Re: [nukkad] Nationalism, patriotism, and religion

["Taher Y Kagalwala" <>]

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Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for 
the public and have no self. -Cyril Connolly, critic and editor (1903-1974)
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----- Original Message -----
From: "D D Karelia" 
To: "'Pankaj Gupta'" ; <nukkad-list@mumbai-central.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 12, 2003 2:41 PM
Subject: RE: [nukkad] Nationalism, patriotism, and religion


Dear Deepak,

You have attempted to wash away the sincere posting of Mr. Pankaj ji by your
trademark offense: radicalism.

First you say:
>>Forget Gandhi and his theory
to lend another cheek<<

I personally do not hold any petards for Mr. Gandhi's political strategy;
enough has been discussed on this subject on nukkad and elsewhere. However,
Gandhi did not " invent" ahimsa. He merely used this strategy because he
realised that "eye for an eye" would not work against the British behemoth.
I will definitely give credit to him for turning popular tide against the
British. He erred on several occasions, agreed, but then who in his life
doesn't? He may even have sent Bhagat Singh to the gallows... let us concede
that for the sake of argument: yet, one cannot deny that his policy of
Non-violence, which he first employed in South Africa, and then in India,
was a masterstroke that brought the mighty British Empire to its knees.
On another wave-length, I personally feel that his message may not agree
with terrorists and fanatic thinking, but as common men, we practice it in
all spheres of our life. And it works.
With children.
With spouses.
With subordinates.
With bosses.
With colleagues.
With rivals.
With law-enforcement agencies.
And almost with anyone else.
@@@
 Next you tell Mr. Gupta about:
>>fear of losing your secular identity<<

I do not think one can " lose" his ideals, but if the situations demands it,
one may be forced to tank it temporarily, or to bury or to suppress it.
So the fear is there, but not of losing one's secular identity, but of
losing one's life or limb or eye etc. if one remains foolhardy.
@@@


Then you exhort Mr. Gupta to:
>> Beware, Jains, Sikhs, Buddhists are part and parcel of Hinduism<<

Could you explain how Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs are Hindus? Their holy
books, names of God, prayer rituals, beliefs, etc. are all different from
your stereotype Hindu. They eat cow, flesh, fish.
They wear different costumes.
Culturally, there may be some similarities... but that is so even between
Hindus and Muslims/ Christians.
@@@

Then you claim that their:
>>religious faith lies somewhere
out of Hindustan soil. <<
and again:
>>because of their overseas faith<<

Arre mere yaar, faith is inside of us, not " overseas".
Only unki nishaaniyan are outside.
@@@


>>enough is enough now.<<

I agree.

-With best wishes for a happy new week ahead,
Taher


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