From: gt7242a@prism.gatech.EDU (KHAN,RAHEEL)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian
Subject: RE: Rename Hyderabad and Murshidabad
Date: 11 Nov 92 18:36:10 GMT
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology


   In his article Raj Bhatnagar writes:


>>       See what I mean?  Why?  What is wrong with Islam as a system?  

>        Nothing. But a big majority of Indians would prefer the current
>        Indian constitution instead.

     That is fine with me.  Living in a non-muslim country Muslisms must
     learn to accept that they will not be able to establish their 
     "way of life" in its entirity.  But the issue was that you originally
     stated in your article that Indian Muslisms, " who are seeking 
     a political identity grounded in Islam and Quran should abandon such
     a goal and accept indian political identity, grounded in common shared 
     Indian history and heritage."  Preference is fine but it seems that 
     you want to rule out the question of an "Islamic India" from the 
     very beginning.  Of course I am not advocating that Muslims in India
     pick up guns and establish the rule of Islam therein, but I am saying
     they sould have every right to propogate (peacefully) their ideals of ````````
        government  and society at all levels.  You can't deny me the right to 
     think, the right to speak or the right to propose an alternative system 
     of life in a democaracy.  That comes with the territory.  Of course, as 
     long as a majority of Indians don't want an Islamic government, it is 
     not going to come about! 
     

>>       Of course, I am not suggesting that every one in India should become 
>>       a Muslim, or that Indian Muslims should start an armed revolt against `
>>       the Indian government, but Indian Muslims have just as much a right to 
>>       promote their ideals as you do.  


>   Sure. They have the right to propagate their ideals. But if these
>   ideals demand that India be partitioned and its integrity destroyed
>   then out of the natural sense of self preservation India will try
>   its best to defeat these ideals.

   Are you implying that to be a Muslim is to be a successionist?  It is a 
   big statement, if you think about it.  Funny, I have never heard of 
   any movement for partition in America, where there are 8-10 million 
   Muslims!  I think that Muslims would never have asked for seperation `
   from India if they had not feared the same type of idealogical 
   chauvanism that is displayed so often here on the net.  If a Muslim
   presents a view point which is unpalatable or contrary to conventional
   wisdom, he is asked to "go to Pakistan"!  If India's cream of the 
   crop displays such hostility towards a Muslim's point of view, it is
   easy to see that perhaps the fears of Muslims in 1947 were not unfounded
   after all.  If India is to be preserved as a country, if India must 
   stay together, it must not be by force, for History shows that such 
   tactics don't work for long.  Besides nations must have a justification
   to remain united in the long run.  In any case the idea that every 
   minority must submitt to the perception of Indian nationhood which is 
   understood by few and propogated by the masses is absurd.  You must have
   the willingness to discuss and show restraint where minorities are 
   concerned.  I am sure that Indian Muslism will not ask for another
   Pakistan if they are sure that their religion is safe-guarded against
   the whims of a (percieved) majority;  why would they ask for seperation if
   they are as free to practice their religion as they are in America?


>>       Why should Indian Muslims 
>>       accept your idea of an identity which is grounded in "common and 
>>       share" history and heritage?  Why can Indian Muslims not share an 
>>       identity with all the other Muslims of the world according to the
>>       commandments of their religion, which establishes fraternity
>>       between all Muslims?

>You are free to share and enjoy anything with anybody in the world, but
>if that means a harm to Indian nation, state, and country, and to its
>integrity, then you should be ready to face the retaliatory steps from
>those who wouldn't want India partitioned every time a neighbourhood
>in India becomes Muslim majority.

>>       Does your statement have anything to do with your chauvanistic 
>>       suggestion that Islam is alien to India.  

>Islam sure did come to India from outside, as did many other philosophies,
>arts, sciences, fruits, vegetables, and recipes. They became a part of
>everything that was Indian. Islam is welcome too, but not in a way in which
>everything else is discarded and Islam alone embraced by the Indians.
>India is not going to give up its richness of heritage for a single new
>idea from outside.

    I think that I explained that Indian Muslims are just as native to India 
    as you are!  You cannot say that Indian Muslims should "go to Pakistan"
    every time you think that you don't like the way they think.  Let me
    point out that I am referring to a statement that I have read many 
    a time on the net! What kind of a secular democracy would India be if it 
    did not allow freedom of experession?  I think that this is a disgrace that 
    those in the majority continually harrass the minority because they 
    choose to believe in something different than themselves. 


    Once more, I am forced to asked the question: What is so sacrosanct about 
    culture or heritage?  How can anyone justify killing other people, or 
    driving them out, just because he thinks they have a different culture than 
    himself? Culture, Heritage, Art, Music, Architecutre, are these things 
    not transient in nature?  Than why do we seek to eternalize something that
    is transient?  Why do we try to preserve it even at the cost of the 
    life and liberty of other peoples?  Is it not a vain cause?

   
-- 
KHAN,RAHEEL
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332
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