India will stay secular: PM tells Staines widow

Agencies
Published on Mon, Dec 31, 2007 at 14:23, Updated at Mon, Dec 31, 2007 in Nation section
New Delhi:

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday assured Gladys Staines, widow of Australian missionary Graham Staines who was murdered in Orissa nine years ago, that his government would take steps to ensure that the secular fabric of the country was not disturbed.
"I assure you that the government will take all necessary steps to safeguard the fundamental rights and liberties of all sections of our society and protect their religious freedoms as enshrined in the constitution,” Singh said while replying to Staines' letter expressing concern over the increasing communal violence in Orissa’s Kandhamal district.
"Please be assured that we will not tolerate any efforts aimed at disturbing the communal harmony or secular fabric of our country," Singh said in the letter.
Gladys Staines has stayed on in the state even after the brutal killing of her husband and two sons who were burnt alive while sleeping in their jeep in Keonjhar district on Jan 23, 1999.
Singh said he had spoken to Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik about the situation in the state and assured Staines that the central government was taking steps to ensure "restoration of normalcy" and peace to the affected areas.
Kandhamal district has been tense since Christmas Eve with Hindus and Christians clashing repeatedly. At least five people have died and hundreds of houses torched in the last few days.
Christian groups staged a demonstration in Bhubaneswar on Monday to press for their demand that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe the violence in Kandhamal.
A group of Christian leaders met Singh on Monday and demanded compensation for loss of life and property, a government statement on what measures are being taken for the safety of Christians and the PM to publicly condemn the violence.
“In riots everyone is a looser. All the leaders should sit and find permanent solution to the problem. We are not serving there (in Kandhamal) to convert people into Christianity. Many Hindu organizations like ISKCON do good work abroad, do we say that they are converting—no,” said Sajan K. George, president of Global council of Indian Christians, told CNN-IBN.
The Orissa government has announced it will give Rs 1 lakh as compensation to relatives of people who died in the violence. Houses will be given under Indira Awas Yojana to those whose properties were burnt.


Conversions implicitly mean the abandonment of one religion to take to another. Religions that teach theirs is the only true one sow the seeds of religious conflict. Only religions that teach there are many ways to God can effect a culture of religious coexistence and India, as a nation, is the prime example of a culture affording the practice of various religions without conflict. The only historical record of the tearing of this social fabric of religious harmony is the conversion activities of Semitic religions that proclaim that theirs is the only true religion. Such religions must be banned in India.

Al-Qaeda plot to assassinate Musharraf foiled

Karachi, Dec 13:

Pakistani intelligence agencies have foiled a plot to assassinate President Pervez Musharraf by arresting some members of al Qaeda from Karachi’s Malir area, and seizing a large amount of ammunition from their possession, sources have said. Sources said that al Qaeda members told interrogators that they were plotting to kill Musharraf during his next trip to Karachi. The terrorists had planned to blow up the entire bridge on Drig Road at the precise moment when Musharraf’s convoy would reach there while coming from the airport to Shahrah-e-Faisal, a website quoted sources, as saying. They further said that two more attacks were planned in case Musharraf survived the first one. The arrested al Qaeda members told interrogators that their plans would be carried out despite their arrest as the group had been divided into smaller groups to execute their tasks. Earlier, in July a rocket was fired on Musharraf`s plane when it was flying above Rawalpindi and the President survived the attack narrowly. Islamic fundamentalists had reportedly threatened Musharraf with suicide bombings after he ordered a crack down on the Lal Masjid in Islamabad. Till now there has been four unsuccessful attempts on his life. He was first attacked in 2003, but somehow he survived the bomb attack on his car. Bureau Report
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It is ironic that Pakistan, which was formed in the name of Islam, is again sought to be recreated by terrorists in the name of Islam. - K.Venugopal

Sonia`s remark meant for entire Gujarat machinery: Congress

Zeenews Bureau New Delhi, December 11:

Responding to EC’s notice over Sonia Gandhi’s “Merchants of Death” remark, Congress on Tuesday clarified that her remark was actually meant for the entire government machinery and not individual specific. The party added that the UPA chairperson had not said “anything” objectionable during her election rallies in Gujarat. The Congress president made the controversial remark during her speech at a rally in Navasari district on December 01. The EC had acted after the BJP accused the commission of going soft on the Congress when it had taken serious note of Modi’s utterings on Sohrabuddin’s fake encounter case. Besides Sonia, senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh also responded to the Election Commission’s (EC) notice sent to him over his “Hindu terrorism” remark. Defending himself, Singh said that he did not mention “Hindu terrorism” and all the allegations against him are baseless. Singh also sought more evidence and CDs from the Election Commission to prove allegations that he violated the moral code of conduct. Congress had been flip-flopping on the "merchants of death" controversy so far and the top brass of the party on Monday suggested that Sonia Gandhi did not name Modi but had the entire state administration including the Chief Minister in mind when she made those remarks. Earlier, defending Sonia Gandhi and Singh, the Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that the AICC president had not mentioned any individual at all. Singhvi made it clear that the Congress party would not deviate from its stand while adding that there was no need to overreact to the issue. The party made it clear that Sonia Gandhi’s statement was not meant to undermine any one or settle any political score with any individual. The party added that Sonia’s speech was a reflection of the voices of those being suppressed and harassed by the fundamentalists and was a harsh comment on the pathetic political situation of the state. The Congress’ expected reply to the EC coincides with the first phase of the state Assembly elections in Gujarat, which began today amid tight security. The political wrangling between the incumbent BJP and the Congress party continues, as the former had attacked the latter for failing to protect the Hindu nationalism where as the other seems to be going hard on the Modi’s Hindutva card and fake killings in the state. The fuss over Sonia’s remarks started after Modi received a notice from the Election Commission for justifying the killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh in a fake encounter.
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Sonia Gandhi may have made a case out if she had called only Modi a Merchant of Death. But calling an entire government machinery Merchants of Death is not going to be condoned by any educated person. She is going to get her comeuppance on this one. - K.Venugopal

Merchant of Death

Zeenews Bureau New Delhi, Dec 08: On BJP’s complaint, the Election Commission on Saturday sought a report from Congress over Sonia Gandhi’s alleged remarks referring to Chief Minister Narendra Modi as a “merchant of death" at a rally in Navasari district, Gujarat on December 01. Earlier, BJP had complained to EC over Sonia’s comments and Modi in his reply to EC’s notice also sought action against Sonia Gandhi and senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh for using the term "Hindu Terrorism". Sonia had referred to the Gujarat CM as “maut key saudagar” (merchant of death) while referring to the communal riots of 2002, one the goriest in the country. There had been some confusion over Sonia’s remarks. Initially Kapil Sibbal had said that the comment was targetted at Gujarat government functionaries and the like of DIG(Border) D G Vanzara, accused in Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case. But today Congress disowned his statement and Abhishek Manu Singhvi reiterated that those remarks were targetted at Narendra Modi himself. Modi, as a counter, took credit for the killing of Sohrabuddin challenging the Central government to hang him if they felt it was unjustified. In a reply to a notice issued by Election Commission for his alleged comments, BJP stated that Modi was provoked by Sonia Gandhi. However, they added that all comments attributed by the media to Modi were not true.
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The Congress appears to be on the side of terrorists, whether Afzal Guru or Shorabuddin. - K.Venugopal

Buddha questions the existence of Ram, says Setu natural

Zeenews BureauKolkata, Dec 07:

Adding fuel to the fire over the contentious Ram Setu issue, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said that there is no historical evidence of the existence of Lord Ram or Ram Setu. In a recent public function held in Kolkata on early Friday, to mark the 15th anniversary of Babri demolition, the Buddhadeb said, "Ram is the imagination of a poet. What is the Ram Setu controversy about? Why are they agitating over Ram Setu? Ram Setu is a natural formation in the sea. They are just trying to create a religious hysteria.” In his speech, the West Bengal CM blamed the BJP saying that it was using Ram Setu as tool to bring divisions in the society as a whole. Earlier, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK patriarch, M Karunanidhi had questioned the existence of Lord Ram, which was followed by massive protests across India with mobs resorting to arson and even attacking his house in Bangalore. Ram Setu or Adam’s bridge is a chain of limestone shoals forming a link between Sri Lanka and India. The setu, which holds a sacred place in the heart of many Hindus, finds evidence in the ancient texts of Ramayana, which mentions that, Lord Ram and his army of monkeys built the setu to rescue Sita, who was abducted by King of Lanka, Ravana. The dredging of Ram Setu came into light when the Indian government gave its nod to the multi-million dollar Sethusamudram project, which requires breaking a portion of Ram Setu to make the routes navigable for ships around the Indian peninsula. Many organisations have stepped up the attack on the government over the breaking of the Setu citing religious and environmental grounds.
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Buddhadeb would not question the existence of Karl Marx, because he lived only a little more than 100 years ago. But so fast has Communism become irrelevant except in a few pocket boroughs around the world that this leader of one such pocket borough is clearly uncomfortable with a Rama of many thousand years ago being still relevant to over a billion people worldwide. - K.Venugopal

Disqualification plea: Anxious moments for BJP

November 17, 2007 09:54 IST
Karnataka's ruling coalition partners � Janata Dal Secular and the Bharatiya Janata Party -- will have some tense moments, as the hearing on a petition seeking disqualification of 40 JDS legislators resumes on Saturday. The hearing comes up two days prior to the BJP seeking a trust vote on the floor of the Karnataka legislative assembly.The petition that seeks disqualification of the legislators, including former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, will resume before the Speaker of the legislative assembly. All eyes will be on the Speaker, as his decision will be crucial to the government.The petition was filed by a few independent legislators in which they sought the disqualification of the JDS legislators after they entered into an alliance with the BJP 21 months back and formed the government without the approval of the party high command. The petition was based on the letter written by JDS supremo H D Deve Gowda to the Governor in which it was sought not to recognize the faction led by his son, Kumaraswamy.No action was taken by the then state Governor, T N Chaturvedi, following which the petition was filed. It will be interesting to see what the Speaker does during the hearing as the matter was being adjourned repeatedly since the past 21 months.On the last date of hearing, the Speaker had issued summons to both Gowda and senior JDS leader M P Prakash. Gowda will have to explain to the Speaker the reason for writing the letter to the Governor. Prakash too will have to explain the circumstances that prevailed at that time as he too had initially opposed the formation of the government with the BJP.The outcome of this petition will be extremely crucial to the survival of the government. If the Speaker were to uphold the petition, it would lead to the disqualification of 40 JDS legislators, thus reducing the BJP-led government to a minority.

K.Venugopal

If the Speaker disqualifies the JDS MLAs, it will be a case of Deva Gowda's sins having caught up with him, for he is the one who initiated the action in one of his summersaults of political positioning.

[Rediff News]

A parliament resolution can save the nuclear deal

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November 14, 2007 22:46 IST
On the eve of the winter session of Parliament, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] met Bharatiya Janata Party patriarch Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Wednesday night and discussed the Indo-US nuclear deal on which the saffron party has hardened its stand by demanding a renegotiation.
Dr Singh drove to the former prime minister's 6A, Krishna Menon Marg residence in the evening and held deliberations on the current political situation.
Leader of the Opposition Lal Kishenchand Advani was also present during the meeting.
"In the course of the meeting, they discussed current political issues, including the nuclear deal," Prime Minister's Office spokesman Sanjaya Baru said.
The prime minister's initiative to meet Vajpayee assumes significance as BJP had last week demanded the deal's renegotiations saying the agreement in its present form compromised India's long-term strategic programme.
The BJP stand, finalised at a meeting of senior party leaders on November 7, had scotched speculation that the saffron party was ready to cast aside its opposition to the deal following a series of meetings US Ambassador to India David C Mulford had with party top brass, including its president Rajnath Singh and Advani.
With the nuclear deal set to be one of the main issues in the brief session of Parliament beginning Thursday, the government is aiming to mould a political consensus on it.
Dr Singh conveyed good wishes for Deepavali to Vajpayee and also enquired about his health.
The 82-year-old Vajpayee has been keeping unwell for the past few months.
He was admitted to the All India Insititute of Medical Sciences recently where he underwent treatment for a week.

K.Venugopal

A Parliament resolution can save the nuclear deal

The BJP should support the nuclear deal if the Congress is willing to join the BJP in passing a resolution in Parliament that no deal between India and another nation, howsoever worded and interpreted, shall be allowed to transgress India's sovereignty. By this resolution it would be clear that no power on earth shall be able to cap India's nuclear capability and independent foreign policy.

Is it necessary to pray?

Is it necessary to pray? Is the supreme power such a power that it would act only if we pray to it? Wouldn't the supreme power know our entire circumstances and wouldn't it guide us accordingly? If it is a question of ego and prayers are about destroying our ego, it is unlikely. We are more likely to be cured of our ego when the slings and arrows of misfortune are fired at us by our circumstances. No, I do not think prayers are necessary unless those prayers are our poetic celebration of the divine. What is required is the understanding that all our problems are due to our restless mind and the only solution is to make our mind restful.

[Posted at Yahoo Group]

Mahatma Gandhi divided India on caste lines: Mayawati

MSN India
Saturday, October 27, 200719:09 IST
Blog this story
Chandigarh: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today caused a flutter by saying that Mahatma Gandhi had divided the nation on caste lines whereas Dalit leader B.R. Ambedkar had strived to unite all sections of society.
Addressing a meet-the-press programme at the Chandigarh Press Club on her maiden visit to the city as chief minister, Mayawati minced no words to say that the father of the nation, who is credited for leading India's non-violent struggle to end the British rule in the country, had divided the country.
"It was him (Gandhi) who gave the name Harijan to people from lower castes and weaker sections of society. He divided Indian society into two categories - the weaker sections and upper castes," the chief minister said.
"It was Ambedkar who tried to unite all sections of society. I don't want to undermine Gandhi's contribution to the freedom struggle but that also led to the division of Indian society," Mayawati asserted.
She said her Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) would continue with its ideology to bring the weaker and neglected sections of society to the forefront and also to unite all categories - from weaker sections to religious minorities to upper castes - through its social engineering process.
Mayawati said the BSP, which this year romped home to power with a clear majority in the Uttar Pradesh assembly, would expand its base and try its social engineering campaign of uniting various sections of society in other states and at the centre.
"As and when the occasion arises and my party workers want me to take control (of power) in Delhi, I must tell you, I will not disappoint them," Mayawati said with a big smile on her face when asked about her prime ministerial ambitions.

K.Venugopal - Mumbai on 10/27/2007 9:07:53 PM

It is Mayawati who is a caste leader. Mahatma Gandhi divided the nation when he acquiesced to Islamic communalism. However, at a time when the so-called lower castes were looked down upon by the so-called upper castes, Mahatma Gandhi saw God (Hari) in them also and called them Harijans (God's people) to wipe off the stigma against them. But Hari is of Hindu connotation. Thus calling them Harijans is opposed by those who are anti-Hindus. Ambedkar had ridiculed Rama. And today Mayawati wants to install statutes of Periyar, another person who excelled in insulting Rama and all Hinduism. However, Ambedkar eventually saw merit in the larger Hindu culture and refused to convert outside it. Mayawati's mentor Kanshiram proffered a toilet to a mandir at Ramjanmabhumi, which gives a clue of what Mayawati herself thinks about Ram. Till the only truly nationalist party in India, the BJP, gets its act together, fissiparous caste and communal politics will seem to be gaining the upper hand.

P.V.Hamza

I first met P.V. Hamza when I popped into his shop Peevee Stores in Cherpalcherry way back in 1970. I wanted to buy a bottle of brylcreem so that with the bill I could enter a contest. He was game enough to give me a bill for a large bottle though I only bought a small bottle, in order that I may enter the contest in style. That's P.V. Hamza, ever the sport, ever understanding and ever in the know of how to influence folks. From that time on I never failed to turn up at his shop to say hello to him till I left for the Gulf in 1975. Fom then on our contact became rare and far between. I last met him in May 07 when I went to his house, the one you see in this map. A gorgeous house indeed but not surprising if you consider the personality behind it. If he had shown a keen interest in politics, I am sure he would have become a minister. He is man of great calibre.

[Wrote in Wikimap entry.]

Tranaam and Paritranaam

The differentiation of "tranaam" and "paritranaam" in this blog is sheer genius. The avtaar does not just protect us from an impending evil, He protects us completely. Which means, He also makes us aware of the relevance of evil in the scheme of things. That is to say, He leaves us capable of handling evil ourselves in future. If it was just tranaam, we would be dead without the avtaar. But because the avtaar performed the magic of paritranaam, we have now become empowered to handle evil by merely reliving the personality of the avtaar from our memories. This is why an avtaar needs to come only "yuge yuge", from age to age. In between, his memories are sufficient. Therefore it is our duty to pass on the memories (culture) of the avtaar to our succeeding generations. Seen in this light, the activities of Hindutva is sacred activity.

[Posted in Jayaraman's blog]

My concept of God

Venu said...
I do not deny the existence of God. Only, I do not accept that God is something that is separate from us. It is what we are, in essence. If we posit a God separate from and outside us, it is only as a matter of convenience to grasp the idea of Godhood. But eventually we would have to realize that we have within us the power of the ultimate and we would have to awaken to the divinity that we are. Believing is not enough, we have to realize. The Semitic religions have done the greatest harm in stunning man’s spiritual search into mere believe. Actually, except for the Advaitic teaching, all religions are at the level of idol worship. In the Hindu tradition alone the seeker is encouraged beyond idols. To both Christianity and Islam it is blasphemy to go beyond idols. Which is particularly ironic in the case of Islam because it claims to be dead against idol worship.

[Posted in reply to a blog comment on my blog.]

Karunanidhi crosses the Lakshman Rekha

While the Hindu culture accepts the right of anyone to hold any sort of views regarding religion, the very basis of this right being sustained is the respect for other's beliefs. While Karunanidhi was within his right to have questioned the existence of Rama, he has crossed the Lakshman Rekha by mocking at other's beliefs by asking from which engineering college Ram graduated.

[posted at MSN]

Shshsh... Muslim!

Friday , August 03, 2007 at 07 : 51

A conspiracy of silence has followed the conspiracy of terror.
There is a certain chilling predictability about the list of convicts, a dreadful Orwellian litany of sameness. After a mammoth 14 years of trial and the dramatic sentencing of Sanjay Dutt, the Bombay Blasts case of 1993, is closed. Of 123 accused, 100 have been sentenced. 12 have been given death. 20 have been given life terms, 15 of them with Rigorous Imprisonment. What are the names of those who will die? Among others, Memon. Turk. Tarani. Shaikh. Mukadam. Ghansar. Malik. Pawle. And Khan. What are the names of those who will serve life terms with RI? Among others, Shaikh. Khairulla. Qureshi. Memon. Rehman. And Kadar. In the 1998 Coimbatore blast verdict this week, the main accused Abdul Nazar Madani has been acquitted, but SA Basha, founder of al-Umma has been found guilty, along with 157 others. Muslim after Muslim has stepped up to be convicted and sentenced. Soon India's jails will be choc-a-block with Muslims.
The conspiracy that bombed Mumbai in 1993 and took 257 lives was demonic and destroyed lives. But after the conspiracy of terror, has come a surreal conspiracy of silence. There is a deathly quiet, a floating shroud of bemused acceptance. There is not a shred of sympathy, no trace of introspection, no question of benefit of doubt given to any of the accused in the court of public opinion. To voice any doubts about the long delayed trial is considered "anti-national" "unpatriotic" or "pseudo secular". Yet senior lawyers have publicly cast doubt on how the blast case is a shame on the judiciary. How can justice can be thoroughly done through the mountains of documentation, the sheer bulk of facts and contradictions, the long delayed trial and lapses in human memory that must have come faced poor Justice PD Kode. A senior counsel has called the case a "mistrial" and a case of "playing to the gallery".
Apart from the high voltage media debate around Sanjay Dutt, among the larger public, there is only silence. The guilty are Muslims, after all. They killed innocent people, they've been brought to justice and that's the end of that. A softly floating cloud engulfs us in its comforting yet toxic fumes. Is it a phantom? A phantom that is lulling Indian society into a deadly illness of certainty. A society that does not ask questions of itself, a society that does not take itself to task, but wallows in convenient "truths", is a society doomed to death. Hindus and Muslims whisper among themselves in their own ghettos. The cross-religion and cross-community debate is dead or dying.
Judge PD Kode is justifiably hailed as a tough and idealistic judge and his own fairness is not in doubt. The prosecution of Special Public prosecutor Ujwal Nikam has been determined. Yet a case where far too many cases were bunched up together, where the sheer volume of paperwork was so huge, isn't it expecting too much of a single human being to be perfectly conversant with each case? In the prevailing silence, a few voices have sounded. As Muslim after Muslim has walked to his death, as "terrorist" after "terrorist" has been taken away for life, what about the Hindu mobs and Hindu police officers who were named and indicted by the Justice Srikrishna Commission that inquired into the bloodcurdling 1992-93 riots of Mumbai in which 900 died? That horrifying report, indicts 31 "trigger happy" policemen: Among others, the names here are sub inspector Vasant Madhukar More, police inspectors Patankar and Wahule, Jt Commissioner of Police RD Tyagi, not to mention political names like Gopinath Munde, Madhukar Sarpotdar and Ram Naik of the BJP all accused to inciting mobs. Aren't riots too not an act of terror? A terrorist is defined as one who kills innocent civilians for a political purpose. Thus, those rioters who killed for their political agenda, aren't those Hindu rioters too not "terrorists" and shouldn't't they too face the same law as Muslim "terrorists?"
Lets try and break the conspiracy of silence a little. Rubina Memon is not a celebrity and so the media is not very interested in her. Rubina is the 39-year-old wife of Tiger's older brother Sulaiman Memon has been given rigorous imprisonment for life. Rubina was the woman in the brown burqa who we all saw on television. Rubina has been found guilty under Tada because it was the van registered under her name that was used to carry arms and ammunition for the blasts. She also allowed her house to be used for "terror activities" and had arranged funds from her bank account for the conspirators. But is there any proof that Rubina actually bought the car that was registered in her name? Did she use the car? Did she actually know what her husband's brothers were planning to do? Or was it kept a secret from her, as men all over India, keep important secrets from their wives and sisters in law? If Afsan Guru, wife of Shaukat Husain Guru, could be acquitted in the parliament attack case because there was no proof she knew her house was being used for "terror activities", can the same lack of knowledge not have been possible for Rubina? Assuming, she did know, is there proof that Rubina played an active role in the blasts? Or was she the typical uneducated Muslim woman in a household who did what her men folk asked her to do, even allowing a car to be registered in her name so that their husband could escape tax? For her crimes, Rubina will serve a life term with rigorous imprisonment while her teenage children seek permission to visit their mother in jail. Tragically, Justice may not have still been done to Rubina Memon.
Zebunissa Qazi is 60 years old and also held guilty under Tada of abetting terrorist acts. She's been given five years of rigorous imprisonment. What did she do? She says some boys handed her a bag and told her to keep it in her garage. She did not know what was inside the bag. Are Rubina Memon and Zebunissa Qazi terrorists?
Dr Mohammad Haneef, detained for 27 days in Australia is on the other side too. On the other side, distant, far away from Indian mainstream society, from muted civil society groups, distant from the voices of the intelligentsia, bludgeoned into silence by the spectre and reality of the "Islamist terrorist." What factors should have exercised the Indian conscience about Dr Haneef? That it is not a crime to be related to those who are terrorists, only a conspiracy is a crime. That lending a SIM card is not a criminal offence. That a one way ticket is not a criminal offence. That a beard is not a criminal offence. Australian civil society took its government on head on about Haneef. Indian civil society turned its back on haneef, instead vilifying the prime minister when he made the mistake of confessing he had had a sleepless night about Haneef's parents.
There is suddenly no doubt left in the minds of the majority of Indian society. Political tokenism of three Muslim Vice-presidential candidates sits alongside a covert hidden communalism that does not express itself in riots but in quiet determined segregation. The burqa-clad or lungi-clad figures march into the Tada court, yet apart from the publicity circus around celebrity Sanjay Dutt, we are incurious about the individuals behind the burqas and the lungis. The little stories of mothers and brothers are of no interest. The toxic cloud of silence drifts ever closer, lulling us into a dreamless sleep. SAGARIKA GOSH
(This piece first appeared in The Hindustan Times)

K.Venugopal
Sagarika is right. "We are incurious about the individuals behind the burqas and the lungis" (who masterminded and executed the Mumbai blasts). The Hindus must know the mindset of those people who had no compunction in setting off bombs in the very society that they, the Muslim community, had thrived right from the days when Bombay came into being. Otherwise, Hindus would only be allowing a situation to come to a pass where the Hindus would not know what hit them.
( Posted: Friday , August 10, 2007 at 17:23 )

You Tube challenge to books?

VENU10Location: MumbaiEmail: venu1005@hotmail.comLatest messages postedBOOKS
The biggest challenge yet to the reading habit may come from You Tube. When we can select the subject we want to hear, with the bonus of seeing the speaker or the background being described, the book, at least to new readers, may seem too much of a bother. But no one having gone through the thrill of snuggling into bed with a promising book and into a mystical world would trade their book for anything else - the You Tube challenge notwithstanding.