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Wednesday, August 28, 2013

[mukto-mona] Who Killed Dabholkar? ISP V August 2013



 Who Killed Narendra Dabholkar?
Ram Puniyani
 
The brutal killing of Dr. Narendra Dabholkar (20th August 2013) is a big jolt to the social movement against blind faith and superstitions. During last few decades the tendency for promotion of rational thought parallel to social change came up as Popular Science movement. In Maharashtra it took shape in the form of a movement, Andh Shraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (Committee for Eradication of Blind faith), where it became a powerful campaign for popular awareness, under the leadership of Dr. Narendra Dabholkar. There were those who were uncomfortable due to Dr. Dabholkar's work against blind faith and superstitions and so he started getting threats to his life. Before his death he got several threats, one of which said, they will give him the same fate as that of Gandhi. After his killing Sanatan Prabhat, a Hindutva ideology paper, which constantly spew poison against him, commented that 'one gets what one deserves'.
 
The practitioners and supporters of blind faith surely know that their art is a hoax, were sure that their blind magic can't kill the pioneer of a rationalist movement, so they did hire assassins to kill Dabholkar. He was recipient of regular abuses from the Hindutva organization, Hindu Janjagruti Samiti, on their web posted claims that they have exposed anti Hindu conspiracy. In their publications they put across abuses for him in gay abandon, one of which read, 'Dabholkar's group" should permanently make their faces black for their misdeeds against Hindu religion."
 
As such Dabholakar was not against religion or faith. He strongly condemned the practices of blind faith and superstitions, promoted and practiced by Babas and their ilk, who proactively practiced and propagated retrograde practices.  Some of these practices like and Karni, Bhanamati are the ones' in which magical rites are performed in the name of supernatural power. Some other practices are like offering of ash, talisman, charms etc. for the purpose of exorcism and to drive out evil spirits or ghosts. These Godmen and their types claim to be in possession of supernatural powers and advertise this claim. Many a times they claim to be reincarnation of a particular Saint or God, and this way they cheat the gullible and God-fearing simple folks. They do perform so called black magic and spread fear in society. The act which Dabholkar was campaigning for, which the Government adopted after his assassination, makes such practices as an offence under this act. Just a reminder that when this act was first brought up for discussion BJP-Shiv Sean combine strongly opposed the same. He was critical of these irrational practices, and for this he was labeled to be anti Hindu. 
Apart from these upholders of politics in the name of Hindu religion other conservatives were also against the activities carried out by his organization. Faith is a complicated phenomenon, true it is needed by a section of society. Faith in supernatural power, faith in institution built around the names of prophets and individuals operating in the name of some religion or God have to some extent provided an emotional support to many in this cruel World with gross deprivations and inequalities. Recognizing this weakness of humans many a religio-entrepreneurs have systematically converted the faith into blind faith, a series of rituals, acts, which are deliberately used to exploit the gullible.
 
The battle between these two tendencies is old enough. Reason on one side and faith on the other. Reason believes in questioning the existing beliefs and to keep going beyond the prevalent knowledge. Faith, particularly the one constructed around the 'institutions of religion' begins with unquestioning subservience to the prevalent norms, beliefs and rituals. Many individuals who go in to establish their enterprises around these rituals, claim to be having divine powers. Incidentally, most of the founders of religions, the prophets, had questioning mind and they questioned the existing norms, values and practices. It is precisely for this that many of them were tormented and punished by the powers that ruled. The clergy, which built institutions around the names of these prophets or supernatural powers, developed rituals in the names of these prophets. The clergy and their practices were most static. Such tendency promotes status quo not only of knowledge but also of social situations and relations.  Clergy promoted the social status quo and so demanded unquestioning loyalty to their interpretation of religion and social norms as dictated by them.
 
There are many incidents in the history, where those who came up with rational thought were not only killed but sometimes harassed to no end. We know the fate of Charvak in India, who questioned the supernatural authorities of Vedas, he was condemned, and his writings were burnt. In Europe, Copernicus and Galileo's plight at the hand of clergy is another chapter, while the scientists like Bruno, Servatus who argued that diseases are due to Worldly reasons and not due to the wrath of God, were burnt alive by the machinations of clergy. The idea here was very simple, if people start understanding that the diseases are due to bacteria or other etiological factors, the earlier practices of pleasing God through the clergy for healing will come to a halt and clergy's social power will decline. 
 
In India as the secularization process, the land reforms plus reduction of the hold of clergy remained incomplete, the power of clergy in social field continued. Indian Constitution talks of promotion of scientific temper and people like Nehru kept promoting the inculcation of this scientific temper. Meanwhile the political tendencies operating in the name of religion, kept opposing scientific, rational thinking and kept uncritically glorifying the ancient past, ancient practices cultivated by the clergy to exploit the gullible society, society in the grip of uncertainty and deprivation.
 
India did witness the rational movements to promote the scientific temper, but its impact in the society remained marginal. With the rise of communal politics from the decade of 1980, the blind faith took a massive leap with hoards of Babas and acharyas, setting up their religious enterprises, enterprises which probably turned out to be most profitable by any standard. One hopes that the business schools are able to calculate the returns on the investments in such enterprises some day. In addition many such Babas extracted the additional bonus of physical pleasures of another kind, the way currently Asaram Bapu is being accused of and so many of them have had their fill. In a crass manner many of the small and high level players also incorporated magical tricks like producing ash and gold from nowhere as their trademark of divine powers. It is these tricks which were being exposed by Dabholkar's groups.
 
The practitioners of blind faith and these hoards of five-seven star babas, get their legitimacy and appreciation from leaders of different hues. While those coming from RSS stable are firmly with them at all the levels, even politicians from other tendencies also personally support and follow these tricksters, Babas, Godmen and their whole tribe. The communalists stand to support them ideologically the way Sanatan Sanstha, while abusing Dabholkar also talked of his work being 'anti Hindu'! A similar trickster, Benny Hynn did public performances for faith healing, and there is no dearth of the 'Baba Bangali' series indulging in such trade.
 
It took Dabholkar's sacrifice for Mahrashtra Government to pass and bill against blind faith for which Daholkar was struggling from decades. He had collected data that it is women who are the biggest victims of those practicing black magic. He had been talking of taking on the highly rewarding trade of gems and their magic powers, in due course. Alas, that was not to be! Will other state Governments follow suit and try to bring a control on the flourishing trade of blind faith, black magic and its ilk? Will the progressive social movement take up the cause of the major victims of these abominable practices and take the society forward to the path of rational thought, rational culture and rational politics, away from the trappings of the faith based blindness. While our 'scientific establishment' has made giant strides the scientific thinking still lags behind as science is being practiced mostly as an instrument and not as a way of life. That's how in many of science and technology institutions, on Dussera day, computers are worshipped with flowers and by putting vermillion on the forehead of the monitors! Can sacrifice of Dabholar wake up our policy makers to such a serious lacuna in our teaching and practice of science? We seem to have liked the benefits of technology and have been undermining the scientific way of thought and practice, more so after the politics-nationalism has started wearing the cloak of religion. 

--
ISP V August 2013

Response only to ram.puniyani@gmail.com


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[mukto-mona] FW: Syrian rebels used Sarin nerve gas, not Assad’s regime: U.N. official




 

Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2013 11:15:29 +0600
Subject: Syrian rebels used Sarin nerve gas, not Assad's regime: U.N. official
From: bdmailer@gmail.com
To:

Syrian rebels used Sarin nerve gas, not Assad's regime: U.N. official

Testimony from victims strongly suggests it was the rebels, not the Syrian government, that used Sarin nerve gas during a recent incident in the revolution-wracked nation, a senior U.N. diplomat said Monday.
Carla del Ponte, a member of the U.N. Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, told Swiss TV there were "strong, concrete suspicions but not yet incontrovertible proof," that rebels seeking to oust Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad had used the nerve agent.
Damascus has recently facing growing Western accusations that its forces used such weapons, which President Obama has described as crossing a red line. But Ms. del Ponte's remarks may serve to shift the focus of international concern.
Ms. del Ponte, who in 1999 was appointed to head the U.N. war crimes tribunals for Yugoslavia and Rwanda, has sometimes been a controversial figure. She was removed from her Rwanda post by the U.N. Security Council in 2003, but she continued as the chief prosecutor for the Yugoslav tribunal until 2008.
Ms. del Ponte, a former Swiss prosecutor and attorney general, told Swiss TV: "Our investigators have been in neighboring countries interviewing victims, doctors and field hospitals. According to their report of last week, which I have seen, there are strong, concrete suspicions but not yet incontrovertible proof of the use of sarin gas, from the way the victims were treated."
She gave no further details, the BBC said.
The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria was established in August 2011 to examine alleged violations of human rights in the Syrian conflict which started in March that yet.

It is due to issue its next report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in June.
Rebel Free Syrian Army spokesman Louay Almokdad denied that rebels had use chemical weapons.
"In any case, we don't have the mechanism to launch these kinds of weapons, which would need missiles that can carry chemical warheads, and we in the FSA do not possess these kind of capabilities," Mr. Almokdad told CNN.
"More importantly, we do not aspire to have (chemical weapons) because we view our battle with the regime as a battle for the establishment of a free democratic state. … We want to build a free democratic state that recognizes and abides by all international accords and agreements — and chemical and biological warfare is something forbidden legally and internationally."
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/may/6/syrian-rebels-used-sarin-nerve-gas-not-assads-regi/



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[mukto-mona] [Mukto-Mona Writers' Corner] TITLE

Mukto-Mona Writers' Corner has posted a new item, 'BANGLADESH: Dar al-Islam Vs
Dar al-Insaan'

A big proportion of educated Muslims in Bangladesh read Qur???an without knowing
the meaning and background of the verses. As true Muslims, they just believe
that Qur???an contains the words of Allah (which is the highest knowledge of the
world) and also includes science and miracle. They just believe whatever the
Alim tells them about [...]

You may view the latest post at
http://mukto-mona.com/wordpress/?p=2391

You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are
posted.
Best regards,
Mukto-Mona Writers' Corner
charbak_bd@yahoo.com



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[mukto-mona] FW: Zafar Iqbal's plagiarism: লেখাচুরি ?




 

Date: Tue, 27 Aug 2013 14:45:35 +0600
Subject: Zafar Iqbal's plagiarism: লেখাচুরি ?
From: bdmailer@gmail.com
To:

Zafar Iqbal's plagiarism: লেখাচুরি ?



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3a694flPXA

জাফর ইকবাল বিদেশী কাহিনীর অনুকরনে,ছায়া অবলম্বনে বই লিখে নিজের নামে চালিয়ে দেন।কিন্তু,বইয়ের কোথাও কৃতজ্ঞতা স্বীকার করেননা:

আসল- অ্যালিয়েন (১৯৭৯) :জাফর ইকবালের ট্রাইটন একটি গ্রহের নাম (১৯৮৮)

আসল- পিচ ব্ল্যাক (২০০০) : জাফর ইকবালের অবনীল (২০০৪)

আসল- ম্যাটিল্ডা (১৯৮৮, বই) (১৯৯৬, চলচ্চিত্র) : জাফর ইকবালের নিতু আর তার বন্ধুরা (১৯৯৯)

আসল- বেবি'জ ডে আউট (১৯৯৪) জাফর ইকবালের মেকু কাহিনী (২০০০)

আসল- আ চাইল্ড কলড "ইট" (১৯৯৫) : জাফর ইকবালের আমি তপু (২০০৫)

http://www.bdtoday.net/blog/blogdetail/detail/2510/nocoment/25861#.UhrqV38saSo


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Re: [mukto-mona] Fw: Minority repression has no ties to religion: Mozena



Mozena is an intruder.  He talks like the Governor General/Viceroy in Bangladesh.  In no other country he could be as audacious.  Religion is politics with God being invoked in to serve the wish of a politico-religious leader.  Their is no exception to it.  M. J. Akbar, the author of many fundamentalist leaning articles and "The Shade of Sword" is a fundamentalist at heart, is proud of Brahmin ancestry, and has little or no sense of history.  In his book, he seems to be proud of conversions brought about by the sword of Islam.  Elsewhere, if he calls it a myth, he is definitely contradicting himself. 


On Mon, Aug 26, 2013 at 2:49 AM, Subimal Chakrabarty <subimal@yahoo.com> wrote:
 

Mozena is generally right. There have been some exceptions (2002 mayhem on Hindus by BNP and 1990 one by JP). Looting and subsequent land grabbing in these two cases were the byproducts. Basic motive was communal. In former case Hindus were attacked only to punish them for not supporting BNP in election. In the latter case Ershad demonstrated in his own communalist way his protest on behalf of his actual and potential Muslim voters against the demolition of Babri Mosque. The recent attacks on Buddhist and Hindu temples were also basically communal in nature although looting was also involved in such cases. 2002 mayhem involved arson and rape also. Many Hindus were displaced a big fraction of which beyond the borders. 
I don't know if the issue of bringing to justice the criminals was discussed. If not, the discussion was incomplete. Two other important issues are rehabilitation and compensation. Were these discussed? 

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 24, 2013, at 1:54 PM, Jiten Roy <jnrsr53@yahoo.com> wrote:

 

Yes, economic incentive is there, but - those who take part in the repression, many of them are solely motivated by religious motives. These are religious persecutions. Also, religious conversion is a problem for minorities. There is a provision in Islam for reward for inducing conversion; young girls are mostly the victim of such repression. The family involved in this situation usually leaves the country quietly to avoid humiliation. Many families leave the country even before for fear of such possibility.

Jiten Roy

_________________________________________________________

Home > Bangladesh > Minority repression has no ties to religion: Mozena

Minority repression has no ties to religion: Mozena

Senior Correspondent,  bdnews24.com
Published: 2013-08-22 22:21:33.0 BdST Updated: 2013-08-22 22:21:52.0 BdST

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Violence against the religious minorities in Bangladesh is "seldom, if ever, about religion," the US Ambassador Dan Mozena has said.

Instead, he said on Thursday, those were about the pursuit of power and financial gains of the "cheap politicians and greedy land grabbers" who he said created and manipulated "friction in the guise of religion to their own benefit".

"These cheap politicians and greedy land grabbers are a threat to the nation".

Mozena was speaking at an inter-faith dialogue on religion for peace and tolerance.

He said the owner of the Rana Plaza that collapsed in April and killed more than 1100 people grabbed the land from a Hindu family.

"(The building) is now known around the world as a symbol of greed, corruption, and land grabbing from minorities".

He called upon all including the government to reject "these cheap politicians and land grabbers" who he said "seek to use religion to advance their self-serving agendas to acquire power and wealth".

Leaders of different religions including Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity, representatives of the Vatican embassy in Dhaka, academicians and students attended the dialogue.

The Ambassador recalled the destruction of Buddhist temples and monasteries in Ramu last September and attacks in February on Hindus in Noakhali, Comilla, Barisal, Satkhira, Gaibandha, Chapainawabganj and other places.

"Such attacks are not in character with the spirit of Bangladesh…a spirit of tolerance, moderation, acceptance…a spirit that reflects the Bangladeshi tradition of living in peace and harmony".

He said he knew of no nation like Bangladesh where the President hosts grand receptions to commemorate the great festivals of Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity.

Religious diversity was "truly the beauty and magic" of Bangladesh, he said, where attacks on religious minorities were "most jarring and disturbing".

The American envoy also cited his visits to different parts of the country with his wife and said their impression was that different religions lived "side by side in harmony for hundreds of years".

"Everywhere we go, we see that Bangladeshis of whatever religion have the same aspirations.

"They want simply to build better lives for themselves and their families".

Ambassador Mozena also called upon all religious leaders "to use your influence, your power of persuasion to foster and build the peace and harmony that all Bangladeshis seek".

Speaking at the dialogue, all religious leaders said there was no clash among religions if anyone properly followed the ideals.

Charge d'Affaires of Holy See of Vatican Embassy Massimo Catterin said practising religious increases respect and peace of human beings.

"The problem is our perception of religions and the way of interpreting religions".





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Re: [mukto-mona] The story of electricity - By Professor Jim Al-Khalili




 Yes, it is indeed those giants who gave us everything we enjoy in our daily lives; yet, we never think about them; instead, we think - we have accomplished all by ourselves.Some misguided people think that religious bonds are more important than anything else. They never realize that – most of the amenities in life, they enjoy, came from people with other religious backgrounds.

The fact is - we are all dependent on one another. Our dependencies transcend national, religious, and racial boundaries. For example, I received the highest educational degree possible, yet, I can't fix my clogged sewer line, and I need help of a barely educated plumber from a strange land. 

How often do we think about these simple facts? Not, often enough. If we did, human race would have been better off today.
 
I believe - we take all these missteps due to our own ill education and social upbringing.
 
Regards,
 
Jiten Roy



From: Abul Azad <azad973@gmail.com>
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, August 25, 2013 7:42 PM
Subject: [mukto-mona] The story of electricity - By Professor Jim Al-Khalili

 
Our entire advancement and civilization are the product of inventions/discoveries of thousands of known and unknown "Giants".  From the invention of   'FIRST TOOL MAKING' ( from bones of animals > stones >Irons)  to control of FIRES!  From the  DOMESTICATION of animals  to Invention of AGRICULTURE!  From the invention of  STEAM ENGINE to conquer of SPACE and OCEANS!  From the understanding and control of  ELECTRICITY, MAGNETISM, ATOMS and SUB-ATOMIC particles - all, everything!  Today, all aspect of our life are dependent on the oceans of scientific inventions/discoveries of those 'Giants'!  They were/are extra ordinary people! 
We are all standing on their shoulders,  we owe to them!
-------------------------

Episode 1 : Spark:  "Episode one tells the story of the very first 'natural philosophers' who started to unlock the mysteries of electricity. This is the story about what happened when the first real concerted effort was made to understand electricity; how we learned to create and store it, before finally creating something that enabled us to make it at will - the battery."

Episode 2 : -The Age of Invention :  "Just under 200 years ago scientists discovered something profound, that electricity is connected to another of nature's most fundamental forces - magnetism. In the second episode, Jim discovers how harnessing the link between magnetism and electricity would completely transform the world, allowing us to generate a seemingly limitless amount of electric power which we could utilize to drive machines, communicate across continents and light our homes."

Episode 3 : Revelations and Revolutions:  "Electricity is not just something that creates heat and light, it connects the world through networks and broadcasting. After centuries of man's experiments with electricity, the final episode tells the story of how a new age of real understanding dawned - how we discovered electric fields and electromagnetic waves. Today we can hardly imagine life without electricity - it defines our era."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhgo9fAlAQQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtNdQ2UOG_0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MT8yeMzHvKY

All three episodes together: 2hrs 56 mins

 





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