Mail

No need of external support

Sir,

After the September, plane attacks on World Trade Centre in the 'city of Sky-scrapers' and Pentagon in Washington by terrorists, entire world is expecting some unusual and hard response from President George Walker Bush. These attacks indeed have shaken the foundation stone of the United States and given a red signal to all of the peace loving countries of the globe that their existence is no more safe. Bush's decision to uproot terrorism from the world by declaring "Operation infinite Justice" is a step in the right direction. Lastly but not leastly, he perceived the ill effects of terrorism and understood our concerns. He has observed after September 11 episode that not only is a developing country like India militancy prone but a "Veto" holding Superpower like America is also equally vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

Pakistan has been under immense Pressure from United State since the occurrance of "September 11 Tragedy". Actually, it is very tough time for Pakistan's self styled President General Musharraf who can very easily change the colour of his face. Finally, Musharraf succumbed to the US pressur, changed his mind and took decision to provide US his country's land for striking against the father of modern terrorism i.e. Osama bin Laden hiding perhaps in the Taliban ruled Afghanistan. Really Musharraf has proved his dual standards. On the one hand he has been acting as "terrorist breader" but on the other hand he is taking pledge to fight against militants. Wah! Mr. Musharraf Wah! what a two edged sword are you ?

One thing that is quite disgusting in America's interest to provide support to India in quashing militancy, prevalent in Kashmir. We must see their this proposal with suspicion. We are the second largest populated country of the world and are capable of dealing with the militants and their mentors in our own ways and by our own efforts. We don't need any external assistance for it.

Pakistan has always tried to keep the pot of Kashmir boiling either by sending armed intruders from across the border and LoC into our territory or by raising this issue at many international Forums. It has always demanded to include some third party in between and we have always rejected their demand of third party mediation.

America is equally interested to indulge in the Kashmir issue but we have not given them any chance. I think America wants to make its way to Kashmir through this way in the guise of sympathiser. So we mush tell America that we do not need of any external support for countering terrorism as we are self sufficient in this regard.

Yours etc...
Narinder Paul
W.No. 4. H. No. 50
Hiranagar.

Clash of civilisations

Sir,

Refer to Mr. Balraj Puri's Write Up "Can India Avert clash of civilisations ? " date lined 9th October, 2001.

The Dar-ul-Uloom of Deoband, no doubt supported the Congress as against the Muslim League, opposed the British move of separate electorates for the Muslims of India and at a later stage vigorously resisted the Pakistan movement. But what the learned writer has missed is that the Deoband school propagated, taught and subscribed to an interpretation of Islam, its practice and precept, which was far from being liberal and hence could be termed as hide-bound and stereotyped. It was not only critical of but contemptuously snarled at the modernistic trends of thought that burgeoned in the intellectually fertile soil of Bengal. The Calcutta Mohammadan literary society, Sayyied Amir Ali and Nawab Abdul Latif Khan as the pioneers of the Bengali Muslim modernism were opposed by the Deobandis in the same vein that a fanatic ideologue of Islam would have taken a resort to. It will not be unfair to say that in the annuals of Indian Islam the Deoband school bred, nourished and perpetuated the same brand of clannishness and religious particularism which featured in many other conservative schools of Islam in India. The Deobandi trained Muslims refused to be led by the Barelwi Imams who did not lag behind in paying back the compliment. With the emergence of varied shades of schools and sects the Deobandis spared no effort to perpetuate the schismatical proclivities.

Any man who goes to the library can unequivocally say that the Deoband school infused the deep dyed conservatism into the Indian Islamic thinking. It upheld tradition and derided reason. It clung to the letter and defeated the spirit. It bred theocracy and placed democracy on the back burner. It took to narrow approach to the thread bare presentation of issued and held broad minded liberalism in utter contempt. The Deoband school used fatwas and fiats quite generously to enforce the nitty gritty of the doctrinal positions to which it was wedded. The stalwarts of the school who migrated to Pakistan in the wake of partition carried with them the same theological positions thus muddying the political waters beyond the Purlieus of Pakistan.

I don't think that the present crisis between America along with its allies and Afghanistan can be termed as clash of civilisations, envisaged by Samuel Huntington. Most of the Governments in the Islamic countries have by and large condemned the September 11 attacks on the two vital pillars of American Defence and economics. I do not envisage a role for India in a situation which is characterised by a crisis within Islam and its ranks. It is for the Muslims to determine the conditions and reasons which make them abhorrent of modernism, pluralism, constitutionalism and more than most democracy planked on liberalism. It is a matter of serious thought for the enlightened Muslim opinion at least within the country as to why a molecular minority of Kashmiri Hindus was hounded out from the only Muslim majority State of the country.

Yours etc...
Prof. Mohan Lal Koul,
Talab Tilloo, Jammu.