If you don't have patriotism, you will not shine
Girish Shahane, you are a pathetic, self-loathing caricature of a Hindu (re: 'Rani Padmini and four other Hindutva history myths exploded'). It is a shame that there are people of the Hindu fold living in India who feel such shame about their own culture and mouth it all around. It would be best if you keep your opinion and your so-called research to yourself. Although there is no need to tell the world that India invented or knew about everything long before any other nation did, it is also true that India and its glorious history are admired and respected by millions of non-Indians around the world. However, you have such a low self-worth that you prefer to join those who take every opportunity to bash India and Hinduism.
What Sri Viveknanda has said is true and history has proof of it. Hindu kings did not, as you say, invade or plunder Sri Lanka or any other country. Hindu sailors did trade with many south Asian countries and treated their peoples on an equal footing. They did conquer or plunder like the Romans did around the Mediterranean. Do you think you have the qualification to question Vivekananda ? What brazenness indeed.–Byravan Viswanathan
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You should cite proper literature for this story and not just heresy or one's wild and skewed imagination. The writing by the author shows that he has an agenda to defame Indian culture. Please either cite proper literature or take down this article.–Vishal Yadav
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Your contention is that the age must be revised to 3,500, from the 5,000 years as per traditional beliefs. More than 3,000 years is also old enough. The article appears to be critical of many such beliefs held so far. No other civilisation has the treasures that Sanskrit has. Prejudice cannot undermine its glory.–Jagannathan Thiruvengadam
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I am not a religious person, but even I found your article in very bad taste.
1. Swami Vivekanada is followed by many people around the world, including non-Hindus. People associate him with inner peace and tranquillity. Whatever his views about Hinduism might have been, Swamiji is seen as a positive person, and people following him try to ward off any negativity in their lives (at least the ones I know). It reflects very poorly on you when you call such a person a liar.
2. People like Sushma Swaraj, Modi, etc., are simply politicians. People like us who actually read newspapers daily (importantly, those who read articles like yours on the net) do know what to believe and what not to believe. we know how to differentiate between what is the truth and what is "phekupanti". That I voted for Modi doesn't mean I would blindly accept whatever BJP people are saying about ancient myths. So, I would advise you to ignore such statements made by them which do not have any sound basis.
3. Some time back, there was a statement by Muslim member of the Congress party stating that Taj Mahal was built by a Muslim, and so it becomes the property of Muslims alone. I find it very surprising how some people (read: so-called seculars) can ignore such statements, but are oh-so-touchy about remarks made by the BJP.
4. Your entire article gives the impression that India is a terrible place, full of liars and cheats, and Hindus are the sole cause of that. And anything associated with Hinduism is pure evil. Hindus have totally distorted history to make Muslims/Britishers, etc., look bad (by the way, you said the lustful image of Allauddin Khilji is a myth, and that he was a fine general even though you give no evidence to support that; I don't see any references).
5. You again mention another Hindu king Prithviraj. Again I don't understand how do you expect anyone to believe the alternative version you mentioned without any references.
6. You mentioned that history is written by winners, and winners in case of India were Britishers, Mughal emperors, to name a few (Rajputs mostly kept to themselves, as far as my knowledge goes). So, it is possible that whatever knowledge we have of our past might have been influenced by them (instead of Hindus, as you have mentioned).
7. I can give your numerous instances about so-called truths which are actually myths: Jodha Bai, Akbar's wife as seen in TV/movies, but no women by that name existed. Also, about Shah Jahan's love for Mumtaz: although I am not fully sure about this, his love for her was not as pure or great as we have been made to believe.
8. I don't know about any golden age, but India was definitely a sought after place in those times. I think that is pretty obvious as India was invaded by so many rulers: Mughals, Turks, Persians, Britishers, French, Portuguese, etc. These rulers travelled for years together to India with the purpose of conquering it. India and China were sources of goods such as spices, silk, etc., and people came from around the world to capture them.
So, my dear friend, please be open-minded. All of history that we read today is heavily distorted (by Hindus and Muslims alike; by Congress and BJP alike). And also please be mature. You need not pay heed to every illogical statement made by the ruling party.–Himanshi Bhatia
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I read the Rani Padmini article by Girish Shahane on your site. I would suggest that Girish explode another myth, this time a Christian one for a change, but much more popular than the petty Padmini myth hyped mostly by the right-wing despots (against whom the site seems to be primarily targeted): Christ's resurrection from the grave.–Parikshit N Samant
BJP projecting Rajya Sabha as an obstruction when it isn't
There is no reason why joint sessions of Parliament should be rare ('Despite largest majority in decades, BJP still resorting to ordinances to change policy'). It seems that the ruling party has deliberately not convened a joint session of Parliament so that the Rajya Sabha can be projected as an “obstruction” in the minds of its supporters. Why does BJP want to do that? There can be only one explanation: BJP wishes to use that perception as an additional basis for a call to change the Constitution.
The only problem is that it does not have the number of MPs that it needs to change the Constitution. So it will keep up the propaganda war against the Rajya Sabha till BJP either gets those numbers as further elections take place, or BJP will try unconstitutional means to suspend or change the Constitution. We already saw the latter type of strategy under Congress in the days of Indira Gandhi. So that is just another way in which we have already seen BJP becoming like the Congress party.–Prabhu Guptara
Are we becoming emotionally immune due to the constant media exposure?
Days of celebration have come upon us, especially the monochromatic weather of Mumbai from warm to lesser warm provides the much needed relief. Outings, presents, holidays are synonymous with this time of the year for many of us around the world.
But certainly so these days are just one more day in the life of many. Life lives in contrast and the people of Iraq and Syria suffer and struggle with the high point of day being still alive and not to loose a loved one.
Indeed there are geo-political reasons and the odd conspiracy theory of world domination. Oil, Zionist and Muslim terrorism while these terms are subject of debates for the civil society around the world, one cannot help but wonder what do they mean to the people who suffer in this moment.
Not only for the suffering of Iraq and Syria but everywhere, even that child begging at the traffic signal. Can we afford to be so insensitive and compartmentalised? How far are we ourselves from being the next Syria or Iraq? 150 school children were shot no so far away. Can we afford to be so self indulgent?.–Asif Amrohi
A liberal organisation to fight the RSS on the streets
Well written ('RSS has taken its message to the streets and social media. What are the liberals doing?'). Would be nice with a better call to action maybe. I was struggling with the same thought. I shrugged it as "Empty vessels make the most noise". Though now I think its time to raise the voices. Facebook shares don't help. Like-minded people reading like-minded stuff. Why cant liberals have a wing that works as against the law just like the RSS? Which doesn't cause vandalism, but avenges it. It doesn't sit silently waiting for the RSS owned government to take down the RSS goons. People write off this idea because it's juvenile. But maybe a fire is what fights fire the best.–Shreshth Varshney
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I agree with Ravish Kumar in that the RSS is driving an agenda with sophisticated expertise and organisation. It needs to be countered because the RSS agenda is retrogressive and detracts from the urgent task of getting India back on the development track. The RSS is dumbing down the level of public debate to easily understandable issues like conversion, the role of Godse, the place of Western languages in our education, etc. That is what enables them to win the debate in the chowk. And at the chowk, if the debate is in danger of being lost, there are always sticks and stones to use as weapons.
We have to raise the level of debate. For that, the liberals need to organise, talk with one voice. That is almost a contradiction in terms because liberals are people with higher-than-average intellect, so they will walk individual paths. Is there a way for liberals to organise and cohere, and fight together on one platform?–ND Badrinath
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People are hurt more from the tones and expressions of TV anchors, including of Ravish Kumar. They show contempt for those who have different ideas of India from theirs. We have no problems with different views but we have problems when we are ridiculed. Kumar just needs to watch his own videos and if he can detach himself from the debate, he will realise his problems.–Narain Rupani
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I think Kumar is absolutely correct when he says the RSS is pushing its agenda using all the media channels (from television to web pages, from newspapers to social media) at its disposal. Their very incoherence is alarming; I shudder at the thought of someone like that putting a finger anywhere near a nuclear button.
It is also true that the RSS used all its fellow travellers very cleverly during the election to push the development agenda. It is only now that the gloves are off and we see that they have an agenda of their own, with which their fellow travellers (Tavleen Singh, Madhu Kishwar and others) are uncomfortable. I, for one, have never believed in this so-called agenda. I think it was a cynical ploy to grab power and nothing more. People were sick and tired of the roi faineants (like Rahul Gandhi) of the Congress, and they wanted a change.–Devaki Khanna
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Your article betokens the question: Doesn't the media have a social responsibility? I don't know whether your articles are written by a single writer or not, they are always directed toward the Sangh Parivar. You always attack the RSS, and write as if the RSS is responsible for all the faults in our country.–Abhilash Shetty
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I fully agree with the views expressed in the article. Secularism is a much maligned word by the so called secular parties themselves. Intellectuals have failed in the street corner debates to make clear the distinction between Hinduism and Hindutva. The right to choose ones own religion is a fundamental right in our secular, democratic country and needs to be protected with serious efforts by all secular people including the agnostics and atheists.–Dileep Kamat
Understanding the root cause of Godse's thoughts
The article on 'Why Nathuram Godse killed Gandhi' published on your site is good. Showing us the psychological side of Godse helped me understand the root cause of his thoughts. Excellent article. Well written.–Derin J Tom
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As a Chitpavan myself, I find it insulting to have my community judged by a Muslim ('Why did Nathuram Godse kill Mahatma Gandhi?'). Back then, as per my family memories, more and more people had started hating Gandhi for siding with Muslims, etc. So, Nathuram did what had to be done according to Veer Savarkar's teachings. As regards the slogan "Garv se kaho....", we use it to this day happily and proudly!–Pushkar Ranade
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I really liked reading your post on Godse. I agree with many points that you have rightly identified that pertains to Godse's sexuality and the social mobility issues which might have led him to kill Gandhi. However, I wanted to point to one thing. You say:
I have a different take on this. The question is not about competing religious ideas, but how such competition takes place and on what terms and conditions. There is a deep sense of anguish among sections of Hindu population about the historical oppression committed in the name of religion- Islam and Christianity in this country. It's high time that this needs to be addressed at a very psychological and emotional level. T–Yogesh Pai
The RSS must burn the Ramayana
If this really did happen ('Writers condemn RSS burning of Tamil author Perumal Murugan's book'), then RSS must burn the Kambaramayana, which depicts women, particularly Seetha, in a bad taste.–Vikram Surya
Not writer or artist but 'comic creator'
Great write-up, interesting comments on the Mumbai Comic Con ('Don’t Indian comics and graphic novels need writers anymore?'). The narrow terms of ‘writer’ or ‘artist’ do not work in comics. Maybe they are functions, but to me the real term is ‘comic creator’. Whether you write your comic down as a script or pencil down what you see, the real challenge is of envisioning it. As an indie publisher, I myself write and draw all of my comics.–Chaitanya Modak
Another article without prejudice, please
Simply super. You have given us the idea of how these programmes are conducted without any prejudice. I would like another article on how Christians converts Adivasis into Christianity, again served without any prejudice.–Venugopal Bhat
Junk the psychos who delivered India to Muslim and British invaders
The article about Tipu Sultan Jayanti is fascinating and puts India and Indians in proper perspective ('BJP protest against Tipu Jayanti forgets that even right-leaning historians endorsed Mysore king'). History of India of the last millennium is filled with petty Rajas and Nawabs and Sultans of vicious nature only exceeded by their massive incompetence. They fought wars after wars for personal aggrandisement and plunder. These psychopaths should be described with four-letter words, but not in good company. In Europe, in the same era, the story is not very different. But Europeans today have come together to form a union, leaving behind their internecine animosities from the past. Indians on the other hand will find fodder in their histories to carry on the warfare. What an irony. My suggestion is to junk the stories of these psychos who delivered India first to Muslim invaders and then to British. Celebrate these losers? Are you kidding me?–Shantu Dand
Kudos for daring to disagree, which is no longer a defensible right
Hats off to Scroll for boldly representing controversial, albeit authentic, facts and opinions. The timing of this article, coming as it does in the midst of the awarding of the Bharat Ratna to the subject of the article, is bound to raise the hackles of the bigots of whom there are plenty in today's regime ('What exactly was Vajpayee's role in the Quit India movement?'). It would not be surprising if we hear demands for banning this book or worse, threats meted out to its authors. The right to disagree, it seems, is no longer a defensible right in India today.–Usha Subramanian
The realities of why Medical Associations can't police themselves
It is in the interest of physicians to 'police' themselves, with respect to reported or alleged corruption, before a third party steps in to do that ('Why Indian Medical Association’s bid to check corruption in hospitals has not impressed many'). However, Medical Associations face the following realities:
1. Medical Associations are like quasi-unions. Their primary purpose is to look after the welfare and protect the interests of the member-physicians.
2. Almost invariably, Medical Associations lack statutory authority to take action against an errant hospital or even an errant physician for alleged corruption. They tend to act usually in cases where overwhelming evidence is presented. Sometimes, score-settling may occur.
3. Corruption is almost always in the realm of fraud, a criminal act. Criminal acts need serious funding and trained personnel to investigate and take it from there.
4. The body which holds the key to registrations usually has the funding and statutory authority to investigate reports of alleged corruption on the part of physicians. I would be surprised if the hospitals came under the purview of the Medical Councils. The State must find another instrument or constitute another body to do that.
5. Medical Councils are normally able to access legal resources from the Attorney General's office. However, I seriously doubt that the Goa AG's office has the medical expertise also needed to seriously investigate these allegations.
6. As Medical Councils normally are statutory bodies, their actions are subject to judicial reviews. This means further legal representation at the High Court level. Judging by what Goan AGs have been charging for court appearances, the Medical Councils will go broke trying to respond to judicial reviews.
7. Why only target doctors and hospitals when the entire system is corrupt?–Jose Colaco
Many of Bollywood's stars are criminals
It was refreshing to read somebody writing the truth about Sanjay Dutt's furlough. Your comments about the other popular Hindi film industry's so-called 'stars' are right on the dot, too. Sanjay Dutt, Salman Khan, Shiny Ahuja, Saif Ali Khan are all lawless criminals. Oh, why do we keep paying them (by viewing their films)!–Chirayu Kulkarni
Don't people have the freedom to convert to Hinduism?
So what exactly is your stand on conversions ('2014, the year India became a Hindu state')? Should they be allowed or not? Because for conversions to Hinduism, you expect a clarification from the government, but for conversions to Islam or Christianity, you quote 'freedom of faith'. Bit confusing, isn't it?–Kedar Shukla
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In a recent article on secularism in India, you wrote Christmas is not a holiday in Pakistan. Christmas is indeed a holiday in Pakistan. It coincides with Quaid-e-Azam's birthday and is a national holiday.–Haroon Ellahi Shaikh
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The Modi government's Hindutva allies confuse God with idols, faith with ritual, substance with label and idea with symbol, and, therefore, religion with politics and choice with compulsion. As Gita 2:46 observes, sacred texts (and by extension sacred symbols of any sort, and the rituals that they prescribe or occasion) are useful only as cognitive crutches that help one's mind to the truth. The transcendent truth itself that is the essential and proper subject
of religion is, by definition, beyond symbolising. This government's rhetorical and actual placement of religion in the service of politics debases a reflective faith and philosophy into a crude ideology. It thus is an affront to Hinduism, and ought to be an affront to Hindus everywhere.–Matthew Belmonte
Taking Carnatic music to a winder audience
A superannuated admirer of Carnatic music kutcheris going back to Rasika Ranjana Sabha of the 1940s, I am absolutely delighted by this development ('Why top Carnatic musicians are performing in a Chennai fishermen's colony this evening'). Even in those days of my youth, the elitism of the kutcheris and the unspoken exclusivism (essentially Brahmin only) of the music season used to bother me no end. I am glad someone is breaking through those age-old barriers. A beautiful way to integrate the long-neglected segments of our population.–Krishna Chari
No definition offered on who a censor is
I'd say the job of the film censors is to see which films go against any of the country's laws and to keep them from being screened publicly. It is not for a censor to decide what is or is not a film, howsoever defined, and here we find that there is no kind of definition offered ('Censor board plays critic, refuses certificate to film that doesn’t make sense'').–Mukul Dube
Dr Subramanian Swamy is a youth icon
Mayank Jain can write whatever he wants, he has the freedom to do so, but if he was present in the auditorium in Powai on Monday when Dr Swamy spoke, and every time he took the names of corrupt or Congress leaders, he should have seen the cheers and roars of applause Dr Swamy got ('After Swamy's controversial speech, students debate whether politicians should be invited to college fests').
The video recording is the proof, you can see it on YouTube. The programme was delayed by three hours due to bad weather in Delhi which delayed Dr Swamy's arrival at Mumbai. The venue was changed, but still the auditorium was totally packed and no place or seat available. Dr Swamy wanted to cancel the talk after being delayed due to fog but the student organisers were adamant on having him.
Photos, videos don't lie. Mayank Jain can always manufacture a story but truth cannot be ignored or brushed aside. Youth look up to to Dr Swamy as an Icon. Hope Mayank Jain is not part of the corrupt and vested interests who are planting stories in the media?–Jagdish Shetty
The Mahavishnu of Mount Road
The Hindu was one newspaper which was regarded down south and by the southerner living outside the south as part of one's tradition and culture passed on from one generation to the other. Like other national dailies, The Hindu failed to retain its unique identity and fell to the pressures of market forces. The paper which was once rated as an essential intellectual stimulant along with the morning cup of steaming filtered coffee has fallen on bad days ('One more senior editor has left The Hindu citing a lack of editorial independence'). The reporting style has changed with more bold and unsettling news reports and left the reader with an opinionated feeling on the version filed by a reporter. The reports lacked substance and ended up like pamphleteering.
The advent of online edition has further crippled the quality of reporting with letters which are slanted and biased are given undue importance. Objectivity was the online casualty. The highlight of the paper, the last page religious discourse by a priest on a specific epic and the character's moral standards, was unceremoniously ejected to an obscure inside page tucked in an obscure unnoticeable column. The Hindu should and must retain its age-old values. It should make a perfect blend of the old with modernity. Reports should maintain their sobriety and standards.–Veturi Sriharsha
We welcome your comments at
letters@scroll.in.
Girish Shahane, you are a pathetic, self-loathing caricature of a Hindu (re: 'Rani Padmini and four other Hindutva history myths exploded'). It is a shame that there are people of the Hindu fold living in India who feel such shame about their own culture and mouth it all around. It would be best if you keep your opinion and your so-called research to yourself. Although there is no need to tell the world that India invented or knew about everything long before any other nation did, it is also true that India and its glorious history are admired and respected by millions of non-Indians around the world. However, you have such a low self-worth that you prefer to join those who take every opportunity to bash India and Hinduism.
What Sri Viveknanda has said is true and history has proof of it. Hindu kings did not, as you say, invade or plunder Sri Lanka or any other country. Hindu sailors did trade with many south Asian countries and treated their peoples on an equal footing. They did conquer or plunder like the Romans did around the Mediterranean. Do you think you have the qualification to question Vivekananda ? What brazenness indeed.–Byravan Viswanathan
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You should cite proper literature for this story and not just heresy or one's wild and skewed imagination. The writing by the author shows that he has an agenda to defame Indian culture. Please either cite proper literature or take down this article.–Vishal Yadav
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Your contention is that the age must be revised to 3,500, from the 5,000 years as per traditional beliefs. More than 3,000 years is also old enough. The article appears to be critical of many such beliefs held so far. No other civilisation has the treasures that Sanskrit has. Prejudice cannot undermine its glory.–Jagannathan Thiruvengadam
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I am not a religious person, but even I found your article in very bad taste.
1. Swami Vivekanada is followed by many people around the world, including non-Hindus. People associate him with inner peace and tranquillity. Whatever his views about Hinduism might have been, Swamiji is seen as a positive person, and people following him try to ward off any negativity in their lives (at least the ones I know). It reflects very poorly on you when you call such a person a liar.
2. People like Sushma Swaraj, Modi, etc., are simply politicians. People like us who actually read newspapers daily (importantly, those who read articles like yours on the net) do know what to believe and what not to believe. we know how to differentiate between what is the truth and what is "phekupanti". That I voted for Modi doesn't mean I would blindly accept whatever BJP people are saying about ancient myths. So, I would advise you to ignore such statements made by them which do not have any sound basis.
3. Some time back, there was a statement by Muslim member of the Congress party stating that Taj Mahal was built by a Muslim, and so it becomes the property of Muslims alone. I find it very surprising how some people (read: so-called seculars) can ignore such statements, but are oh-so-touchy about remarks made by the BJP.
4. Your entire article gives the impression that India is a terrible place, full of liars and cheats, and Hindus are the sole cause of that. And anything associated with Hinduism is pure evil. Hindus have totally distorted history to make Muslims/Britishers, etc., look bad (by the way, you said the lustful image of Allauddin Khilji is a myth, and that he was a fine general even though you give no evidence to support that; I don't see any references).
5. You again mention another Hindu king Prithviraj. Again I don't understand how do you expect anyone to believe the alternative version you mentioned without any references.
6. You mentioned that history is written by winners, and winners in case of India were Britishers, Mughal emperors, to name a few (Rajputs mostly kept to themselves, as far as my knowledge goes). So, it is possible that whatever knowledge we have of our past might have been influenced by them (instead of Hindus, as you have mentioned).
7. I can give your numerous instances about so-called truths which are actually myths: Jodha Bai, Akbar's wife as seen in TV/movies, but no women by that name existed. Also, about Shah Jahan's love for Mumtaz: although I am not fully sure about this, his love for her was not as pure or great as we have been made to believe.
8. I don't know about any golden age, but India was definitely a sought after place in those times. I think that is pretty obvious as India was invaded by so many rulers: Mughals, Turks, Persians, Britishers, French, Portuguese, etc. These rulers travelled for years together to India with the purpose of conquering it. India and China were sources of goods such as spices, silk, etc., and people came from around the world to capture them.
So, my dear friend, please be open-minded. All of history that we read today is heavily distorted (by Hindus and Muslims alike; by Congress and BJP alike). And also please be mature. You need not pay heed to every illogical statement made by the ruling party.–Himanshi Bhatia
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I read the Rani Padmini article by Girish Shahane on your site. I would suggest that Girish explode another myth, this time a Christian one for a change, but much more popular than the petty Padmini myth hyped mostly by the right-wing despots (against whom the site seems to be primarily targeted): Christ's resurrection from the grave.–Parikshit N Samant
BJP projecting Rajya Sabha as an obstruction when it isn't
There is no reason why joint sessions of Parliament should be rare ('Despite largest majority in decades, BJP still resorting to ordinances to change policy'). It seems that the ruling party has deliberately not convened a joint session of Parliament so that the Rajya Sabha can be projected as an “obstruction” in the minds of its supporters. Why does BJP want to do that? There can be only one explanation: BJP wishes to use that perception as an additional basis for a call to change the Constitution.
The only problem is that it does not have the number of MPs that it needs to change the Constitution. So it will keep up the propaganda war against the Rajya Sabha till BJP either gets those numbers as further elections take place, or BJP will try unconstitutional means to suspend or change the Constitution. We already saw the latter type of strategy under Congress in the days of Indira Gandhi. So that is just another way in which we have already seen BJP becoming like the Congress party.–Prabhu Guptara
Are we becoming emotionally immune due to the constant media exposure?
Days of celebration have come upon us, especially the monochromatic weather of Mumbai from warm to lesser warm provides the much needed relief. Outings, presents, holidays are synonymous with this time of the year for many of us around the world.
But certainly so these days are just one more day in the life of many. Life lives in contrast and the people of Iraq and Syria suffer and struggle with the high point of day being still alive and not to loose a loved one.
Indeed there are geo-political reasons and the odd conspiracy theory of world domination. Oil, Zionist and Muslim terrorism while these terms are subject of debates for the civil society around the world, one cannot help but wonder what do they mean to the people who suffer in this moment.
Not only for the suffering of Iraq and Syria but everywhere, even that child begging at the traffic signal. Can we afford to be so insensitive and compartmentalised? How far are we ourselves from being the next Syria or Iraq? 150 school children were shot no so far away. Can we afford to be so self indulgent?.–Asif Amrohi
A liberal organisation to fight the RSS on the streets
Well written ('RSS has taken its message to the streets and social media. What are the liberals doing?'). Would be nice with a better call to action maybe. I was struggling with the same thought. I shrugged it as "Empty vessels make the most noise". Though now I think its time to raise the voices. Facebook shares don't help. Like-minded people reading like-minded stuff. Why cant liberals have a wing that works as against the law just like the RSS? Which doesn't cause vandalism, but avenges it. It doesn't sit silently waiting for the RSS owned government to take down the RSS goons. People write off this idea because it's juvenile. But maybe a fire is what fights fire the best.–Shreshth Varshney
* * *
I agree with Ravish Kumar in that the RSS is driving an agenda with sophisticated expertise and organisation. It needs to be countered because the RSS agenda is retrogressive and detracts from the urgent task of getting India back on the development track. The RSS is dumbing down the level of public debate to easily understandable issues like conversion, the role of Godse, the place of Western languages in our education, etc. That is what enables them to win the debate in the chowk. And at the chowk, if the debate is in danger of being lost, there are always sticks and stones to use as weapons.
We have to raise the level of debate. For that, the liberals need to organise, talk with one voice. That is almost a contradiction in terms because liberals are people with higher-than-average intellect, so they will walk individual paths. Is there a way for liberals to organise and cohere, and fight together on one platform?–ND Badrinath
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People are hurt more from the tones and expressions of TV anchors, including of Ravish Kumar. They show contempt for those who have different ideas of India from theirs. We have no problems with different views but we have problems when we are ridiculed. Kumar just needs to watch his own videos and if he can detach himself from the debate, he will realise his problems.–Narain Rupani
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I think Kumar is absolutely correct when he says the RSS is pushing its agenda using all the media channels (from television to web pages, from newspapers to social media) at its disposal. Their very incoherence is alarming; I shudder at the thought of someone like that putting a finger anywhere near a nuclear button.
It is also true that the RSS used all its fellow travellers very cleverly during the election to push the development agenda. It is only now that the gloves are off and we see that they have an agenda of their own, with which their fellow travellers (Tavleen Singh, Madhu Kishwar and others) are uncomfortable. I, for one, have never believed in this so-called agenda. I think it was a cynical ploy to grab power and nothing more. People were sick and tired of the roi faineants (like Rahul Gandhi) of the Congress, and they wanted a change.–Devaki Khanna
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Your article betokens the question: Doesn't the media have a social responsibility? I don't know whether your articles are written by a single writer or not, they are always directed toward the Sangh Parivar. You always attack the RSS, and write as if the RSS is responsible for all the faults in our country.–Abhilash Shetty
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I fully agree with the views expressed in the article. Secularism is a much maligned word by the so called secular parties themselves. Intellectuals have failed in the street corner debates to make clear the distinction between Hinduism and Hindutva. The right to choose ones own religion is a fundamental right in our secular, democratic country and needs to be protected with serious efforts by all secular people including the agnostics and atheists.–Dileep Kamat
Understanding the root cause of Godse's thoughts
The article on 'Why Nathuram Godse killed Gandhi' published on your site is good. Showing us the psychological side of Godse helped me understand the root cause of his thoughts. Excellent article. Well written.–Derin J Tom
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As a Chitpavan myself, I find it insulting to have my community judged by a Muslim ('Why did Nathuram Godse kill Mahatma Gandhi?'). Back then, as per my family memories, more and more people had started hating Gandhi for siding with Muslims, etc. So, Nathuram did what had to be done according to Veer Savarkar's teachings. As regards the slogan "Garv se kaho....", we use it to this day happily and proudly!–Pushkar Ranade
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I really liked reading your post on Godse. I agree with many points that you have rightly identified that pertains to Godse's sexuality and the social mobility issues which might have led him to kill Gandhi. However, I wanted to point to one thing. You say:
His love, as also that of his followers, is destructively obsessive. They can neither accept competing ideas in the religious realm nor the free choice of the other. It was this illegitimate passion of Godse which inspired him to kill Gandhi. It is this which usually inspires myriad outfits worldwide to hitch religion to the creed of violence.
I have a different take on this. The question is not about competing religious ideas, but how such competition takes place and on what terms and conditions. There is a deep sense of anguish among sections of Hindu population about the historical oppression committed in the name of religion- Islam and Christianity in this country. It's high time that this needs to be addressed at a very psychological and emotional level. T–Yogesh Pai
The RSS must burn the Ramayana
If this really did happen ('Writers condemn RSS burning of Tamil author Perumal Murugan's book'), then RSS must burn the Kambaramayana, which depicts women, particularly Seetha, in a bad taste.–Vikram Surya
Not writer or artist but 'comic creator'
Great write-up, interesting comments on the Mumbai Comic Con ('Don’t Indian comics and graphic novels need writers anymore?'). The narrow terms of ‘writer’ or ‘artist’ do not work in comics. Maybe they are functions, but to me the real term is ‘comic creator’. Whether you write your comic down as a script or pencil down what you see, the real challenge is of envisioning it. As an indie publisher, I myself write and draw all of my comics.–Chaitanya Modak
Another article without prejudice, please
Simply super. You have given us the idea of how these programmes are conducted without any prejudice. I would like another article on how Christians converts Adivasis into Christianity, again served without any prejudice.–Venugopal Bhat
Junk the psychos who delivered India to Muslim and British invaders
The article about Tipu Sultan Jayanti is fascinating and puts India and Indians in proper perspective ('BJP protest against Tipu Jayanti forgets that even right-leaning historians endorsed Mysore king'). History of India of the last millennium is filled with petty Rajas and Nawabs and Sultans of vicious nature only exceeded by their massive incompetence. They fought wars after wars for personal aggrandisement and plunder. These psychopaths should be described with four-letter words, but not in good company. In Europe, in the same era, the story is not very different. But Europeans today have come together to form a union, leaving behind their internecine animosities from the past. Indians on the other hand will find fodder in their histories to carry on the warfare. What an irony. My suggestion is to junk the stories of these psychos who delivered India first to Muslim invaders and then to British. Celebrate these losers? Are you kidding me?–Shantu Dand
Kudos for daring to disagree, which is no longer a defensible right
Hats off to Scroll for boldly representing controversial, albeit authentic, facts and opinions. The timing of this article, coming as it does in the midst of the awarding of the Bharat Ratna to the subject of the article, is bound to raise the hackles of the bigots of whom there are plenty in today's regime ('What exactly was Vajpayee's role in the Quit India movement?'). It would not be surprising if we hear demands for banning this book or worse, threats meted out to its authors. The right to disagree, it seems, is no longer a defensible right in India today.–Usha Subramanian
The realities of why Medical Associations can't police themselves
It is in the interest of physicians to 'police' themselves, with respect to reported or alleged corruption, before a third party steps in to do that ('Why Indian Medical Association’s bid to check corruption in hospitals has not impressed many'). However, Medical Associations face the following realities:
1. Medical Associations are like quasi-unions. Their primary purpose is to look after the welfare and protect the interests of the member-physicians.
2. Almost invariably, Medical Associations lack statutory authority to take action against an errant hospital or even an errant physician for alleged corruption. They tend to act usually in cases where overwhelming evidence is presented. Sometimes, score-settling may occur.
3. Corruption is almost always in the realm of fraud, a criminal act. Criminal acts need serious funding and trained personnel to investigate and take it from there.
4. The body which holds the key to registrations usually has the funding and statutory authority to investigate reports of alleged corruption on the part of physicians. I would be surprised if the hospitals came under the purview of the Medical Councils. The State must find another instrument or constitute another body to do that.
5. Medical Councils are normally able to access legal resources from the Attorney General's office. However, I seriously doubt that the Goa AG's office has the medical expertise also needed to seriously investigate these allegations.
6. As Medical Councils normally are statutory bodies, their actions are subject to judicial reviews. This means further legal representation at the High Court level. Judging by what Goan AGs have been charging for court appearances, the Medical Councils will go broke trying to respond to judicial reviews.
7. Why only target doctors and hospitals when the entire system is corrupt?–Jose Colaco
Many of Bollywood's stars are criminals
It was refreshing to read somebody writing the truth about Sanjay Dutt's furlough. Your comments about the other popular Hindi film industry's so-called 'stars' are right on the dot, too. Sanjay Dutt, Salman Khan, Shiny Ahuja, Saif Ali Khan are all lawless criminals. Oh, why do we keep paying them (by viewing their films)!–Chirayu Kulkarni
Don't people have the freedom to convert to Hinduism?
So what exactly is your stand on conversions ('2014, the year India became a Hindu state')? Should they be allowed or not? Because for conversions to Hinduism, you expect a clarification from the government, but for conversions to Islam or Christianity, you quote 'freedom of faith'. Bit confusing, isn't it?–Kedar Shukla
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In a recent article on secularism in India, you wrote Christmas is not a holiday in Pakistan. Christmas is indeed a holiday in Pakistan. It coincides with Quaid-e-Azam's birthday and is a national holiday.–Haroon Ellahi Shaikh
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The Modi government's Hindutva allies confuse God with idols, faith with ritual, substance with label and idea with symbol, and, therefore, religion with politics and choice with compulsion. As Gita 2:46 observes, sacred texts (and by extension sacred symbols of any sort, and the rituals that they prescribe or occasion) are useful only as cognitive crutches that help one's mind to the truth. The transcendent truth itself that is the essential and proper subject
of religion is, by definition, beyond symbolising. This government's rhetorical and actual placement of religion in the service of politics debases a reflective faith and philosophy into a crude ideology. It thus is an affront to Hinduism, and ought to be an affront to Hindus everywhere.–Matthew Belmonte
Taking Carnatic music to a winder audience
A superannuated admirer of Carnatic music kutcheris going back to Rasika Ranjana Sabha of the 1940s, I am absolutely delighted by this development ('Why top Carnatic musicians are performing in a Chennai fishermen's colony this evening'). Even in those days of my youth, the elitism of the kutcheris and the unspoken exclusivism (essentially Brahmin only) of the music season used to bother me no end. I am glad someone is breaking through those age-old barriers. A beautiful way to integrate the long-neglected segments of our population.–Krishna Chari
No definition offered on who a censor is
I'd say the job of the film censors is to see which films go against any of the country's laws and to keep them from being screened publicly. It is not for a censor to decide what is or is not a film, howsoever defined, and here we find that there is no kind of definition offered ('Censor board plays critic, refuses certificate to film that doesn’t make sense'').–Mukul Dube
Dr Subramanian Swamy is a youth icon
Mayank Jain can write whatever he wants, he has the freedom to do so, but if he was present in the auditorium in Powai on Monday when Dr Swamy spoke, and every time he took the names of corrupt or Congress leaders, he should have seen the cheers and roars of applause Dr Swamy got ('After Swamy's controversial speech, students debate whether politicians should be invited to college fests').
The video recording is the proof, you can see it on YouTube. The programme was delayed by three hours due to bad weather in Delhi which delayed Dr Swamy's arrival at Mumbai. The venue was changed, but still the auditorium was totally packed and no place or seat available. Dr Swamy wanted to cancel the talk after being delayed due to fog but the student organisers were adamant on having him.
Photos, videos don't lie. Mayank Jain can always manufacture a story but truth cannot be ignored or brushed aside. Youth look up to to Dr Swamy as an Icon. Hope Mayank Jain is not part of the corrupt and vested interests who are planting stories in the media?–Jagdish Shetty
The Mahavishnu of Mount Road
The Hindu was one newspaper which was regarded down south and by the southerner living outside the south as part of one's tradition and culture passed on from one generation to the other. Like other national dailies, The Hindu failed to retain its unique identity and fell to the pressures of market forces. The paper which was once rated as an essential intellectual stimulant along with the morning cup of steaming filtered coffee has fallen on bad days ('One more senior editor has left The Hindu citing a lack of editorial independence'). The reporting style has changed with more bold and unsettling news reports and left the reader with an opinionated feeling on the version filed by a reporter. The reports lacked substance and ended up like pamphleteering.
The advent of online edition has further crippled the quality of reporting with letters which are slanted and biased are given undue importance. Objectivity was the online casualty. The highlight of the paper, the last page religious discourse by a priest on a specific epic and the character's moral standards, was unceremoniously ejected to an obscure inside page tucked in an obscure unnoticeable column. The Hindu should and must retain its age-old values. It should make a perfect blend of the old with modernity. Reports should maintain their sobriety and standards.–Veturi Sriharsha
