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Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Re: [mukto-mona] Fearful Pakistani Christians make home in forest



A little over five hundred years ago, the Muslim Spain had such symptoms and the Moors had their last sigh.  The fools learn nothing from history.  Even their prophet advised his followers not to overdo their religion.

On Wed, Aug 29, 2012 at 12:10 AM, Shah Deeldar <shahdeeldar@yahoo.com> wrote:
 

I see a huge lack of self- confidence with these idiots. I do not see what would be so sinful if I wipe my ass with God's name on it? Blasphemy? Give me a break!
-SD


 
"All great truths begin as blasphemies." GBS

From: Jiten Roy <jnrsr53@yahoo.com>
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 11:20 AM
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Fearful Pakistani Christians make home in forest

 
What a sad story! I assume Muslim majority in Pakistan do not support such oppression of minorities, but – that did not help this unfortunate community. Did it? Entire community  had to flee into the jungle. Are they safe there? I doubt. 

Look what a few disgruntled religious radicals can do. This is something we all have to keep in mind when we talk about religion. Let me reiterate again – religion breed communalism, no matter what scriptures say. This is the practice. I will keep saying this until you get it.

Now, let me tell you - these types of radicals are present in all religions. No doubt about it. We have seen this in Assam also. So, we have to watch out for them always. But, case in point is Pakistani Christians. This little girl (only 11 years old) had no idea what she was doing; after all it was in Arabic. Even she was aware of it, she was only 11 years old. Yet, her innocent deed affected entire community. I can't find any explanation for this type of insanity. Can you?

Jiten Roy


--- On Tue, 8/28/12, Shah Deeldar <shahdeeldar@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Shah Deeldar <shahdeeldar@yahoo.com>
Subject: [mukto-mona] Fearful Pakistani Christians make home in forest
To: "mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com" <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Tuesday, August 28, 2012, 9:18 AM

 
There we go again with Islam and Pakistan! A heaven on our Earth, indeed!
I bet Bangladeshi Jamatis are not far behind tormenting our minorities. What a shame!



Fearful Pakistani Christians make home in forest
AP | 8 hours ago
35
Pakistani Christian women collect their belongings to leave their home.— AP Photo
Pakistani Christian women collect their belongings to leave their home.— AP Photo
ISLAMABAD: Having fled their homes in the latest spasm of Pakistani religious strife, a few hundred Christians have camped in a forest in the Pakistani capital, cut down trees and are using the branches to build a church. 
Their ordeal began when a Christian girl in their poor Islamabad neighbourhood was accused by a neighbour of burning pages of the Quran — a blasphemy by Pakistani law that can mean life in prison.
A week after the girl's arrest, much remains in question: her age — 11 to 16 in conflicting reports; mental condition — Down syndrome has been mentioned; and what exactly she was burning — there's little evidence that Quran pages were involved.
But as word spread, hundreds of people gathered outside her house demanding action, and on Aug 20 police arrested the girl pending an investigation.
Most Christians in the neighbourhood fled — some 600 families according to one interfaith group. Some said their landlords evicted them. A few have returned.
One of those who moved into the forest on Sunday was Sumera Zahid, who was busy feeding her three children and her parents.
"We used to come here to collect wood for fuel so we find it a suitable place for shelter," she said.
"Here it is not anybody's home, nobody's land. Let us live here in safety."
On Monday their pastor, Arif Masih, spoke to them by the frame of branches they were lashing together for their church.
"We are thankful to the Lord for this land although here is no water and food, but rest assured the Lord will create water fountains and provide all fruits here for you if you remain patient and suffer these hardships, thanking the Lord," he said.
Blasphemy is an extremely sensitive issue in this 95-per cent Muslim nation of 190 million people, and cases often grab huge attention here and abroad.
Crowds have been known to beat or kill suspected blasphemers. Last year two prominent politicians who criticised the blasphemy law were murdered, one by his own bodyguard who then attracted adoring mobs.
In July, thousands of people dragged a Pakistani man accused of desecrating the Quran from a police station, beat him to death and set his body alight.
So volatile is the issue that public figures appear loath to speak out on the latest episode. The government has made little substantive comment, and no police protection was evident at the forest encampment.
On Monday the All Pakistan Ulema Council, an umbrella organisation of Muslim clerics, held a news conference together with the Pakistan Interfaith League, the group that reports 600 families have fled and is campaigning to return them to their homes.
The two groups called for an investigation into whether the girl was wrongly accused and what role religious extremism played. League chairman Sajid Ishaq demanded government compensation for the displaced Christians, as well as protection.
Critics say the blasphemy laws are often used in vendettas and score-settling. Sensitivities are also heightened by Western reactions to such incidents, such as the US State Department statement calling the latest case "deeply disturbing."
At the news conference, the head of the clerics' council, Maulana Tahir-ul-Ashrafi, told the outside world not to interfere, saying Pakistan would provide justice for the girl and her community.
Meanwhile, Nooran Bashir, who had fled a few hours after the girl's arrest, was back in her home Monday.
"I don't know whether she burned pages of some holy book or not, but we all had to abruptly leave our homes to save our lives," she said.
She said one of her sons came back with her, but her other children were too frightened and she sent them to relatives.
She said Muslims asked the Christians not to worship in their church, and if they did, to refrain from singing.
But others were not ready to return. About 200 Christians, mostly men, protested in front of the city administration offices Monday, demanding permission to stay in the clearing.
About another 100 people, mostly women and children, were back at the clearing.
"We don't have a big list of demands," said one Christian resident, Salim Masih.
"We have cleared this place with our hands, and we have laid the first foundation of a small church here. Although this is a mere skeleton made of tree branches, this is the holy home of God. This should be respected."



 
"All great truths begin as blasphemies." GBS





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Re: [mukto-mona] Fwd: A 'wake up' call for our banking sector



Ain't this Mamunur Rashid the same person who got dismissed from his job in Banking sector in Singapore for his financial activities?

On Wed, Aug 29, 2012 at 1:12 AM, qar <qrahman@netscape.net> wrote:
 






We have been discussing current world affairs and religion for a while. I thought some members may find discussing economic issues re-refreshing. I found an interesting article on our economy (Banking sector). Please share your thoughts on it...


Shalom!!

==================================================================================================================



A 'wake up' call for our banking sector

Source: http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=141396&date=2012-08-28


Mamun Rashid

Things are not going at all well with our state owned commercial banks (SCBs). Newspaper reports say, all the indicators (profitability, deposits or loan increases, classified loans and serving the right clients in the right way) are moving in the wrong direction. On the other hand, as we are witnessing, the 'celebrity people' appointed as the chairmen of these SCBs, while being very vocal about financing Padma Bridge with local resources or involved in 'Yunus bashing', prefer to remain totally 'shut' about the 'gangrene' that has been engulfing the SCBs. They are not possibly aware that one bad debt exposure like that of the Hallmark Group (Taka 26 billion) was enough to make 10 per cent down payment for raising BDT 250 billion for the Padma Bridge. Had the bank management been a little bit vigilant in the matters of their 'asset portfolio', they would have been successful to save the entire amount.

Situation is not that good either with the private commercial banks (PCBs). You get to hear in the corridors -- very bad days are coming for PCBs -- loan loss is going to increase, profitability is going down, so is the share price. A chairman of a private commercial bank told me the other day -- 'I can bet, there is going to be many mergers between the banks in the coming days'. There is increasing discomfort among the PCB owners/directors about asset quality, quality of senior management, increasing operational losses and staff getting engaged in frauds, scarcity of new products to serve the emerging need of the clients and more importantly IT delivery platform or processing capability.

Though the owner, the ministry of finance, is still keeping 'mum' on the Sonali Bank or overall dismal picture in the SCBs, it seems that Bangladesh Bank, the banking 'watchdog', has taken cognizance of the situation, albeit late. They want Sonali Bank to send the errant officials home. However, we can't be too happy when the central bank governor himself tells the media that he does not have much to do with SCBs and, more importantly, we are not sure whether this ad-hoc or reactive measures are going to 'stop' the ongoing chaos in the SCBs.

The SCBs need to come out of the image marked by 'poor management, poor risk assessment, rising bad debts, poor automation, low profitability and most importantly poor governance'. My friends tell me -- this will never happen unless the owner loudly say -- 'enough is enough'. Does the government have the ability to say that? I am not sure. At least present governance model can't assure anything like that. With incapable board, intellectually bankrupt management and defaulting clients, we can't be at all happy about the future of the SCBs too. Informed and educated sources even at the ministry of finance would tell you -- 'most of the nominated directors are 'bunch of non-performers', having no visibility about their roles and responsibilities. Therefore you can't expect anything better out of them. Most of the SCBs don't have 'Human Resources (HR) policy, Risk Management policy, Asset and Liability Management policy or as such any policy, other than the ones devolved by the central bank. In every sense, the Executive Committee or the board runs the bank on a weekly basis. Sorry to say, the MD or the CEO plays the role of a 'dancing or entertaining lady'. Otherwise, he or she runs the risk of being the 'opposition person', not helping the board to realise the vision or dreams of their visionary leaders.

The situation is not better with the PCBs either. The CEOs or MDs sail through the coverage of either conflicting directors or ride on the board for almost all decisions. In the bad days they would smilingly 'pass on the bucks' to the directors. The poor (not at all poor though) directors, remain very happy or pretend to remain happy, by abusing the power (facilitated by the MDs or CEOs), getting their nephews or nieces employed in the banks or loans granted in pseudo names or in the name of their friends or relatives. Most of the MDs/CEOs won't put in their best, because every six years they have to look for another 'safe haven'. For many banks, the MDs/CEOs come from the SCBs or banks where their sponsors used to bank with. Many MDs/CEOs are above sixty years, ready to compromise for anything like what we get to see the retiring civil servants doing for getting an 'extension'. Then who are the worst affected parties? The institutions. They remain the most archaic ones, increasingly becoming irrelevant to the clients or future of the economy.

Should we allow this to continue? Any 'fool' would reply -- of course not. Then what we do? Recruit the promising ones as MD or CEO. He or she must have a job description (which will include business expansion, process re-engineering, people management, regulatory compliance and client satisfaction) with proper authority to select his team or 'night riders'. Board's job is to guide him and, to be more precise, support him/her in achieving the set or agreed objectives.

What the owners (if they do have any good intention or honest purpose left) need to do? Immediately review the existing norms of choosing the CEOs/MDs, let him or her work with proper empowerment. For the SCBs, the policy planners or the political masters need to do a real 'soul searching', whether a 'pro-poor' quality or 'political loyalty' is enough for an university professor or a civil servant to become the chairman of a large SCB or as such even Governor of the central bank in an increasingly private sector-led transition economy. I am sure; our martyrs didn't create a country that would only be exploited by vested interest or incapable people.

(Mamun Rashid is a banker and economic analyst. E-mail: mrashid1961@gmail.com)




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Mukto Mona plans for a Grand Darwin Day Celebration: 
Call For Articles:

http://mukto-mona.com/wordpress/?p=68

http://mukto-mona.com/banga_blog/?p=585

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"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
               -Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190




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Re: [mukto-mona] Let us not criticize religions, criticize religion-peddling



A fool usually finds others to be like him.

On Wed, Aug 29, 2012 at 12:04 AM, Shah Deeldar <shahdeeldar@yahoo.com> wrote:
 

We have discussed everything from Philosophy to Origin of life and I have not seen any cogent argument from you except your more of God and religiosity. I find it is odd you questioning other people' expertise?

-SD

 
"All great truths begin as blasphemies." GBS

Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 6:42 AM

Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Let us not criticize religions, criticize religion-peddling

 
Well I was responding to member Roy and Member Bain was responding to the post as if I was talking to him.

You are welcome to participate or NOT participate in a forum that is "Public".

It is quite possible you are good at what you do. However the topic we discuss here is probably not your "Area of expertise".

Shalom!


-----Original Message-----
From: Sukhamaya Bain <subain1@yahoo.com>
To: mukto-mona <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tue, Aug 28, 2012 8:35 am
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Let us not criticize religions, criticize religion-peddling

 

I am going to ignore most of what QAR wrote below.
 
Let me just make one point. Dr. Jiten Roy and Dr. Sukhamaya Bain are personally known to quite a few contributors of this forum. QAR can search the internet for the two names; it would not be difficult to find out what these two gentlemen do in their professional life. I have been calling this fellow Q. A. Rahman, and he never objected; but I have no clue as to what Q and A stand for; nor do I have any idea about his professional life. I do not think searching for Q, A and R would give me any idea. And I do not really care about his personal life. But the point is, before making a foolish statement like 'Not sure if member Bain and Roy are the same person or not' in a public forum, people should put some minimum effort to find out.
 
In any case, I know that debating with people like QAR and Farida Majid is a wastage of time; and I do some of it when I have some time to kill.
 
Sukhamaya Bain
 
========================================
From: qar <qrahman@netscape.net>
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, August 27, 2012 2:43 PM
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Let us not criticize religions, criticize religion-peddling
 
Not sure if member Bain and Roy are the same person or not.

Anyway, Lets take a stab at it...

Talking about the Japanese violence in WW-2, it was in spite of their religion, not because of it. That is not the same as in many other places, where hatred and violence are because of religions, not in spite of them.


>>>>>>>>>> Statements were made (By another person and you decided to "Answer") that, some other faiths are not seen as violent. Consistently a relation with violence and religion is drawn. NOW when I have shown people from other faiths are fully capable (Or not faith!) of destroying others, now I see this "Back tracking effort". (If you are another person trying to speak behalf of member Roy) PLEASE read the comments and understand the context FIRST. This was given as an "EXAMPLE" to poke at a flawed assumption floated earlier.

It is not surprising that people like Mr. Rahman would avoid talking about how following of religions is contributing to the uncontrolled population growth in many parts of our subcontinent, including Bangladesh and Assam. Uncontrolled growth in population is a factor for discontent in our subcontinent, irrespective of what religious group is in the minority in what specific region.

>>>>>>>>>>>> Fast growing population can be a social issue BUT it is not the major factor behind violence. Lack of law and order, lack of leadership is the main reason behind ethnic violence. Lack of political will in India has taken a toll on it's population. It pitted fellow citizens against one other over false choices.

Bangladesh do have a population issue BUT it is not "THE ISSUE" for us. Our political and judicial structure fast becoming the major concern for people in and out of Bangladesh. Tons of companies are lining up to invest here but our lack of infrastructure and lack of political will is stopping them. It is interesting to note that, these world class manufacturers are lining up to invest in Bangladesh because we have enough head counts to support these projects. So if we had shortage of labor, they would have treated us that same way Ujbekistan is treated. NO SHOW!!

Population management should be our concern beside population control. 


Even where there is no minority-majority issue, too many people is a problem. For example, recently a survey found Dhaka to be the most unlivable big city in the world. It is unlivable to all people irrespective of religions.
>>>>>>>>>> It is interesting to note, Kolkata is also an overpopulated city but people in it actually follow the laws. Laws are enforced regularly. They had leaders who had long term vision to improve the city and they made significant progress in improving kolkata.

On the other hand, Dhaka remained a target for politicians to make money out of the city. But few care to make significant improvement to the city. Population surely is a problem and I have no reason to avoid it!!

Shalom!


-----Original Message----- From: Sukhamaya Bain <subain1@yahoo.com> To: mukto-mona <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Sun, Aug 26, 2012 8:31 am Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Let us not criticize religions, criticize religion-peddling
 
All value judgments are opinions, and it goes without saying. What is the reason for saying it? Trying to disparage the judgment? I am not bothered by that. I am sure, when a brainwashed religious person calls my judgment 'your opinion', it does not lessen the value of my judgment to rational people who have a sense of judging as opposed to blindly believing.
 
I have tried to avoid specifying any religion for criticism, and used the term "God-fearing religions." However, Mr. Rahman wants to talk about his religion. So let me be a little bit of specific here. Based upon my unbiased reading of Islam, I think I have better things to do than spending more time studying or understanding the status of women in that religion.
 
Talking about the Japanese violence in WW-2, it was in spite of their religion, not because of it. That is not the same as in many other places, where hatred and violence are because of religions, not in spite of them.
 
It is not surprising that people like Mr. Rahman would avoid talking about how following of religions is contributing to the uncontrolled population growth in many parts of our subcontinent, including Bangladesh and Assam. Uncontrolled growth in population is a factor for discontent in our subcontinent, irrespective of what religious group is in the minority in what specific region.
 
In Assam as well as in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, for example, the uncontrolled growth of Bangalees and their encroachments of tribal territories are causing problems. The difference between Assam and the CHT is that in the latter the encroachers have the backing of a powerful government, which is lacking in the former.
 
Even where there is no minority-majority issue, too many people is a problem. For example, recently a survey found Dhaka to be the most unlivable big city in the world. It is unlivable to all people irrespective of religions.
 
The bottom line is, the population growth needs to be controlled, following religion or not.
 
Sukhamaya Bain
 
==============================================
From: qar <qrahman@netscape.net>
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2012 2:52 PM
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Let us not criticize religions, criticize religion-peddling
 
when Prophet was engaged in many wars. In a war, innocent people get killed. There is no denying about it. Then I realize that - devils are in the details of the term "Innocent Person." Who are those innocent persons? I can exclude almost everyone from that category. Therefore, this verse bears very little significance to me.

>>>>>>>>>> The last messenger of Allah (PBUH) did engage in many wars. However, he worked very hard to avoid any conflicts for first thirteen years since he received revelation from God. When people of Mecca still wanted to kill him, he preferred peace and moved out of Mecca. He relocated to the city of Medina (The then Yathrib) to avoid any bloodshed. When people of Mecca wanted to attack the city of Medina, he fought to defend the city and people who lived in it. Out of 23 recorded conflicts/wars he took part, in most cases (22 times) his people were attacked. In one case when some leaders of Mecca wanted to sell properties of Muslims in that city, he decided to intercept and protect their properties.

Now during out times, when Pakistani army killed thousands of people during 26th March, some brave Bengalis decided to fight back ( It is a right given by God to all humanity). What you are doing here is showing how little you know about history (Albeit I have given very detailed explanations with solid references).

I don't mind criticism but if you want to form an opinion about something, you ought to invest some time to know about the topic. What you have done here is blaming our freedom fighters to "Killing" Pakistani army during 1971. With all due respect, it is very ignorant and absurd opinion of the topic.


the no God-fearing religion, Buddhism, looks superior to the God-fearing ones.

>>>>>>> Thanks for sharing your "Opinions". However facts on ground (Burma/Myanmar) says, they (Buddhism) are equally capable of persecuting innocent people. So maybe your opinions about religion needs to be re-examined by you!!

Also Japanese violence during the second world war is well documented. Ask any Koreans and they will tell you plenty more about Japanese "Contribution" for Koreans during the same time. So one more time, it seems like it is a mere personal opinion which is not supported by facts on ground!!


In an attempt to educate people like Mr. Rahman, let me note that most God-fearing and 'complete code' religions have been unjust to women.

>>>>>>>>>>> While I disagree with your "Opinions", I can see where you are coming from and at least this opinion have some relevance with reality.

Now if you do some research, you will see India (With around 85% Hindu population) aborts more "girl infants/fetus" than any nation around the globe. This is no less than mass murder being committed and tolerated by Indians every day!!

Still I don't blame Hinduism for it. It is greedy people who thinks status of girl is less than a man decides fates of these souls. Reality says, these people (Most of the time) are NOT driven by religion but their greed.

Similarly, status of women in Islam is a vast subject. I encourage you to study it BEFORE you pass your "Opinion" about this often misunderstood topic. In the spirit of fairness, I agree with you that, many ignorant/greedy Muslims do abuse women. It is NOT restricted to Muslims only but a global problem covering people of all faiths and no faiths. 

Lastly,
thank you for your kind offer to "Educate" me. I am always up for knowledge. However in this case, maybe you ought invest some time to educate yourself on the topic to "UNDERSTAND" Islamic point of view.

Also note, women probably enjoy more freedom in the western countries. Still most of the new reverts/converts to Islam are women. Maybe you should ask some of them about it and appreciate their "Freedom" to pick a religion. :-)

, I have no doubt that lack of birth control is a factor there.


>>>>>>>> Really? Birth control was the issue? Not hate mongering, fear mongering or law and order issue?

I just want to know how to you expect us (The common people ) to reconcile that facts that, you care deeply about minority oppression in Bangladesh and blame birth control for minority oppressions in India? Is is a moral or rational stand? I leave it out to reads of this forum........


Any idea, Mr. Rahman, how the religious beliefs are exacerbating/relieving this problem?

>>>>>>>>>> What's next? You are going to blame corruption of current administration on Islam??  
;-)


May knowledge, logic, fairness, justice guide you.

Shalom!!

-----Original Message----- From: Sukhamaya Bain <subain1@yahoo.com> To: mukto-mona <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Tue, Aug 21, 2012 5:37 am Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Let us not criticize religions, criticize religion-peddling
 
(Re-sent with minor changes)
 
I would like to talk about religions in generalized terms, even when I do recognize that all religions are not the same. Specifically, to me, the no God-fearing religion, Buddhism, looks superior to the God-fearing ones.
 
Of course, it gets harder to talk in generalized terms when someone keeps bringing up his own religion. Since I do not want to criticize/praise any particular aspect of any particular religion, let me try to maintain the generality.
 
Killing is not the only way to do injustice to innocent people. Of course, my message was, "under the cover of divinity and unquestionability of religions, criminal people have been making life miserable for too many innocent people." While killing is arguably the most serious form of injustice, life of the killed cannot be miserable after that!!
 
In an attempt to educate people like Mr. Rahman, let me note that most God-fearing and 'complete code' religions have been unjust to women. Most God-fearing religions are also unjust to people who look at God with different belief systems and with no belief. These are just two examples; and I would let Mr. Rahman count how many people are affected by these two only.
 
Talking about the Assam problem, I have no doubt that lack of birth control is a factor there. Bangladesh has too many people also; and the government has a valid reason to discourage the Rohingya people to settle there. In fact, if we look at the population growth problem in Dhaka and in Bangladesh overall, it is like a huge bomb on a timer. Any idea, Mr. Rahman, how the religious beliefs are exacerbating/relieving this problem?
 
Sukhamaya Bain
=================================================
From: Jiten Roy <jnrsr53@yahoo.com>
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2012 4:12 PM
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Let us not criticize religions, criticize religion-peddling
 
When I heard the verse "Islam clearly said, if an innocent person is killed, it is like killing of all humanity ( Source: Al Qurán 5:32)" for the first time, I had the same reaction as Dr. Das. I was wondering how this verse could make sense, when Prophet was engaged in many wars. In a war, innocent people get killed. There is no denying about it. Then I realize that - devils are in the details of the term "Innocent Person." Who are those innocent persons? I can exclude almost everyone from that category. Therefore, this verse bears very little significance to me.

Jiten Roy

=============================================================
--- On Sun, 8/19/12, Kamal Das <kamalctgu@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Kamal Das <kamalctgu@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Let us not criticize religions, criticize religion-peddling
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, August 19, 2012, 8:17 AM

 
"Islam clearly said, if an innocent person is killed, it is like killing of all humanity ( Source: Al Qurán 5:32)". Yet, it killed three of the rightly guided Caliphs and poisoned the first one. It decimated the Egyptians, Mesopotamians and the Persians during the reign of the second Caliph.
=============================================
On Sun, Aug 19, 2012 at 7:11 AM, qar <qrahman@netscape.net> wrote:
This post shows how hard it is to make a point when someone already made up their minds about a topic. For example, Islam clearly said, if an innocent person is killed, it is like killing of all humanity ( Source: Al Qurán 5:32 ). What more one person needs to attacking innocent people? Today we look at Assam and see targeted killings of minority population, because they are "Bengalis" and Muslims. If we take a dispassionate view of our history, we see a lot of conflicts without religion involved. As I said it before, religion, nationalism, tribalism, ideologies have been "abused" to gain POLITICAL goals. It is easy to point finger at religion but religion is not a one liner book. It is a complete code of life. Since every communities of this world have bad and good people, some verses discuss those issuies. But those turn good people into bad people (leaders) are the real criminals not religion. If I remove all criminal laws from the books of Bangladesh, it will not remove crime from this country. People have to change their thinking, attitudes etc to make that happen. Religion is an exceotionally good tool to make that transformation happen. There are plenty of secular criminals who also commit crime with different excuses. Often religion is only an exuse not the cause. There are reports from criminal land grabbers who snaches away lands from weak and poor people and build mosque on it. Religion does NOT support such acts but half literate people often don't know that and they are duped into the scam like many others scams coming out of Bangladesh in recent years. Many religious people are like many atheists I met here. They made up their minds and find silliest excuses to support their flawed ideas. Also some are very open and honest like any other group of people. A book with nice texts do not have any magic in it to change people. People have to make an effort to understand religion and practice it. While there are many bad people among religious groups, there are tons of great people in them too. Who sacrifice a lot to make an honest living, be kind to their neighbors, help poor people etc. Selective picking cannot give us the total picture. Shalom!
========================================
-----Original Message----- From: Sukhamaya Bain <subain1@yahoo.com> To: mukto-mona <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thu, Aug 16, 2012 5:41 pm Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Let us not criticize religions, criticize religion-peddling
When Q. A. Rahman writes, "I think sometime religion looks "Bad" because we "Selectively" follow some ideas and don't follow others", I hope he realizes that while a brainwashed religious person might call it "looking bad", an honest, neutral and non-malicious person would probably call it "actually bad." For this, the religious person would have the burden of explaining that what looks bad is actually not bad, as opposed to branding the neutral person anti-religious. The way I see it, a lot of the religious books have too many 'teachings' that would not fly with truly honest and intelligent people.
In fact, spending too much time on finding contexts and explaining to neutral non-religious people is not a big problem, even when the neutral persons have no patience hearing the explanation.
The overwhelmingly big problem is when a bad teaching is followed by some people for doing bad things in the world under the cover of divinity and unquestionability. This has been making life so miserable for so many innocent people in the world.
I do not agree totally with Mr. Rahman's statement. I think religious people should follow selectively only the good teachings in religious books, and dump the bad teachings, without feeling guilty of not following the religion in its entirety.
 
Sukhamaya Bain
==================================================
From: Jiten Roy <jnrsr53@yahoo.com>
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2012 7:27 PM
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Condemning Mumbai Violence
I agree mostly.
Religion is like a jungle; one can find delicious as well poisonous fruits there. The problem is - there is no guarantee that everyone will always pick the delicious fruits. This is what's going on with the religion. Some people are picking poisonous fruits either advertently or inadvertently. The deliberate use of poisonous fruits (of religion) is causing havoc around the world, and it is not decreasing; it's being used increasingly to settle religious group rivalries across religious boundaries or even within the same religious boundary.
I am convinced that – most of the evils that are happening around the world are somehow or other due to the religious divisions among us, irrespective of how good religious principles are. It's because – where there is division, there is competition and rivalry. This is one of our instinctive characteristics. You may keep it dormant for a while through proper education and training, but can't eliminate it. I criticize religion for its very existence in this day and age, not because it has nothing good to offer anymore.
After the scientific renaissance, science took over our lives and religion lost its utility. Morality in our lives comes from societal demands and environment. The populace in Bangladesh is devoutly religious, yet Bangladesh is one of the most corrupt countries in the world.
Jiten Roy
--- On Tue, 8/14/12, qar <qrahman@netscape.net> wrote:

From: qar <qrahman@netscape.net>
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Condemning Mumbai Violence
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, August 14, 2012, 10:03 AM

Some people are just reacting to what religion is feeding to them. Obviously, not everybody will react to the same extent, but - some will. Don't blame them for reacting.


>>>>>>>>>> I think sometime religion looks "Bad" because we "Selectively" follow some ideas and don't follow others. For example, Bangladeshi Muslims are pretty big on "Showing" they are Muslims, when it benefits them. However you check on most of them if they paid, obligatory charity (Zakat) or made sacrifices to make an honest living (Halal income), you will see plenty of hypocrites.

I have seen plenty of Muslims, foaming their mouth about their "Rights" but not so eager to worry about their "Responsibilities". Which is the very reason why "Religion" looks bad to many of us (Muslims and non-Muslims alike). When I look back to teachings of prophet Muhammad (PBUH), he was more worried about his responsibilities and often "forgave" others when it came to his rights over them (Muslims and non-Muslim alike). Most Muslims don't follow it and those who do, they don't make headlines.

This is the "Root cause" of problems we see when it comes to religion. So in one word, we are greedy and often we prefer money/power over God.

Shalom!


-----Original Message----- From: Jiten Roy <jnrsr53@yahoo.com> To: mukto-mona <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Sun, Aug 12, 2012 9:56 pm Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Condemning Mumbai Violence

Most religious people are either unwise or fake. They are unwise because they can't visualize the evil done on earth by what religion. All they need to do is - look around the world with open eyes and minds, but – they can't.
I know – people will still say – religion is not to blame; it's the people, the so called misguided religious fundamentalists, to blame. That's hogwash; I don't blame anybody, but religion, for this. Some people are just reacting to what religion is feeding to them. Obviously, not everybody will react to the same extent, but - some will. Don't blame them for reacting.
So, please - no more blame, excuses, and double talks; try to analyze the root cause, if you can, and try to expose all evils of religion on humanity. Also, please don't tell me that some big-shot said - religion is the 'shuva-sanskar,' on earth, because I have seen enough of those shuvo-sanskars by now already. Don't show me anymore.
Jiten Roy





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Re: [mukto-mona] - India: Sisters Beaten for Converting to Islam



Who is on high horse?  The one always bleating like a camel?  You must be joking!

On Wed, Aug 29, 2012 at 6:09 AM, Shah Deeldar <shahdeeldar@yahoo.com> wrote:
 

Maybe, you should check out what Muslims do to their own brothers and sisters when they abandon their religion? They get killed or stoned! Get off your high horse, bro!
-SD

 
"All great truths begin as blasphemies." GBS

From: qar <qrahman@netscape.net>
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 3:22 PM
Subject: [mukto-mona] - India: Sisters Beaten for Converting to Islam

 
Thanks God for Indian press. The real situation of "Secular India" where people are NOT free to pick a religion of their choice.


Shalom!



 
 

 
 

India: Sisters Beaten for Converting to Islam

 
Vinita Shaw and her sister both say they were beaten by neighbors for converting from Hinduism to Islam, and here I was thinking that it was only Muslims who had issues with those of their (former) co-religionists who leave the faith!
Vinita Shaw and her sister both say they were beaten by neighbors for converting from Hinduism to Islam, and here I was thinking that it was only Muslims who had issues with those of their (former) co-religionists who leave the faith!
What if they were Muslim?:

Sisters beaten up for converting to Islam

by Arshad Ali (Indian Express)
A south Kolkata girl, who has converted from Hinduism to Islam, and her sister who is also keen to convert, were beaten up allegedly by the associates of the local councillor. The girls have also alleged police inaction.
Vinita Shaw, 25, a resident of 57/2B Bondel Road, adopted Islam in December last year. Her new name, vide an affidavit by a first class magistrate is, Taiba Khatoon (The Indian Express possesses a copy of the affidavit). Her sister, 18-year-old Pooja Shaw, too, expressed her wish to follow suit last week.
The conversion apparently did not go down too well with their neighbours, who, on June 8, beat up the two sisters and their family, including her mother and brother, with bricks and rods.
"We are a very poor family. My father is paralytic and bed-ridden. These people started a fight on the pretext that we dirty the place too much. But when they started beating us, they said unmentionable things as I have converted," said Vinita. She also alleged that both sisters were abused and molested.
Vinita also claimed harassment at the hands of the police."I went to the police station with a written complaint against Asim Bera, Tapas Bera, Abhishek Malakar, Krishna Ray, Akash Ray, Manoj Singh, Bikas Singh and Birju Paswan but investigating officer D D Roy Chowdhury tore it up and wrote it himself. He even refused to give me a copy of the complaint and when I insisted, he asked the other officer there to give it to me, referring to me with unmentionable names," she said.
 
  

     
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 





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Re: [mukto-mona] FW: "Bringing Bangladeshi Angle to Assamese Ethnic Conflict is Disservice to the Nation"



Putting 'Bismillah' in the constitution or 'In God we trust' on the greenback generates from the same kind of stupidity.  If anything it does, it demeans God almighty, and projects Allah as the defender of the constitution and God as the defender of the dollar.  In course of four decades, fifteen amendments were done to our constitution, and dollar has lost ninety eight percent of it's worth.

On Tue, Aug 28, 2012 at 11:54 PM, Shah Deeldar <shahdeeldar@yahoo.com> wrote:
 

Even Silicon valley Indians are not paying enough taxes for US government. Time to deport these creeps? Bangladesh should do the same, I suppose.
By the way, how many Bangladeshis really pay taxes? I am just curious. It seems like a pot calling kettles black.

-SD

PS. Indian constitution does not have an intimidating word Bismillah in its preamble and does not have law like enemy vested property. Wake up bro from your deep ignorance and idiocy!


 
"All great truths begin as blasphemies." GBS

From: qar <qrahman@netscape.net>
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 6:36 AM

Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] FW: "Bringing Bangladeshi Angle to Assamese Ethnic Conflict is Disservice to the Nation"

 
That is very true, they are brought in legally.

>>>>>>>> Most Indians working in BD are not legal. They don't pay taxes either. There were some articles published in few newspapers on this topic. I would be happier if these Indians pay taxes on the money they earn in BD but it is not a major concern for me.

This aspect is not hurting ether countries in any significant ways but Indian communal politicians are targeting "Bangladeshis" for one reason only. They happen to be Muslims!!

Which shows India has a lots of "Area of opportunities" to improve religious tolerance and establish human rights for all people.


Shalom!


-----Original Message-----
From: Kamal Das <kamalctgu@gmail.com>
To: mukto-mona <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tue, Aug 28, 2012 8:35 am
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] FW: "Bringing Bangladeshi Angle to Assamese Ethnic Conflict is Disservice to the Nation"

 
"There are significant numbers of Indians do make a living here. Specially in textile mills and other technical jobs in our industrial complexes."  That is very true, they are brought in legally.  It indeed takes low lives to ignite communal riot. But then, low lives carry their religious identity, and believe that solving all problems is possible by prescription given hundreds of years ago, i.e., kill the opposition.

On Tue, Aug 28, 2012 at 12:53 AM, qar <qrahman@netscape.net> wrote:
 

Look, Mr. Chakrabarty; I had been listening to the language of the indigenous people of Assam for last forty seven years, it is quite distinct from that of those of Noakhali.

>>>>>>>>>>> I hear a lot of "West Bengal" accent in Dhaka all the time. Still I don't worry about loads of Indians working in our cities. There are significant numbers of Indians do make a living here. Specially in textile mills and other technical jobs in our industrial complexes.

It takes a low life to make political issues out of it.

Shalom!



-----Original Message-----
From: Kamal Das <kamalctgu@gmail.com>
To: mukto-mona <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Mon, Aug 27, 2012 7:48 am
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] FW: "Bringing Bangladeshi Angle to Assamese Ethnic Conflict is Disservice to the Nation"

 
Look, Mr. Chakrabarty; I had been listening to the language of the indigenous people of Assam for last forty seven years, it is quite distinct from that of those of Noakhali.

On Mon, Aug 27, 2012 at 6:35 AM, subimal chakrabarty <subimal@yahoo.com> wrote:
 
So far we have seen several articles on Assam crisis in this very forum. All of them point to the same general observation that Muslim issue in Assam is a cooked one. One may however may not believe this as he may think that all these articles have been written by the pseudo-seculars and Muslim appeasers. I was in a Guawa hotel in mid-eighties. One hotel attendant asked me, "Chaaa dimu?" To me it sounded like a Bangladeshi accent, but it was not. During 1971 occupation time we used to listen to Guawahati radio station for news. We used to be amused by a line from the newscaster: Sri Tajuddiney koy or koichhey. My point is that for historical reasons, Assamese accent in some areas are pretty to Bengali accent in some of the areas in Bangladesh.
 

From: Jiten Roy <jnrsr53@yahoo.com>
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, August 26, 2012 5:10 PM

Subject: RE: [mukto-mona] FW: "Bringing Bangladeshi Angle to Assamese Ethnic Conflict is Disservice to the Nation"
 
Farida Majid: "Whether you like it or not, and you and the mukto-mona smart alecs may not have noticed it, the world has moved on from the early 19th century English  Protestant priest's fear -- The Malthus catastrophe. Any one who talks about the Malthusian principle is laughed at."

What is she talking about? Utter ignorance.

Malthusian Theory is always valid. Production can never grow at a geometric progression forever, but population can. Yes, population burden can be lessened through economic development and growth in the country up to a point, but - that cannot compete with the ever growing population forever. When the economic growth in the country cannot handle the population burden, demographic invasion/migration to neighboring countries starts to occur. Such demographic invasion/migration from Bangladesh is occurring in India now, and creating havoc there.  Recent carnages in Assam, West Bengal, Mumbai, etc. bear the hallmark of such demographic invasion/migration from Bangladesh, as indicated by Kamal Das.  Yet, some people are still supporting such population growth merely for the sake of the growth of Ummah, and trying to put lipstick on the pig, as Farida Majid just did.

Jiten Roy


--- On Sun, 8/26/12, Farida Majid <farida_majid@hotmail.com> wrote:

From: Farida Majid <farida_majid@hotmail.com>
Subject: RE: [mukto-mona] FW: "Bringing Bangladeshi Angle to Assamese Ethnic Conflict is Disservice to the Nation"
To: "mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com" <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
Cc: "Deeldar Shah" <shahdeeldar@yahoo.com>
Date: Sunday, August 26, 2012, 4:38 PM

 
       Whether you like it or not, and you and the mukto-mona smart alecs may not have noticed it, the world has moved on from the early 19th century English  Protestant priest's fear -- The Malthus catastrophe. Any one who talks about the Malthusian principle is laughed at.  Why are you babbling about Muslims in the same manner as Mohish Mohiuddin and, on the flip side, the Hindu communalists of Sangh Parivar and Bangladesh?             It has been hard to rock the secular foundation of Bengal (Bangladesh) and we all know what painful, terrifying, murderous attempts there have been made to do so in the past 75 years or so. I lose heart sometimes. The Jamaat-shibir-razakar gang and their Baap-chacha -- KSA & Uncle Sam-- keep putting on the crunches.  Bangladesh is increasingly an important South Asian country.  Our human resources are our greatest strength.  Again-- times don't stand still, and values, even in economic calculations, undergo changes.                   Farida Majid
Date: Sun, 26 Aug 2012 13:00:47 -0700From: shahdeeldar@yahoo.comSubject: Re: [mukto-mona] FW: "Bringing Bangladeshi Angle to Assamese Ethnic Conflict is Disservice to the Nation"To: farida_majid@hotmail.com; mukto-mona@yahoogroups.comCC: kamalctgu@gmail.com
Well, well, you might not like his straight talk but he is not totally wrong. We are now more 160 millions and still breeding with a very fast rate with the hope that Allah will take care of us.  Obviously, the almighty does not care about our population growth or whether we should be forced to head for other countries in the future? The space is very limited in Bangladesh and there is already a spill over effect on surrounding countries whether you believe or not. No country would like to be overwhelmed by another fast growing population group with no intention to integrate but fight for a greater Ummah. These are legitimate fears whether you like or not. Muslims have failed to take care of its own problems. It is the quality that is needed not the quantity!-SD

 
"All great truths begin as blasphemies." GBS
From: Farida Majid <farida_majid@hotmail.com>
To: "mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com" <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, August 26, 2012 2:34 PM
Subject: RE: [mukto-mona] FW: "Bringing Bangladeshi Angle to Assamese Ethnic Conflict is Disservice to the Nation"
  Does this man Kamal Das have no other hobby than bashing Islam, bad-mouthing Muslims of Bangladesh and dispensing unsolicited,incoherent wisdom like disjointed dark-colored globules of shit (otherwise known as chhagoler naadi)?
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.comFrom: kamalctgu@gmail.comDate: Sun, 26 Aug 2012 16:40:03 +0600Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] FW: "Bringing Bangladeshi Angle to Assamese Ethnic Conflict is Disservice to the Nation"  
A blind man is not expected to see anything.  The B. B. C. & CNN coverage on the episode had plenty of people speaking with Bangladeshi accent.
On Sat, Aug 25, 2012 at 11:28 PM, qar <qrahman@netscape.net> wrote:
 
I saw no trace of Bagladeshi offensive in the conflict, so systematically and vigorously orchestrated by BJP and VHP, led by L.K. Advani, Tarun Vijay and Praveen Togadia. They are playing with the lives of people and poisoning atmosphere for future. Bangladeshi is more of an abuse to humiliate Muslims who are native Indians. There may be a few percent Bangladeshis (as a Rajvanshi ex-serviceman in rural Kokrajhar put it at 10%), but even these, in all likelihood are labourers and labourers are no exploiters but an exploited lot.  They need to be treated with dignity. All countries have legal and illegal migrants.

>>>>>>>>>>> Exactly. At last some common sense!!

I have been to India but did not see large "Bangladeshi" population roaming around. I hear a lot about Bangladeshi shoppers who buys a lot of Indian goods and going for better treatment in India but don't think there are significant amount of Bangladeshi people that can cause social unrest.

Once of the problem is Muslims from West Bengal are treated like "Bangladeshi foreigners" in their own country. This is an Indian issue and Indian leadership need to address it properly.


Even if there are some insignificant number of "Illegals" in India, I don't think they are running out with a load of money in their pockets. We are talking India not Sweden!!
So treating every person with minimum dignity will bring India closer to her neighbors. Right now "Center" is hated by many Indians themselves and Indian policies are disliked by her neighbors. This is not how future super powers works. Maybe India can learn from China about foreign policies.
t 6 AM on August 5 I left for Kashipara and from there to Kokrajhar. I visted the Commerce College Bodo camp. People treated me with warmth and showed appreciation for peace efforts. At 12 noon I took Kamrup express to Guwahati.
>>>>>>>>> I am glad people are coming back their senses. Wish only peace and prosperity for these people. Hope politicians will not mislead these people any more. A peaceful, prosperous and stable India should be part of collective Bangladeshi wishes as well.

Shalom!

-----Original Message----- From: Farida Majid <farida_majid@hotmail.com> Sent: Fri, Aug 10, 2012 5:27 am Subject: [mukto-mona] FW: "Bringing Bangladeshi Angle to Assamese Ethnic Conflict is Disservice to the Nation"
 
From: sukla.sen@gmail.com Date: Thu, 9 Aug 2012 16:11:01 +0530 Subject: [india-unity] "Bringing Bangladeshi Angle to Assamese Ethnic Conflict is Disservice to the Nation"  
Bringing Bangladeshi Angle to Assamese Ethnic Conflict is
Disservice to the Nation
V.K. Tripathi, IIT Delhi
           The ethnic violence between Bodos and Muslims in Bodo territorial region of Assam is a national calamity. It has taken a toll of 65 innocent lives (besides the scores of people missing) and rendered 4 lakh homeless. The first priority of sane polity and responsible government is to restore the trust between the warring groups, Bodos and Muslims, without the slightest of ill will against any of the communities and isolate miscreants from the masses. Muslims are poorer, have lost more lives and fled in larger numbers (up to 80%) but Bodos are no economic elite. The creation of Bodo Territorial Council (covering 4 districts – Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baxa and Udalguri) by the Center in 2003, has given a section of them an upper hand but masses of both the communities are in hardships. 
            I spent three days (August 3 to 5) in the area, visited relief camps – 2 Bodo camps in Kokrajhar (with 560 and 1500 people) , 1 Muslim camp in Kashipara (960 people), 1 Muslim camp in Dhubri (360 people) and 3 Muslim camps in Bilasipara (2000, 2500 and 3500 people), visited a Muslim village Bhadyagudi, a mixed Bodo-Muslim village Bhatipara and met a cross-section of people. I also met Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Kokrajhar Mr.  Jayant Narlikar, DC of Dhubri Mr. Kumud Kalita and Principal, Vice Principal and Librarian of Bhola Nath College, Dhubri.
            I saw no trace of Bagladeshi offensive in the conflict, so systematically and vigorously orchestrated by BJP and VHP, led by L.K. Advani, Tarun Vijay and Praveen Togadia. They are playing with the lives of people and poisoning atmosphere for future. Bangladeshi is more of an abuse to humiliate Muslims who are native Indians. There may be a few percent Bangladeshis (as a Rajvanshi ex-serviceman in rural Kokrajhar put it at 10%), but even these, in all likelihood are labourers and labourers are no exploiters but an exploited lot.  They need to be treated with dignity. All countries have legal and illegal migrants. USA has a very significant percentage of illegal Mexicans. But who engages them and benefits from their hard work?"- the business class, for cheap labour. USA is immensely more powerful than us but it could not force the Mexicans out. India has limited resources and can't afford to sustain work force from neighbouring countries, hence legal ways, commensurate with workers' dignity, must be employed to identify and deport them and to stop their migration (if at all there is any loop hole). As far as the language of Muslims in the area is concerned, there is strong historical reason for it.  Kokrajhar district borders with West Bengal and Dhubri with Bangladesh. 100-150 years ago British tea planters brought labourers from Bengal where Muslims were a predominant landless work force. Thus they speak Bengali. One more observation. In 1971 India welcomed lakhs of Hindu-Muslim refugees as a part of strategy on Bangladesh. Many of them overstayed.
            The current conflict developed as a chain event. Miscreants killed two Muslims on July 6. On July 19, a prominent Muslim suffered bullet injuries and a mob killed 4 Bodos, Subsequently sporadic killings of Muslims and display of fire power by Bodo elements, created a frightening atmosphere, forcing people to flee their homes. In Muslim dominated areas Bodos were made to flee. Once people fled, many of their homes were looted and put on fire.  Most camps, having over 2.5 lakh Muslim refugees, are located in Dhubri district.  This district with 80% Muslim population suffered no loss of life  Bodos from six villages had to flee to Kokrajhar.
            Bodo insurgents have carried a long drawn violent struggle for separate Bodoland. In 2003 Center created BTAD (Bodoland Territorial Autonomous Districts) giving substantial authority to Bodos (about 35 seats in the 40 member BTC Council). This created a wedge between them and other communities (Muslims, Santhals and Rajvanshis) who have a much larger share in population. Many insurgent groups surrendered their arms but some still have them.  Disarming them is a major responsibility of the state.
            All relief camps are facing severe hardships. The Muslim camps look even more dejected and worried, besides being poorer.  On August 5 as I was sitting with people in a camp in Bilasipara when Roja Aftar time arrived, I noted that they had only one bucket of dates and biscuit packets for aftaar for 2000 people. On behalf of Sadbhav Mission I offered them 1000 rupees to purchase additional dates. Same was the scene in another camp. At night often there is load shedding for several hours and these camps plunge into darkness besides exposing them to mosquito bite. People cook their own food from the ration (rice, pulses and oil) provided by the government and vegetables provided by local support or NGOs. In most places people of all the communities are coming forward to extend support. Despite heavy odds people are at peace. I wish they had a creative engagement. They could be given some training or exposure in relevant trades. Students can be given tutorial sessions, game sessions or could go for jogging.
            Mine was a short visit that began with my arrival in Guwahati at 7 AM. From the airport I took bus to train station. At 9:45 I took North East Express and got down at Kokrajhar at 1:20 PM. I walked through the city and then took a tempo to Kashipara (8 km away). I visited a Muslim camp and walked 3 km to visit two villages. At 8 PM I met the DC. By that time curfew had started hence I stayed in the circuit house in a awesome room for Rs. 130. Next morning (August 4) at 7 AM, I walked to Bodo camp Swrang M.E. High School. People were nice. Some got annoyed when I mentioned Nellie massacre. From there I took tempo, minibus and bus to reach Dhubri by 12 noon. I walked to a relief camp and talked to people for one hour. This interaction was heartening. From there I went to Bholanath college. At 3:15 PM I met the DC and then left for Bilasipara. During 5 to 8:15 PM I visited 3 camps. Then took shelter in ABI hotel (for Rs. 250). It gave me the feeling of hardships faced by camp people as there was no light and mosquitoes were in abundance.   
            At 6 AM on August 5 I left for Kashipara and from there to Kokrajhar. I visted the Commerce College Bodo camp. People treated me with warmth and showed appreciation for peace efforts. At 12 noon I took Kamrup express to Guwahati. After reaching there I called some friends and left for the airport en route to Delhi.                       
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: vipin tripathi <tripathivipin@yahoo.co.in> Date: Mon, Aug 6, 2012 at 1:17 AM
-- Peace Is Doable







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