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Mar042008
Is this not bias…?
I grew up fighting everyone who said that India houses strong biases. I hadn’t met anyone like that so I generally assumed that this was untrue.Recently of course, I have realized that this is not entirely false. While our schooling endeavored to teach us that India’s strength lay in it’s “Unity in Diversity” and “Ishwar-Allah tero naam, Sab ko sanmati de Bhagwan“, the World outside school has turned out to be very different! Or has India just changed for the worse in this respect? Is this a recent phenomenon or am I just waking up to this fact? Anyway, Thank God for what we were taught in school, otherwise things could’ve been far worse!
Sample this:
Bal Ganesh, the animated movie, depicts Parvati kicking Ganesha’s mooshak away and no one takes offence! They show Lord Ganesh dancing with Shiva’s army of ghouls & no one takes offence.
Amar Chitra Katha depicted Goddesses looking ravishing. Big beautiful eyes, smiling ruby lips, wearing the minimal possible clothing showing lots of skin. But no protests there!
But MF Husain paints Goddesses nude & he’s driven out from the country! And of course, Khajuraho isn’t an admissible argument!
A friend of mine who has a Muslim sounding name, relates how when he was a teenager celebrating one of India’s (rare in those days) cricket wins over Pakistan, was asked by another boy in all seriousness, “Why are you celebrating? Aren’t you Muslim?”
When I was looking for rented accommodation in Udaipur, every potential landlord I met asked me this question: “What caste are you?” When I asked them how it mattered, they just told me that they couldn’t give me a place. Ironically, I was finally given a place by an old gentleman for whom his religion was paramount! I woke up every morning to his shivering “Hareeeeeeeee Krishnaaaaaaaaaa!!!” coming from the bathroom; his drawing room was practically a Mandir, replete with an array pictures of Gods & gurus! He had only one request, that I didn’t cook any non-veg in my quarters. Why don’t we have more people like him? Why is he the exception & not the norm?
I have recently been criticized strongly on this blog for satirically addressing a few issues. (I am gleefully climbing out of the quagmire that the comments section had become & am smoothly on to another post! As a policy I will limit responding to comments on my posts unless someone is seeking “polite clarification”) But I must ask this:
How is it that when I say something that doesn’t conform to the notions of some commenters, we’re instantly branded as Christians, Church-agents, missionaries, Muslims, anti-Hindu, pseudo-secular etc. etc. etc? Thanks to them, every single post here has the potential to be turned into a Hindu-Muslim or Hindu-Christian debate!
If Raj Thackrey goes against the very spirit of India, he’s not communal. If Modi is criticized, a thousand commenters will rush to his defense. These very commenters who ask for unbiased speaking from us, will not say a word against the likes of these two! Some of the comments are the equivalent of getting away with murder! Yet they’re not pseudo-secular and they’re not biased! But we are???
If this is not a case of not having understood a different point of view, then it can only be an attempt to shout down voices of reason. If this is not bias, what is…?
I protest! I am in Mutiny!
The views expressed in this post are those of the writer and are not necessarily endorsed by Mutiny.in
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Sanjukta
001
1:12 am
Some very valid points you raised there.
Whoever said we don’t have biases…we are so full of them.
When I was looking for houses for rent here in Bangalore, I was invariably asked If I was Hindu or Muslim. Some of them asked, after ensuring my religion, if I was a brahmin. Some of the Free ads listings clearly said the offer is open only to Hindu Brahmin and some said its only open to Men. Some landlord would give house only to a married woman.
There is no end to it.
Couldn’t agree more @ your observation on Amar Chitra Katha…and @ muslim celebrating India’s victory being ogled at like a martian.
Smartopinion
002
2:20 am
@Sanjukta
Duh… Who conveniently endorced the partition on India.. Not Hindus.. By doing this act its Muslims who have to prove their loyalty.. Don’t blame Hindus..
Hindus have proven enough electing many Abdul Rehman Antulays as Chief Ministers of Hindu majority states.. But we have not seen a Kashmiri majority Muslims accpeting their head state as a Hindu Raja… So it’s Muslim who have to prove a lot more than Hindus..
Its the same delimma that not all Mexicans in US are illegal but that doesn’t negate the fact that most of them are illegals…
If Muslisms are seen criticizing thier ills more and more then that would be a good start..
Look at this 1conoclast, I will NEVER SAW ANY ARTICLE FROM HIM PRAISING ANYTHING REMOTELY of Indias Hindu legacy.. In fact he will reject it so conveniently in any debate…
Also LIKE A TRUE PSEUDO I NEVER SAW HIM WRITING ILLS ABOOUT HIS HALF RELIGION WHICH IS ISLAM..
I think he should do a Hindu Subcidized Haj trip to Saudi Arabia where (Non-Muslims are banned) to get back to his basics, ‘Cos he seems to be not true Muslim and is more corrupted by Tolerant Hinduism.. I think he should be reminded more about his religion ‘Cos he is drifting away from it.. He should literally follow Sharia which some of the All India Muslim Board members want rest of India to follow.
@Sanjukta
I think U are a piece of work when you imagine that the whole world is going to be like your Utopian Pseudo mentality.. Go talk to Hindu vitcims of the Muslim terrorist bomb blasts of 2007 and ask them whether they will allow their House on rent to a Muslim.. You can always waste time with your Pseudo Hindus who have not expereince anything remotely what other have suffered…
When was the last time you wrote an article championing their cause..When was the last time you wrote an article championing the cause of Kashmiri Hindu DROVEN OUT OF THEIR OWN MOTHER LAND BY FANATICS.
But I gues U R a PSEUDO AREN”T YOU?
Its Muslims who have to evolve more and more ‘Cos its their wives who are wearing Hijabs and Burkas in this 21’st century in the name of religion..
If this fact you accept so conveniently then why not defend the right of Hindus not renting their properties to Muslims..
After all we have never see a Muslim Mahatma like a Hindu Mahan Atma. We have always seen a TIT for TAT and a demanding MUSLIM GANDHI..
Grow up @Sanjukta get out of your Utopia…. Your 3 gererations including yourself had a long NAP. Now its time to awake….
The Modern Mullah
003
5:19 am
It is bias but with good reason! Whenever there is a bias it usually because of several unacceptable acts by members of that community. Lets take two examples from the article above.
“Amar Chitra Katha depicted Goddesses looking ravishing. Big beautiful eyes, smiling ruby lips, wearing the minimal possible clothing showing lots of skin. But no protests there!
But MF Husain paints Goddesses nude & he’s driven out from the country! And of course, Khajuraho isn’t an admissible argument!”
Thats right Amar Chitra Katha has done nothing to hurt hindu sentiments. The same cannot be said of MF husain and his muslim brothers. MF husain exceeded his limits when he painted Durga having sex with a tiger and Ravana raping a nude sita. Besides no one has driven him out of India, he is afraid of facing court cases in the country. Besides Muslims have had a history of insulting the Hindu religion, so don’t wonder if you get separate treatment.
“A friend of mine who has a Muslim sounding name, relates how when he was a teenager celebrating one of India’s (rare in those days) cricket wins over Pakistan, was asked by another boy in all seriousness, “Why are you celebrating? Aren’t you Muslim?
Smartopinion
004
8:43 am
@The Modern Mullah
“Clearly some Muslims in India have behaved as though they were anti nationals, so though there may be some truly patriotic ones among them, we are entitled to hold our biases until proven wrong.”
Nope.. As per @Sanjukta and company Hindus should vote for Foreigners like Sonia in the name of Equality.. Hindus should give 50 crores for Nation building for the Islamists who instead of feeling obliged to Hindus, forced 3 wars on them. Hindus already gave up their Bollywood to Muslims.
What’s Identity of India? Best place in India a Muslim Taj Mahal. One of the best musician in India A R Rehman.. At one time the Richest person in India a Muslim Premji (Pakistanis must be having the last laugh). Best Actors in India more than one muslim.. Best lyricist Javed Akhtar… Leader of Defence APJ Abdul Kalam… Best painter a Muslim MF Hussain.. One of the best musician Zhakir Hussian.. Boy oh Boy never heard of any SOuth Indian even though they had such a rich tradition of art and music.. But how will Pseudos allow that… Being proud of yoir own mean autrocities to minorities right?
For a whity outsider, he must be wondering where do Hindus live in this land called as Bharat..
This CRAPPY PSEUDOS have made Hinduism a second class citizens even though they are majorities..
Why are Hindus NOT LEFT ALONE.. I wish they had their own one small place in their own country where they are left ALONE.GOOD OR BAD… THEY SHOULD BE LEFT ALONE.. They should not have to under go a LITMUS TEST OF SECULARITY. For once they should be left alone to be flourished as they are.. GOOD OR BAD but at least they have their own identity and own legacy and own people to be proud of… Just like the MIddle East which was violently isolated from the rest of the world by Islamis who are preaching to us what is GOOD AND WHAT IS BAD. Ulta Chor Kotwal Ko Daate…
1conoclast
005
2:22 pm
Thanks Sanju.
mm…
I am going to start avoiding your comments if you insist on seeing only see one point of view. You’re saying nothing new. In fact your kind of views are the ones that have inspired this post, that should be fairly obvious to one with your intelligence. Yet you will not see what you & your bretheren are doing to other fellow Indians. Your point has been parrotted for years & everyone is sick to the gills of it! Now if you have anything constructive to offer, a solution of how to deal with your type of bias (let’s ask the chor how to catch him), you’re welcome. Otherwise… keep talking. I’ll just go on to my next post.
smartopinion, I am keen on responding to, but I think I will altogether avoid him. Apart from the fact that he has an IQ of 50, he is totlly unaccepting of anyone non-Hindu by birth. Sonia marries into India & lives as one, but she will never get the acceptance of these “second class citizens”. Not that she craves it. And not that I crave smartopinions comments. But he will still keep following us around this blog like a little puppy!
xylene
006
3:37 pm
The landlords are very stringent on asking the tenants not to cook non-veg, in some cases like mine, they have asked as not to cook beef under their roof.
Well its their house and i don’t think I can protest. If I am not happy may be I can just go ahead and search for a new one.
But denying me a rented house on the basis of religion or caste is a strict no-no. But then if the denial is wide and all over, then it’s a case of alarm and there should be some rules.
I guess even if you find landlords with all these demands, you would find even more with no demands at all. All they want is a decent amount of money at the end of the month
Reg paintings and pictures, I agree with you on the double stands people take on the same matter.
Sanjukta
007
4:15 pm
@MM and Smart Opinion
Yawn
Sanjukta
008
4:20 pm
@1conoclast
I think this is working just fine…we’d keep writing these articles which gives a great deal of itch to MM and his allies so they can come and spit out all their venom against Islam all over mutiny…
Junta is watching and Junta isn’t a fool…
1conoclast
009
5:10 pm
Yes Sanjukta. I learn fast!
I am itching though to speak about Frontier Gandhi, Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan…!!! And my indictment of mad mullahs on the Sania issue. And other things but I guess I’ll let it pass. Kab tak samjhayega koi. One has to & should just say one’s piece & move on.
sanjay
010
7:06 pm
This blog seems like a Christian hell-hole of rabid fundamentalists where the pagans are judged every day and come up wanting in all spheres of life.
I am yet to see a single story about Christian community itself, such as prevalence of caste system among converts, demand of church for reservation to Dalit christians, hatred of protestants and catholics for each other, unaccounted foriegn funding and subversion, willingness to be cat’s paw of white man against fellow Indians, Christian terrorism in north east with active connivance of the bishops, and hateful references to non-believers in the Bible and what to do about them.
It is just pagan-bashing and pagan-obsession all the way — widows, dowry, untouchability, caste system, stories about strange worhsip rituals of pagans … in short, the standard church propaganda stuff.
People of Semitic faith, obsessed with salvation of not themselves but of OTHERS, after indocrination become incapable of self-analysis or looking inward. This blog is a proof of this.
Very surprising why a Christian blog would exclusively be obsessed with pagan society and not do a single story about problems plaguing their own community. You can make a beginning with Christian terrorism in Tripura and why you think Christian community in rest of India doesn’t protest about it.
Your behaviour is not unlike that found in any Muslim blog — non-stop infidel bashing while indirectly implying how good and civilised people of the True Lord are.
Ps:
Sanjukta, a bigger yawn and two kicks on your backside for believing in a religion that claims “our god is true, your god is false.” You thus stand accused of intolerance and bigotry against the rest of humanity by claiming eternal superiority over others.
sanjay
011
7:35 pm
“I protest! I am in Mutiny!”
It will be nice if you can mutiny after telling the truth. Till then, spare us.
For example, you forgot to mention that M.F. Hussain has shown goddess Saraswati having sex with a dog and Hanuman fondling Sita. But of course, you soldier on, O man of True Lord, the scourge of all pagans, the whirlwind God sent from hell to crush all non-beleivers…
1conoclast
012
7:59 pm
sanjay…
I thought you were going to smoke the peace pipe with me as a fellow Indian?
This is your version of peaceful protest? By all means have your say, but cut out the name calling. Whether you like it or not, the mutiny has been featured in mainstream media as a very popular blog with a pro-nation voice. Of course, visitors like you have partly made the popularity possible. How’re you confusing a pro-nation building stance with Christianity? And why does everything have be a Christian agenda? Or a Muslim agenda as you later suggest? Decide man!
To me this is a problem in India. And you are equally to blame. Why aren’t you focusing on that fact instead of counter-attacking? How is your counter-attack going to fix the problem?
And please stop attributing statements to me that I haven’t made. I’m not bashing any infidels here. Nor am I furthering the cause of The True Lord. You’re imagination is getting the better of you! Stick to the point of the post, will you?
That’s exactly my point! Why do you leave Khajuraho out of the argument? Why aren’t you protesting the depiction in Bal Ganesh?
Maybe you can see now how permitting the depiction of holy figures is fraught with danger? You can stop an MF Husain from painting Durga, but can you stop Sunil More on Marine Drive from absolutely drooling over Deepika as Sita in the teleserial Ramayan?
sanjay
013
9:20 pm
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=E93CD8A1-6AB7-4D87-9F3F-873D6E275867
The above link has a very good interview by a Muslim apostate from Bangladesh. He reveals a great insight about the convert’s behaviourj. I quote:
“What always struck me the most was that Islam is another form of Arab colonialism in disguise. In South-east Asia you will see people constantly cry about the British Colonialism and how they are still a victim of it. However, no one ever talks about the Arab colonialism which is very active in every single non-Arab Muslim country. Islam is in its origin an Arab religion, and it is not a religion of conscience, private belief or spirituality; it is very political and imperial. Its holy places are in Arab lands, its sacred language is Arabic, and its historical figures are all native Arab. So what happens to a non-Arab convert’s mind is very interesting.
A convert starts to dislike his own culture as non-Islamic and he becomes fascinated by the Arab influence and wants to be a part of the Arab story; ironically, he starts to praise the Arab Warrior who conquered his land. And to do that the first thing he does is to turn away from everything that is ethnically his and he lives in a world of fundamentalist fantasy to purify his non-Islamic culture.
You can see this neurosis and nihilism in the mindset of converts and you can say it is an incurable mental disease which has been affecting them and disturbing the societies for thousands of years. Arab colonialism is both political and cultural and I think it is the longest surviving form of colonialism. You see it is now a fashion to blame European Imperialism and colonialism, west and Israel in general - for every ill in this planet; Muslims are never ashamed to join this blame game. But, when it comes to Arab imperialism or Islamic colonialism, Muslims feel proud and they admire the warriors who once came from the Arab world and conquered their forefathers’ land.
This way, Islamic colonialism and Arab imperialism together have conquered and destroyed many advanced and ancient civilizations and brought catastrophic changes in the cultures of the conquered lands. You can say Arabs were the most successful imperialists of all time, because the faithful converts love to be conquered by the legendary “Holy Warriors” of the ” Holy land ” – it is some sort of salvation for the converts.”
Do Christian converts undergo similar brainwashing? If we substitute Arab with Western and Islamic with Christian, will the above quote still make sense? You guys can best answer this.
1conoclast
014
9:38 pm
I can answer this sanjay…
My uncle was about 40, maybe more, when he decided that it was time for him to turn to God. He must have been going through some tough times, that’s how it generally happens. He did it the only way he knew, following his parent’s religion Islam.
He decided to learn his prayers. So what did he do? Did he memorize the prayer in Arabic & rattle it off? No. He repeated after each Arabic line, it’s English translation. It took him more than twice the amount of time that it would take anyone else & people laughed at him, but he stuck to it. He did it until the meaning of each Arabic word was deeply ingrained in his mind. Only then did he use the Arabic version unaided.
Most educated Muslims in India read a translation of the Quran. It’s unfortunate because translations aren’t always accurate, but anyway.
Marat Safin is a Russian Muslim. I’m not sure whether he says his prayers in Arabic.
Sermons in Assam are delivered in a mix of the native tongue & English. If Sanskrit were spoken today, you would’ve seen sermons in Sanskrit!
I’m aware of words like God Willing being used by Muslims instead of InshAllah. And the only reason they stick to Khuda Hafiz is because it’s shorter than Entrusting you to God’s care!
Dissenters have always existed everywhere. Do you forget Salman Rushdie? Now that you know 2 Muslims who ridicule Islamic traditions do you still consider them monolithic?
Smartopinion
015
10:40 pm
@Sanjukta “@MM and Smart Opinion Yawn”
Sleeping Huh… You R excused ‘Cos, even your previous 3 generations were/are sleeping… If you are still having a morning nap with dreams in which you vote for Kangress then in that case, if somebody makes you awake spend some coffee time over this REDIFF headline
http://ia.rediff.com/news/2008/mar/04inter1.htm
If you still think of Voting for Kangis then please move out of India to China… Oh why do that just move to West Bengal..
Pseudos.. You really are a piece of work… Here is a quick comment..
A Danish article is hated by Educated Muslism all over the world. While Hindus in Malaysia under went autrocities. No help from India. Malaysian Hindu leaders choose oto go to local courts No Hindu Fatwa. Why would Indian Hindus not help them. ‘Cos Indians are full of Pseudos spend all the time over wrong priorities…
All western democracies have the foudation of Violence and Selfishness which is conveniently neglected by Pseudos. In fact their current institutions still take care of their supremacy.. And what are Pseudo Hindus doing in India. Focusing on minor small issues and making a mountain out of a mole hill..
Jai Ho Pseudogiri…
@1CONOCLAST you are excused ‘Cos youR 1/2 brain cannot be reasoned with…
The Modern Mullah
016
12:53 am
@1con,
I think its time for you to take rest from this topic, your comments are bordering on the fringe of idiocy.
Since when did merely translating a book or prayer purge it of cultural influence. If that were the case Ramayana and Mahabharata in English, would have no link to Indian culture. The Quran and Hadith have Arabic cultural influence on almost every page. Just admit it, the primitive barbaric culture that existed in Arabia is beautifully codified in those books.
firsttimevisitor
017
3:34 am
@smartopinion
Malaysian Hindu leaders choose oto go to local courts No Hindu Fatwa. Why would Indian Hindus not help them. ‘Cos Indians are full of Pseudos spend all the time over wrong priorities…”
will you please go to malaysia and DO SOMETHING rather than crying over here ,clinging on to “pseudo” words. everytime something is talked about @MM and @ Smartopinion(wonder you are smart!!) comes out with venomous words and happily blame WHOLE india to be pseudo. wonder you sitting in US and crying doesnt effect anything!!!
why do you think that india is full of so called Pesudos and its increasing?
because the way you are trying to convey your thoughts carries more of hatred and uninspiring and full of COMPARISONS.bother to change it? this is my non pseudo feedback to you. you will listen if you wanna make a difference in the society else ….
@Smartopinion
“Focusing on minor small issues and making a mountain out of a mole hill..”
you might have read in your school book and it works “boond boond se saagar bane” …
you mention the link about chinese intrusion …how sure are you that whatever he is saying is 100% TRUE(He being a POLITICIAN)??? have you ever gone there or did you even cross check the ’secret policy’ ? because i say he is not telling the TRUTH. will you stop your RANTS and go do something out in society.
if sanjukta has not hidden her identity that doesnt mean you attack her like that you DUMB head.
Smartopinion
018
3:42 am
@firsttimevisitor
“you mention the link about chinese intrusion …how sure are you that whatever he is saying is 100% TRUE(He being a POLITICIAN)??? have you ever gone there or did you even cross check the ’secret policy’ ?”
Oh my GOD.. By this comment you are classfied as LEFTIST Far worse than a Pseudo… Oh my GOD.. God help India.. I think U don’t know what U R talking about.. So you R excused…
Peter
019
8:29 am
911 was an inside job.
The British and their Baniya allies need an India divided along communal
lines.Dalrymple’s “The Last Mughal” shows how this was done.Divide et
Impera is an old strategy and vital in the age of the global NWO empire in
which India takes it’s place proudly as Sweatshop #2.
1conoclast
020
1:50 pm
so/mm…
I see the mice have been playing while the cat’s been away…
Your calling me names will not have one iota of effect on me. I am aware of who I am. And when I am confused, you 2 are the last people, whose opinion I will seek, so forget it. Try tolerance, peace & logic for a change.
so doesn’t deserve an answer, but I’m talking to you mm…
Islam was a movement away from the barbaric Arab customs. Your claim that it codifies those very customs smacks of total ignorance & a mind firmly shut due to strong bias. Why don’t you just read the Quran for yourself. What are you afraid of?