From: bhatnagr@ucunix.san.uc.edu (Raj Bhatnagar)
Subject: Re: BM-RJB issue (more developments)
Organization: University of Cincinnati
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 16:56:10 GMT

Sanjiva Prasad  writes :

> In article <BvvHn0.I4o@ucunix.san.uc.edu> 
> bhatnagr@ucunix.san.uc.edu (Raj Bhatnagar) writes:
> > RJB in this fight is as symbolic as the ceremonial horse of an 
> > "Ashvamedha Yagna." Any challenger to RJB is being faught off. 


> If the VHP/BJP liken the proposed RJB temple as the ceremonial horse,

I didn't say that VHP/BJP claim to have this perception. Looking at the
events of past few years and attitudes of people involved in the RJB
imbroglio, this is my perception of what is going on. 

> then I must say that they also know very little about ancient Hindu
> customs and mythology.  

<See ~7 lines above.> Whatever has gone on till now fits the analogy
but what will happen in future is anybody's guess.

> For, may I remind you, after its return the
> ceremonial horse of the Ashvamedha Yagna is sacrificed.  Which means
> that after the temple is constructed, and VHP/BJP have achieved their
> political objectives of Bharatising Indian society and polity, they
> surely must raze that extravagant edifice (*) to the ground.  

And the next thing one may claim is that by razing them to the ground,
Babar et al had sacrificed thousands of Indian temples only to become
a part of the Indian culture by adopting its ritual of offering
sacrifices. :-)


> > Also in Mahabharata, Krishna, with all his Maya could have easily gotten 
> > rid of Duryodhana, but his objective was to bring into battle all those
> > forces that had made possible and supported Duryodhan's 
> > philosophy (Bhishma included), and seek their destruction in the war.
> 
> Mahabharata is a bad parallel for a "just cause" -- it's basically a case of 
> breaking all rules to win at all costs.  But who are the Abhimanyus and other 
And you read too much in the analogy. The question is not of *A* "just cause."
To each, his/her cause is the just cause. RJB-BM is a struggle among the
conflicting just causes. We are facing a struggle between the "just cause"
of the renaissance of the Indian civilizational identity, and the other
"just cause" of maintaining the existing hold of Arabic/Turkic/Persian culture
within India. Both causes are "just" for their supporters. The only
unfortunate thing is that instead of accepting syncretism, they have
agreed to resolve the conflict by trying to knock each other out.
You have the choice to either support one of the sides or just sit it out 
and accept the final result, whatever it may be.


> Various people in (or sympathising with) the RSS, VHP, BJP  have been
> telling us that once we create the new Bharatiya, proud of his heritage
> of ancient India (Bharat),  it is then a small step away from India
> regaining its proud place in the world, reasserting itself as a power.
> (e.g. an article some weeks ago by Indu from NCR).
> 
> This view is about as naive as those of the Russians who believed that
> they'd be prosperous the momen they got rid of communism, or the Germans
> who thought the troubles of unification would pass in a few months. 


But won't you agree that the removal of the communism and the unification
of Germany were indeed the first necessary steps towards the goal!


> You can get armies to march on pride but you can't
> create wealth, happiness or peace.  

1. Pride is not the ultimate objective, but only a means towards
resolving the cultural conflict that has been bleeding nation's all
other resources. Threat of creating Pakistans in every corner is only
one such bleeding wound resulting from the long-standing conflict.

2. Pride is not the sole ingredient for creating wealth. happiness, and 
peace, but certainly a contributary one.


> The scary part is that almost exactly the same ideas, language, imagery was
> employed by the Nazis 60 years ago -- if we get rid of Jews and gays and 
> communists (which then included such liberals as Willy Brandt, a great hero of 
> our times) and Gypsies and artists and other such degenerates -- we'll be a 
> great nation.  And by Mussolini (harking back to the glories of ancient Rome).
> 


And as Raja Roy has already pointed out, here you are expressing your
inability to come up with any other arguments.


> 
> Perhaps a "final solution"?  Or something like the Ustashe did during WWII
> in Croatia, "cleaning out" the Serbs?  See what became of that.
> 


<See about 7 lines above>


> Sanjiva Prasad,  Guest Magician				E-mail: sanjiva@ecrc.de


---raj

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