From: trikha@aslws01.asl.dl.nec.com (Rajiv Trikha)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian
Subject: Let's be honest
Date: 15 Dec 92 15:20:41 GMT
Organization: NEC America, Inc Irving TX

Ruchir Godura writes:
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It would be repetitive to express my sadness and anguish at the loss of
Hindu and Muslim lives ..
What seems to have gripped the net, especially Indian hindus on the net,
is a hysteria of sorts as far as secularism is concerned. What is even
more amazing is the holier-than-thou attitude assumed by most of the
hindu posters on the net.
This is what SCI looks like today :
   Secular hindu :  I'm sad, disgusted, anguished.
   Pak/Other islamic national : Yes, you Indians are to blame.
   SH: Yes, we are to blame.
   P/IN : You are disgusting .. non-secular,fundamentalist.
   SH: Yes, I'm ashamed that we are that.
   P/IN: We will destroy your temples ..
   SH: I'm sorry, the mosque, so dear to you, was destroyed.
   P/IN: GOI should protect my beloved islamic brethren, who, so
   unfortunately, happen to be Indians.
   SH: Yes, they, should.

   etc. etc.

   The point I'm trying to make is that these bloody India baiters have
   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
   NOTHING to do with the issue at hand.
   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
   We Indians owe an apology ONLY to  Indian muslims, not show a stupid
   servile attitude t the gloating fundamentalists of other countries,
   who revel in India's pain and anguish.
   Ruchir.

   Of course, dear fellow secularists, spare at least one post for the
   dozens of temples being burnt, and scores of hindus being killed 
   elsewhere.

   My thoughts.
   Peace,
   Ruchir.
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At last, a breath of fresh air. You see, India bashing has become a pasttime
that affords pleasure to its residents, the non-residents and anyone 
else who cares to take a swing. And, of course, it is just not PC to be
say one is Indian with any feeling of pride.

I have read some brilliant analysis on SCI, have been drowned in weeping   
words and witnessed astonishing humility and soul-searching. What I would 
like to know is: Do you really think that the two active bodies involved
in the situation and empowered to do anything about this, actually think
like you do? The two "bodies" as I see it are: the politicians and the
activists (both Hindu and Muslim). I seriously doubt that rational thought
plays a great part in their decisions. In fact, were I in India, I have
a pretty good idea of what my reactions would have been: I would have
been shocked, and revulsed. If I, in person, were present when a person
was being bodily harmed, I would have intervened, but any religious 
sentiment would not have spurred me. I would not have made any special 
effort if I had heard of a seething crowd, not violent but close to it,
gathered right at the corner of Subzi Mundi and Roorkee Talkies. In
short, I would have done what circumstances compelled me to do. So, if
you recall an earlier, unrelated post, I am the typical, detached 
urbanized, educated Indian who goes about his own business without    
paying an extraordinary amount of attention to the seemingly unoccupied
guy on the corner who has just devoured his seventh cup of tea and
sixth beeri, all in an hour. Do I identify with him? No! And he doesn't
with me either. That's why he will do as he thinks is right, and I will
continue to live in my little world.

I have made quite a few statements, that do not seem to be leading anywhere-
this is neat, no one can interrupt you with a well -timed "Shut up, you
idiot!". But the point I am trying to make here is that what was true a few
days ago in India is probably not true anymore. Maybe peoples' feelings
have "hardened" as a friend claimed while quoting AFOAF in India. Do we
know? Let the people who are going through these rough times decide. They
know best, they have to live there. And any decisions they make are more
likely to have the following kind of logic:
"Its too bad this happened, but I'm not sure that we need to go so far
as to build the mosque again. In fact, if they do, it'll serve the muslims
right if it's torn down again. That mulla down the street has been hiding
for 3 days now. Wonder where he is. Remember what a 'dadda' he used to
think he was?"
or in a more middle-class drawing room:
"Beta, it is dangerous out there/ You can not play cricket today. If you
see any suspicious looking activities, just stay out of it...etc"

Hey, to spark a flame or two, even if this fire is put out, the smolders
will not be. Maybe it is time for a few matters to be cleared up - like
"Is secularism viable after all?" We have tried, and we haven't made anyone
happy.  All we get for being the good guys is
unmitigated, furious bashing. I am past the point where
it really matters to me what a Pakistani feels about India. It's what's be-
st for the majority of people that matters. Isn't that why laws were created?
Isn't that why government was created? Isn't that why democracy evolved?
To make sure that if such and such is done, it will serve the interests 
of the majority of people, even though a few are hurt in the process?

Well, let the majority decide. And lets be realistic. Even though it hurts
to admit, every successful country takes care of their majority first. We
may have to settle for not being any different. I repeat, this wasn't easy 
to say, but the truth is hard to swallow. 

I have probably been a little disjointed in this post, its hard to put
into words, what you are nopt sure of anyway.

I am expecting flames galore, so fire away. I would like to say though, the
last few days have left me worried, anxious and not a little confused.

Comments?
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian