Jains officially a religious minority in India: Will Pravin Togadia, a Jain, target minorities now?

Pravin Togadia, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader, who has targeted minorities and made extremely inflammatory speeches in the country, is himself a minority now.

Togadia, who is a Jain, has repeatedly made incendiary comments against religious minorities across India.

Once he said that if he became the Prime Minister, he would take away electoral rights from Muslims. Togadia has made public speeches that minorities should be economically boycotted.

VHP is known for being a right-wing organisation but Togadia's fanaticism is unmatched. An interesting aspect is that Togadia doesn't speak about the fact that he is a follower of Jainism. His supporters are active on cyber space too.

Any mention that he is a Jain is quickly removed from his Wikipedia page, citing that 'it is not important in context to the article'. He apparently considers Jains as part of Hinduism, though leading Jain saints and seers, strongly vouch for Jainism as an independent and older religion.

While Digambar Jains generally use 'Jain' as surname, the Shwetambaras who are more in Gujarat, use their caste or original surnames, rather than using the religion. On the movement for giving Jains, a religious minority status, he has remained silent.

Togadia is notorious for his hate speeches but the lawmakers have been soft on him. He has targeted Christians for their missionary activity and for 'conversion' of Hindus. The truth is that Christians convert few people in India, compared to the conversion by Jains in rural and tribal parts of India.

In one Gujarat district, Panchmahal, lakhs of Dalits and Tribals were converted. The sudden rise of Jain population in India in the last two decades shows it. Since the central government has bestowed minority status on Jains, we haven't heard much from Togadia.

Seems he doesn't want to touch the topic. But it is interesting to see if he attacks minorities again, and will someone ask him about his being a 'minority' in India.

Attacks on Churches: Saffron siege in Karnataka

Just when the country is facing repeated terror strikes, this is the last thing we would like to witness: an inter-religious conflict.

Alas, this is happening in Mangalore and the coastal belt of Karnakata. After large-scale killings and destruction in Orissa, the Saffron bands are now busy in burning churches, ransacking prayer halls, demolishing statues and all sorts of vandalism, for which they are notoriou, in Karnataka.

And just when terrorism has spread its tentacles in the country, the 'patriotic' Saffron bands of RSS, which mainly comprise the Bajrang Dal, seem to have taken upon themselves the task to stop conversions.

We may not like religious conversions. The founding fathers of India and its constitution, Mahatma Gandhi and BR Ambedkar, detested conversion due to allurement or coercion. But, we must also look at the ground realities.

India is a secular nation where everybody is free to practice and preach their religion. Let it be very clear about that. Secondly, we may believe that tribals are natives and Hindus but the truth is that Evangelists don't consider them as Hindus and this is not absolutely wrong.

And even if religion has reduced to such a level that people are being bought to a faith, it must be considered that both the VHP and the missionaries are involved in this game equally. None can claim greater moral ground. It is also a truth that the percentage of Christians in India hasn't increased, rather it has gone down in the last decade and they are a tiny minority.

However, the violent incidents are unjustifiable. In Mangalore, Udipi, Chikmagalur & Dakshin Kannada nearly two dozen churches have been attacked. Incidents of stabbings were also reported. Later the police were targeted by Christians in retaliation.

If it is anti-Christian violence in Karnataka, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh, then Maharashtra has a different movement where linguistic terrorism is unleashed by Thackerays.

What kind of a banana republic is this, that can't stop or act against any law-breaker?

Of Britney Spears' possible conversion to Islam, Bobby Jindal embracing Christianity & Obama leaving Islam

Celebrity pop singer Britney Spears is likely to marry Adnan Ghalib, a Birmingham based 35 year old who originally belongs to Paistan.

There are rumours that she will settle in Pakistan, start her life afresh after the two divorces and is considering to convert to Islam. Though Adnan Ghalib's parents have threatened that they will disown him if he marries Britney.

The couple is unmoved and ready with their marriage plans. She reportedly told a doubting relative of his over the phone that, "they were taking care of each other. He's the only one who understands me. It's serious."

2. Anything about a celebrity like Britney makes a good story. But when it is about conversion it becomes big news. Just the other day there were reports about Lousiana Governor Bobby Jindal, who had converted to Catholicism.

Jindal, son of a Hindu parents, quit his religion when he was in High School. A reporter spoke to his uncle Subhash Gupta, who said that the family was quite at ease with the decision.

His wife says that it is difficult to instill Hinduism and its teachings in the mind of a child who is growing in USA. Hmm. Another aunt, Nirmal Agarwal, termed it natural and spiritually healthy.

3. Of course, the third story is about US presidental candidate Barrack Hussein Obama whose father was a Kenyan Muslim and who is allegedly to have studied in a Muslim school in his childhood and prayed in the mosque.

But then the young Obama became a Christian. Surely he is no fool. Barack Obama has chances to win election but the name Barkat Husain Obama would never have taken him to where he stands right now in US.

The bottom line is that conversion is no big deal. Bobby Jindal must have set his eyes on his ambition when he decided to 'convert'. For those who take religion seriously it's important and they are shocked but for the opportunists, it is as simple as changing their clothes.

It is also true that most people frown at conversions but love to read the stories of celebrities. And when someone of our religion changes his faith to embrace other religion, we don't feel too happy. But those who consider every conversion as a Minus, have reasons to feel secure.

For those who are really worried about a person leaving their faith and get concerned about 'dwindling' population, the following equation may give some solace:

If Islam gets 1 Britney from Christianity

Christians can take solace in getting 1 Obama from Islam

Hindusim may have lost Bobby Jindal to Christianity but

Hindus gained 1 celebrity Liz Hurley who married to Arun Nayar recently.... and so on and so on... (if you consider that marrying a male, a woman automatically switches her faith)

So nobody needs to worry about their declining numbers. Conversions, for various reasons will continue, and nobody will be a loser. There will be pluses and minuses but end result will not hurt the population too much.

Britney's case is different, as she may have found emotional support with Adnan. Earlier Jemima tried hard to adjust to the life of Pakistan and then returned to Britian. People do read such stories even though Britney isn't married yet, let alone converting.

Still, there is something about Men from the Sub-continent that Western women are attracted. Perhaps, it is their commitment for a life-long companionship that goes well.

[Photos: Britney Spears on top followed by Jindal, Obama and Elizabeth Hurley]

Will Shia Benazir's legacy survive in Sunni-majority Pakistan?

Never in the past so much emphasis was laid on the fact that Benazir Bhutto was a Shia. But, in articles on sites, blogs and converstions I got a feeling that it may be a factor in the politics of Pakistan.

Pakistan has become a more divided country. There is no love lost between Shias and Sunnis. And the radicalization of the population in the Sunni-majority country, will not help PPP.

Benazir Bhutto was a Shia. Her parents (Zulfikar Ahmad and Nusrat) were both Shia and her husband Asif Zardari is also a Shia. It is a spculation but will that be a factor?

In a country where sectarian tensions are deeply rooted, it is not surprising either. People say that Benazir's family always played down their strong Shia leanings, but they are well known.

Emotional reactions apart, the common Pakistani Sunni may not be tempted to vote for PPP and could go for the Nawaz Sharif's Muslim League. Pakistan has more than 80% of its population belonging to Sunni sect.

An acquaintance, who happens to be a Muslim, also shared this view. I have also just seen a You Tube video that refers Bhutto as a 'true Shia Muslim sister who was killed my monster Sunnis'. Benazir was not as popular in Pakistan as the media has made her to be. She had made the deal with United States and was soft towards General Pervez Musharraf.

The sympathy wave after her death can't be discounted. But contrary to what the newspapers in India are telling us that her party may now sweep polls, I think it would not be that easy for Pakistan Peoples Party. Asif Zardari's doesn't have any reputation. He is believed to be a corrupt guy.

The election of a nineteen year old boy, Bilawal, just because he is Benazir Bhutto's son, but who is not allowed to speak and his father presents him as trophy, may not cut ice with electorate.

(Though talking of voting and election in Pakistan is also a joke, given the track record of Army and their ability at rigging). That's all conjecture and the true situtation on the ground will be known only to the citizens of that country.

In the past Pakistan has had Shia leaders including premiers. Even the founder of Pakistan, Mohamed Ali Jinnah was also a Shia. But later years saw growing tension between the two sects .

Six photos on December 6: Black Mannequins in Hyderabad, Shiv Sena in Delhi and India 15 years after 1992

1. On the left is the photo of mannequins wearing black dress in Hyderabad to protest the demolition of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya.

Though the Black Day by Muslims and Shaurya Diwas by Hindus are annual fixtures, the shop-owner has came out with an interesting idea and a good opportunity for photographers than the usual sloganeering and protests. A banner 'Remembering December 6' also hangs at this shop.

And his commitment. Seems he doesn't care a bit about losing out on Hindu customers!

2. The second photo on the right is from Faizabad. Two Muslim raising a black flag above a mosque in Faizabad. The third photo is from Delhi where Shiv Sena clashed with Muslims sitting on a dharna.

3. With tridents in hand they reached the place and there was a street fight. Some persons were injured. The police, as usual, came much, letter. The newspapers and channels got some exiciting to report on December 6.

4. The fourth is the photo of Ayodhya 4. The photo of Ayodhya where Rapid Action Force guards the entrance to temple.

Sad, that Lord Rama needs such security!

There are two more photos. One of the market near Char Minar in Hyderabad, which is totally shut. Is there any other City where people remember December 6 so much?

I think these shops are closed also because the people fear violence in Hyderabad on this day. The last photo shows a gunman standing at the Eidgah-Krishna Janmabhoomi at Mathura, which is also considered disputed and is among the two main disputed places after Ayodhya. The third is in Varanasi (Kashi) where Vishwanth Temple-Gyanwapi Mosque is located.

NOW 15 years later, I feel Indians don't want a repeat of another December 6. We have understood that it was pure politics of hate. Hindus and Muslims both suffered. In UP there were not many Vijay Diwas celebrations this year. Muslims are also not as angry and hurt, as they appeared.

Everybody wants to forget December 6, 1992. But it must always remind us how just a few politicians had tried to play with the sentiments of people and get to power on dead bodies of Indians and trying to break this great nation. India bathed in blood for many weeks after December 6. And they were happy. But we must not let this happen again.

Sikhs welcome Muslims after Eid Namaz: The spirit of Hindustaniat

The flowers are raining outside the Eidgah. The beauty of this picture lies in the fact that Sikh boys are welcoming the Muslims coming out of Eidgah after offering the Namaz, with flowers.

The Sikh community welcomes the Muslims after Namaz in Bhopal, as a goodwill gesture. For decades the office-bearers of local Sikh organisations have been greeting Muslims 'Eid Mubarak' in this manner.

Naturally, such a gesture overwhelms the other community. Reaching out to the other community is the need of the hour. We must celebrate the festivals of the other community and spread the message of harmony.

Such photographs are rare as people are getting narrow-minded and don't prefer interacting with other communities and groups. Working relationships are okay but family ties are not as strong as they used to be in the past.

Here there is no political platform but the ordinary Sikhs meeting ordinary Muslims. And this is the spirit of Hindustaniat. Kudos to the Sikh organisations who take this extra step towards reaching to the other community. This photo has a lesson for everybody among us to learn. Will we?

Ashok Todi's 200 crore Vs Justice for Rizwanur

When Kolkata police commissioner issued the statement a day after Rizwanur Rahman's body was found, that 'the way Calcutta police have acted, it will continue to do so in future', wasnit it the arrogance of power and money backed with the nexus of politicians and corrupt bureaucrats, which made him say that?

Ashok Todi owns Rs 200 crore Lux Hosiery, and that was enough reason for police to act on his false report and charge Rizwanur with abduction of his daughter even though he had married her legally. In the eyes of police and justice Rizwanur should have been the complainant and the victim but they treated him as mere dirt.

That's how the ordinary Indian citizen gets treated. And the police were only doing what they have done for decades. Rizwanur's body was found near the track and the police called it suicide though it has been proved wrong. The cops quite often turn a complainant into an accused (of abduction in this case) and harass the victim.

And this is not just in the case of a Hindu-Muslim marriage. But all cases of inter-caste marriages and other offences. The poor and the less-connected have no rights in this country. The Todis are well-connected and know everybody from Prasun Mukherjee to Ganguly and the Burrabazar businessman has no dearth of money.

But public opinion, still counts.

At least, in Bengal. I am sure if this had happened in some other state, the case would have been buried long back. The public agitations would have lost steam. Hoping that the guilty cops are brought to books. At least, many of the young couples in love, who are harassed and extorted by cops, may escape this ordeal, and the cops may have second thoughts before taking a similar action.

The photo of Ashok Todi is there right on top of the post.

I have already written a post on the 'So-called Marwari values in Bengal' on the same issue.

'Any Marwari family would act like Ashok Todi did in Rizwanur-Priyanka case': Kolkata businessman on TV

The frank admission of a Marwari businessman on NDTV that any Marwari family would have reacted in the same fashion as Ashok Todi did after his daughter married outside his community and religion, is shocking and shameful.

This businessman, Kathuria (who is he by the way, I don't know the initials), said that this is what every person in Marwari households would do because that's the way you are brought up. An adult girl can't marry outside her community if she falls in love. And even after she has married, every possible effort will be made to ensure that she is brought back, even at the cost of such harassment that she loses her husband.

Your frank confession is laudable but Mr Kathuriya, this is surely not Hindustaniat. It could not be Marwariat either. [The programme was telecast on NDTV 24x7 on Sunday night, October 6, with Barkha Dutt anchoring the show]

How could the whole community of millions from a region in Rajasthan that is spread across the nation and has succeeded in business and other fields, be so myopic and biased entirely? If there is any truth in it, then it is really disgusting.

When Kathuria said that these are Marwadi values, his words clearly meant that education can't bring any enlightenment. It is just a tool in accordance with the needs of the present society to earn more and more money. And for him and for those of his ilk that there is no other value except money.

But these are not Indian values. And this is not the tradition of Bengal either. What are are these 'values', which the businessmen believes in, if there is no place for love, truth and justice, rather it is obscene greed and hypocrisy. The reaction of those present in the show was that of shock. A Marwari woman stood up and came down heavily on his thoughts about the so-called 'values'.

The Police Commissioner Prasun Mukherjee may get suspended for a while only to get reinstated or get promoted after the case is hushed up and media loses interest and public campaign loses steam. And Ashok Todi may think that he can win over the world with his money but people like him have earned lasting notoriety and disrespect in our eyes.

Shame on these hypocrites who connived to stop a couple in love from living peacefully even after their marriage. I am surprised when many say that it was a Hindu girl going to a Muslim household.

For godsake don't count heads. Hindu girls will keep marrying Muslims and so will Muslim girls marrying Hindus. It is the fight for justice. Forget Hindu-Muslim issue, it is about what kind of Hindustan we want to live in--a republic where money buys every thing and where laws have no meaning.

Of course life will go on, people will forget. But, we must do whatever little we can do to keep the spirit of Hindustaniat alive. At least on this blog in bold letters, the following lines will remain forever and nobody can erase them.

Not a big deal though but small steps, gestures and refusal to accept what you are doing to our society. This is what many of us are doing on blogs, sites and by participating in candle light vigils and signing the petitions.

Muslim girl scripts Hanuman Chalisa in Urdu: Photo

Even as the debate over Rama Sethu continues in the entire country, a Muslim girl has written Hanuman Chalisa in Urdu script.

She is a student of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth. Naznin, who hails from Varanasi (Benares) plans to write Goswami Tulsidas' Ramcharit Manas in Urdu as well.

Though it is not an astonishing feat as she has mere written it in Perso-Arabic script though there are translations of almost all the Hindu texts in Urdu.

In undivided India, in UP and Punjab, Hindu literature was sold much more in numbers in Urdu script than in Hindi. For centuries Hindus and Muslims have lived in this country together and there is a long history of shared composite culture. This is not rare for Hindus and Muslims to celebrate each others' festivals and respect the culture of the other community.

The channels often make too much of such initiatives and give an impression as if Hindus and Muslims are absolutely different groups of people who won't keep aloof from each other. Still, the effort is laudable on the girl's part.

Sikhs visiting holy shrines in Pakistan

Hindustani

It is heartening to see hundreds of Sikh pilgrims taking trains for Pakistan, to pay obeisance at their holy shrines, and crossing the border easily after nearly six decades.

The family seen waving hands, was going to Gurudwara Dera Sahib to observe the 40th martyrdom of Guru Arjun Dev. No less than 500 'jatthas' had left for Pakistan then. The photograph was taken at Attari railway station, sometime back.

Pakistan has one of the holiest sites for Sikhs and once it was a dream for pilgrims to visit these holy shrines. The other photograph was taken recently when pilgrims were leaving for Lahore.

On the left is the recent photograph of a Sikh pilgrim on board a special train, carrying 253 passengers. He is leaving for Pakistan on the occasion of the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

For the sub-continent, it's great news. In the post-partition riots, millions of Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims were displaced. The Sikhs, being a small minority, suffered most due to this displacement, in the sense that a micro minuscule population of the community, remained in Pakistan.

Of course, there was a similar exodus of Muslims from Indian Punjab but that was only restricted mainly to one state. There are no less than 156 Sikh shrines in Pakistan, many of them in a bad shape.

Nankana Sahib, one of the holiest shrines of the Sikhs, is in Pakistan and so is Panja Sahib. One only wishes that the restrictions would ease further and Sikhs/Muslims and Hindus, who are the same people bound by common culture, can move across the border, freely and easily just like Europe.

Sting operation exposes four 'godmen'

The God-men who have millions of followers and teach morality in public turned out to be fraudulent commission agents, caught in a sting operation on Friday.

For many it could be a sad day but at Hindustaniat we believe that the Cobra Post-IBN 7's operation Maya, which nailed these Babas--Pilot Baba, Vedanti Maharaj, Suryam Namboodiri and Kireet Maharaj, is a welcome move. It will hopefully check the growing superstitions in the society.

Twenty first century India should have no place for such cheat 'sants' and 'mahatmas'.

1. Pilot Baba, who has a great following and influence amongst politicians and bureaucrats was caught on camera, shamelessly demanding commission to turn black money into 'white'. The Baba who after retirement from Air Force as Wing Commander, turned a Sanyasi, and is known to take long 'samadhis' boasted about his connections with top leaders. He offered to convert Rs 7 crore into 'white' by taking Rs 3 crore.

'Give me Rs 10 crore, I will keep Rs 3 crore and the rest will be returned to you in the form of cheque issued by my trust', he said. The payment of Rs 7 crore would be shown as money paid in lieu of some construction work at his Ashram. He was caught by the hidden camera. He boasted of his association with Arab Sheikhs and most politicians. Also, said that he had all sorts of men and can get anybody 'picked up' from his house in case of mischief.

2. Ram Vilas Vedanti, who has been associated with Ram Mandir movement, and runs the Matri Sewa Trust was also caught. He said that he will keep the commission and then give back the money, converted to 'white'. "I have my own trust and there is no need to ask anybody or seek anyone's advice in issuing a cheque'.

This holy man turned a financial dealer of worst kind and a fraudster with no conscience. He lied about his own position in the trusts and had no hesitation in asking how much 'percentage he will get'. He was shamelessly lying and dealing with journalists of Cobra Post who had masqueraded as agents of Corporate companies. Vedanti is known for his association with Hindutva ideology and support to Ram Mandir movement. His comment against Muslims were also in a bad taste.

3. Kirit Maharaj was the third person to be caught on camera. He made the most surprising statement. 'I can make a chutney of Rs 100 crore in five months and finish it'. By 'chutney' he meant that he could show this black money, into legally earned amount, with his fraudulent methods.

Like a seasoned businessman, he kept bargaining and negotiating. He wanted 40% commission. He said how he would show that the money was given by his Vrindavan Project and get it converted into 'Number 1 ka paisa'.

4. The fourth of the godman who was exposed in the first series of IBN expose, was Suryam Namboodiri, who hails from South India and has an Ashram at the Lajpat Nagar in New Delhi. Though he couldn't communicate, the dealings were finalised through his disciple.

The Baba is well-known for making accurate predictions but failed to realise that the persons sitting with him were not financial agents but reporters on a mission to nab him. Surprisingly, all these god-men preach morality but had no difficulty in discussing all sorts of illegal ways and appeared willing to go to any extent in their greed for amassing wealth and money.

The IBN-7 (CNN-IBN's Hindi channel) with the help of Cobra Post has exposed seven babas and names of three more will be revealed on Saturday. But there is one question, what will happen to the religious channels that survive on such 'gurus' and their discourses!

The rest three Babas include include Swami, Pragyanand, Anil Joshi and Acharya Pramod.

Aise babaon se to bhagwan bachaye hinduon ko...