HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: sjayanth@ringer.cs.utsa.edu (Satyanand V. Jayanthi)
Subject: Re: Sati's history
Organization: University of Texas at San Antonio
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 06:46:12 GMT

In article <28126@optima.cs.arizona.edu> mazhar@cs.arizona.edu (Mazhar N Mohammed) writes:
>> >the real purpose of religion. Let us take Sati for instance. The practice of
>> >Sati in not one of the basic tenets of hinduism. It was started because the
>> >Muslim invaders after winning a battle sexually assaulted the women of the
>> >palace and made them their slaves. To preserve their honour the women started
>> >practising Sati. When the britishers came and such acts of barbariasm became
>> >rare it was again a hindu reformer, Raja Rahmohan Roy who asked that principles
>
>One of King Pandu's wives, Madri committed sati (at least that's what the 
>scripture says). Are you implying that the Muslims came before that ?? :)
>
>Mazhar...
>--
>  
This sir, is a misunderstanding. Madri killed herself on her husband's pyre
as an atonement for inducing pandu into sex. If you look at mahabharata,    
hundreds of people were killed in the numerous battles described, and not a
single sati incident mentioned. Typically in a sati incident described inthe
medievel period, it was the kings chief queen who killed herself, and in
this case (madri's) madri definitely was not a chief queen and it is very
clearly mentioned that she killed herself as a punishment...if you know..
well Kunti was pandu's chief queen and she did not commit "sati"..

I think it should be clear about muslims coming and sati starting now atleat:-)

Narain (from a friend's account....)
narain@bass.bu.edu



Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian
From: rachada@icaen.uiowa.edu (Ramakrishna Chada)
Subject: Re: Indian Muslims had it their way since the independence.
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 07:41:05 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Iowa Computer Aided Engineering Network, University of Iowa

In article <28059@optima.cs.arizona.edu> mazhar@cs.arizona.edu (Mazhar N Mohammed) writes:
>In article <1gbeksINN8a8@tamsun.tamu.edu>, gagrawal@cs.tamu.edu (Gopal Agrawal) writes:
># In article <1gb3d9INN6pp@kumquat.cs.utk.edu>, vkodali@cs.utk.edu (VENKATA RAMANA KODALI) writes:
># 
># |# in India. It is time to stop all the privileges enjoyed by the muslims
># |# as a minority in India. 
># |# Venky
># 
># One of them is the laws relating to purchase/selling of 
># land in kashmir, I think. 
># 
>
>Well, I always thought the laws regarding purchase/selling of land
>in kashmir are for kashmiris, not muslims ! 
>
>Mazhar...
>--
>

Well, when the hindus were kicked out of kashmir due to the inaction of the
impotent Indian government, kashmiris became synonymous with muslims.

Ramakrishna
From: v122npej@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (Sareer A Fazili)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian
Subject: RE: No Ban In J&K - What Is Your Point?
Date: 15 Dec 92 22:50:00 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

As pertains to the post concerning the "ban on fundamentalist groups" in India
as a result of the recent Babri Masjid incident, I have to ask what the man
who posted this note is asking.  It is common knowledge that the so - called
fundamentalist Jamaat-i-Islmai has been outlawed, so what else would, or
should,GOI do? 

As a matter of argument, I do not think that this ban is going to work at all,
simply because of the lawlessness which pervades the whole bloody subcontinent.
The gutteral responses have already been launched at the GOI for this ban, and
the VJP, RSS, et.al. have all spit in the Government's face. Before trying to
tackle "fundamentalist" problems in Kashmir, I think that the GOI should do it
within the borders of the country first.

Strange how everyone seems to have their own definition of secular and 
fundamentalist. I would encourage all of us to go and search in our Websters 
dictionary the real meanings of these two words before offering any ingenious 
solutions to such problems in the future.


Sareer A. Fazili 
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian
From: gagrawal@cs.tamu.edu (Gopal Agrawal)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian,soc.culture.pakistan
Subject: Re: Narrow Hindu Beliefs- was- Ram (Was he Fact or Fiction)??
Date: 14 Dec 1992 04:13:56 GMT
Organization: Computer Science Department, Texas A&M University
NNTP-Posting-Host: neuron.tamu.edu

In article <1992Dec13.215242.28250@ryn.mro4.dec.com> verma@pfeast.enet.dec.com (Virendra Verma) writes:
>In article <1992Dec11.223854.7645@news.clarkson.edu>, rajat@sunny3.che.clarkson.edu (Rajat Kapoor) writes...
>>>> 
>> I`ve noticed certain beliefs amongst Hindus border on being outright 
>> incredulous. One of them being the conviction that the events described
>> in Ramayan or Mahabharat are factual to the word, and any suggestion
>> to the contrary is unacceptable. 
>> 
>	Do you know that descriptions of Mahabharat (such as Saraswati
>	and Drawrika) are comming to be true based on excavations. How the
>	hell a dying river of 1800 BC could be so talked about in 400 BC
>	and Dwarika, a city before the flood (around 3200 BC) could be
>	so eloquently described in Mahabharat.
>
>> Rajat Kapoor
>-- Virendra

While the events depicted in Mahabharata are debatable, the above 
logic can certainly not be used to prove their veracity. Else, by 
similar logic, Asterix & Obelix existed since future generations 
will find that the description of the Roman empire is indeed very 
true in several aspects in these comics. 

Most works of fiction are not weaved around imaginary places 
(except for fairy tales and science fiction).  They are normally
weaved around real places and sometimes even some of the real 
events eg., there are several spy-thrillers out there based 
on the cold war between US and Russia. That does not mean that 
the events depicted in these books are real. 

I would agree however that recent discovery of Dwarka can be 
attributed to some of the discriptions in Mahabharata.
Hence it can only be attested that Mahabharata will provide 
valuable clues to the history and culture of that period. 
The rest is still debatable.

regards,
--   
   ______ ______ ______ ______ __  |\/\/\/|
    ____/  __  /  __  /  __  /  /  |  \  /|  LIFE's COMPLEX - IT HAS
   / __   /   /  /   /  /   /  /   | (o)(o)  REAL & IMAGINARY PARTS.
  /   /  /   /   ___/  __  /  /    C      _) 
_____/ _____/ __/   __/ __/ ______/ | \___|  
E-mail - gagrawal@cs.tamu.edu       |   /   All Std. Disclaimers apply.
From: varma@paul.rutgers.edu (not yet)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian
Subject: Re: Masjid -> What will the Arabs do ?
Date: 14 Dec 92 11:41:51 GMT
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.



Let me assume that Arabs identify with Muslims in the Indian
Subcontinent.

So what?

The Arabs (minus Iraq, maybe some insignificant others also)
have always sided with Pakistan whenever there was in issue
or non-issue. (Example - Kashmir). Has it made a difference?

Militarily, Arabs are insignificant. (confirm by posting
	on the Israeli news group.)
They do not give any substantial amount of aid, so their
 	wealth does not matter (to India, even more).
Oil, it is a buyers market at this time. USSR is the biggest
	producer and desperately need hard cash. Venezuela
	over-produces. Eventually Iraqi oil will trickle
	out too. 
If they deport Indians working there then who will teach
	in their schools, run hospitals, etc. Even if they
	manage, how big will the impact be on India?

So, restating the subject, Masjid -> What will the Arabs do ?
Nothing more than what they have already done, (or nothing
more than they are capable of), that is nothing.

The Arab factor brought up by Pakistan (and some Muslims 
who would rather look westwards for help than in their own
country) reminds me of my childhood. Whenever I got in a 
fight with someone bigger than me, I would threaten him
by saying that I will call my elder (implicit, even bigger) 
brother...

Only, that I did not have an elder brother.

Harsh.
Department of Computer Science
Rutgers University

Disclaimer: None. Please, everyone adopt my opinion, I am right!
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian
From: gagrawal@cs.tamu.edu (Gopal Agrawal)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian
Subject: Re: Mandir/Maszid/Girza/Gurudwara
Date: 11 Dec 92 22:06:11 GMT
Organization: Computer Science Department, Texas A&M University
NNTP-Posting-Host: neuron.tamu.edu

In article <1992Dec11.204809.19648@udel.edu> kazi@hercules.cis.udel.edu (Zunaid Kazi) writes:
>>> 
>>> [...... deleted.....]
>>> 
>>> >that one religion is better than the other.  Let's build the 
>>> >world's first *multireligious shrine* at the site.  Let's make the
>>
>>How about a pentagon with a fifth corner devoted to atheists like me ...
>>We need to be represented too.  We need a place where we can meet and discuss
>>the stupidity of the people who follow `religious books' rather than think...
>
>Maybe a sixth, for people who don't care whether a God [or Gods] exists
>or not.

How about a seventh, for people like me who consider themselves 'God'.
:-)

regards,
--   
   ______ ______ ______ ______ __  |\/\/\/|
    ____/  __  /  __  /  __  /  /  |  \  /|  LIFE's COMPLEX - IT HAS
   / __   /   /  /   /  /   /  /   | (o)(o)  REAL & IMAGINARY PARTS.
  /   /  /   /   ___/  __  /  /    C      _) 
_____/ _____/ __/   __/ __/ ______/ | \___|  
E-mail - gagrawal@cs.tamu.edu       |   /   All Std. Disclaimers apply.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian,soc.culture.pakistan,soc.culture.europe,soc.culture.latin-america,soc.culture.african,soc.culture.canada
From: rhassan@csws3.ic.sunysb.edu (Rana Hassan)
Subject: Question about Judgement Day?
Organization: State University of New York at Stony Brook
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 23:52:45 GMT

	I have a question...Does it say in The Glorious Qu'ran that the Day
of Judgement is close by when Muslims across the world are being persecuted
or are considered an inferior race?  Isn't this the time when the Prophet
Ees Al Islam is supposedly to come to this world and help Muslims in distress?
Isn't this the time when the man who is blind in one eye (The "Anti-Islamic")
comes about and makes half the population go against the world's greatest
and only true religion -- Islam!!?  Isn't this the time when a lot of our so-
called "Brothers in Islam." more like the "Hippocrites in Islam"?  Isn't this
the time when the blowing of the trumpets is near?  Isn't this the time when
the sound of the donkey is the sound of earth's final destiny?  Isn't this
the time to tell all Muslims to work together, love together, and live
together? S Shouldn't we all begin to talk to each other like teammates
instead of fighting over STUPID things (half the things you guys fight over
are answered in The Ever-Beautiful Qu'ran)?  Why don't we begin to talk
to each other with ideas instead of arguments?  When we all have our turn on
line, we will be judged by what we did, said, and thought not by what others
told us.  If we corrected any errors of others with love and understanding,
it just brings us one step closer to a better afterlife.  If we answered with
anger, especially men to women (and vice-versa), it brings us closer to
an afterlife which is one step closer to agony and pain.  Remember, we will
begin loving each other once everyone will be smart enough to agree/disagree
with others with a simple and loving reply instead of a rude and unworthy
remark.  One more question, don't you think if we stick together like the
Jews do we would accomplish MUCH more since we are practically one of the
largest religions in the world?  Why do we have to wait for anyone divine
to always help us out?  If we can do the job on our own then ALLAH will
be most proud ESPECIALLY with the ones who started the "fire"!



					RHassan@ccmail.sunysb.edu





Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian
From: G.S.Samra@lut.ac.uk
Subject: Re: Khalistan
Reply-To: G.S.Samra@lut.ac.uk (GS Samra)
Organization: Loughborough University, UK.
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 92 09:52:37 GMT

In article <1992Dec12.175316.19893@news.columbia.edu> rgm4@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu (Raghuram G Murtugudde) writes:
>
> Bad upbringing, my friend?  There is a fraction of Indians who are
> confused about what the Indian govt is trying to do to them. 

I assume that this fraction of the Indians you are talking about
are the Sikhs?. If so, then let me say that as far as I know they are
not confused as to what the Indian Government is trying to do to
them. The intentions of the GOI have been clear to them for a long time. 
That's why the Sikhs are fighting for Khalistan.

> Here are
> some guys from that community who are trying to discuss it with other
> Indians. If you have anything meaningful to add to the discussion then
> it would be nice. Instead, resorting to personal attacks, even if it is
> in response to some unsavory things from their part, just indicates that
> their grievances are not being heard in India.

Agreed.

> Raghu

G.S.Samra


Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian
From: sundaram@me.uta.edu (Ravi 'Kity Bum' Sundaram)
Subject: Re: MICROWAVE OVEN QUESTION/ for ms.farnham
Organization: none
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 18:53:56 GMT


<	Original Posting Invovlving 9X9 metal tray in Microwave oven deleted>

In article <1992Dec12.033043.19990@engr.LaTech.edu> shalan@engr.latech.edu (Shivram Halan) writes:

>   try this experiment.
>
>   WARNING !!!! it could be messy and scare the bricks out of you.
>
>   one plate, one wet cloth, and one boiled egg.
>
>   place boiled egg on plate.
>   place plate inside microwave oven.
>   heat on "high" for three minutes. maybe less. you will be informed when to turn off 
>	   microwave. ringer or timer not necessary.
>   when egg explodes, turn off microwave.
>   take wet cloth and clean the inside of the oven. make sure microwave is unplugged.

>   shiv.

	1. Recently Consumer Reports had a piece on Eggs in Microwave.
	Quoting (I think) New England Jl Of Medecine, it says that many
	serious injuries and Second Degree Burns occured while using 
	microwaves for zapping eggs. Though all the user manuals state
	that the eggs must be slightly cracked before being nuked most of
	the people don't bother. A man who left 4/6 eggs for 10 minutes 
	in high took the plate out and set it on the table/counter.
	The eggs exploded partially blinding him with second degree burns.
	It recods scores of such accidents. 


	2. I have left small spoons accidentally inside and nothing serious
	happened. One cup I use has a metal coated ring around the lip. It
	created sparks once.

	3. My radio used to sit on top of the micro wave and doubled as
	"Radiation Leak Sensing Equipment". I always tune to the PBS
	station (KERA) 90.1 FM. When the oven is turned on the radio
	noise increases.

**************Quick Noodles Upma Veg Rice tip:***

	4. Make huge quantities of mixed vegetable curry ( oninon, french
	beans, tomato, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli anything) 
	during the weekend and refregirate. Go on the higher side of 
	salt and gun powder (red chilli powder). 
	
	When you want noodles, mix 0.75 cup of veg curry, 1 cup water and
	1 packet instant noodles (broken, the kind you get 6 per $) and
	the seasoning. ZAP for 10 minutes at 600 Watts. 

	Substitute sooji/rava/semolina/cream of rice/ c. of wheat for
	noodles you get (a close approximation to) Upma.

	Use left over cooked rice and reduce cooking time for a passable
	veg rice.

	Ravi Sundaram
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian,soc.culture.tamil
From: fb78@sol.acs.unt.edu (Ganesh Gopalakrishnan)
Subject: Re: Question on Periyar's ancestory
Organization: University of North Texas
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 14:38:46 GMT

Ranjith Ravindiran Suresh <rs6x+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:

>>	Periyar was a thevidiya paiyyan. As simple as that. His mom
>>	was a whore.
> 
>Maanamun, mariyaathai illaatha thiruttuth thuroki! Your kind awaits you
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>in hell....
^^^^^^^^
>One day...one day....there will be a day for people like you.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The best response to an offensive posting is to ignore it, or,
if the urge to respond is too great, be more cultured than
the original poster. Surely, some of your own postings
such as the above and certainly in the recent past have
been as offensive. And..., please do stop threatening
people. This is a free society that holds the right to
express ideas very seriously. - ganesh
From: fafat@phakt.usc.edu (Vijay Fafat)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian
Subject: Re: Do we need a religion?
Date: 18 Dec 1992 22:15:09 -0800
Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
NNTP-Posting-Host: phakt.usc.edu

Worma garbles:
>>	And why should anyone take Kena Upanishada at face value? 
>
>	No, if knowledge is exclusive property of fafat or WORMS.

	hmmm, frustration setting in? 


>>	ask your friend (preferably Worma :) to hold a giant convex lens
>>	and tell me if you're impervious when your clothes catch fire.
>> 
>
>	Is that your definition of light? You get an F------ in your physics.
   
	hee hee :) thank you. The question was'nt about *defining* light
	(even that can be done) but proving it's existence. It would do
	DEC some good if you return to your sweeping job instead of passing
	around grades in subjects you know nothing about.
	

>	According to Vedic knowledge, Existence of light implies shape 
>	not heat. No light, no shape.

	And that proves what a load of Worma-dung Vedic knowledge is. 
	Go in a dark room and trace your palms over your head. I bet there
	will be a Vedic revelation to you that you're a perfect
	egg-head, literally and figuratively, even in the absence of light.

	FFT
From: fafat@phakt.usc.edu (Vijay Fafat)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian
Subject: Re: Do we need a religion?
Date: 18 Dec 1992 21:52:14 -0800
Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: phakt.usc.edu

Worma writes:
>>>	There is no such thing as reality according to science. 
>>                                 ^^^^^^^^^

>	Why can't you learn to disagree? There is nothing wrong with
>	disagreeing. 

	huh? saari Ramayan padh lee aur Babu puche Seeta kaun... I *am*
	disagreeing with you, dammit :) You meant "agree to disagree"?
	Can't do that, esp. with a bogus character like you. So there.

>	Why do you have so much euphoria about what you 
>	know or what you believe in? 

	why not? Numerous peepuls have spent lifetimes in generating this
	knowledge (which can be tested. I don't have to take anyone's
	unsubstantiated word for it). The least I can do is appreciate it and
	feel happy.


>	Just because science could not live
>	certain religions, doesn't mean that religion or philosophy,
>	in general, is hocus-pocus.

	Science does'nt have to live upto religions. 
	As long as you keep religion a personal
	affair and don't go around proclaiming about ancient nuclear
	civilizations, philosophy is not "hocus-pocus", by definition. But
	you've been blindly and blithely trying to pass off what was pure
	(and I dare say beautiful) imagination as ground reality. To that
	extent, *you* are the hokey-pokey.

	FFT
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer a la Worma : I believe there's no objective reality other than
			that which can be measured. There is no Heaven,
			no Nirvana, no nothing but a soup of chunks
			of energy ...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: verma@pfeast.enet.dec.com (Virendra Verma)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian
Subject: Re: Do we need a religion?
Date: 18 Dec 92 00:46:54 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation


In article <1gqib3INNosi@phakt.usc.edu>, fafat@phakt.usc.edu (Vijay Fafat) writes...
> 
>	Then why do you holler out your poor lungs at Ed when he wants to 
>	eat cow meat, O Janus-faced Worma? Ed's innermost self says it's
>	right to eat meat and wrong to eat plants. :)

	Where the hell did I stop him? I was interpreting the significance
	of cow killing according to my inner-most self of course. If he 
	gets offended that is his problem not mine.

	I can bet, however, it is not your inner-self, otherwise you would
	not be arguing with me. There is some truth what I say, that is
	why you respond but alas your outer-most self takes over by the
	time you finish your response.

	If you think about it we both are not terribly tangential - the
	only difference is that you are only 'science' fanatic and I am
	both 'science' and 'religious' fanatic. We both disregard 'dogma',
	however.

>Disclaimer: My innermost self and logic says Vedic knowledge is no knowledge.
> 
	I have no problem with this for now. However, it will take a 
	million year to change your inner-most self - that is what 
	my-inner most self says.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer:
I express my views under the freedom of speech guaranteed by the constitution
of the United States of America. My employer is not responsible for any
damage or damages caused as a result of my writings. I use my employer's
facilities for a cost of putting extra two hours per week.

WORMA, the WORMS charmer and WORM Abater.

-- Virendra Verma
------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian,soc.culture.pakistan,soc.culture.bangladesh
From: sunder@grusin.crhc.uiuc.edu (Srinivas Sunder)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian
Subject: Re: Mandir/Maszid/Girza/Gurudwara
Date: 13 Dec 92 20:58:37 GMT
Article-I.D.: roundup.1gg85tINN6cd
Distribution: world
Organization: Center for Reliable and High-Performance Computing, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
NNTP-Posting-Host: grusin.crhc.uiuc.edu

S. Sankarapandi says:

|> >How about a pentagon with a fifth corner devoted to atheists like me ...
|> >We need to be represented too.  We need a place where we can meet and discuss
|> >the stupidity of the people who follow `religious books' rather than think...
|> >
|> >-aluru
|> 
|>      The same feeling always bothered me when I was watching any religious
|> programs in Indian TV.  When the TV telecasts all the festivals, religious
|> preaching etc,  why not they allow the atheists talk (atleast within some
|> guidelines not hurting any religion perticularly) something rational in order
|> to reform the people.  I am sure atheists are also a good percentage of
|> population and why not they are not given any freedom of speech in the govt
|> controlled media.

Why not instead get the Government OUT of religion altogether, and 
make the Govt. agnostic? That way, neither will different religious groups
complain that one or the other is the beneficiary of special treatment, nor
will the atheists complain of being left out.

This will involve not only a Uniform Civil Code, but also returning every
single religious institution that exists in the country back to the people
(possibly left to local governments at the lowest levels like Panchayats
 or city corporations or independently selected boards of trustees). The
latter scenario could spark off inter-caste conflicts if not carefully handled
though.

|> S. Sankarapandi
-- 
Srinivas Sunder                                         sunder@crhc.uiuc.edu

If my employer shares these views, I'd be most surprised.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian
From: akash@crescent.berkeley.edu (Akash R. Deshpande)
Subject: Re: Do we need a religion?
Reply-To: akash@crescent.berkeley.edu (Akash R. Deshpande)
Organization: International Computer Science Institute, Berkeley
Distribution: usa
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 1992 23:28:20 GMT

In article <1992Dec19.181812.1319@news2.cis.umn.edu>,
crick@tsp.med.umn.edu (Ed Crick (CD)) writes:
|> How would you explain a solar eclipse?

I don't need to. Remember, I am blind for the sake of artument, and
can't see no eclipses.

|> Use caution in casting your lot with VV as his ground is very unstable, to 
|> say nothing of his mind.

Thanks for the warning, but I am on firm ground.

-Akash
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian