britian and he has been talking good about his Pakistani roommate's qualities, which Kakaram discussed with me many times. In Gujarat, a dhaba/restaurant, which does not have any shutters, is owned by a Muslim (Walibhai) and his Hindu friend on partnership basis. The Dhaba is 24 hours open and stands just outside Vadodara Railway Station. Whenever studying late into night, every student from the hostels of Maharaja Sayajiroa University of Baroda would visit this dhaba for late night or early morning tea as this was the only dhaba open in the city. Walibhai sits there in the afternoon. The partnership has been going on from the last forty years. We need to create more examples of this kind for the sake of communal harmony not only in commercial ventures but between hearts and minds too.

(The writer can be contacted at [email protected])