The following article might clear up some confusion:
The Intellectual Blueprint of the Neo-Razakars
Over the last few months I have been observing the increasingly monotonous promotion of the book `The India Doctrine' by the infamous Barrister MBI Munshi. His supporters and the books promoters are easily identified and include Isha Khan, Zoglul Hossain Zainal Abedin and Moin Ansari (a Pakistani national residing in New York). These are all well-known and renowned anti-Indians who at every opportunity spout venom at our big neighbour and try to create a hostile and militant attitude to New Delhi. If the opinions of these few individuals were kept within this small coterie there would not be much concern but the ideas and perspectives found in The India Doctrine appear to be spreading. If one reads the recent write-ups and speeches of such public intellectuals like Farhad Mazar, Mahmudur Rahman, Sadeq Khan, Prof. Mahbubullah, Prof. Ataur Rahman, Prof. Razia Banu, Shah Abdul Hannan and the anti-Indian stance of the BNP-Jamaat neo-Razakars you will see the adoption of the ideas contained in The India Doctrine. Similarly, several newspapers, magazines and journals such as the Naya Diganta, Sangram, Dinkal, New Age, Bangladesh Defence Journal, The Financial Express, PROBE, The Bangladesh Today and The New Nation have also been sponsoring or highlighting this new anti-Indian agenda initiated by The India Doctrine.
After much irritating and incessant publicity surrounding this book I decided to purchase a copy from The Bookworm near Jahangir Gate. This is the only bookstore in Dhaka that actually sells the book. For those who support the ideals of the Liberation War and the sacrifices made by the people of Bangladesh one can only be repulsed by its contents. The book does not even leave Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman untouched by its scurrilous and repulsive innuendoes and second rate theorizing about a supposed and fantastic Akhand Bharat being allegedly pursued by Indian policy-makers since partition in 1947. What Barrister MBI Munshi does not discuss is the sacrifices that were made by India for the independence of Bangladesh. Barrister Munshi manages to disingenuously twist history to make India appear as the villain and not the murderous Pakistan army that raped and killed unarmed civilians in the erstwhile East Pakistan.
What is particularly aggravating is that none of the so-called defenders of our freedoms and secular ideals has come forward to contradict the objectives and ideas of the book. This is extremely dangerous as the anti-Indian tilt now appearing in Bangladesh could have very unfortunate consequences for the country. If New Delhi views its small neighbour as becoming hostile to its friendly overtures it could turn the screws and make things difficult for Bangladesh. Already many in India view Bangladesh as ungrateful. The secular intellectuals of Bangladesh must come forward and warn of the dangers of following the ideas contained in The India Doctrine.
The book essentially promotes an intellectual blueprint for instability and reversal of the secular gains made in 1971 which ultimately trashed the concept of the Two Nation Theory but which is still oddly propounded in Pakistan. After 1971, Pakistanis should have come to realize that the misguided ideals of the Two Nation Theory are no longer relevant – the creation of Bangladesh proves that point. Unfortunately the neo-Razakars in Bangladesh still passionately hold to this concept of the Two Nation Theory. The India Doctrine superficially provides them with an argument but it is indeed a weak foundation. The dream of India's disintegration (an implication made in the book) is just that – a dream. Instead we are seeing Pakistan on the verge of political collapse and Bangladesh with an uncertain future. It is without doubt India that will emerge as the regional superpower and elites in Pakistan and Bangladesh better come to recognize that reality or both countries will suffer the consequences. Both Pakistan and Bangladesh are too weak and internally divided to pose a threat to India's rise so why foster dreams based on an ill-conceived religious division which has done more harm than good. The meaning of Islam is submission so both countries should gracefully submit!
Sohail Tajul Islam
Student
Imperial College London
--- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, muhammed kareem <kareem871@...> wrote:
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> Mr. Taj (pseudo I am sure),
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> I cannot fathom how Tajuddin Ahmed's own son would talk like that against India, specially since we owe our independence to them.
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> Mr. Munshi is a fanatic anti-Indian guy, very much along the lines of Glen Beck and Rush Limbaugh followers here in the US. He takes liberty with facts and makes very broad assumptions that simply cannot withstand critical analysis. One cannot argue against wild speculation and conjectures.
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> If you still claim that you are indeed Sohail Taj, send me a private email with your tel number and I will find out within 48 hours who you actually are.
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> Please don't take us for fools.
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> Good luck hiding behind a veil. If you had any guts, you wouldn't hide behind a false identity.
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> R.
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> To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> From: sohailtaj2008@...
> Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:54:52 -0700
> Subject: RE: [ALOCHONA] Re- BDR Tragedy, True Findings
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> Do you ask these questions because my comments are inconvenient to you? When I was criticizing Barrister Munshi 2 years ago none of you questioned my identity. Now that I have revealed the truth that the pro-liberation forces have been perpetrating a fraud and have tried to cover up the truth contained in The India Doctrine my identity is suddenly to be doubted.
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> Why did no one come forward at that time to challenge the content of Barrister Munshi's work? Why was their utter silence on the issue which even after 3 years of publication still has not been broken? If the pro-liberation forces represent the truth why could they not have undertaken a successful challenge against The India Doctrine as I had proposed?
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> Finally why does not the new report on the DeshCalling blog on the BDR mutiny stir our conscience into action? Why again have we stuck our heads into the sand? Is it because we are afraid of the truth that we have been living a lie? Does not the death of 57 officers pain us immeasurably? Why are we not ashamed of our silence? Have the Indians forever taken our voices and our courage? Are we a now only a nation of cowards and fools?
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> Regards
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> Sohail Taj
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> --- On Mon, 9/28/09, muhammed kareem kareem871@... wrote:
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> From: muhammed kareem kareem871@...
> Subject: RE: [ALOCHONA] Re- BDR Tragedy, True Findings
> To: "alochona magazine" alochona@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Monday, September 28, 2009, 12:54 AM
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> Could the moderators please confirm that this email is in fact from Sohail Taj and not from someone who is hiding behind that name.
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> Sadly, we have too many imposters around and it is all too easy to adopt a screen name. Since the name in question relates to a well-known politicain and a man of repute, it is imperative that we ensure its authenticity. I am sure there are people on the forum who personally know Mr. Taj. Could someone kindly verify it from him personally whether he has actually written this email.
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> for some reason, I have my doubts.
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> Thanks,
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> Reza
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> To: alochona@yahoogroup s.com
> From: sohailtaj2008@ yahoo.com
> Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2009 06:28:08 -0700
> Subject: [ALOCHONA] Re- BDR Tragedy, True Findings
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> Dear Robin,
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> As Barrister Munshi explained I sent him your comments on the BDR mutiny article to which he replied directly to me and then I merely copied and pasted back his reply to Alochona.
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> I had originally been very hostile to Barrister Munshi after I read his book `The India Doctrine' and some of his other articles which I felt demeaned our liberation struggles in 1971 and also our secularist philosophy. I had asked many intellectuals, writers, lawyers, journalists and politicians (who I thought had similar views to me) to reveal the lies being perpetrated by Munshi. Not a single person came forward to protest his book and uncover the truth. I was extremely saddened and depressed by this response.
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> A few months later I visited Bangladesh again and purchased a copy of the second edition of the book now titled `The India Doctrine (1947-2007). I realized that I had made the mistake about Munshi and that he was merely trying to expose the truth about Indian activities against Bangladesh. I have had to change my entire outlook due to this book and also because of the lack of support from the pro-Liberation lobby who by their failure to act accepted by default Munshi's interpretation of events before and after 1971. I think it should be made compulsory for everyone to read the book.
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> Regards
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> Sohail Taj
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