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September 29 A Journalist With DifferenceBy
B.N.GURURAJ, Advocate
Within last decade and a half, it has been fashionable amongst the journalists to write pro-left, pro-minority, anti-Hindu and wherever possible, anti-India. Anything of Indian stock, and tradition, especially of Hindu origin is scoffed at, or if possible condemned. Idea A originating from Hindu traditional source is rejected because Idea b of same Hindu source is bad. If one speaks of loft philosophical ideas of Upanishads and later day Sutras or monographs, immediately the proposition is ignored not on its merits, but by reference to caste system, or untouchability, or oppression of women in the traditional Hindu society. An article or feature or reader’s letter which supports Hindu view never sees the light of the day. In that respect, newspapers are very effective in gagging dissent and opposition to their pet ideologies and theories.
Mr.M.V.Kamath, now an octogenarian, who was, in his last professional assignment, the Editor of the now defunct Illustrate Weekly of India, and prior to that Foreign Correspondent of the Times of India has written his reminiscences “A Reporter At Large”. He earned kudos for bringing IW on the track of decency from the “bottoms and bosoms” culture inculcated by Kushwanth Singh.
His autobiography gives insight into the life of Gauda Saraswath Brahmin culture in the early part of the last century, their upbringing, socio-religious practices, their history. Though he spent best part of his life abroad and was married to an American wife, he did not lose his roots in Hinduism. The author is not afraid to own up his Brahmin culture and his faith in the Hindu tradition. When it was fashionable to posture as a secularist, he dared express his honest view that the Hindus have been wronged in their own country during the past several centuries of Indian History. On account of his view about Ram Janmabhoomi, which ran counter to popular secularist view and government’s official posture, he lost the prestigious opportunity of becoming the Chairman of Prasar Bharati Corporation.
His book gives insight into nitty gritty aspects of journalist’s life, the pressures of deadlines, their tricks of the trade, interference by the management, editors, and outsiders and so on. He professed journalism at a time when History was in making in several parts of the world: Indian Independence, Kashmir problem before the UN, Annexation of Hungary and Czechsolvakia by the USSR, coming up of Berlin Wall, President Nixon’s regime before and after Indo-Pak war of 1971, infamous emergency of 1975-77, to name a few.
He has also written a novel, some short stories and a large number of biographies, mostly on being commissioned. Interestingly, he has authored histories of various banks and financial institutions also on being commissioned. Though belatedly, his contribution to journalism and to the society has been recognised. Thus, even after over quarter century in retirement, Mr.M.V.Kamath has been active in the society.
Though not a poet, poetry seems to be his passion. Readers of his boo will be treated to choice passages of poetry he has enjoyed. His book “A Reporter At Large” merits reading. Journalists are generally a cynical lot. Nevertheless, I dare say, may other journalists draw inspirations from Mr.M.V.Kamath’s ethos. September 10 Hindus - A Disappearing RaceBy
B.N.Gururaj, Advocate
Dr.Koenrad Elst is a research scholar who has published his research thesis on the Hindu Revisalism. This has been published as a book titled "Decolonizing the Hindu Mind". He makes an interesting observation in the introductory chapter that insofar as demography is concerned, the growth rate of the Hindus in India is negative, whereas, the growth rate of Muslims is positive. The percentages of Hindus which was about 85% 1981 now stands at 80.15%. This percentage of course subject to the usual trick played played by the secular government, of excluding Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs from the scope of the Hindu community. Even after allowing for exclusion of about 2.9% on this count, still, the Hindu poplation share has reduced by slightly over 2%. On the other hand, the muslim population was 10.1% in 1961. In 2001 census, the percentage is 13.4%. Dr. Elst quotes someone's study on this basis that in about 316 years the Hindus will disappear form the subcontinent.
Following is the official Census data disclosed even by the pseudo secularist government of India:
This is what Wikipedia has to say about muslim population and statistics in India: (Refer article "Islam in India" on Wikipedia website). "Islam is India's largest minority religion, with Muslims officially constituting 13.4% of the country's population, or 138 million people as of the 2001 census. However, unofficial estimates claim a far higher figure supposedly discounted in censuses. For instance, in an interview with a well circulated newspaper of India The Hindu Justice K.M. Yusuf, a retired Judge from Calcutta High Court and Chairman of West Bengal Minority Commission, has said that the real percentage of Muslims in India is at least 20%. [4] pro Hindutva people say in their reports that the Muslim population has reached 30%. [5] [47] The largest concentrations-about 47% of all Muslims in India, according to the 2001 census--live in the 3 states of Uttar Pradesh (30.7 million) (18.5%), West Bengal (20.2 million) (25%), and Bihar (13.7 million) (16.5%). Muslims represent a majority of the local population only in Jammu and Kashmir (67% in 2001) and Lakshadweep (95%). High concentrations of Muslims are found in the eastern states of Assam (31%) and West Bengal (25%), and in the southern state of Kerala (24.7%) and Karnataka (12.2%). Muslims are generally more educated, urban, integrated and prosperous in the Western and Southern states of India than in the Northern and Eastern ones[citation needed]; this could be due to partition when the more affluent and educated population migrated over the border[citation needed], to Pakistan in the North and Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) in the East. India has the third largest Muslim population (after Indonesia and Pakistan) and also the second largest Shia Muslim population (after Iran) in the world.[citation needed] The analysis on religious data, among the six major religious communities, shows that the decadal growth of the Muslims was the highest (36.0%) in the 2001 census. This statistic suggested that while the growth rate for Hindus has fallen between 1991 and 2001 compared with 1981 and 1991, Muslims have actually grown faster in the last decade, this led Indian media[48] and different parties raising an alarm at the growing number of Muslims and expressing concern about the demographic imbalance and overpopulation, which the Indian government is desperately trying to stop democratically.[49] A grave objection to this theory is the fact that the 1991 census did not include Jammu & Kashmir, the only Muslim majority state and strife-torn Assam, while the 2001 census does include Jammu & Kashmir. Adjusted for this, the Muslim growth rate plunges from 36 per cent to 29.3 per cent. Muslim population in Indian states according to 2001 Census.[50]
Percentage distribution of population (adjusted) by religious communities : India – 1961 to 2001 Census (excluding Assam and J&K).[51]
Percentage distribution (unadjusted) of population by religious communities India - 1961 to 2001 Census (without excluding Assam and J&K).[52]
Probably, the process of outnumbering the Hindus will be hastened once the muslim population percentage touches more than 40%. With their inherent assertiveness, and agressiveness, by this stage, unorganised Hindus would have become more than open for proslytisation, not only by Muslims, but also by Christians. After the percentage crosses 50%, in all the muslim majority states, the Hindus and others would become Zimmis (Dhimmi in Arabic), people who have to pay Jezia and survive by the grace of majority muslims. Probably, this is also the stage by which, being majority, the Muslims can declare India to be Islamic Republic of Hindustan.
The only solace is that none of us would be alive to face the hardships awaiting those generations. March 04 A Scientific SuperstitionBy
B.N.Gururaj, Advocate
In the latest issue of Scientific American India (March 08), there is an interesting article about expanding universe theory originally propounded by Edwin Hubble. Yes! It is the same Edwin Hubble in whose name a huge space telescope has been cruising around. He discovered that the universe is expanding at a velocity which is proportinaely twice the distance of the object from us. That is, if an object at 1 Light Year distance is receeding at a speed of say 30 KM per second, another object at 2 light years would be receeding at 60 KM per second. (Indeed the speed is per second, not per hour as in terrestrial scale). The author of the paper expects that at some point of time, may be a couple of billion years later, the celestial objects would be so far away that we do not even receive light from them. But, the astounding part of the article is that at this point, the receeding objects will exceed the velocity of light and would simply drop out of sight. Thus, at that distance in future, human beings if any still alive would see only a relatively small poodle of stars and nothing beyod. There would be absolutely no evidence of expanding universe, though it could still be happening. Even the background cosmis radiation, which is the evidence of Big Bang which took place over 13 billion years back.
What does not jell in this article is the fact that something could travel at a velocity higher than light. For anyone reasonably familiar with the rudiments of Einstein's special theory of relativity, no object with any mass can ever reach the velocity of light, as its weight will approach infinity. Therefore, only such particles which have zero rest mass can reach the velocity of light, such as protons, and nutrinos. But, in this article, we are asked to believe that even massive stars and galaxies will move away from us exceeding the velocity of light.
Unfortunately, the article does not address the issue of the limitations imposed by the Special Relativity Theory. Ever since Einstein propounded his theory of relativity, none has produced any evidence of any natural phenomenon which is contrary to the Special Theory of Relativity. Now, we are asked to believe that massive stars and galaxies can move away at speeds in excess of light and drop ought of sight. Unless the reasons are forthcoming, it would seem that this is another kind of scientific superstition. These baseless assertions can cause more harm to proper growth of human thought than all religious and astrological superstitions put together. March 01 Eminent Historian Exposes Himself!By
B.N.Gururaj, Advocate
Recently, there was an interview with Mr.K.N.Panikkar, one of the "eminent historians" who has stolen the hearts of leftists and bleeding heart liberals in the country'a public life. There is no need to write much about the parasitic creatures that these historians are. Mr.Arun Shourie has done a wonderful job of exposing these people, they way they hog publicity, capture all public forum, not to speak of public money available for academic work in the field of history, and ultimately, how they fail to deliver the goods. Now, this worthy person is heading Indian History Research Council. As we know, this council, in its present avtar searches for history that suits the ruling cacus. Another kind of research work is to hide historical evidence when it does not suit the vote bank politics of the ruling party, if it cannot be hidden, destroy the evidence, or in the most benign frame of mind, hide the evidence. Twisting and misinterpretation of historical evidence comes as easily as breathing to us, and swimming to fishes.
Now, this eminent historian admits that NCERT text books of sanitised history is used only by about 3% of the schools in the country and the rest of the schools use "more communal text books". Since the leftists beliefe that "if you are not with us, you are with them", communal text books simply means those which do not fit the ideology of these worthy leftists.
Here is a lesson for the history teachers. If untruth is circulated as truth, sooner or later, it will be discovered and ignored. While 97% of the school children read proper history, 3% of the children are denied this right and have to stew in the hell brew concocted by these eminent historians. The society, by ignoring and throwing by way side the leftist version of Indian history, has served the just desserts to these eminent historians. June 22 When Sri Krishna Cried - Little Known Episode of MahabharataBy
B.N.Gururaj, Advocate.
The image of Sri Krishna we have in our mind is that of a ever smiling face, always ready to lend a helping hand to people who depend upon him. He is described by his devotees as mandahasa vadana, one with smiling face. Kulashekara describes him as one with gentle smile: manda manda hasitambujananam in his Mukundamala Stotra. He is always immersed in brahmananda or the greatest bliss. But, here is an episode from Shalya Parvan of Mahabharata which illustrates a hitherto unknown facet of Sri Krishna, the ever smiling Lord, who could empathise with those in deep sorrow.
By the last day of the eighteen day battle of Mahabharata, none of the Kauravas had survived. Even the last among them, Duryodhana had fallen in the battle field, with thigh broken in the battle of maces with Bhima. Kaurava's aged parents Dhritarashtra and Gandhari were in Hastinapura. They were also the brother and sister in law respectively of Pandu, the father of Pandavas. Therefore, the Pandavas could not simply sit back, but had to break the news of death of all their children to these aged couple. None dared to go forward to perform this difficult task. As usual, the weak Yudhisthira beseeches Sri Krishna to undertake this difficult mission. They were afraid that the power acquired by Gandhari by her penances would be sufficient to burn all of them alive. Upon being asked to undertake this difficult task, Sri Krishna, without even a whisper of second thought proceeds in his chariot to Hastinapura.
The author of Mahabharata does not give us insight into the mind and working of Sri Krishna at all. He is always described in the epic as seen and perceived by others. Sri Krishna arrives at the palace of Dhritarashtra and walks in. He finds Veda Vyasa also in that place, besides Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. he clamly prostrates before Veda Vyasa and also to Gandhari. Thereafter, he holds the halds of Dhritarashtra and starts crying. He was so overcome by the grief of death of such huge number of relatives, it took him a muhurta time to collect himself. Thereafter, he cleanses his eyes, performs ablutions and then addresses Dhritarashtra and Gandhari in that order.
What transpires thereafter is not very important. Sir Krishna, mildly but firmly points out the follies of Dhritarashtra in blindly supporting his eldest son's misdaventures and acts towards Pandavas whcih wholly lacked any virtue. He then addresses Gandhari and points out how even inspite of Sri Krishna's own best efforts to avert war during negotiations, Duryodhana had refused to yield even to the extent of parting with five villages for five Pandavas; how Gandhari's own admonishions to Duryodhana had absoltuely no effect on him. He reminds her of her words that that side which has rectitide on its side would win in a battle. Sri Krishna tells them, that at the end of the eighteen days' war, her words had come true. He points out to both of them, how the Pandavas had, with forebearance, undergone all the hardships heaped on them by the cunning of Duryodhana and Shakuni.
Sri Krishna advises Dhritarashtra and Gandhari not to bear any anger or animosity towards Pandavas, but to support the Pandavas hereafter as their own children. Sri Krishna's compelling words help assuage their feelings of anger and frustration, not to speak of their deep sorrow. Eventually, they assure Sri Krishna that they would not bear any anger towards Pandavas.
Sri Krishna hurriedly takes leave of them informing that Ashwatthama has been hatching some evil designs to kill Pandavas during that night. Both Dhritarashtra and Gandhari plead with Sri Krishna to do everything in his power to save Pandavas and bid him farewell!
In this story the most important part is the exact moment at which Sri Krishna disclosed his grief. For assuaging the sorrow of the aged couple, he could not have approached them with his usual smiling countenance. That would have been most inappropriate. With his ever smiling face, he could not have pointed out to Dhritarashtra the follies of his sons, which eventually resulted in this disaster. It would have perhaps invited the wrath of the aged couple. By empethising the aged couple in their misery, he got them to listen to him telling unpleasant truths. This episode demonstrates the high degree of adaptability that Sri Krishna had, his practical wisdom in adapting as the situation called for. At this moment, Sri Krishna did not have to contrive any misery. It is not that he had not felt the deep sorrow of the death of hundreds of relatives on both sides. His own kins had died in the battle fighting for Pandavas. What is significant is that like other mortals, he did not let that grief overcome him and affect his duties. He waited for the appropriate moment to disclose his own grief.
The choice of words of the epic poet in describing Sri Krishna's grief is curious and perhaps somewhat anamolous. The verse reads thus:
Panimalambya rajendra, suswaram praruroda ha! Holding the hands of Dhritarashtra, he cried with "sweet voice" (suswaram). It is indeed strange to describe the sound of crying as sweet voice!
[From Mahabharata, Shalya Parvan, Chapter 63, Verses 38 and 39].
April 30 Dr.S.L.Bhyrappa's AvaranaLiterary Criticism which is unliterary
By
B.N.Gururaj, Advocate.
Dr.S.L.Bhyrappa's new Kannada novel "Avarana" (meaning, enclosure or curtain) has created records of sorts in Kannada Literature. It saw three reprints within ten days and appears to have gone through many more re-prints in the last couple of months after its first publication in February 2007. The story is based on Moghul rule of India under Aurangzeb in the 17th Century. The author has done extensive research into the source materials such as chronicals of that period, studied Islam and its practises- both modern and older - before inking the paper. In depth research is a virtue which is generally lacking amongst Indian creative writers, especially amongst writers in Kannada, though Kannada literature can rightly boast of great history scholars.
The story has two limbs: one modern, where a Hindu girl converts to Islam, named Razia, marries a muslim and has lived as muslim for twenty eight years. Upon death of her father, she visits her native place and sees the extensive study into medieval history which her later father had undertaken. A reading of his research notes and source books opens the eyes of lies that have been passing around as history in India. The main story of the novel is about how Razia, this movie script writer exposes the lies in History and eventually invites trouble with law. Simultaneously, there is a subplot of 17th century, in which a Rajput prince is captured, subjected to homosexual atrocities, castrated and used as Khwaja in various Muslim Zenanas. His castration symbolises the impotent state to which Hindus of 17th century had fallen. The society of that period, attitudes of rulers towards Hindus, and Hindus' own attitudes have been explored in this subplot.
That the book is well researched is seen in its extensive biblioraphy given at the end of the novel, interestingly, as a part of the novel itself!
I found it surprising that none of the so-called liberal and secular writers have not yet pounced upon Dr.Bhyrappa for committing the sacrilage of showing Mughal history in its true colours. It was surprising that no press statements were given, no press conferences held to condemn the book and the author. Now it is clear that the liberals are tongue tied in the face of extensive research which supports the novel. It is very easy to fool lay people with what passes for learning amongst these retired professors, playrights and novelists. When it comes to back breaking research, they look for the nearest exit.
The novel is a must read for every Indian, not merely a Hindu or muslim. In fact, the novel must be translated into other Indian languages also. It is not possible to build harmony in the society based on history which is full of lies. It is very easy to say why rake up old wounds, can'nt we get on with the present. But, unless the atrocities of Mughal and other sultanate rule is exposed and the shocking events are debated, the wound will not heal, it will fester. At some point of time, entire Indian society has to acknowledge that Hindus were subjected to untold misery and atorcities in their own country. Every ruler of India, including our own present rulers have been doing their best to hide facts about history and are doling out doctored history in the school text books. Government has been spending huge fortune to buy the kind of history it thinks will do good to the country. We have reached a point where we can no longer trust history text books written by Indian authors. As Dr.Bhyrappa says, historian has become the barrier between the history and the reader.
Dr.S.L.Bhyrappa's novel Avarana is a good continuation of the work commenced by people such as Arun Shourie and Sitaram Goel. May their tribe increase! |
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