Love Jihad Triggers A Poster War In Attingal
Love jihad is the latest talking point in Attingal. It has been in news over the last month in most of the south Indian states. Here in Attingal, several people are confused about it. Some people believe it is an organization, with links to many Islamic fundamentalist sects. Some others believe it is an activity for promoting conversion to Islam. DGP of Kerala Police declared yesterday in the Kerala High Court that the police are not aware of any organization called Love Jihad in the state, or in other words they have not found any evidence so far.
However, a poster war is going on between Shiva Sena (the organization for restoring Marathi pride has some followers in this township far south) and the Popular Front (a self-declared progressive Islamic organization). A few days back Shiva Sena activists put some posters citing news reports that Love Jihad (they did not mention whether it is the organization or the phenomenon) is on prowl on the state. The local Shiva Sena unit found that many girls in Attingal too had fallen in the trap of Love Jihad.
For those who still don’t know what Love Jihad is, let me explain it in simple terms. Love Jihad is the process of Muslim boys or men wooing Hindu girls and marrying them. What is the problem with that, you may ask. The problem, according to VHP, Shiva Sena and other folks who “protect” Hindu community, is that they made these girls convert to Islam. They even go one step further and allege that certain Islamic organization deliberately do this by recruiting and funding handsome Islam romeos. Hence Shiva Sena declared a war against love. And the posters in Attingal bus stand were part of that war.
Yesterday, ironically as if to prove Shiva Sena’s claim that some Islamic organizations are behind this, posters of Popular Front appeared on the decades old pillars of bus stand. It proclaims “Conversion is constitutional”, meaning a person has a constitutional right to adopt whatever faith he or she likes. The posters also declared that those who fear conversion belong to the faiths that do not have a proper foundation.
Amidst all posters and counter posters, girls and boys still assemble at Attingal private bus stand and exchange glances. Some of them manage to fall in love as well – Jihad or no Jihad.
Love jihad is the latest talking point in Attingal. It has been in news over the last month in most of the south Indian states. Here in Attingal, several people are confused about it. Some people believe it is an organization, with links to many Islamic fundamentalist sects. Some others believe it is an activity for promoting conversion to Islam. DGP of Kerala Police declared yesterday in the Kerala High Court that the police are not aware of any organization called Love Jihad in the state, or in other words they have not found any evidence so far.
However, a poster war is going on between Shiva Sena (the organization for restoring Marathi pride has some followers in this township far south) and the Popular Front (a self-declared progressive Islamic organization). A few days back Shiva Sena activists put some posters citing news reports that Love Jihad (they did not mention whether it is the organization or the phenomenon) is on prowl on the state. The local Shiva Sena unit found that many girls in Attingal too had fallen in the trap of Love Jihad.
For those who still don’t know what Love Jihad is, let me explain it in simple terms. Love Jihad is the process of Muslim boys or men wooing Hindu girls and marrying them. What is the problem with that, you may ask. The problem, according to VHP, Shiva Sena and other folks who “protect” Hindu community, is that they made these girls convert to Islam. They even go one step further and allege that certain Islamic organization deliberately do this by recruiting and funding handsome Islam romeos. Hence Shiva Sena declared a war against love. And the posters in Attingal bus stand were part of that war.
Yesterday, ironically as if to prove Shiva Sena’s claim that some Islamic organizations are behind this, posters of Popular Front appeared on the decades old pillars of bus stand. It proclaims “Conversion is constitutional”, meaning a person has a constitutional right to adopt whatever faith he or she likes. The posters also declared that those who fear conversion belong to the faiths that do not have a proper foundation.
Amidst all posters and counter posters, girls and boys still assemble at Attingal private bus stand and exchange glances. Some of them manage to fall in love as well – Jihad or no Jihad.
Comments
I think you missed the irony that Manu pointed out. Shiva Sena once tried to kick non-marathis (almost all south Indians including Keralites are qualified non-marathis) out of Mumbai.Isn't it ironical find them somewhat popular here?
Well, coming back to your real point you made, I have to say that your opinion is grounded on the fundamental principle of "us and them". We don't know who were all staying in Attingal a few centuries back.
It is not centuries back, it is about Attingal just 25 years ago.
Shiva Sena might have indulged in anti-Malayali campaigns earlier. But now they are the only ones standing upto Muslim Jihad and Christian Bapterroism in Kerala now. But for them Hindus will be decimated in the southern districts as well within no time. Lotus eaters (like Brown country) will watch and watch along with his leftist anti-national forces.
Do you still support Shivasena despite all the bad press they have managed to attract during the last few months in Mumbai and Varkala. I agree that they run some useful services to people in Attingal. Their leader in Attingal Mr. G. Ajith is somewhat popular. However, I think until they shed their ideological baggage,they will remain in a political no-man's land at least in Kerala.
Also I think your claim is pure hyperbole. You are stretching your imagination too far when you say that Hindus survive in these parts because of Shiva Sena. Do you really think so?
I don't know about the situation in other places. But it is true that in Attingal, certain people belonging to non-hindu communities have made strong financial progress. (Even immigrant Tamils have done that). But still, the town has not witnessed any communal problem of disruptive kind so far. Seriously, I don't see a wipe out any community from Attingal.
It's clear that you have a pro-Shivasena stand. But let's not be blinded by any belief or a party here.
Your statement, "Shiva Sena might have indulged in anti-Malayali campaigns earlier." shows that you are giving the benefit of doubt to shivasena (SS). Even Bal Thackeray wouldn't agree with you.
As said by Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Hinduism is not "just a faith", but in itself is related to the union of reason and intuition. Hinduism cannot be defined, but is only to be experienced.
Let's not bake Hinduism into pocket sized books with labels of shivasena or BJP. When you start doing that, it no longer remains the same. It transforms into other inhuman forms and acts adopted by Hitler and Mussolini; which kills and wipes out your neighbour.
Let's be humans and be Hindus.
The comment says a lot about the psyche of fundamentalists (whether it is Hindu, Christian, or Islam): either you lick others' a..se or force somebody else to lick yours.
Tolerance, anonymous, do you know what that means.
1. All Muslims are not terrorists, but all terrorists are Muslims
2. Religious conversion is nothing but silent terrorism
3. Christians in India have never been patriotic and loyal to Indian nation
4. Attingal is now no more a Hindu majority area
5. Very soon you will see Sharia law and Christmas celebrations being part of Attingal Municipality affairs
And then Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and Nehru will come to your rescue !!!!!!
For a start, I am not a foolish Hindu. May be a foolish person. I am born to Hindu parents. I have not seen anything in Hindu religion that is not in some other religion. In my view, all religions say good things. The problem is the high priests, of all religions, and their interpretation. I personally believe religion should be an undergarment. It should be clean and pure, but not something to be flaunted off.
To be very precise, I do not like or dislike just because he or she happens to be a Muslim or Hindu.
Now to your arguments.
"1. All Muslims are not terrorists, but all terrorists are Muslims"
Not true. Khalistan, LTTE, North-east Indian, Irish Republican Army. I can suggest you many more 21st century that are non-musilms. I have to say that some of the Hindu organizations are as terrorist as some of these.
"2. Religious conversion is nothing but silent terrorism"
But look at the people who convert. They are financially and socially backward people. If conversion gives them a better life, then why not? It is better to be a a converted Islam or Christian who can have a decent life than a suffering and backward Hindu. I can only blame the inherent flaws in the caste system of the Hindu religion for that.
"3. Christians in India have never been patriotic and loyal to Indian nation"
I thought we are all trying to become global citizens. I think many of use are loyal to our own interests that to the interests of the nation. So, you cannot single out Christians there. You can be patriotic. but loyal, to whom? in what purpose?
"4. Attingal is now no more a Hindu majority area"
First, I don't see any danger in not being a Hindu Majority area.
Second, you need to back that claim with census data. I will try to get the data and, hopefully, prove you wrong.
"5. Very soon you will see Sharia law and Christmas celebrations being part of Attingal Municipality affairs"
I still celebrate X'mas, cutting cakes, sending some cards, and having some drinks. I do not know about Sharia law. But I think it becoming the abiding law of the people of all religions in Attingal is nothing but the hallucination of the self-declared intelligent Hindus.
Please read the story in this link: http://bit.ly/14paNR
It tells the story of how a Hindu became a Jihadi terrorist.
Please do some research. If you look at the global scenario, there are plenty of terrorists in various other religions and ethnicity than Islam.
Now back to the main issue. How did Islamic terrorism take roots in India? Up until 1980s, islamic terrorism had mainly been confined to Kashmir. I believe the Babri Masjid demolition, Mumbai riots, and Gujarat pogrom catalyzed the spread of Jihadi terrorism.
There were some people (of both Indian and Pakistani origin) who were looking to spread Islamic gospel in India. The BJP, Shiva Sena, and other pro-Hindu leaders played straight into the hands of these people. I would blame the senior leadership of BJP: Vajpayee and Advani, for this. What they did was a more serious offense than what Godse had done.
If we continue this tit-for-tat approach, it will only suck us into a vicious cycle of genocides and mass killings. In such a situation, we cannot live in peace even if we belong to a majority community. What we want is communal harmony; not a particularly dominant religion.
It is easy to get fooled, but never ever allow anyone to fool you with your full knowledge. Right from the first truce pact at Medina and the start of proselytisation, Islam and Christianity are built on deception. Their only idea is political power and the secular fools in India are their sepoys.
One thing is clear. You believe India is the land "owned" by Hindus. I do not accept that view, neither does the Constitution of India.
If we check the history of religions, we have to say that every religion is crap. That is because of the religious leaders of all religions were power hungry politicians, who could not win wars in battle fields. So they tried to psychologically rule the kings. It continues even now.
I am not going to accept your challenge about buying land in Malappuram. I can only say that I have some friends in Malappuram, who are living just like other Hindus who live in the so-called Hindu-dominated areas.
Also, what I said about religious harmony is not some secular sermon. I truly believe in that. Have you ever tried to travel by train on Dec. 6? The security checks are unbearable. There had not been any problems before 1992.
There were people (mainly communists) who had prophesied that India would become a hell for Muslims if BJP came to power in the center. When they eventually did rule India, nothing happened. You seem to be in the opposite spectrum. I have to say that both types are fear-mongers, who do not have any touch with day-to-day realities.
You look at the rich people in Attingal. There are many Hindus, many Muslims, a few Christians and Tamils. If you look at the poorest of poor, you are going to get people from all these communities too. The rich almost always get richer, while a majority of the poor remain poor. The rich and the powerful of all communities get preferential treatment in virtually all government offices, while the poor people of all religions are shabbily treated by the same officials.
I think we are giving undue importance for religion and ignore the real issues in our society. Religion, after all, is something that you cannot choose.
I know it is an impossibility to make people realise their mistakes, but it still remains my dharma to keep on trying.
You seem to have drunken too much Hindutva cola, or is it Hindutva vodka? That is why you confuse spirituality with the Hindu religion.
Well, the whole world knows why the World trade center was attacked.So, I am not commenting anything on that.
I feel there is a deep rooted link between religion and money. All religious institutions, Hindu, Muslim, Christian, or whatever, have been flourishing during the last one or two decades. From where these institutions get money? I include temples and their office bearers in this list. A number of poojaris and imams have become obscenely rich. In my view, religions have become a money making tool for many
Also, spirituality without religion is something that exists only within the notorious JNU campus. For ordinary Indians (the poor ones about which you are more concerned), it is only religion, religion and religion. That is why Madani is putting bombs and Pentecosts are converting en masse. If you have not realised this, you will soon realise it.
Let me give you an interesting example. There was a special home for mentally challenged people in Attingal, near the Town Hall. It had been home to more than 10 people (both young and old). It was shut down a few months back.
Last month, just opposite to the building, a renovated and shining church was opened. If you go 1 km northwards through the NH, you can see three temples in a 250-metre stretch either side of Poovanpara bridge. New construction works have always been carried out in these temples. The same is the case with mosques. In fact, Attingal now has a mosque for the so-called progressive thinking Muslims.
What I want to show is that we have surplus money for divine buildings; but most people are reluctant to give even Rs. 5 or 10, when approached to raise funds to build a house of mentally challenged or destitute people.
All religions are the same. They are good in their message and essence. However, in practice all are equally bad.
We still have a sane and cultured society, thanks to the first few generations of nationalized Indians. If you guys have your way, I can only imagine what would be the situation of our future generation. You folks want to Talibanize Hindus too.
I think you are not intellectually or emotionally capable of understanding the value of religious harmony. You are guided by fear and hatred. Unless you get rid of fear, hatred, and insecurity, you cannot get rid of this non-Hindu phobia.
And all religions are not equal. This is a wrong concept spread again by the pseudo secular intellectuals. Muslims and Christians are hell bent on converting others into their religion. Hinduism is the only truly tolerant religion that allows for true secularism to prevail. Indian remains tolerant only because it is Hindu majority so far. The question of Attingal is exactly the same. The moment Hindu population goes below the 50% mark, you will see the change. but then it will be too late.
There is no fear invlved in this, but only concern generated by the capacity to foresee what is coming up. Do not become willing fools walking into the trap of Love Jihadis and Penetcosts wanting to destroy the Indian nation from within. Yor air of intellectual understanding and secular jada will have no value in front of such Jihais who will just cut off your heads, like they do in Saudi
To quote Anonymous "Hinduism is the only truly tolerant religion that allows for true secularism to prevail. Indian remains tolerant only because it is Hindu majority so far."
So, Anonymous has finally agreed to become tolerant and have been converted from a religious fanatic into a True Hindu. Let's hail the holy cow! (even though I love beef :))