1. Why this gonoshraddha after 43 years? Are we not commemorating the martyrs enough? We have 26th march, 14th december, and 16th December. Prayers, symposiums, visiting graveyards, etc. are involved. Don't we feel some thing fishy here?
2. "shahid" is not used mostly in religious contexts in Bangladesh.
3. Online Miriam Webster provides one meaning of 'pray' as asking or requesting for some thing in an humble manner. One can pray for a leave of absence.
4. In a secular environment it is wise not to religionize every thing.
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1. Actually I know nothing about the proposed "Gonoshraddha". I smell some conspiracy in the proposed idea. I however have found the debate interesting.
>>>>>>>>>> I cannot fathom any conspiracy here. However I have a feeling once again over excited supporters of BAL caused this. First of all (Religiously speaking--since "Sharaddha" is a religious event) there was NO need to include Muslims into the issue and (Mixing of religion and politics) get into "Shaheed" issue. Like Shraddho, the concept of "Shaheed" (Mostly used in religious context in Bangladesh), so the powerful BAL ulama protested it. Even though it is a non-issue when you look into it. The press around it caused damage to BAL. Like the supporters putting up pictures of political leaders inside Buddhist temple in Ramu.
Sadly (I speak about all political parties here) we do NOT think deeply before we and say things in public spaces. So it damages the party (Even when it has good intentions) at the end.
2. Mr. Q. Rahman, if you look up the word "pray" in the dictionary, you will find that one does not have to pray only to God or a god or a goddess.
>>>>>>>>> I agree. Kindly educate me into this. So WHO do you pray to? The open air? Mother earth? The stray cat running beside you? WHO?
To less educated person like myself, it sounds like "Mubbo-jumbo" that does not mean anything.
3. Personally I have no problem in joining a group assembled in front of a graveyard of a great Muslim man for his "atmar magferat kamona". As a matter of it is very common in our society.
>>>>>>>>>> To be more specific, the concept of atma and magfirat is VERY different for Muslims and non-Muslims. While our people FEEL for each other once we lose a people person from us (Regardless of religious background), it is again kind of symbolic ONLY.
I say this while showing a lot of respect for the spirit you have shown. Just pointing out the nuts and bolts of aspect of prayers.
4. I am sorry to say that inviting one for beef or pork dinner is not comparable to urging one to remember the good deeds of a great person and pray for the liberation of his or her departed soul. It all matters how clean is your heart. Only the dead are the subjects of "atmar magferat kamona" or "shraddha".
>>>>>>>> I used that as an EXAMPLE (ONLY) to make a point. Regardless of our warmth (Which is a good thing) we cannot serve beef to a practicing Hindu. So being respectful and sensitive about religious background is important. Similarly while I took part in certain Hindu families in the rituals (Including visit to the shamsan), I cannot say I prayed for that person.
This "Gonoshraddho" debacle is a fine example why it is important to THINK before we do anything. There are TONS of practical issues that requires attention from our political parties. Improving law and order situation, giving better protection in temples, upholding legal rights of minorities are some aspects. But most of us are good at making speech and but bad at delivering urgent needs of our minority communities.
IN other words less hollow/meaningless words and more meaningful action is what we NEED.
Shalom!
-----Original Message-----
From: subimal chakrabarty <subimal@yahoo.com>
To: mukto-mona <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tue, Oct 8, 2013 7:52 am
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] সরকারি নির্দেশে 'গণশ্রাদ্ধ' বন্ধ
1. Actually I know nothing about the proposed "Gonoshraddha". I smell some conspiracy in the proposed idea. I however have found the debate interesting.2. Mr. Q. Rahman, if you look up the word "pray" in the dictionary, you will find that one does not have to pray only to God or a god or a goddess.3. Personally I have no problem in joining a group assembled in front of a graveyard of a great Muslim man for his "atmar magferat kamona". As a matter of it is very common in our society.4. I am sorry to say that inviting one for beef or pork dinner is not comparable to urging one to remember the good deeds of a great person and pray for the liberation of his or her departed soul. It all matters how clean is your heart. Only the dead are the subjects of "atmar magferat kamona" or "shraddha".
From: QR <qrahman@netscape.net>
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, October 6, 2013 11:03 AM
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] সরকারি নির্দেশে 'গণশ্রাদ্ধ' বন্ধ
So these type of people (Who are powerful enough to stop a "Gono Shardho") should be more careful. No matter what kind of politics, religion (Or no religion) we feel close to, we should try to help our people. Such actions will alienate non-Muslims. "Dharma", "Crusade" and "Jihad" are also among the many such words rooted in religious texts. Sticking to the "true" meanings of such words would be religious fanaticism. Unfortunately that is what we are seeing in the discussion. >>>>>>> The discussion (At least my post) did not evoke any kind of fanaticism. At least three times I said, it is a non-issue. I ONLY shared my OBSERVATION. Also shared the back ground of the word. If you guys want to stick to your guns, feel free to fight the ulama (Most likely much more powerful with the BAL party) who stopped the program!! One more time, (From two responses I have seen) it is clear you have NOT read my post properly and made up your mind without understanding. This is call intolerance. In fact, my post actually supported most of what you and member Roy said. But seeing one verse from the Qurán causes a lot of grief (Even if it used to support you) among many members. Please think about this. :-) "Gonoshraddha" is purely a Hindu religious ritual. Including every one for this ritual irrespective of religious belief may not be liked by close relatives of the non-Hindu martyrs >>>>>>>>> OK. So why one initiated this? Would an average Hindu be excited if his Muslim neighbor invite him for a steak (Beef) dinner to show his neighborly spirit? I think all of us should be respectful to each other. Which is lacking among Bangladeshis (Also a disturbing level of intolerance of a different point of view). Ritual part set aside, the purpose though for such a mass performance is to acknowledge with deep gratitude the good deeds of the dead and also to pray (even atheists also 'pray'---another religiously rooted but now used as a secular term) for the peace of their departed souls >>>>>>>>>>> Maybe Bangladeshi atheists "Pray" (Which seems like a oxymoron/contradiction). I wonder WHO do they pray to? (Pardon my ignorance,please help me understand what you are saying). Either way, I respect the "Spirit" of your sentence. Paying respect to our fallen heroes is a great gesture (Not sure about the praying one). But our Ulama do not have enough broadness of mind (cannot ignore the political factor here) to let our people be more and more liberal. >>>>>>>>> This is a case of miscommunication. This man should have explained his point of view in detailed. Obviously he is powerful enough to stop a big event. if he was respectful to Hindu citizens of Bangladesh, he should have taken two minutes to explain himself. Shalom
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