INDIAN INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH INTO TRUE HISTORY

NEWSLETTER NO. 83 OF 16 JUNE 2020

1. NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS

1.1 Britain

1.1.1 Coronavirus

This virus has caused havoc all over the world. British response has been pathetic. There was no planning and proper direction. Government should have organised supply of PPE Personal Protective Equipment. No idea of how many were required. What would be the specification? Who would supply them? Who would test them? How to test who has this virus?

So many questions were not answered. As a result more than 40,000 people have died. Unfortunately even more than 110 doctors and nurses too died as they did not have PPE.

Social services

Lockdown has created problems especially for old people, those who are single. Members of MMlondonuk and MitraUK have contacted Marathi people who need help. They have also asked charities like Age UK if they need any help. Sangh Parivar and Sikhs have been providing food to the needy, to hospital staff, to homeless people.

1.1.2 Brexit – madness

There has been tremendous upheaval in Britain since the last newsletter. Boris Johnson replaced Mrs May as British Prime Minster. There were general elections and Boris won with a huge (some 96 MPs more than opposition). This is disastrous as he is not worried about any rebels. Jeremy Corbyn lost heavily by upsetting Hindus and Jews – his traditional supporters. And astonishingly many Labour voters voted Conservative as they were firmly in favour of Brexit. Little did they know that they will be the worst affected by Brexit. It is clear that Britain will get worst of both worlds. Boris will sell Britain to Americans. Despite coronavirus crisis Britain is not asking for any extension to trade deal. Boris could be prepared for a no deal Brexit. What a prospect!

Side effects

One side effect of Brexit that was never considered is – what happens to some 1.5 million Britons who work in the EU? They face a bleak future. A typical example is given below.

(1) CVs at bottom of pile': Britons in EU say Brexit is taking its toll

Jon Henley Europe correspondent /The Guardian 15 November 2019

Past 40, and nearly five years after he arrived in Madrid, John Halliday is moving back to the UK. He had “nowhere else to go”, he says: Brexit had cost him his job and made other Spanish employers reluctant to hire Britons.

“Frankly, I don’t blame them,” says Halliday. “The Spanish government has moved to protect UK citizens’ rights. But businesses are way too busy to follow all this. They worry: will this person need a permit, how long will that take, what will it cost?”

The 137 companies in Madrid to which Halliday has applied since he was let go earlier this year “with real regret” by the global finance firm he was working for plainly decided “they’d rather not take the risk. And I understand them. I’d do the same.”

Across the EU, British citizens are starting to face similar difficulties. Not all: many have signed new contracts without a hitch. But others say that three years of confusion and doubt among EU employers about the rights of British workers after Brexit are taking their toll.

‘Nothing can fully replicate free movement’

“Brexit hasn’t happened yet and British citizens living and working in the EU are already suffering the consequences,” says Laura Shields, the spokeswoman for the British in Europe lobby group, for whom Halliday’s experience is “no surprise at all”.

For employers, “no candidate is so special that you look at a pile of CVs and say: ‘Hey, let’s take a big risk with that one,’” Shields says. “This is what ending free movement into Britain means: barriers going up for Britons wanting to work in that enormous great market on our doorsteps.”

The risk of no deal, which would leave 1.3 million British nationals in the EU – 80% of them of working age or younger – facing a postcode lottery of 27 unilateral solutions for residency rights, social security, healthcare and recognition of qualifications, has now receded until 31 January, although it will return.

Boris Johnson’s renegotiated withdrawal deal, if it is ratified, does secure basic residency and social security rights, guaranteeing the freedom to move and live within the EU during the transition period plus the right to stay when it ends, and to apply for permanent residence after five years.

But the freedom of British citizens living in one EU country to move at will within the bloc, as they can now, and the right of all those who leave the UK after Brexit to live and work in the EU at all, are subject to any future agreement – and will depend on the rules Britain applies to EU citizens coming to the UK. (but UK is just one country, EU has 27 countries)

“We have absolutely no idea what the regime will be like unless and until the future relationship is actually agreed,” says Shields. “Will there be visa-free working? No one knows. There’ll certainly have to be some kind of permit system. And nothing can fully replicate free movement.”

Halliday said he and five other British nationals working for the same multinational were let go “because it was a highly time-sensitive project, running to a very tight schedule, and we represented a potential issue they could not afford”.

We’re going back to our parents’ to sit out the next few months.”

(2) Daniel Hibbs-Woodings has encountered the same difficulty. A highly qualified and experienced social housing professional who had previously studied and lived in Germany, he followed his German partner to Cologne in February.

“Property management jobs are plentiful here,” Hibbs-Woodings says. “I sent off 50 applications and got no replies. One filed online was rejected within 29 minutes. I knew I was instantly employable for all these jobs. I was stumped.”

“The harsh reality is that if employers have a choice, most will not go for someone with an entirely uncertain visa status,” says Hibbs-Woodings, who finally found a job outside his field for which he is substantially overqualified. “It could be a problem for many – you can only apply for permanent residence in Germany after five years.”

(3) The difficulties for contractors working across several European countries are even more complex. Chris Williams, a senior independent technical contractor based in Spain, is currently working for Airbus on a major international project to install new military communications equipment in NATO bases across Europe.

He accepted the work after being told flatly by Galileo, the European global satellite navigation system, that no UK contractors would be considered “until Brexit has been finalised and we know exactly what the new rules are. And that applies to some extent all over: British contractors are at the bottom of the pile.”

Williams has already had to complete different formalities in Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium to be granted a temporary right to continue functioning as a provider of cross-border services. Next year, when he will be working in many more counties, he has no idea what the situation will be.

“My contract is with Airbus France, and under French contract law it is my responsibility to be aware of and comply with all the rules and regulations for third-country nationals working in EU countries,” he says. “It’s very hard indeed to work out exactly what I’m going to have to do.” ‘No one knows whether Brexit will be a problem’

(4) In France, Lily Hall, an office manager for a ski school, is increasingly concerned about work after Brexit. She moved to France with her parents in 1997, aged four, and for the past six years has been a seasonal employee with French companies contracted by British tour operators to look after their clients in Val d’Isère.

“French employers are now seriously asking about whether Brexit will be a problem, and asking for papers,” she says. “I tell them no, but the truth is no one knows. My application for citizenship has been turned down once already because as a seasonal worker, I don’t have a permanent address in Savoie, where I work.”

1.1.3 Cruelty to children

'Arrogant' former minister's son jailed over toddler Alfie Lamb's car seat death

Andy Wells Freelance Writer/Yahoo News UK 14 November 2019

The "arrogant" son of former Government minister Nigel Waterson has been jailed for the manslaughter of his girlfriend's infant son.

Stephen Waterson, 26, repeatedly tried to absolve himself of blame after three-year-old Alfie Lamb was crushed to death by his car seat in the footwell of Waterson's Audi convertible on February 15 last year.

Waterson, described by police as being "arrogant, selfish and deeply unpleasant", subsequently sought to distance himself from the death and lying to police as the prospect of a conviction loomed. He was jailed for seven years and six months at the Old Bailey on Thursday. Alfie's mother, Adrian Hoare, 24, from Gravesend in Kent, has already been found guilty of child cruelty and jailed for two years and nine months at the Old Bailey.

Jurors were initially unable to reach a verdict on Waterson's culpability, but he subsequently changed his plea to guilty to manslaughter by gross negligence on the day of his retrial. Both Waterson and Hoare had admitted conspiring to pervert the course of justice by lying to police. Waterson was also convicted of intimidating a witness and Hoare of assaulting another witness.

It is the first time anyone in the UK has died from crush asphyxiation as a result of an electronic car seat, police said. The court heard the defendants had gone shopping for cushions in Sutton, accompanied by Alfie, Williams, Marcus Lamb, 22, and another young child.

Jurors in the earlier trial were shown CCTV of Alfie running to keep up with his mother moments before he was put in the car for the journey back to Croydon, south London.

The court had heard how nightclub worker Waterson became annoyed at Alfie's crying and moved his front passenger seat into him as he sat at his mother's feet. The maximum space in the foot well was 30cm, and, at the touch of a button, that could be reduced to just 9.5cm.

When Alfie continued to moan, Waterson reversed again saying: "I won't be told what to do by a three-year-old," Hoare told jurors. By the time they arrived at Waterson's home in Croydon, the boy had collapsed and stopped breathing. As medics desperately tried to revive him, Waterson fled the scene and Hoare spun a web of lies to protect her boyfriend, claiming she had been in a taxi.

Alfie, nicknamed "Little Tarzan" by the defendants, died from crush asphyxia three days later. As police closed in, Waterson gave officers a false name and false statement, and sold the Audi. He threatened to make Hoare and the other witnesses "disappear" if they did not stick with their fake stories.

Hoare eventually broke her silence and told her half sister Ashleigh Jeffrey what happened in a taped conversation handed to police.

But Waterson blamed Mr Lamb, who he regarded as a step brother, for being a "grass" and put his foot on his head during a violent assault in Crystal Palace Park which was filmed on his mobile phone.

Jurors in the first trial were told Waterson was a controlling womaniser who also had a violent temper with three previous convictions for attacking an ex-girlfriend and his sister's husband. Giving evidence earlier this year, he denied he would hurt a child and said he moved his seat back once by up to an inch.

Waterson's father Nigel was first elected MP for Eastbourne in 1992 and was a junior minister in John Major's government, but was defeated by Liberal Democrat Stephen Lloyd at the 2010 general election.

Our comments – So much cruelty to a small boy even today? But at least no one is above the law in Britain!

1.1.4 Banned driver admits running down PC in his own police car

Victoria Bell, Yahoo News UK 09 September 2019

A car thief has admitted causing grievous bodily harm to a police officer after running him over with his own car. PC Gareth Phillips suffered potentially “life-threatening” injuries after being punched to the ground and hit by his car while on duty in Moseley, Birmingham.

Mubashar Hussain pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to PC Phillips with intent to resist arrest, as well as 11 other offences, during a video-link appearance at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday. Hussain, 29, was remanded in custody until sentencing in October alongside a co-defendant, Ahsan Ghafoor, who admitted two counts of car theft.

Hussain entered his pleas three weeks after West Midlands Police said PC Phillips had undergone surgery for his injuries, which include a shattered pelvis, and could remain in hospital for several months.

PC Phillips, 42, was injured during a traffic stop in Moseley on August 10 after his BMW police car was taken. He was then struck by his own vehicle and at one point was pinned underneath it. Shortly after the incident, West Midlands Police said the BMW had been hijacked at around 4.45 p.m. and was reversed into the officer, knocking him down, before being driven over him. Hussain, of no fixed address, was arrested in the Sparkbrook area a short time later and was originally charged with attempted murder.

Hussain then drove at more than 80mph, the CPS said, before abandoning the police car in Balsall Heath. Paul Farrow, of the CPS, said: “This was a sickening offence where Hussain’s only thought was to ensure his escape, whatever the cost.

“PC Phillips has undergone significant and complex surgical procedures. Other officers too were injured as all bravely attempted to prevent the escape.

Family of PC Andrew Harper ‘devastated’ following his death

1.1.5 Shamima Begum 'was member of feared Isis morality police' in Syria

Richard Hall, Lizzie Dearden /14 April 2019

Shamima Begum was a member of the Isis morality police, a feared group which enforced the terror organisation’s strict interpretation of Islamic law, according to reports.

The 19-year-old British citizen, who fled her home in Bethnal Green four years ago with two other schoolgirls, has claimed that she was only a “housewife” during her time living with the group in Syria.

But according to a report in The Sunday Telegraph she played a much more active role in the organisation’s reign of terror as a member of the “hisba” – which metes out punishment to those found flouting Isis laws on how to dress and behave.

One activist quoted by the newspaper said Begum had been seen holding an automatic weapon and shouting at Syrian women in the city of Raqqa for wearing brightly coloured shoes.

“Members of our group from Raqqa knew her well,” said Aghiad al-Kheder, an activist from Deir ez-Zor who founded an anti-Isis collective that published information about Isis crimes from sources on the ground. “There were lots of young European women in the hisba. Some of them were very harsh and the local population became very scared.”

There were separate allegations that Begum stitched suicide bombers into explosive vests, so they could not be removed without detonating.

The Mail on Sunday reported that the prime minister and home secretary had been briefed on intelligence received by the CIA and Dutch military intelligence.

The allegations were made by other westerners who joined Isis, but have not been verified.

They emerged after a warning by the United Nations that “jihadi bride” stereotypes were causing female Isis recruits to be dangerously underestimated by global security services.

Men and women emerging from the terrorist group’s former territories have largely denied any wrongdoing or claimed coercion, and their true activities are hard to verify.

Isis gave women roles as recruiters, radicalisers and enablers of jihad, and officially permitted them to fight in defence of the “caliphate”.

Begum has been stuck in a displacement camp for months after being detained while leaving Isis territory.

The teenager arrived heavily pregnant at al-Hol camp in February, and gave birth shortly after. But her newborn son, named Jarrah, died from a lung infection last month. It was her third child to have died during her time living in the caliphate.

The home secretary, Sajid Javid, stripped Begum of her citizenship and pledged to block British citizens suspected of joining Isis from returning to the UK where possible.

Ms Begum’s family lawyer, Tasnime Akunjee, visited al-Hol camp in March in an attempt to gain her signature for a legal challenge against the removal of her British nationality.

He claimed the move had made her effectively stateless and Bangladesh denied she was a dual national, but Mr Javid has denied breaking international law.

Mr Akunjee was not permitted to visit Begum by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), who are guarding thousands of Isis fighters, female recruits and their children after driving the group out of its former territories.

The signature was needed for an appeal to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission, which has found previous government attempts to strip extremists’ British citizenship unlawful.

The family is proceeding with a separate judicial review of Mr Javid’s decision.

Shamima Begum left the country with friends Kadiza Sultana and Amira Abase

Mr Akunjee has not yet responded to the reports of Begum’s alleged activities in Syria.

The attention on her case has sparked a debate over how the UK should deal with British citizens who went to join Isis.

Only one in 10 of around 400 jihadis who returned from Syria and Iraq have been prosecuted, and the government has increasingly resorted to citizenship deprivation as a means to prevent their return.

* Strange that ITN/ SKY/ BBC/ Times had all sent reporters to Syria to talk to her. Have they got nothing better to do?

1.1.6 Four facing jail for murder of rival family man who had ears sliced off during vicious feud

David Harding Contributor,Yahoo News UK15 August 2019

Four men have been found guilty of murdering a father-of-four who had his ears sliced off with a machete in a long-running rival family feud. Sajed Choudry, 42, died after spending two weeks in a coma following a horrific street attack on November 27 last year.

He was rushed to hospital after suffering shocking injuries to the top and sides of his head which saw him have his ears re-attached, using a skin graft from his legs.

During a trial, jurors heard Mr Choudry had been rowing with the Ali family for several months before the feud escalated to violence near his home in Blackburn, Lancs.

Prosecutors insisted the fatal blow was struck by Sadaqat Ali, 36, who was found guilty of murder following a trial at Preston Crown Court. His brother Rafaqat Ali, 38, his father-in-law Fazal Ilahi, 62, and a fourth man, Syed Ali Akbar, 45, have also been convicted of Mr Choudry's murder. A youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was cleared of murder but found guilty of manslaughter.

Sadaqat Ali was also found guilty of the attempted murder of Mr Choudry's 20-year-old son Ashan. Rafaqat Ali, Ilahi, Akbar and the youth were each cleared of the same charge.

Jurors found Rafaqat Ali, Ilahi and Akbar guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was cleared of GBH but convicted of unlawful wounding. During the trial, Lancashire Police logs recorded 41 separate complaints in the months leading up to Mr Choudry’s death.

The horrific attack following a long feud took place in Blackburn.

The head of the rival family, Sadaqat Ali, had been arrested three days before the machete attack, for smashing Mr Choudry's son Ahsan, 24, over the head with a metal bar following a chance meeting in the street on November 24.

While in custody, Sadaqat Ali's wife saw another son of Mr Choudry, Mohsan, 20, approach her husband's car and slash one of the tyres, which led to his arrest.

After his release from custody, Sadaqat Ali and four others gathered armed with a cache of weapons including knives, an axe and blocks of wood before cornering Mr Choudry.

CCTV footage also captured Mr Choudry, armed with a baseball bat, and son Ahsan, who was carrying a cricket bat.

Prosecutor Gordon Cole QC said Sadaqat Ali was seen repeatedly holding the machete and at one point struck Ahsan and caused a massive gash to his left hand.

He said later Sadaqat Ali narrowly missed Sajed Choudry's wife, Shazia, with a swipe of the machete before Sajed Choudry was felled.

Trial judge Mr Justice Dove adjourned the case for sentence until September 19.

Comments - why on the 41 previous occasions the police felt powerless to actually do something a bit more "custodial" ? Is it because they were Muslim and they felt the race card was going to be played out ? I reckon it had something to do with it .

1.1.7 Immigration – alarming signs

Muslim migrants are crossing the English Channel from France. Though the journey is hazardous they still keep on coming. Many are unaccompanied children. Local councils will have to look after them till the age of 18.

New Home Secretary Priti Patel has enacted POINTS system for new migrants who wish to come and work in Britain. It is easy to say that we only the most talented workers to come here. The question is – why should they? what’s in it for them? And who is going to do the low skilled jobs? British workers are not available. Fruits and vegetables will not be collected. Who will work in catering industry? Who will work in NHS and care homes? A disaster waiting to happen!

1.1.8 Britain a third world country? Parking tickets havoc

Parking tickets rise tenfold to 6.4million as ministers are urged to crack down on 'cowboy fines' / Katie Morley / The Telegraph 20 August 2018

The DVLA earns millions selling vehicle keeper details to private parking firms

The number of parking tickets issued to drivers has risen by nearly 10 times over the past decade, new data shows, as ministers are being urged to crack down on "cowboy fines".

Some 1.48m vehicle keeper records were requested by private parking companies in just the first quarter of 2018, a rise of 14 per cent on the previous year, according to RAC analysis of Government data. If this increase continues then an estimated 6.44m parking tickets will be issued in the current financial year, the motoring research charity said. This compares to 687,000 parking fines in the year 2008/9.

Motorists face charges of as much as £100 for contraventions such as overstaying, after parking companies obtain records from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to chase vehicle owners over alleged infringements in private car parks such as at shopping centres, leisure facilities and motorway service areas.

The Government has committed to backing a Private Member's Bill which would lead to the introduction of a code of conduct for private car park operators.

Coffee shop supervisor hit with £7,000 parking fines - for using her work car park

Joe Gamp / Yahoo News UK / 23 August 2019

A single mum unwittingly wracked up a huge £7,000 fine after her car registration was given to parking chiefs with “with one digit wrong”.

Charlotte Machin, 30, was left with the colossal bill after parking fines were then sent to the wrong address for nearly a year because of a fault on her logbook.

Ms Machin, a supervisor at Costa Coffee, bought a new car in September 2018.

She gave her car details to the relevant people so she could be on the parking 'white list' at the shopping centre car park, close to where she works.

But unknown to her, the registration number was input incorrectly and her Fiat 500 was not officially cleared to park where she continued to leave it for almost 12 months.

And when she purchased her car, Charlotte's home address was also written down wrong and her neighbour a few doors down received the fines. It was only by chance that Charlotte received a final warning letter through her door six weeks ago - with her name but the wrong house number. Charlotte, from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, said: "I couldn't understand what the fine meant when it said final warning.

"I went to the house who had been getting my post and the man there was so relieved he could finally stop getting all of my fines."He told me he had been in touch with the company on numerous occasions to tell them they had the wrong address but they had continued to harass him for months." (why did he not send the letters back with a note – return to sender. No such person at this address?)

The company offered to lower the charge, initially to £2,500 and eventually to £500 if she could pay it back within a week. But the single mum-of-two was not only unable to pay but maintained she shouldn't have to.

She said: "Now they're threatening to take me to court for the full £7,000 and I could have a CCJ (county court judgement) against my name.

"I'm furious. I have worked so hard to get my credit rating up - I never miss a payment on my car or my credit card and I'm trying to get myself in a position where I can apply for a mortgage and leave something for my kids.

"They could destroy everything I've been working hard for in a matter of days.

"I'm a single mum and I only work part time. I earn £8,000 a year."

One reader commented - The parking company works for the land owner. Her company has the power to get these cancelled why hasn't she chased her employer to get these cancelled the parking company has no power unless the land owner agrees to go ahead.

Another one wrote - I have sued the parking firm in the past for exactly the same error. They ruin my credit though I do not take out credits with any financial institution . They tried to take me to court for £13,300 thinking they would win. But I won £10,000 and they paid my court and solicitors fees and cost them £25,000. BRILLIANT!

1.1.9 British attitude towards Muslims

Even after living in Britain for several years many Hindus think that for the British, Hindus and Muslims are the same. This is totally false. The British in general and the Mass Media in particular (like BBC) are anti-Hindu and pro-Muslim. Here is the recent example.

15 May 2020

The Duke of Cambridge spoke virtually with Imams from Al-Noor and Linwood mosques, following the mass shootings which killed 51 people in March 2019.

William has told members of the Christchurch Muslim community who were targeted in a shooting massacre last year “I stand here ready to help you”.

Prince William tells Christchurch Muslim community he's 'proud' of their response to mosque terror attacks

Some comments-

(a) Did he, or any other member of the Royal Family, offer support to the relatives of those killed in the Manchester Arena bomb attack?

(b) Maybe William could ask why Pakistanis who have been sentenced for deportation are still in the UK years after they got early release? I like to know exactly Who authorized the early release, the names and addresses please? Anybody know ?

(c ) You never ever hear about these royal bone idle hypocritical parasitic tvvats supporting the thousands of white underage children who were raped and murdered by the Paki filth grooming gangs it’s as if they don’t exist.

We all know that BBC is always worried about treatment of Muslims in China and Burma. In the last 50 years do you recall a single programme about plight of Hindus in Pakistan?

1.2 America

1.2.1 George Floyd Death: Minneapolis Police Video Leads to Protests

Christine Hauser, Derrick Bryson Taylor and Neil Vigdor 27 May 2020

Four Minneapolis policemen fired after death of unarmed black man

The F.B.I. and Minnesota law enforcement authorities are investigating the arrest of a black man who died after being handcuffed and pinned to the ground by an officer’s knee, in an episode that was recorded on video by a bystander and that sparked large protests in Minneapolis on Tuesday.

After the graphic video circulated widely on social media, the mayor denounced the actions of the four officers who were involved and said on Tuesday afternoon that they had been fired. He identified the victim as George Floyd.

Mr. Floyd, 46, a resident of St. Louis Park, Minn., a Minneapolis suburb, was pronounced dead at 9:25 p.m. Monday at Hennepin County Medical Center, Mr. Floyd’s family members told CNN on Tuesday night that the officers should be charged with murder. “They treated him worse than they treat animals,” said Philonise Floyd, Mr. Floyd’s brother. “They took a life — they deserve life.”

The arrest took place on Monday evening, the Minneapolis Police Department said in a statement, after officers responded to a call about a man suspected of forgery. The police said the man was found sitting on top of a blue car and “appeared to be under the influence. He was ordered to step from his car,” the department’s statement said. “After he got out, he physically resisted officers. Officers were able to get the suspect into handcuffs and noted he appeared to be suffering medical distress.”

The statement said that officers had called for an ambulance.

On Tuesday morning, without referring to the video recorded by a bystander, the police updated a statement, titled “Man Dies After Medical Incident During Police Interaction,” that said that additional information had “been made available”

In the afternoon, Mayor Jacob Frey of Minneapolis tweeted that four officers involved in the case had been terminated. “This is the right call,” he said.

The Police Department’s statement said that no weapons had been used and that the officers’ body cameras were recording. Mr. Frey said at a news conference Tuesday that he had seen the video “taken and posted by a civilian” but not the body camera footage.

The bystander video shows a white Minneapolis police officer pressing his knee into a black man’s neck during an arrest, as the man repeatedly says, “I can’t breathe,” and, “Please, I can’t breathe.”

As the video spread on social media on Monday night, the arrest quickly drew comparisons to the case of Eric Garner, a black man who died in New York police custody in 2014 after an officer held him in a chokehold. Mr. Garner’s repeated plea of “I can’t breathe” — also recorded by a cellphone — became a rallying cry at demonstrations against police misconduct around the country.

“Being black in America should not be a death sentence,” Mr. Frey said in a statement on Tuesday. “For five minutes, we watched a white officer press his knee into a black man’s neck. Five minutes.” The video recorded in Minneapolis on Monday shows that after a few minutes, the man, lying face down in the street with his hands cuffed behind his back, becomes silent and motionless; the officer continues to pin the man to the pavement with his knee.

Similar high-profile cases have generated large protests and given rise to a national debate over police conduct toward black people, as happened in 2016 after an African-American man, Philando Castile, was shot dead by a police officer during a traffic stop in a suburb of St. Paul, Minn. The officer, Jeronimo Yanez, was later acquitted of second-degree manslaughter and of endangering safety by discharging a firearm in the shooting.

Our comments - Suppose the private video did not exist. Would the terrible crime have gone unnoticed? Hindus of course took part in protest demonstrations in U.K. and Hindustan but what about killing of Hindu Sadhus in Maharashtra, killing of Hindus in Bengal and Kashmir? Hindu lives must matter

There were mass demonstrations all over the world. People are showing awareness of dark past of America and many European. In Bristol, statue of Edward Colston was pulled down and thrown in harbour as he was a slave trader. Cecil Rhodes the coloniser of Africa who created Rhodesia, Lord Kitchner who first used Concentration camps in the war against the Boers, he is famous for his war time poster – Your country needs you, Chirstopher Columbus, Captain Cook who claimed Australia for Britain, Thomas Jefferson who drafted Declaration of American Independence from Britain as he owned slaves, Captain Hamilton in New Zealand who killed Maories in 1860s . There were demonstrations in Australia where position of Aborigines is quite similar. The list is endless.

Despite of above treatment of Black Americans President Obama had the audacity of expressing concern about growing religious intolerance in India, just 3 years back.

1.2.2 Our relations with Muslims This a tricky subject. As individuals they can become very good friends. I came to England in 1966 and registered as unemployed. But I was confused in Employment Exchange. One can claim Unemployment benefit only if one has been employed and then left the job or made redundant. I therefore could not claim that benefit. So, what was I supposed to do? A Muslim from U..P. came to my rescue and said that I should ask for National Assistance. I did that and it saved me.

During working life I had two Muslim colleagues. We all settled in the same city. Their families were very friendly with us.

But Hindus must arm themselves and be eternally vigilant.

One gentleman wrote - I am in USA/Canada for 52 years. Wherever my interests were involved, Hindus have stabbed me in the back 100% of time. Muslims have helped me in meaningful way. May be I have this exceptional experience. One difference from India. There is no "polygamy for Muslims" here in USA. If any Muslim has more than one wife, he will be jailed and if he is outside applying to immigrate to US, his application will be rejected. (later he confirmed that in 30 European countries polygamy is NOT allowed for Muslims)

1.3 Hindusthan

1.3.1 Unbelievable corruption! Case of fraudster Vijay Mallya

Congress aided Mallya Fraud / P M Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister afforded bank fraud by Mallaya

Hearing the Mallya case on Friday, Justice Emma Arbaughnott stated in clear terms that, "Indian banks had grossly violated their own rules and regulations in lending to Mallya's airline company Kingfisher.

This can be seen 'with closed eyes' she stated. The above remarks were with reference to the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister Chidambaram ordering the loan to Mallya, despite the bank's objection. On Friday, Judge Emma Arbhannot of the Westminster Magistrate Court of London has openly exposed the malpractices and corruption committed by Indian banks in giving loans to Vijay Mallya. "Does any bank officer have the right to reject the order given by the Prime Minister and Finance Minister of the country by writing a letter."

Therefore, Judge Emma Arbhannot has made it very clear on Friday that *why the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram were not responsible for that robbery more than Vijay Mallya who had robbed thousands of crores of banks from India*.

The astonishing fact is that the news of the London court judge's statement is missing like a horn from a donkey's head, from news channels arguing for hours on any street leader's statement as disputed.

This message needs to reach Indian citizens living in the whole country and the world.

(https://www.yuvnews.com/16397/minor-victory-for-mallya-in-london-court-congress-leaders-face-embarrasment)

Yet no demand for any explanation from M M Singh. He has not bee asked to resign from Rajya Sabha! Though the British courts have ruled that Mallya must be sent back to India to stand trial for fraud he is applying for asylum in Britain under European Convention of Human rights.

1.3.2 Godbole’s visit to Pune

During December 2019 and January 2020 Godboles with their two daughters and their families visited Pune to attend a marriage ceremony. Afterwards they all went on a tour of Kerala. Because of this there were no public engagements.

Here are his comments

There is lack of proper steps and handrails all over. It is astonishing that though people have money to burn such basic amenities are not provided.

Traffic on roads is very heavy no matter what time of day one travels. It is a vicious circle – no good and reliable public transport leading to people using their own vehicles for which there is no road space.

Kerala tour

Please be careful when ordering food. If you are not sure of the size of portion order a small portion and ask for more plates. You can always order more food but it is not nice to waste food.

In one hotel we found Bible ‘(Guiddens), Koran and Geeta (published by Times of India)

>> More about this in the next newsletter

1.3.3 Elections

(a) It was good that Modi got working majority in both houses of Parliament and carried our promised reforms – removal of article 370 giving spacial status to Kashmir, removal of triple talak divorces for Muslims and nationality acts. But again there will be no tit for tat. BJP does not have the killer instinct. As a result Congress and other anti-Himdu parties survive, come to power in states and cause havoc.

(b) Take the case of Sadhvi Pradnya Thakur, Col Purohit and Swami Asidanand who reconverted tribals in Gujrath from Christianity to Hinduism. They suffered horrific torture at the hands security forces. AND yet with BJP in power in Gujrath, Maharashtra and in the Centre there was no apology, no compensation and no court of enquiry!! One does not even hear their names any more. How useless is BJP?

(c) As soon as Modi came to power in 2014 I had suggested to my contacts in Sangh Parivar that there needs to be a continuous feedback from people to Modi and his ministers. All the offices of BJP should become eyes and ears of Government. Nothing happened.

I had also suggested that Modi needs to collect retired IAS, IPS and Military officers sympathetic to our cause. They should be appointed as Political Advisers. They know how to get the government machinery moving.

Again nothing happened.

* Hindutvavadis fail miserably on two fronts – Publicity and Public Relations. Still no change. Modi’s opponents have a field day and affect minds of people against him.

(d) Delhi elections

Even when Modi was at the height of popularity BJP did not win local elections in Delhi. After 5 years the picture is still the same. AAP is in power and carrying out anti-Hindu policies. What are the plans to gain power there?

(e) Elections for State Legislatures in Maharashtra.

These were held in February and were very disappointing for BJP. Seats won by various parties were as follows -

BJP - 102

Shivasena – 56

Pawar Congress - 54

Indira Congress – 45

Elections were contested on the understanding that there will be a coalition of BJP – Shivasena. But after the elections Uddhav Thakare (UT), son of Balasaheb Thakare insisted on becoming Chief Minister. This was quite an unreasonable demand. That was not a part of pre-election deal. Phadnis was quite a good Chief Minister. UT was not even an elected MLA.

As per normal procedure BJP having been the largest party was perfectly justified in forming a minority government. This would have posed a challenge to Shivasena. Would they bring down a BJP government? Phadnis did not follow that path. There was a ridiculous attempt to form BJP – Pawar Congress government. It did not last for more than 2 days. Eventually UT made a deal with Pawar Congress and Indira Congress.

The trouble is that rogue politicians stick together longer than normal ones. Remember the Janta Government after Indira’s Emergency? That did not last for full term. Why were the M.Ps not interested in enjoying power and trappings of ministerial office?

When will the next elections take place? Will BJP come to power? No one can say. In the meantime UT will do enormous damage. He has transferred some efficient IAS officers and suspended all projects.

BJP needs to understand that running a good administration like what Phadnis has done is one thing. Party Politics is quite another. Merely running corruption free administration is no guarantee of success in elections.

Action required

As soon as is was clear that Uddhava Thakare (U.T) is betraying BJP there should have been a Database of 56 Shivasena MLAs. It should have all their names, addresses, contact numbers, E Mail I.Ds, facebook and twitter accounts, their careers, strengths and weaknesses AND details of all their relatives. This needs to be used to destabilise their government. Politics is a game of scoundrels not of pious persons.

At the moment BJP does not even have a list of Shivasena MLAs. How can the succeed?

Very soon after UT became Chief Minister, on 16 April at Palghar two Sadhus and their driver were brutally murdered by tribals converted to Christianity. They were travelling to Surat for a cremation. They were escorted by the police who did not save them. In fact they handed over the three to the mob. Video of this incident is too horrifying to watch.

Just a week later another Sadhu was killed in Nanded. The cases will be pending for years

1.3.4 Coronavirus

This virus has caused havoc in Hindusthan. We have seen misuse of power by the police. Lockdown revealed the huge problem of migrant workers. If there is no work, they cannot survive and have to go back to their villages, resulting in chaos.

Social services

On the other hand we saw so many organisations providing food and water to migrant workers and their families. As usual RSS workers were seen everywhere. BUT as usual they were nice to Muslims. One can understand if they do not refuse help to Muslims bur they go to Muslim areas and help them. And how do Muslims repay? By murdering RSS workers. Will they ever learn?

2. AROUND LONDON TOUR OF PLACES ASSOCIATED WITH INDIAN FREEDOM FIGHTERS It was hoped that the tours will start in March. But these had to be suspended due to coronavirus outbreak. Pradeep Popat of Bedford has expressed desire to carry my work forward after me. One tour is possible for Arun Kumar (Telugu speaking) and his Sangh friends

3. BEHAVIOUR OF CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS TODAY.

3.1 The Christians

In December 2019 Godbole family went to Kanyakumari. This is a hugely popular tourist place. The administration is by State Government of Tamilnadu who are strongly dominated by Christian converts and they make life miserable for Hindu visitors. People arrive by land and want to cross the sea to Rock Memorial where once Swami Vivekanand meditated. It is a UNESCO site. The roads and pavements are poorly maintained. There are two boats each carrying about 120 passengers. They carry passengers from land to the rock and back. All have to put on safety jackets as safety precaution. On the rock itself you are asked not to eat or drink as there are no workers employed to clean up.

As a result visitors have to wait in scorching sun even for 4 hours. There is no shed. There were no seats. There are two queues. One for normal admission charge the other for those who would pay double charge.

On our return main road was shut and we had to take a long detour for no reason.

It was irritating to find that next to the memorial, on adjoining rock a 130 ft high statue of Tamil poet has been erected which defaces the rock memorial..Surely that statue could have been erected elsewhere.

3.2 The Muslims

3.2.1 The Ahmadiyas

Interview with a Caliph: increasing numbers joining persecuted minority Muslim sect, as its leader reveals his secret talents

Gabriella Swerling /The Telegraph 07 April 2019

Mirza Masroor Ahmad is the fifth Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community

The grandfather-of-five revealed that while being imprisoned in Pakistan because of his religious beliefs in the 1990s - and before his impending exile - he shared a cell with dozens of murderers who taught him how to turn a spoon into a knife.

“Within two hours, they had taught me how to kill another person,” he said.

“They told me that when you’re fighting with somebody and you don’t have anything sharp in the prison you use the spoon as a knife by sharpening the edges on the floor and after five days, you get a good knife! There were quite a number of murderers who had committed quite heinous crimes…

He was imprisoned for 11 days and was living in a cell that had capacity for 80 people - according to Pakistani officials’ calculation - but there were already 240 people inside.

“So we could only find some small place just to sit.” he recalled.

Despite “trying to create peace, love and harmony in society at every level”, the Ahmadiyya sect of Islam has been subject to religious persecution and discrimination since its inception in 1889. Ahmadis are not considered Muslims by mainstream Muslims, as they consider the movement’s founder, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, to be their Messiah. As such, they are seen as heretics and are not recognised by the Muslim Council of Britain. In some countries, they even face systematic state-sanctioned oppression.

The UK is not immune from such hatred. In 2016 Tanveer Ahmed, a Sunni Muslim, was jailed for a minimum of 27 years after driving from Bradford to Glasgow and stabbing 40-year-old shopkeeper, Asad Shah, to death before stamping on his head. He said he murdered him because Shah was “disrespecting” Islam. He was an Ahmadi.

More than 647,000 people joined the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community during the past year from around the world and it is now established in 212 countries. Last year communities were established in East Timor and Georgia for the first time.

Nestled beside the Fazl Mosque - which was the first built in London in 1926 - the Caliph’s office in Southfields, South West London, is rarely devoid of bustle and work.

When he is not travelling for work, he leads five prayer services every day and contributes to the Ahmadiyya’s slick media operation via its 24-hour radio and tv channels. As a result, he rarely has a moment to himself.

After earning his Master of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, he served the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Ghana for more than eight years. He then worked in schools before being appointed manager of an agricultural farm where he successfully planted and nurtured wheat for the first time in Ghana.

3.2.2 Kenya terror attack: What do we know about al Shabaab?

Sky News 16 January 2019

As more than a dozen people are killed in an attack on a Kenyan hotel, what do we know about the group that claims to be behind it? Where did the group come from?

Al Shabaab means "The Youth" in Arabic and the group emerged as the radical wing of Somalia's Islamic Courts Union (ICU), which no longer exists.

The union controlled Somalia's capital Mogadishu in 2006 before being defeated by Ethiopian forces . As the ICU fled to neighbouring countries, al Shabaab retreated to Somalia's southern region where it regrouped and planned attacks.

It is viewed by the UK as a terrorist organisation and is believed to have up to 8,000 fighters, including many from other African countries and even from the US and Europe.

In 2012 they declared allegiance to al Qaeda.

What do they believe?

Al Shabaab supports the Wahhabi version of Islam and imposes strict Sharia laws in the areas it controls. They stone women accused of adultery and cut off the hands of thieves. Various types of entertainment are banned, beards cannot be shaved and international humanitarian agencies cannot be co-operated with.

But, perhaps surprisingly, they are concerned about the environment, banning single use plastics and the logging of rare trees in July last year.

The group's main aim is to establish an Islamic state in Somalia but they are divided as to how much further afield they should concentrate. They are united, however, in opposition to any kind of western-backed government.

How successful has the group been?

Al Shabaab once controlled Mogadishu and much of the Somali countryside but it has been pushed back in recent years by an African Union-led campaign.

Some experts say the group controls more territory than they have since 2010 but the Somali government insists they are fading fast.

How are they funded?

They have funding from other terrorist groups, state sponsors (Eritrea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Syria and Yemen have all been accused but deny this), and from crimes such as piracy, kidnapping and extortion of local businesses and farmers.

According to US-based Security Council Report, the group earns millions of pounds a year through an illicit trade in charcoal, despite a UN ban on Somali charcoal exports.

What have al Shabaab done outside Somalia? Their first major attack outside Somalia was in 2010 when co-ordinated suicide bombings killed 74 people in Kampala, the capital of Uganda. They said later that this was retaliation for the presence of Ugandan troops in Somalia.

In 2013 they killed 67 people in an attack on a shopping mall in the Kenyan capital Nairobi and two years later 148 people were killed when they attacked a university in the Kenyan city of Garissa. Kenya was also targeted because of the presence of its troops in Somalia.

The worst loss of life, however, was in Somalia, where twin truck bombings in October 2017 killed more than 500 people and injured more than 300. Al Shabaab did not claim to be behind this attack, but are widely suspected to have been.

What is the rest of Africa doing about it?

In early 2007, the UN Security Council authorised a peacekeeping force in Somalia led by the African Union and Uganda was the first country to send troops. The force of around 20,000 also has contingents from Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Djibouti.

This presence is expected to wind down from early this year but there are fears that Somalia's government could be left vulnerable if the African Union forces leave altogether.

What about Britain?

As of August last year, the British Army had 85 soldiers in Somalia training members of the country's army, a job they have been doing since January 2017.

3.2.3 The curse of FGM continues

Model turned activist Waris Dirie says world is ignoring the crime of FGM

By Cecile Mantovani / Reuters 7 March 2019

Human rights activist and top model Dirie addresses a news conference to announce the musical project "Desert Flower" in St. Gallen Switzerland

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is still occurring because the world is turning a blind eye to a crime against children, Waris Dirie, the Somali nomad turned supermodel, told Reuters on Thursday. Dirie has used her fame as a Pirelli calendar model and a "Bond girl" playing opposite Timothy Dalton in "The Living Daylights" to campaign against female circumcision.

"It is the hardest job I have ever done in my life. But I have to because there is no one else who has that commitment and I will see this to the end," she said in an interview.

Dirie underwent FGM when she was 5 years old; her sister bled to death after the procedure. Aged 13, Dirie fled an arranged marriage, eventually arriving in London.

Her autobiography "Desert Flower" became a film and is now a musical by Gil Mehmert and Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen, which will premiere in the Swiss town of St. Gallen in February 2020.

Dirie said it was shocking and surprising to find her life story was now going on stage, but still the message about FGM had still not got through. "The world is not taking interest, the world don’t give a shit," she said.

The World Health Organization says more than 200 million women alive today have survived FGM, mainly in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. FGM, which inflicts severe pain on young girls and causes long-term health problems if they survive, is recognised internationally as a human rights violation that constitutes extreme discrimination against women.

Ahead of International Women's Day on Friday, Dirie's Desert Flower Foundation has teamed up with lingerie brand Coco de Mer to make a short film, directed by British photographer Rankin, to raise awareness against FGM

.

The aim is to help collect 10 million signatures by the end of 2019, to be then presented to the U.N. Secretary General."It is not fair that so much abuse is going on and the world just sits back and just says: 'Yes, yes, we know it is a culture," Dirie said.

It was not only a women's problem, and not confined to a few countries but widely practised by immigrants, she added.

"This is really a terrible abuse against children and a crime. And I cannot repeat it enough, and I cannot say it enough and I just want the world to seriously recognise this and to do something about it because enough is enough," she said.

One comment

Yet when the Labour front bencher Keir Starmer was head of our CPS he stated it was

not in the public interest to prosecute the brutal crime

Since his statement it has cost our NHS £300 million in repair treatment

The BBC knows this, its only their yellow underwear that stops them reporting it

3.2.4 Shree Lanka

Bomb blast – 2 suicide bombers – Mohammad Jaharan Hashim / /Abu Muhammad

Gruesome serial suicide attacks by local radical Islamic outfit, National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ), targeting three churches and three luxury hotels on Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019 in Sri Lanka, killing 258 people and injuring over 500, has left the country in disarray. People were shocked when they came to know that the government failed to prevent the attacks though Sri Lanka had received information from India 12 days in advance about terrorist plans to carry out the attack on Easter Day. In a video released a week after the attacks, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, elusive chief of the Islamic State (IS), claimed responsibility for the Sri Lanka serial blasts. The IS video said that it was a “small part of the response prepared by the Islamic State” in retaliation for the loss of Baguz, the last IS stronghold in Syria.The IS also released a video showing seven men said to be the NTJ bombers, swearing allegiance to the terrorist organisation. Only the face of Zahran Hashim, the NTJ leader, was not covered in the video.

3.2.5 Afghanistan probes report Iranian border guards forced migrants into river, many drowned / By Storay Karimi 3 May 2020

HERAT, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Afghan officials on Sunday launched a hunt to retrieve bodies of Afghan migrants from a river in a western province after reports that Iranian border guards tortured and threw Afghans into the river to prevent their entry into Iran.

Afghanistan's foreign ministry in a statement on Saturday said an inquiry had been launched and a senior official in the presidential palace in Kabul said initial assessments suggested at least 70 Afghans who were trying to enter Iran from bordering Herat province were beaten and pushed into the Harirud river.

The Harirud river basin is shared by Afghanistan, Iran and Turkmenistan.

Doctors at Herat District Hospital said they had received the bodies of Afghan migrants, some of whom had drowned.

"So far, 5 bodies have been transferred to the hospital, of these bodies, its clear that 4 died due to drowning," said Aref Jalali, head of Herat District Hospital.

The Iranian consulate in Herat denied the allegations of torture and subsequent drowning of dozens of Afghan migrant workers by border police.

"Iranian border guards have not arrested any Afghan citizens," the consulate said in a statement on Saturday. Iranian embassy officials in the Afghan capital Kabul were not immediately available for a comment.

Noor Mohammad said he was one of 57 Afghan citizens who were caught by Iranian border guards on Saturday when they were trying to cross into Iran in search of work from Gulran District of Herat.

"After being tortured, the Iranian soldiers threw all of us in the Harirud river," Mohammad told Reuters. Shir Agha, who said he also survived the violence, said at least 23 of the 57 people thrown by Iranian soldiers into the river were dead."Iranian soldiers warned us that if we do not throw ourselves into the water, we will be shot," said Agha.

Local Afghan officials that it was not the first time that Afghans had been tortured and killed by Iranian police guarding the 920 kms (520 miles) long border.

Herat's governor Sayed Wahid Qatali in a tweet to Iranian officials said, "Our people are not just some names you threw into the river. One day we will settle accounts."

The incident could trigger a diplomatic crisis between Iran and Afghanistan at a time when the coronavirus pandemic has seen a mass exodus of Afghan migrants from Iran with many testing positive for COVID-19.

Up to 2,000 Afghans daily cross the border from Iran, a global coronavirus hotspot, into Herat. As of Sunday, at least 541 infected people are from Herat province, which recorded 13 deaths, with the majority of positive cases found among Afghan returnees from Iran, said Rafiq Shirzad, a health ministry spokesman in Herat.

Our comment – BUT Iran and Afghanistan are Muslim countries. So, why the feud?

4 History today / Historical notes

4.1 End of War 75years ago

Victory of War in Europe - war ended on 8 May 1945

27 January 1945

Auschwitz, the notorious concentration camp in Poland was liberated by Soviet Army

15 April 1945

Nazi concentration camp at Bergen-Belsen was liberated by British Army.

World was stunned by the horrors inflicted by Nazis on Jews.

Our people have settled in America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. They need to ask – what happened to the natives who used to live here? They were Red Indians in America, First nation people in Canada, Aborigines in Australia and Maories in New Zealand. The truth is horrible and difficult to swallow. All over, the locals were exterminated just like what Nazis did to Jews and other minorities like gypsies.

There ought to be memorials to the dead Natives and a day of remembrance need to be observed. Our children MUST know the history.

Marathi speaking people in Canada and America hold a Sammelan (get together) once in 2 years. During opening ceremony they sing National songs (of the country where the Sammelan is held) But there is never a mention of what happened to the Natives of our place. It is time they woke up.

4.2 Peterloo Massacre / Part of the history of Manchester

Location - St Peter's Field, Manchester, England

Date -16 August 1819 /Deaths – 15 / Non-fatal injuries - 400–700

Perpetrators -Manchester and Salford Yeomanry

Cheshire Yeomanry / Manchester Special Constabulary / British Army Regulars

The Peterloo Massacre took place at St Peter's Field, Manchester, on 16 August 1819, when cavalry charged into a crowd of 60,000–80,000 who had gathered to demand the reform of parliamentary representation.

The end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815 had resulted in periods of famine and chronic unemployment, exacerbated by the introduction of the first of the Corn Laws. By the beginning of 1819, the pressure generated by poor economic conditions, coupled with the relative lack of suffrage in Northern England, had enhanced the appeal of political radicalism. In response, the Manchester Patriotic Union, a group agitating for parliamentary reform, organised a demonstration to be addressed by the well-known radical orator Henry Hunt.

Shortly after the meeting began, local magistrates called on the Manchester and Salford Yeomanry to arrest Hunt and several others on the hustings with him. The Yeomanry charged into the crowd, knocking down a woman and killing a child, and finally apprehending Hunt. The 15th Hussars were then summoned by the magistrate, Mr Hulton, to disperse the crowd. They charged with sabres drawn, and in the ensuing confusion, 15 people were killed and 400–700 were injured. The massacre was given the name Peterloo in an ironic comparison to the Battle of Waterloo, which had taken place four years earlier.

Historian Robert Poole has called the Peterloo Massacre one of the defining moments of its age. In its own time, the London and national papers shared the horror felt in the Manchester region, but Peterloo's immediate effect was to cause the government to crack down on reform, with the passing of what became known as the Six Acts. It also led directly to the foundation of the Manchester Guardian, but had little other effect on the pace of reform. In a survey conducted by The Guardian in 2006, Peterloo came second to the Putney Debates as the event from radical British history that most deserved a proper monument or a memorial. Peterloo is commemorated by a plaque close to the site.

4.3 Slavery still haunts America

US state of Virginia marks 400th anniversary of slave ship arrival

By Associated Press Reporter / PA Media: World News 24 August 2019

Officials in the US state of Virginia have marked the anniversary of the first arrival there of enslaved Africans 400 years ago.

The governor of Virginia, Ralph Northam, announced on Saturday a new state commission to review educational standards for teaching black history.

Mr Northam, who noted “we are a state that for too long has told a false story of ourselves”, spoke at the 2019 African Landing Commemorative Ceremony in Hampton.

The event was part of a weekend of ceremonies that are unfolding against a backdrop of rising white nationalism across the country and a lingering scandal surrounding Mr Northam and a blackface photo.

Mr Northam said he signed a directive to create the commission to review instructional practices, content, and resources currently used to teach African American history in the state. “We often fail to draw the connecting lines from those past events to our present day, but to move forward, that is what we must do,” Mr Northam said.

Andre Bradshaw, and Eric Jackson at an unmarked grave at the Tucker Family Cemetery in Hampton. They are part of a larger family that traces its roots back to the first enslaved Africans to arrive in what is now Virginia in 1619.

“We know that racism and discrimination aren’t locked in the past. They weren’t solved with the Civil Rights Act. They didn’t disappear. They merely evolved.”

In February he faced intense pressure to resign after a racist picture surfaced from his 1984 medical school yearbook page. He denied being in the picture but admitted to wearing blackface as a young man while portraying Michael Jackson at a dance party in the 1980s.

The event was held on Chesapeake Bay, where ships traded men and women from what is now Angola for supplies from English colonists. The landing in August 1619 is considered a pivotal moment that presaged a system of race-based slavery.

“The legacy of racism continues not just in isolated incidents, but as part of a system that touches every person and every aspect of our lives, whether we know it or not, and if we’re serious about righting the wrong that began here at this place we need to do more than talk,” Mr Northam said.

Some comments

(a) I lived and worked all over Africa for years, the earliest slavers were opposing tribes, then the Arabs came along and took over all the slavers routes hundreds of years before us dreaded whiteys arrived..........

(b) If you look at a geological map and zoom in to west africa you will find coastal areas described as the Gold Coast, the Ivory Coast and the Slave Coast.

(c) Did you know? The Muslims and the Moors were the first to enslave humans, white people actually stopped it all. Read your history books folks. This is fact.

(d) THE biggest slaves in the world were the British during the industrial revolution ----white kids as young as 8 doing 14 hours a day in a weaving shed or smelting works ---dying of lung diseases and malnutrition ---living in a smelly dark cellar with 12 other families with raw sewage running through where they slept and never seeing natural daylight --- they all died before they were 20.

4.4 Savarkar we did not understand / appreciate

While reading Savarkar’s book My Transportation for Life (Mazi Janmthep) it became apparent that the enormous mental upheaval created by him in Hindusthan has not been properly explained. He caused tremendous changes in the minds and attitudes of masses towards our freedom struggle. Also as a result of his efforts British recognised Political Prisoners and then gave prisoners class A/B/C. His greatly benefited Gandhi and his followers. When Gandhi went to prison for the first time he went there with his spinning wheel (Charakha). Nehru and other Congress leaders never wore prisoner’s clothes.

This is my current topic of research

4.5 Taj Mahal

4.5.1 Marble required

Shahjahan had issued two firmans to Raja Jaisingh for supply of marble. I had written an article on this. Prof Marvin Mills of America had suggested improvements. Unfortunately when I changed my computer all that data was lost. However I have re-written the article and it will soon be loaded on Dr Bedekar’s web-site www.satyashodh.com

4.5.2 Tejomahalay – a futile controversy.

This paper will soon be loaded on the above web-site.

4.6 Unknown Gandhi

Government of India has published Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, but most of the details are unknown. Here is what he told Hindus during his prayer meetings -

“Hindus should not harbor anger in their hearts against Muslims even if the latter wanted to destroy them. Even if the Muslims want to kill us all we should face death bravely. If they established their rule after killing Hindus we would be ushering in a new world by sacrificing our lives. None should fear death. Birth and death are inevitable for every human being. Why should we then rejoice or grieve? If we die with a smile we shall enter into a new life, we shall be ushering in a new India. “

Prayer in April 1947, New Delhi, CWMG, Vol 94 P249

And still Hindus flocked to his prayer meetings!

We thank Amit Bhaduri for this information. Shree K C Garg has also pointed to this publication Vol 98 for last days of Gandhi.

4.7 Teaching of Persian language / Learning of Persian and Urdu script

Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal Pune started above classes on 9 November 2019 – twice a week for 30 weeks. Cost Rs 3,000 /-

This is a good start. If one needs to study Mughal Maratha conflict upto 1707 knowledge of Persian is a must as so much historical material is available in that language

We thank Guruprasad Kanitkar for this initiative.

5 Obituary

In February we lost our friend Ashok Ahawale. After his schooling he joined the Indian Navy. On completing his service he joined IIT Kanpur as a Technician. He was attracted to P N Oak in the 1980s.

He used to conduct tours of Taj Mahal. In December 1981 he and his friend Hemant Gokhale and his wife travelled from Kanpur to Agra to meet me. I showed them that there is lot more to see in Taj Mahal than they had thought. We wandered around for two days and did not have time for meals or even tea. After returning to England I prepared a detailed Tourist Guide to Taj Mahal. Unfortunately I have not found a single person who would visit Taj Mahal with that Guide.

After his retirement from IIT Kanpur, Athawale settled in Pune and used to meet me during my annual visits. We will miss him.

www.satyadhodh.com