Editor,
Your editorial, “Killing of Dalits” (ST, Oct 4, 2017) zeroed in on the murder of a Dalit, Jayesh Solanki, by a group of upper caste men in Gujarat’s Anand district, to condemn never ending atrocities against Dalits. Now, what’s the religion of the victim? A Hindu. And the killers? Also Hindu! Recently, some women fought and won the battle against the regressive practice of triple talaq in the Supreme Court of India. What’s their religion? Muslim of course. And whom did they fight against? Muslim indeed! Anyway, what’s the religion of Martin Luther who fought against Christian dogmas? What’s the religion of Raja Ram Mohan Roy who fought against Hindu prejudices like Sati? What’s the religion of Kemal Atatürk who fought against the burqa and other regressive practices of Muslims? All of them belonged to the very religion they dedicated their lives to reform. We can also say that those great men as well as the anti – talaq – Muslim – women brigade indeed belong to the same religion of humanity which is progressive and liberal that can adapt itself with the evolution of humankind. We spoke loud and clear against ISIS design to poison the world with hatred, terrorism and religious fanaticism. We condemned in unequivocal terms when Islamic fundamentalists had been taking the lives not only of Hindus but also of liberals like Niloy Chatterjee, Washiqur Rahman Babu, Avijit Roy, Ananta Bijoy Das, Nazimuddin Samad and Rezaul Karim Siddiquee one after another in Bangladesh. And we know that Niloy Chatterjee and Rezaul Karim Siddiquee belonged to the same religion of humanity as that of Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare, Malleshappa Kalburgi and Gouri Lankesh. Indeed, to make us realize this truth of one religion of humanity of Maha Upanishad, Swami Vivekananda touched the feet of a four-year-old, poor, Kashmiri, Muslim girl to worship her as Goddess Uma when he was in Kashmir in the autumn of 1898. With this singular act he defied divisions of religion, region, race, caste, class, creed, gender and generation to hoist the flag of humanity. Actually, Swami Vivekananda did a Sri Ramkrishna who himself practiced Islam, Christianity and other religions to live his words ~ “many opinions, many paths”. They tried to make us realize that divisions between religions could kill humanity. Oceans of human blood could have been saved had we realized their teachings. Now, if we focus our attention to Rohingya refugees the first question we need to answer is ~ can it be practical for a country to compromise its national security? No, it can never be. It has got to be alert not only in the matter of dealing with refugees but in other areas as well. However, we must keep it in mind that India cannot abandon her age – old reputation of living up to the ideals of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” meaning “the whole world is one family” which is a Sanskrit phrase found in the Maha Upanishad. Never has India deviated from this great tradition and has been giving refuge to different races and religions across the world from Aryans to Tibetan Buddhists to Afghan Muslims to Hindus from Bangladesh. This is what India has always stood for. Indeed, Swami Vivekananda spoke highly of this great tradition of India in his memorable Chicago speech 125 years ago and Rabindranath Tagore in his famous poem, “Bharat-tirtha”.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata
How to camouflage a stink
Editor,
The front page headlines “Clean course likely for city streams project”(ST, Oct 5, 2017) sounded like a very promising read-up to begin the day with. Everyone is deeply interested in any endeavour to clean up our two city rivers. However as one read the news report, anticipation rapidly gave way to unease, apprehension then to outright alarm. Let me state with all the authority at my command that the proposal has nothing to do with cleaning up the Wahumkhrah nor the Umshyrpi. This is a flood control mechanism designed by the Department of Water Resources and Flood Control. That’s all. As a matter of fact the whole project aims at turning the two streams into concretised nallas, period.
The project seeks to raise the banks of the Wahumkhrah with concrete walls to prevent flooding of the Pynthorumkhrah areas. The next logical step afterwards will be to lay slabs across the walls and turn the whole length of the Umkhrah into a concrete parking lot or to invite encroachments on the covered area. The report itself is very clear that it was conceptualised to control frequent flooding of the Pynthorumkhrah area, protection of agricultural land and control overflowing of the Wah Umkhrah and Umshyrpi. That is the technical jargon used to source the 46.45 crores earmarked for the project. It has nothing to do with cleaning up the river. In simple layman’s language it means let’s just cover up all the dirt, garbage and sewage that will continue to flow into the two rivers. Out of sight will be out of mind and never mind the stink and the foul smell. My advice is please call a spade a spade. Call flood control measures as flood control measures. If the project has merit the 46.45 crores will come in. In the meanwhile let’s not attempt to camouflage flood control measures as noble river cleaning or river beautification efforts. That would be cheating.
Yours etc.,
Toki Blah,
Via email
Looting the nation
Editor,
While global crude prices have receded the cost of importing crude oil is high considering the import duty taxes, state taxes and a plethora of dues before it reaches the end user that is the consumer. The average middle class is gradually feeling the brunt under this current government which came to power promising the people of this country a ‘true change’ under its slogan, “Saab Ka Saath, Saab Ka Vikas ” which is now losing its sheen. Inflation has risen again with the steep increase in food prices, the GDP is on the low side at less than the proposed target. Added to this is the rising fuel prices. Perhaps the Modi magic is waning away and his bubble might soon burst. Ironically, the BJP state party seems contented with the sufferings of the masses and seems to be laboring under, ” Saab Ka Saath, Apna Vikas”
Yours etc…
Dominic S. Wankhar
Vie email