INDIAN INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH INTO TRUE HISTORY 

NEWSLETTER NO. 57 OF 16 OCTOBER 2010 

1. NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS

1.1 Visit to Marseilles 8 July 2010

In July 1910 Veer Savarkar was being transported to Hindusthan in a ship named s.s. Morea. It docked at the French port of Marseilles. In the morning of 8 July 1910 Savarkar jumped through a port-hole, swam ashore, climbed the quay wall and ran to escape from his British captors. Unfortunately the British escort caught up with him, bribed French policeman and took Savarkar back to ship. That was not the end of the matter. It cause turmoil in Europe for next one year and it ended in a case at the International Court (of Arbitration) at The Hague.

To mark 100th anniversary of this event, Mr and Mrs Godbole, Manohar Rakhe and Shridhar Damle of Chicago travelled to Marseilles. In the evening of 7th July they went to Place de la Joliette, but found that large area was covered by construction activities and fenced off. They then went to the area reserved for pleasure boats (Port Vieux) and visualised where Savarkar would have jumped off the ship. On the 8th morning they went to sea again and took a boat trip. That was as near the spot of Savarkar’s attempted escape as they could come. Having paid homage to Savarkar they returned back to town centre.

There were two other groups of Hindus at Marseilles on the same day who paid homage to Savarkar separately. 

Unknown Savarkar

As Godbole has pointed out there is large amount of information about Savarkar which is still unknown. Shree Damle of Chicago decided to come to London to explore. He went to the British National Archives at Kew Gardens and also to the India Office Library and was overwhelmed by the secret papers relating Savarkar’s attempted escape at Marseilles. It was quite a headache for the British Government. There were repercussions even in Japan. We should note that Winston Churchill was the Home Secretary at the time. In the end Mr Damle had to cancel his return journey and re-book his flight.

We await a summary of Damle’s findings 

1.2 Forthcoming centenaries

On 24 February 1911 International Court of Arbitration at The Hague issued a judgement which went against Savarkar. Godbole has requested his friend in Holland to organise a function in front of this court on 24 February 2011. At least we can read the verdict openly. 

On 4th July 1911 Veer Savarkar entered Cellular Jail of Andaman.

Godbole has requested his friends in Hindusthan to organise a function on 4 July 2011 at the jail on Andaman Islands. 

1.3 Is this true ?

While tidying his Study, Godbole came across details of a Museum in Konkan region of Maharashtra. Its leaflet has some surprising information -

(1) Mahmud of Ghazni was a barbarian, but a scholar of Sanskrit. There is Sanskrit inscriptions on his coins.

(2) On the coin of Muhammed Ghori there is a picture of Goddess Laxmi. On the other side of the coin we see Shree before his name. 

We are trying to get photos of the coins. On further enquiries it was revealed that the person (Anna Shirgavkar) who started this collection is more than 80 years old and has given all his collection to another museum. We are trying to find a person who could go the new museum. But apparently, such coins are not rare.

One person suggested that we should refer to the following book -

Arabic Coins and how to read them by Richard Plant published by Seaby London, 1973 Edition 

1.4 Package offered.

Godbole now offers a package of his books and a CD. The books are -

Taj Mahal: Simple Analysis of a Great Deception. (2nd edition 2007)

Why Rewrite Indian History (2nd edition 2007). 

The CD has ten PowerPoint presentations: -

1st is on historical arguments on Taj Mahal (126 slides)

2nd is called Unseen Taj Mahal (120 slides)

3rd is called How the Taj legend grew (270 slides)

Taj Chronology 1/2/3/4/5 (information in tabular form)

Taj Mahal – a PPT presentation (useful for a one hour programme)

* Special London Tour (see below) 

Three sets were sent to-

Dr Dharmendra J. Nimavat MD, of USA

Sanjiv Dahiwadkar of USA

Anil Bhanot of Hindu Council U.K.  

1.5 Taj article

Godbole’s short article – Taj Mahal – it’s time for truth appears on Stephen Knapp’s web-site. We are grateful to him.

The link http://www.stephen-knapp.com/taj_mahal_time_to_tell_the_truth.htm

It was noticed by Harihara Viswanathan 

Taj Book

Godbole’s book Taj Mahal : Simple Analysis of a Great deception is available on the following link – but it has no photos.

http://www.marvinhmills.com/writings/Godbole%20book%20on%20Taj.pdf.

This was noticed by Anand Dabak of America 

1.6 Current research work

As stated in previous Newsletter, Godbole is concentrating on Savarkar’s book My Transportation for Life. He has been going through page by page and asking the question - “Does this make sense to an English reader? If not, what needs to be done?” Slowly but surely Godbole is collecting the necessary information which will be put in a Glossary or footnotes. For example, after Savarkar was sent back to mainland India he was kept in Ratnagiri jail. He could not get any books to read, but got Daasbodh. “What is Daasbodh?” There is no explanation.

Moreover many English words that are used make it difficult to read. Andaman was called Kalapani – as the name was dreaded by even worst criminals. But it cannot be called Black Sea which is the sea between Russia and Turkey.

* The tremendous impact which Savarkar had on Indian politics despite being so far away needs to be explained.

* Many words like Shuddhi will not be understood by English readers.

* A chronology is essential.

* A glossary is also required to explain various terms, persons, books etc

* There is no note from the translator – Prof Naik. Did he discuss the translation with Savarkar in 1949? For example, referring to spread of revolutionary activities among the Sikhs, Savarkar merely says – My Sikh friend in London. But Prof Naik has used the name of Harnam Singh.

Referring to the folly of non-co-operation movement of the 1920s Savarkar tells us how a revolutionary went to seek advice from a Prominent Congress leader and repented acting as per his advice afterwards. Naik uses Gandhi’s name.

> That is what Godbole is going to do. 

Missing information

During his imprisonment in Andaman (1911-21) Savarkar wrote eight letters to his younger brother Bal (Dr Narayanrao). These were published in a booklet – Echoes from Andaman. But today, they do not make sense if read on their own.

Savarkar’s elder brother Babarao was also in jail in Andaman and wrote nine letters to Bal. There were seventeen letters written by Bal to his brothers. We need ALL these letters to understand the events of 1910-21. Godbole is making enquiries. 

Indian National Archives in New Delhi will also have four important letters –

* On the outbreak of World War I Savarkar wrote to Viceroy, “Give us Colonial self government and we revolutionaries will stop our activities and help you in the war effort.”

* Viceroy acknowledged receipt.

* At the end of World War I Savarkar again wrote to the Viceroy asking for a general amnesty to all political prisoners.

* Viceroy replied – this is being considered.

We therefore need a person in New Delhi who will do this work. 

1.7 Floods in Pakistan – our response

After the floods, Godbole sent following E Mail to his contacts -

Inderjit Singh is the editor of the magazine Sikh Messenger. He can be heard on BBC Radio 4 from time to time, talking about Sikhism.

He was on air again on 24 august 2010. Referring to recent floods in Pakistan he said, "Many Sikhs now in U.K. were mercilessly driven out of their homes at the time of partition in August 1947. But today, they have donated generously to Pakistan flood relief fund!!!"

He further said, "I remember an incident in the life of Guru Govind Singh. During one of his battles with Mughals one of his disciples was caught supplying water to enemy wounded. When brought before Guru, he said, 'I am simply following teaching of Sikhism. Guru Govind Sing praised him and embraced him." (Marathi readers should refer to Dr Arvind Godbole’s book – Guru Nanak Te guru Govindsngh, 1986, p 169) 

So, there you are in 2010.

Koran says - kill your enemies, but Sikhs will provide food and shelter to our enemies.

One does not need to be a genius to know what our future holds!! 

Insanity breeds insanity.

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One IT Engineer from London commented – “Well said kaka. I am also no great fan of them, but still donating towards the massive humanitarian crisis.”

Godbole replied - We Hindus will never learn from our history.

I remember an incident in the early 1950s. Famous singer Hirabai Badodekar had been on a tour of East Africa which had a large Marathi population. She realised that at one locality the response was poor.

She asked - why?

The answer was simple. It had large Muslim population. They bluntly said - Hirabai is going to collect money and use it to fight Pakistan. So, we will not attend her functions!!

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IT Engineer replied –

You are actually saying that we ought to refrain from giving to them in their time of need?

I am sorry for having to say this, but my identity as a human is far stronger than as a Hindu. These are fellow human beings who are not able to eat, and I will find it difficult to live with my conscience if I don’t help them.

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On 18 or 19th September there was a Marathon in Gateshead/ Newcastle area of North England. Those taking part were raising funds for various causes. Two Sikhs said – We are raising money for flood victims of Pakistan!!

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BBC of course complained that India has done nothing to help Pakistan. But it has been silent on pathetic response of Muslim states. Manmohan Singh, the Indian P.M. of course offered 5 million dollars even though Pakistan has not asked for it.

And surprisingly Pakistan refused to accept. So, Indian government requested American President Obama to intervene!!

How stupid can one be? But with Gandhi’s picture on every Indian rupee note, what can you expect? 

1.8 What is Hinduism?

The problem faced by parents in the West is how to explain Hinduism to their children and grandchildren. Our Mandirs are utterly useless in this task. Naturally the children get attracted to Islam and Christianity.

While attending Marathi Sammelan at Zurich in July 2010 Godbole met Mr Dilip Thatte of America. It was wonderful to listen to him on this subject. His presentation Seven Stars of Hinduism was simply marvellous. He does reach out to our youngsters. He has published books and produced CDs. If you wish to contact him his details are –

Dileep Thatte

3519 Stackinghay Drive

Naperville, IL 60564

USA

Mobile: 630-418-4832

Fax:     630-904-4832

Godbole made two suggestions –

(a) While referring to Lord Krishna, Thatte should not say that Krishna had several wives. This creates an impression that a woman is meant for enjoyment!!

(b) After showing on screen the basic principles of Sanatana Dharma, Thatte should NOT say these are same in all religions. 

Godbole has sent extracts from his book Rationalism of Veer Savarkar. This is for two reasons – Savarkar deals effectively with Islam, its factions and the Koran and also the Bible. There is also a difference between Religion and Dharma. We wish Thatte well in his mission. We need more preachers like him. 

1.9 Hindu Temples

From time to time we gat E Mails from friends in Hindusthan. They feel that Hinduism is on demise there, but there is curiosity about it in the West, and we should use this to our advantage. Some quote examples of new Mandirs being built in the West.

To such people Godbole replied -

The problem is not as simple as you imagine.

There is no unity among Hindu Mandirs for a common drive.

For example, there is a Hindu Mandir in Northampton.

When I went there, one of the organisers told me a sad story. If Raam Murti is placed - should we call it Ram Mandir? or Hindu Mandir? People are wasting time on such childish arguments.

I am utterly disappointed by our Mandirs. For example,

Lord Ganesh should be placed in the fore front. He has to be worshipped before any function. I have seen his murti placed inside along with other murtis!! What can we tell the white people?? Murtis are made of white marble. So, Raama and Krishna are WHITE!!! What will tell our own children, let alone the white people.

(This applies to Chicago, Philadelphia in America or Luton / Manchester in England) 

Mandir organisers think that their only purpose is Bhajan / Bhojan / Pooja / Prasad -- and GO HOME. Nothing else will be allowed. They will not do anything for spread of Hinduism. A Doctor friend living in Gillingham, Kent wanted to perform Ganapati Puja to inform non-Maratha Hindus about traditions of Maharashtra. The temple authorities told him to PAY for hire of their hall! 

Our Mandirs are NOT relevant to needs of our children and society in general.

Some five years ago, in London, a Kannad friend of Godbole had a knee replacement operation. No one helped this friend when he was in hospital. No one cared when he was sent home – no help with shopping or cooked food, cleaning his flat or anything. Godbole travelled 50 miles to supply cooked food for his friend when he came home from hospital. And this person was a priest in many Hindu temples!! Once Godbole suggested that he could tell our people about Special London Tour. This friend flatly refused. “Keep the temples holy” he said. 

That is the reality. 

1.10 Jana Gana Mana – the misconception continues

Despite our efforts, people still are under false impression that Jana Gana Mana was composed by Ravindranath Tagore to welcome King George V in 1911.

It was astonishing that on 2 August a friend of Dr P V Vartak of Pune sent the same old E Mail again.

Same was repeated on United Hindu Front on 23 August

Unfortunately even though all our information is available on the web-site www.satyashodh.com people don’t read it. 

At least people have started to accept that –

(i) They do not know who would have requested Tagore to compose Jana Gana Mana to welcome King George V

(ii) Tagore was neither invited to attend the Delhi Darbar of 1911, nor honoured on the occasion. 

In his reply to media-monitor group Godbole said –  

(1) None of us were present in 1911 

(2) Who has seen the papers of 1911 and where? All the comments are based of hearsay and speculation. 

(3) Distinction has to be made between Anglo-Indian papers like Statesman and Nationalist papers like Bengalee. Shree Kumar treats the Anglo-Indian papers as reliable, but does not bother to see what was reported in Nationalist papers (exactly same mistake made by Bal Jere a close associate of Veer Savarkar who made the

allegation in 1980. 

(4) We also must use some common-sense. 

(a) Was there a song composed to welcome Lord Curzon as Viceroy? Or Lord Minto who replaced him? If not, why would suddenly be there a need to welcome King George V?

On the contrary in 1900 Savarkar composed a song welcoming Justice Ranade on his visit to Nasik for laying foundation stone of public hall - this is quite appropriate. 

(b) In 1903/5 Partition of Bengal came as a bomb-shell on Indian leaders. Lord Curzon's arrogance offended even the Moderates. Gokhale as President of Congress condemned Curzon and compared him to Aurangzeb. 

(c) In 1907 at Surat session of Congress, deep division between Moderates and Militants came to light. But in 1908 just 6 months later, when Tilak was sentenced to Transportation to Burma for 6 years, Moderates were furious. They organised a protest meeting in London in Caxton Hall which is within walking distance from Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing St. 

Under these circumstances would the Moderates request Tagore to compose a cong in praise of King George V?

Tagore had already protested at Curzon's Delhi Durbar was waste of public money. 

(d) One should also remember that in 1904 Tagore composed a song in Bengali in praise of Shivaji. Such a person would not compose song to welcome a foreign king. 

AND finally Tagore himself refuted the allegation. That is what you will find on our web-site. Tagore says - Bharat Bhagya Vidhata can never be George V or VI or any other George. 

I will write again when I have time to visit the British Library and get more information. 

>> Further note – In our prayers we say – Om, Rajadhirajaya prasahya sahine, namo vayam vaishravanaya kurmahe –

Who is this Rajadhiraj? Must be King George V!! – how ridiculous. 

1.11 Raamayana in Urdu by a Muslim woman

We are always at a loss for love of Urdu among Hindus – even Punjabis and Aryasamajists. But they never attempt to translate Satyartha Prakash into Urdu, let alone biographies of Shivaji, Savarkar, Tilak and other important Hindu leaders. On 30 September 2010 we saw an important E Mail

VARANASI: a 22-year-old Muslim woman from an unlettered family of weavers is translating 'Ramcharitmanas' into Urdu, setting a fine example of inter-community accord in this communally sensitive city. This bright alumnus of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth said, ''So far, I have completed the translation up to Sunderkand. I hope to conclude my work in the next month-and-a-half.'' Nazneen has already translated into Urdu the Hanuman Chalisa by legendary poet Goswami Tulsidas, as also Durga Chalisa or verses in praise of the goddess. 

Nazneen derives inspiration from writers and scholars of Mughal period like Abdul Qadir Badayuni who had translated Ramayana and Mahabharata in Arabic and Persian during the period of Mughal emperor Akbar. Nazneen is the only qualified person in her family, living in Lallapura area of Varanasi.  

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Muslim-scholar-translates-Ramayana-into-Urdu/articleshow/6654596.cms 

This is indeed good news. 

Several years ago, a friend of Godbole was visiting Lahore where one can receive Indian TV programmes. He found to his surprise that the whole city came to a standstill when Raamayana was being shown on Indian T V. 

1.12 EU Nations funding for Religious Conversion in Nepal: Kamal Thapa

On 23 May we received an important E Mail from Ashotosh Shrivastav

Kamal Thapa, chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal has said that due to unwarranted and undesirable activities of some of the European Countries based in Nepal, the sanctity of Hindu religion remains in a ‘Threatened state’.

Mr. Thapa was addressing a media interaction program held in Birgunj city of Parsa district, May 22, 2010 wherein he made these somewhat scathing remarks which may not be taken in good taste by the countries that Thapa targeted.

To recall, youths affiliated with a Hindu organization had violently retaliated against the Unified Maoists’ Party called indefinite closure in the city.

Thapa was also of the opinion that those European nations and their representatives based in Kathmandu were carrying out activities to increase the influence of Christianity in an organized and planned manner.

“There was a big conspiracy while declaring the country a secular State even if it was not basically the agenda of Peoples’ Uprising-II,” he also reminded his audience.

“I challenge the European Countries to first make their own countries secular”, Thapa threw the ball in the court of the European Countries.

The first daring and blunt challenge ever made by a Nepali leader against the "mighty" Europeans. 

In the course of his speech, Mr. Thapa made his point further clear and asked the European Countries while mainly pointing-out figures at Norway and said “The have been pouring in huge sum of money in their conversion drive that they are carrying out in Nepal.”

“The Foreign funded NGOs and INGOs involved in selling Christianity in Nepal must be immediately banned by the government.”

The outgoing controversial French Ambassador to Nepal, Gilles Henry Garault, had sent a letter on behalf of the European Union to the government of Nepal to guarantee right to religious conversion, it was reported earlier.

The French envoy is presumed and widely rumored to have spent a huge amount of money through the EU affiliated INGO’s for religion conversion purposes.

Interestingly, the French Ambassador is married to a lady of Chinese origin.

Currently, France is the chair of local EU presidency.

“The European Union urges the government to allow ‘full freedom’ to proselytize while drafting the new constitution”, one of the prominent media had reported referring to the “official” letter sent by the French Embassy duly signed by the French Ambassador.

Mr. Thapa nevertheless, also took to task the French Envoy and said, “We deplore the act of the French Envoy in pressurizing the government to guarantee right to religious conversion.”

France is the target.

The government must make its official views clear over the pressure exerted by the French Envoy, Thapa concluded.

Thapa recently returned Nepal after attending a Hinduwta Conference held in Mumbai which was attended by Hindu Fundamentalist leaders of India in large numbers.

The EU reaction is awaited in this regard.

Our comments – This is at a time when Europe is facing severe Financial crisis. They all wish Hindus to vanish. But We Hindus will not open our eyes. 

1.12 Crescent and Cross replace Sun and Lotus in Kendriya Vidyalaya emblem

A disturbing E Mail received last year 

From: Devant Maharaj

To: media_monitor5@yahoogroups.com ;

Sent: Saturday, October 24, 2009 8:36 PM

Subject: [media_monitor5] - By R.Balashankar  

In a move that touches the pit's bottom, the UPA government has changed the emblem of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan from Lotus and shining Sun to Cross and Crescent. And this has been done in the name of "broader reflection of national ethos." The Board of Governors of KVS in its 79th meeting held on 26.6.2008 approved the new logo and a circular was sent to all the offices and schools of the Sangathan on July 17, 2008, to change the emblem in all the publications and communications. Though the chairman of KVS, HRD Minister Arjun Singh did not attend the meeting, the minutes of the meeting stated that the emblem has been approved by the chairman. His deputy Shri Md Ali Ashraf Fatmi, Minister of State, HRD & Deputy Chairman, was also not present at the meeting. The circular issued by the Asst. Commissioner (Acad I), KVS, said "in order to give a broader reflection of national ethos and ought (sic) to be inclusive of challenges, opportunities, rationalistic, scientific and global thinking, advances in science & technology and social changes taking place in the society" (sic) the new emblem has been created. The picture shows a book with blank pages, and apparently two human forms emerging from globe. The crescent (an Islamic symbol) and two crosses and stars (Christian) are obvious.  

A few months ago, the UPA government had released coins of Rs 2 denomination with cross on them. There was reportedly even a surreptitious move to change our national motto 'Satyameva Jayate' which was buried because the government felt that it would earn mud on the face over the issue. From a reading of the minutes of the KVS Board of Governors meeting, it is not clear where the idea of change in emblem originated and what was the inadequacies of the previous emblems. The new emblem is not explained either in the minutes. Commenting on the move, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, former HRD Minister said, "There is nothing scientific or Indian in the emblem that has been newly created. The previous emblem in fact reflected the Indian ethos. Lotus is a symbol of 1857 War of Independence and we always associate the sun with progress, innovation, spiritual, endeavour and it is unfortunate that the Government of India is trying to create a sense of alienation in young minds by trying to promote imported concepts." 

1.13 Rahul Gandhi and RSS

In October Rahul Gandhi equated RSS and SIMI (Muslim students’ movement)

Godbole commented – “Rahul is only following in footsteps of our beloved Bapu.

In 1926, a Muslim fanatic killed Swami Shraddhanand in Delhi. Immediately Gandhi declared, "Hindus and Muslims are equally responsible for this tragedy."

And we have picture of such a person on every single Indian Rupee note.” 

1.14 Allah ho Akbar

Some friends have circulated pictures of Muslims demonstrating in London asking to kill non-believers (Kafirs).

Others have circulated pictures of Muslims are closing streets on Fridays in Paris and New York for their prayers!!

Some have sent Dutch M.P. Geert Wilders warning about dangers of spread of Islam in the West. 

Godbole replied – “One must admit that Muslims are honest. They have no hidden agenda. If others do not want to open their eyes, what can they do?”

“At least some Europeans are waking up to the Muslim threat. But even at this late hour they cherish the dream of destroying Hindusthan by spread of Christianity!! (see what they are openly doing in Nepal) They just would not stop.”

“Wilders talks about Churchill, but it was Churchill who wanted to promote Pakistan. No point in praising Churchill. Remember his speeches where he (Churchill) constantly refers to protecting rights of minorities (Muslims)?” 

1.15 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

Most of the readers have seen the good and bad points. On 14 October at the time of closing ceremony it was surprising to hear military band playing Sare Jahanse Achhya Hindusthan hamara. Vande Mataram was also sung by school children.

Oh dear! Now what will happen to Nehru’s India? Mind you Vice President is a Muslim. 
 

2. AROUND LONDON TOUR OF PLACES ASSOCIATED WITH INDIAN FREEDOM FIGHTERS

Godbole conducted three tours.

First one was on 3 July for a group of 100 visitors led by Raja Rani Travels of Pune / Mumbai. Godbole had informed beforehand the owner of ground floor flat at 65 Cromwell Avenue (India House of Savarkar’s times).

Second one was on 17 July. This was specifically arranged for Shridhar Damle of Chicago who had come to London to carry out research on Savarkar in British Archives. Eight others joined in. The tour lasted till 8:30 p.m. This time we visited the house where Swami Vivekananda lived in 1896. There is a blue plaque on the house.

Some notes –

(a) Highgate Cemetery is near Savarkar’s India House. Continue along Cromwell Avenue. Cross main road into Waterflow park. Follow the path. At the end one sees Cemetery. The one on the left side is East Cemetery – where Karl Marx is buried – entrance fee 3 pounds. The one on the right side is West Cemetery. Entrance for guided tours only. Fee 10 pounds.

(b) There are toilets in the park.

(c) If Warren St Station is open and Northern Line trains are stopping there, it is better to walk along Cromwell Avenue. At T junction turn left. Take any bus. They all go to Archway station. Take Northern line (southbound) to Warren St. This is lot quicker than going by Bus 134 along Archway Road.

(d) House where Swami Vivekananda once lived – 67 St George’s Drive. We went to Victoria tube station. Came out on Buckingham Palace road – turned left till we came to a cross road called Elizabeth Bridge. This continues to be St George’s drive. The numbering system of houses is confusing. Keep on walking till you come to a house number 67 with blue plaque. (It is on your right hand side) 

Third tour was on 21 August. Mr and Mrs Karkhanis of Manchester had requested this tour. One Mr Prasad Hardikar, a Chemical Engineer from Gurgav near New Delhi also joined. This time we realized that it is easier to go to Pimlico tube station to go to house where Vivekananda once lived.

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One Captain Joshi (retired) knows Dr Agarkar of Kalyan who told him about Godbole’s Special London Tour. Joshi immediately circulated the news to all his friends and former officers, some of them are Colonels/ Brigadiers and one is even a Lt General.

* Through this list Godbole was in touch with Dr Rajesh Tope, Tatya Tope’s nephew’s grandson. Rajesh worked as a doctor in Ireland and came to London several times. It is a pity that he did not know about Godbole’s Special Tour. 
 

4. BEHAVIOUR OF CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS TODAY 

4.1 The Muslims

4.1.1 Deadly blats hit Sufi shrine in Lahore

Friday, July 02, 2010

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/south_asia/10483453.stm

The BBC's Aleem Maqbool: "The shrine was packed when the suicide bombers struck." Suicide bombers have launched a deadly attack on a Sufi shrine in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore.

At least 35 people died in the blasts at the popular Data Darbar shrine late on Thursday evening, officials say. At least 175 other people were hurt in the blasts, believed to be the first targeting a shrine in Lahore. Thousands of people were visiting the shrine at the time, officials say. It holds the remains of a Persian Sufi saint, Abul Hassan Ali Hajvery.

ANALYSIS by Syed Shoaib Hasan, / BBC News, Karachi

Although no-one has yet said they carried out the attack, Taliban militants and their Punjabi jihadi allies have been involved in several such bombings in the northern Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa province. The shrine is largely frequented by members of the majority Barelvi sect, who are seen as heretics by the Taliban. Most of the Taliban belong to the rival Deoband Sunni sect, which strongly disapproves of worship at shrines. Many are also allied to the Sipah-e-Sahaba, and its armed splinter group, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, which seeks to turn Pakistan into a Deoband Sunni state. The shrine is visited by hundreds of thousands of people each year from both Sunni and Shia traditions of Islam.

At least two attackers were involved, although police initially said three explosions had been heard. The impact of the blasts ripped open the courtyard of the shrine. Rescue workers could be seen clambering over the rubble as they carried out the victims. Khusro Pervez, commissioner of Lahore, said two of the attacks took place in the main courtyard and one in the lower level of the shrine.

The first attacker struck in the underground area where visitors sleep and prepare themselves for prayer, he said. As people fled, a second bomber detonated his explosives in the upstairs area. Officials say they believe the bombers used devices packed with ball-bearings to maximise the impact of their attack.

A volunteer security guard at the shrine described scenes of devastation. "It was a horrible scene," said Mohammed Nasir. "There were dead bodies all around with blood and people were crying." The attack is the biggest on a Sufi shrine in Pakistan since militant attacks began in 2001.

No group has said it carried out the attack, but correspondents say the attacks continue a growing trend among militants to target members of other sects as well as minorities.

History of attacks

Lahore has been hit by a series of bomb attacks, including a suicide blast at anti-terrorist offices in March, when at least 13 people died.

BIG MILITANT ATTACKS

In May, more than 90 people were killed in a double attack on the minority Ahmadi sect in the city.

Earlier, security chiefs had been congratulating themselves after what was the first month in two years in which there had been no suicide bombings in Pakistan, the BBC's Aleem Maqbool reports from Islamabad. They said it was proof the militant networks had been disrupted. Most Pakistanis knew the battle against militancy in this country was far from over, he adds. Last year Pakistan launched a major military offensive against militant strongholds in South Waziristan. In December the military said they had achieved victory, but subsequent reports have suggested the militants remain active in the region.

The Taliban indoctrinate poor children in Madrassahs and teach them that killing 'kuffar and mushrikeeen" (non-Muslims and improper Muslims) will serve Allah and get them into jannat (heaven with many juicy delights). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoGJP02CtPA

See especially where a teenage boy talks about his aspirations of killing kuffar and mushrikeen after being trained in such a Madrassah.

The Taliban are fighting for intolerant Islamist supremacy which involves killing those who are heretics in their eyes (read Ahmedis, Shias, Sufis etc) and imposing Islamic Sharia on the world by force:

 ‘‘We hate democracy," Sufi told the crowd of thousands of followers in Mingora. "We want the occupation of Islam in the entire world. Islam does not permit democracy or election.’’

“From the very beginning, I have viewed democracy as a system imposed on us by the infidels. Islam does not allow democracy or elections,” Sufi told Deutsche Presse-Agentur 

Sufi Mohammed is the spiritual leader of the outlawed Movement for the Implementation of Mohammad's Sharia Law.

Some more information  -

Thursday is the congregation day at the shrine when the maximum number of worshippers gather at night (jumaraat). The shrine is considered sacred not only by many Muslim sects -- Shias, Sunnis and Ahmadias -- but also by Hindus. In fact, before Pakistan was created in 1947, a large number of Hindus from all over India used to visit the shrine.

The shrine was, in fact, electrified by a Hindu landlord living nearby in gratitude for the recovery of his sons from a severe attack of flu after doctors had given up hopes for their recovery. The landlord believed that it was the saint, in whose honour the shrine had been built, who came to his house at night and touched his sons who were in their deathbed. They recovered the next day.

Data Darbar is one of the oldest Muslim shrines in the subcontinent. It houses the remains of a Sufi saint, Abul Hassan Ali Hajvery. He was of Persian origin and was born in the 11th century in Ghazni, Afghanistan. From there he migrated to Iraq and spent the last years of his life in Lahore, where he died and was buried.

The needle of suspicion points to the Jundullah group from Iranian Balochistan and the anti-Shia and anti-Iran terror outfit Lashkar-e-Jhangvi in retaliation for the suspected collaboration of the Pakistan government with Iran in the arrest of Abdolmalek Rigi, the amir of the Jundullah. Rigi was captured by Iranian intelligence while he was flying to Kyrgyzstan from Dubai. He was executed in June after a short trial.

The Dawn daily has reported as follows on the suicide blasts:

'Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) Chaudhry Shafiq Ahmad told Dawn that two suicide attacks had been carried out and investigators had found the bombers' skulls and limbs. He said ball-bearings and other material used in the blasts had also been collected. Lahore Commissioner Khusro Pervaiz Bakhtiar told journalists at the spot that the bombers had blown themselves up during a large congregation. In reply to a question about the involvement of a foreign hand in the attack, he said the strike was a horrible conspiracy but 'our own people become instruments in the hands of others'.

'The official said an investigation had been launched about the breach in security measures. According to witnesses, the explosions were so powerful that a large number of people fell down and several of them were injured in a stampede. The shrine's administration announced seconds after the first blast that a generator had exploded in the basement and they might continue their activities. The bomb disposal squad estimated that 10-15 kg of explosives had been used in each suicide jacket.

'Ambulances of Rescue 1122 and the Edhi Foundation took the bodies and injured people to hospitals. According to a devotee, two gates on the north and south side of the shrine, which usually remain closed, were open on Thursday. He suspected that the bombers had entered through those gates.

'Police evacuated Data Darbar to collect evidence and carry out rescue work. All commercial and residential buildings adjoining the shrine were also searched for suspects.

'Following the blasts, an extensive crackdown was launched across the city and several people were detained for interrogation. A suspect was also taken into custody near the Darbar. Rumors of terror attacks on other shrines in the city panicked devotees and police also launched a search operation there. Security was beefed up in and around all shrines and religious places.__._.___

4.1.2 Attacks on Ahmadias in Pakistan 

Sharif, are you still a Muslim?' Imtiaz Ahmad / Hindustan Times - 17 June, 2010

Pakistan's religious parties have responded with one voice to a statement of PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif that he stood by the Ahmadi community "who are like our brothers." They have condemned Sharif and questioned whether he "still is a Muslim."

"It is ironic that religious parties who were silent when over 70 members of the Ahmedi community were killed in attacks by Pakistani Taliban militants are now active in condemning anyone who sympathises with them," comments columnist Fasi Zaka. The President of the Khatam- e-Nabuwwat Conference which was held in Sargodha over the weekend questioned whether Sharif could be considered a Muslim "because he has accepted the Ahmadis as his brothers." The Ahmadia community in Pakistan, declared non-Muslim by the parliament in the 70's, continues to suffer from persecution and discrimination. Members of the community, mostly educated professionals, are routinely attacked and abused for their religious beliefs while the government looks the other way.  

Analysts say that it is in this context that the attack on Ahmadi mosques by Taliban extremists should be viewed. "After facing limited success in attacking Pakistan's law enforcement agencies, the Taliban are targeting the minority communities in a bid to gain sympathy with the mainstream Sunni Muslims in Pakistan. It is a dangerous line to follow. In Karachi, the Taliban are blamed to be behind the killing of members of the Shia community over the past couple of days. Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat Ul Ibad says that the move to cause disharmony between Karachi's communities "can have disastrous consequences." But the new frontier, say observers, is not Karachi but Punjab province, which is the country's most populous area and also its political heartland. Religion has always played a part in garnering votes in this traditional and conservative heartland of Pakistan. The local minister for minorities privately says no one takes him seriously. And with religious extremism on the rise here, the government does not seem to have a plan to tackle the growing influence of extremist parties. Growing poverty in South Punjab, a long neglected part of the province, has meant that parties like the Jamaat-ud Dawah have made inroads there. The government claims it has now come to an agreement with religious organisations and parties to supervise the teaching at Madrassas in the area. Not so, say local observers, who argue that in many instances the religious parties have been given a free hand and train and teach at will. ._,_.___

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4.1.3 Guilty Plea in Times Square Bomb Plot –

Author: Benjamin Weiser / Publication: The New York Times / Date: June 21, 2010

The suspect in the failed Times Square bombing pleaded guilty on Monday, an abrupt and expedited end to a terrorism case that extended to Pakistan and an Islamic militant group there.

The defendant, Faisal Shahzad, 30, listened as each of 10 counts was read to him in Federal District Court in Manhattan, and indicated he understood the charges and penalties he faced. Mr. Shahzad recounted how and why he conceived the plot, traveling to Pakistan last year, joining the Taliban and receiving training in how to construct a bomb. And despite his admission of guilt and his extended cooperation with the authorities since his arrest, Mr. Shahzad was unapologetic, characterizing himself as "part of the answer to the U.S. terrorizing the Muslim nations and the Muslim people."

"I want to plead guilty, and I'm going to plead guilty 100 times over," he said, "because until the hour the U.S. pulls its forces from Iraq and Afghanistan, and stops the drone strikes in Somalia and Yemen and in Pakistan, and stops the occupation of Muslim lands, and stops killing the Muslims, and stops reporting the Muslims to its government, we will be attacking U.S., and I plead guilty to that." The plea and Mr. Shahzad's comments came four days after a federal grand jury returned an indictment that offered new details about the government's accusations that Tehrik-i-Taliban, the umbrella organization for the Pakistani Taliban, had assisted Mr. Shahzad in his plot.

In court, he admitted receiving the training, saying he had gone to find the Taliban and learned how to build a bomb that he planned to detonate as part of his plan.

"With them, I did the training to wage an attack inside the United States of America," Mr. Shahzad said.

"Any kind of attack?" Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum of Federal District Court asked." It would have been any kind of attack," Mr. Shahzad said, "but I was given bomb training, and that's what I learned there."

Wearing a white head covering, Mr. Shahzad stood for more than half an hour answering the judge's questions about his motivations, his background and even his family. "I had a wife and two beautiful kids," he said, adding that they had returned to Pakistan to be with his parents. And it was seemingly with equanimity that Mr. Shahzad spoke of his plan to detonate a car bomb in New York City. "I chose the center of Times Square," he explained.

"Were there a lot of people in the street?" Judge Cedarbaum asked.

"Yes," Mr. Shahzad replied. "Obviously the time, it was evening, and it was a Saturday, so that's the time I chose.

”You wanted to injure a lot of people?" the judge asked. Mr. Shahzad said that he had, that he wanted "to injure people or kill people.”But he said "one has to understand where I'm coming from." He said that he considered himself "a Muslim soldier," and that United States and NATO forces had attacked Muslim lands. Judge Cedarbaum interjected: "But not the people who were walking in Times Square that night. Did you look around to see who they were?" Mr. Shahzad replied, "Well, the people select the government; we consider them all the same."

"Including the children?" the judge asked.

"Well, the drone hits in Afghanistan and Iraq," Mr. Shahzad replied, "they don't see children; they don't see anybody. They kill women, children. They kill everybody. It's a war. And in war, they kill people. They're killing all Muslims." The guilty plea was consistent with Mr. Shahzad's behavior since his May 3 arrest, when the authorities say he began cooperating with them for more than two weeks without counsel and waived his Miranda rights. One question was whether Mr. Shahzad would seek leniency in sentencing in return for his assistance. The answer seemed to come after the hearing, when the United States attorney, Preet Bharara, released a letter that had been sent to Mr. Shahzad's lawyers. It made clear that there was no plea deal, and that in choosing to plead guilty to all 10 counts, Mr. Shahzad faced a mandatory life term, the maximum sentence for which he is eligible.

"Faisal Shahzad plotted and launched an attack that could have led to serious loss of life," Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. said, "and today the American criminal justice system ensured that he will pay the price for his actions." Mr. Bharara said the investigation was continuing; his office refused to comment on whether Mr. Shahzad was continuing to co-operate. Judge Cedarbaum scheduled the sentencing for Oct. 5. Mr. Shahzad's lawyer, Philip L. Weinstein, had no comment. Mr. Shahzad's plea came on a day when he was to be arraigned on the recent indictment. But when the hearing began at midday, Mr. Weinstein and a prosecutor, Brendan R. McGuire, left for about 15 minutes for a meeting with Judge Cedarbaum. The judge then returned and announced that the parties had asked that the hearing be delayed until later that day. When court resumed just after 4:30, it quickly became clear that Mr. Shahzad would plead guilty. The judge told him that the first charge he faced was attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. How do you plead? The judge asked.

"I do plead guilty to this charge," Mr. Shahzad said.

"I gather you want to plead guilty to all of them," the judge said later.

"Yes," Mr. Shahzad said.

Throughout the session, Mr. Shahzad did not raise his voice and answered the judge's questions straightforwardly. There were also no outbursts from the spectators. At one point, Mr. Shahzad said he wanted to read "a small statement," but Judge Cedarbaum told him to wait. When he tried again later, she said: "Please, don't read it. I want to know what happened. Tell me what you did."

Mr. Shahzad said he became an American citizen last spring and left for Pakistan in June. He spent six months with family in Peshawar, he said, and left in December with a couple of friends to join the Taliban in Waziristan. He was there for 40 days, and he said he spent 5 days receiving bomb training from Tehrik-i-Taliban. It was there that he developed his bomb plot, he said. "I made a pact with them," he said. He returned to the United States in February, he said, carrying about $8,000 in cash, half from the Taliban. Later he needed more money, he said, adding, "They sent it to me twice," once in March and once in April. Mr. Shahzad described building three explosive devices in his home in Bridgeport, Conn., and placing them inside the Nissan Pathfinder that he later drove to Times Square. He said the main component of the device was a fertilizer-based bomb held in a gun cabinet in the Pathfinder's trunk. If that bomb did not work, his plans were to detonate propane gas cylinders and to start a fire in the car with gasoline. He set the device to explode in about five minutes, he said, and then walked away. The bombs did not go off. "And I don't know the reason why," Mr. Shahzad said. "I was waiting to hear a sound, but I couldn't hear any sound, so I thought it probably didn't go off. So I just walked to the Grand Central and went home."

Our comments – Muslims are always honest, but others do not wish to believe in them. What can they do?

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4.2 The Christians

4.2.1 Caste system among Indian Christians

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Christians claim converts in the name of Equality.....and yet they themselves follow caste guidelines when it comes to marriages in India 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-toi/special-report/Only-in-India-A-Brahmin-groom-for-a-Catholic-bride/articleshow/5935792.cms 

When Winnie D'Souza wanted to marry her daughter into a ‘decent' family, she scanned the matrimonial columns of Catholic periodicals in Panaji. After short listing a few young men, D'Souza made inquiries about their caste. She wanted her daughter to marry a Brahmin. Most Catholic publications do not list caste categories as they did 20 years ago, but casteism has not disappeared among Christians. It has merely become more subtle. Unlike Bihar, Orissa and the North-East, which have large tribal Christian populations, the Christians of Goa, Kerala and Tamil Nadu remain in thrall to the caste categories of their Hindu ancestors.  

Father Augustine Kanjamala, a theologian in Mumbai, has researched caste among Christians. Caste exists in different forms in various Christian communities, he says. In Kerala the Christians admitted to the faith almost 2,000 years ago are called Syrian Christians. They are better off than Latin Christians, who are mainly from poorer communities. Syrian Christians and Latin Christians do not inter-marry. They even have different institutions to train their priests.  

In Goa, Christians belonging to Brahmin or Charado (Kshatriya) castes are more privileged than the others. They dominate Church institutions and activities. Father Augustine says that in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Dalit Christians are not given much access to Church festivities. Sometimes they are reduced to having a separate church. Two decades ago, the graveyards had separate sections for upper and lower castes. This is changing because some progressive priests have challenged the iniquitous system.  

"In Mangalore, a few families of Dalit Christians have returned to Hinduism as they felt humiliated living among Christians who discriminated against them,” says Father Augustine. "Caste will not die out in the Church easily, but in cities like Mumbai, the urban situation has led to the breaking down of barriers of caste".  

4.2.2 Plight of Dalit Christians in India

by P N Benjamin

Without going into details of how enlightened Hindus have dealt with the unconscionable practice of untouchability, let us audit the record of the Church in India with regard to the dalits.  

The dalits or 'harijans' as Gandhiji called them, constitute 15% of the total Indian population and 20% of the Hindu population. As per the 2001 census, there are 24.20 million Christians in India of which the Christians of South India constitute 12.5 million, more than half the total Christian population of India, and those of the North-east, 5.4 million.

The total population of Tamil Nadu Christians is 3.8 million,

Karnataka 1 million,

Kerala 6 million,

Andhra Pradesh 1.2 million

Goa 0.4 million.

Dalits constitute 65% of the total South Indian Christian population. Some Christian groups even claim that dalits constitute 70% of the Christians of Tamil Nadu. But the secular intellectuals of this country and the US State Department, who screech that religious freedom includes the right of Christian missionaries to convert Hindus, have not cared to answer the pertinent question, "what is the attitude of the Church and its Hierarchy to social empowerment of dalit Christians within the community given the high percentage of the dalits and tribals in the total Christian population and the power-sharing equation in the Christian hierarchy between the priests belonging to the upper castes and the dalits?"  

As per the data currently available on the Catholic Bishops Conference of India website, The CBCI has over 200 members-bishops from the Latin, Syro-Malabar and the Syro-Malankara ecclesial traditions in the country among whom are 155 heads of the dioceses, of whom there are 3 cardinals, 29 Archbishops and 123 bishops. There are 2 co-adjustor bishops (one of whom is a co-adjustor Archbishop), 12 auxiliary bishops and 36 retired bishops.  

A squeamish media and dishonest activists taking up the cause of dalits in Durban, in the US State Department and in the European Parliament have never summoned the courage to ask the Catholic Church to make public the number of dalit and tribal bishops, archbishops and cardinals in their fold. Except for Goa and Kerala, in the rest of India, dalits and tribal people constitute the major percentage of Christians and yet the Christians who claim that the dalits are voluntarily converting to the Christian faith to end discrimination and to empower themselves, have not told us how many dalits and tribal people have been elevated to the highest positions of bishops, vicars-general, priests, directors, professors in seminaries, and surgeons and heads of departments in their hospitals and medical colleges. The Christian community has not told us if their premier educational institutions reserve 30% of their seats for dalit Christian students, if at least 30% reservation is maintained in the recruitment of dalit teachers and professors in St Stephen's, in New Delhi, in Loyola College in Chennai and in Christian Medical College, Vellore. What is the power-sharing equation of the positions held by upper-caste and dalit Christians in the schools, colleges and hospitals run by the Christian missionaries in this country? How many dalit or tribal Christians have risen to the highest positions in these Christian social, educational and religious organizations? Unasked and unanswered questions, these. Anti-Hindu activists working for the 'dalit cause' have not dared to address themselves to this question just as the US has not dared to address itself to the issue of its flawed democracy. In the US, which prides itself on being the world's oldest democracy, even after centuries of democracy, no woman and no African-American, Jew, Hindu or Muslim has ever been considered to even participate in the race for the White House. And the US State Department and the USCIRF lecture to the Indian government on human rights of dalits and women! Notwithstanding American double-standards on equal rights and religious freedom, Nirmala Deshpande, Teesta Setalvad, John Dayal, John Prabhudoss, Cedric Prakash, Kamal Mitra Chenoy and others routinely depose against the Hindu community before the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom and the US State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor!!  

Let us see what one of the highest-ranking members of the Vatican Hierarchy has to say in this regard. Archbishop George Zus, apostolic pro-nuncio to India addressed the Catholic Bishops' Council in December 1991, in Pune. In his inaugural address to the Catholic Bishops, he stated, "The dalit Christians make 65% of the ten million Christians in the South, but less than 4% of the parishes are entrusted to dalit priests. There are no dalits among the 13 Catholic Bishops' Council of Tamil Nadu or among the Vicars-general and the Rectors of seminaries and Directors of social assistance centres". ("Dalits in India" by John Massey, Manohar Publications, New-Delhi, 1995, page 82.) John Massey is a Punjabi dalit Christian. The secular intellectual establishment and the Christian community it seems is ignorant about this simmering discontent among the dalits who converted to the Christian faith hoping to be empowered. And yet, the dalits still within the Hindu fold have risen to the highest positions in all walks of life including to Rashtrapati Bhavan. Sadly, little has changed in 2006 for the dalits within the Christian fold.  

Much noise is also made about the despicable practice of untouchability which is placed at the door of Hindu dharma even though there is no religious sanction for it in the religious content of our traditions. Be that as it may but untouchability is not the only form of discrimination faced by the dalits. There are other forms of discrimination too and, as shown above, these concern their positions in the Christian institutions and also their marriage practices. What is the percentage of inter-caste marriages among the Christians belonging to the upper-castes and how many of the upper-caste converts to Christianity have married into families of the dalit Christians? How many upper-caste Christians will accept the holy water from a dalit Christian priest, if any, and in how many churches and cemeteries have walls been erected to separate the upper-caste laity from the dalits, in death as in life? If dalits are indeed converting to Christianity, not because of force, allurement or coercion, but voluntarily to empower themselves, to end discrimination and to improve the quality of their lives, then it is relevant to ask our editorialists and human rights activists, how many have indeed been so 'empowered' in Christian institutions and organizations and if social discrimination of the dalits within Christianity has indeed ended. 

P.N.Benjamin

Co-ordinator

Bangalore Initiative for Religious Dialogue(BIRD)

Pastor

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