3 November 2015

Secularism – Adarsh Liberal Style

       Come Hindu festivals and suddenly, Adarsh Liberals (henceforth referred to in a cool manner as ALs!) of all kind creep out urging people on why it is so 'patriarchal, regressive and oh so-uncool' to be observing them. It does not really matter what the festival is. It does not even matter which region it is celebrated in. All it matters for these ALs is, that the festival should be linked in some manner, to Hinduism. That is the only criterion for it to automatically conform to any or all of those above definitions. Of course, the reasons quoted could vary depending on exact nature of the festival, but protests? They definitely would feature. A reading of the various festivals below and reasons quoted by ALs on why they are so uncool therefore makes interesting read, revealing the very anti-Hindu mindset adopted while portraying themselves as 'liberals' when they actually behave in the exact opposite manner.

 Sabarimala and the ban on ladies

      January celebrates Makara Sankranti (മകര സംക്രാന്തി, मकर संक्रांति) culminating in a very holy and much venerated festival of 'Makara Vilakku' (മകര വിളക്ക്) where millions trudge their way up the hills of Sabarimala in Kerala, having spent 41 days in penance along with giving up non-vegetarian food, cutting (including shaving) of hair etc. Since the festival is devoted to Lord Ayyappa, considered a 'Nitya Brahmachari' (नित्य भ्रमचारी) or perennial bachelor, ladies (of menstrual age) are not permitted in the holy hills. Till date, no one with faith in Lord Ayyappa has had any issues with this so-called discrimination. Indeed, 'Ayyappas' (as devotees are called when undertaking the required 41 day penance) are also supposed to avoid contact with females to ensure that the God is not made impure. Ayyappa, also known as Iyyappa, is not revered by just people from Kerala. In fact, these days, the majority of pilgrims are from neighboring states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh (including Telangana now) and the temple is one of the richest temples of the region.   

           Menstruation has always been considered impure in Hindu religion and accordingly, women are not allowed to undertake even routine tasks like cooking and generally remain segregated from rest of the family. Visit to temples during those days obviously, is a big no no. Yet ALs find fault with this “discrimination” despite even court strictures to the contrary. Their perceived slight is obvious. This discrimination and slight pinches them no end. However, when questioned on ban on entry of women (of all ages) to Haji Ali in Mumbai, it suddenly gets treated as a tradition and a custom to be respected!

Holi 
   
            Holi is yet another festival that raises hackles among all. Wastage of water is the oft repeated reason on why Holi should be controlled, if not banned all together, as per the ALs. That the festival celebrates joy of colors and thus gives enough reason for happiness amongst all is, but naturally irrelevant to them. The tweets below show how much hatred these ALs have for Hindus enjoying this very pleasant and fun filled festival. 



Of course, the same Sagarika Ghose, so concerned about wasting of water through water balloons and pichkaris, does not hesitate to use swimming pools, which obviously consume so much lesser water. Ms Ghose definitely needs to teach us communal Hindus a lot about how to conserve water in a swimming pool! 




   
       That Rajdeep was conveniently using crutch of Sri Sri Ravishankar to further his agenda definitely does not fool anyone. Forget a crutch, even if given a complete set of limbs, he would definitely not tweet anything ridiculous about any festival pertaining to minorities (read Muslims/Christians) since that would be against his very DNA. 
Diwali

          Come Diwali and suddenly there is noise and air pollution vitiating the atmosphere. PILs and FIRs are filed by all the concerned, who till yesterday were invisible as Azan prayers from mosques pierced the skies even before day break. Diwali, a festival of lights, celebrating the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya is treated as yet another attempt by the communal Hindu to impose his will upon society and therefore, the need to suppress it by any means. Some ALs even attempted to use toddlers (between 6 and 14 months and who understandably would not even know what was being done on their behalf) to file PILs for banning crackers during Diwali on the pretext that were harmful both in terms of sound and general pollution. Who happened to be the lawyer filing the PIL? The very esteemed Kapil Sibal! Unfortunately for them, the SC refused to play ball, dismissed the PIL, and instead directed the Central government to publish pollution awareness advertisements from Oct 31 to Nov 12. Muharram and Eid, when Muslim prayers are broadcast extra loud, maybe to ensure even the most unfaithful turn faithful, of course, is not supposed to be anything but an expression of freedom of religion, and therefore goes unchallenged everywhere!



 Karvachauth
        
        The latest Hindu celebration to create offence to the ALs has been Karva Chauth, a festival where married women observe fast for one day for the long life of their beloved husbands. While routine one day (actually less than 12 hour) fast should not create so much of the problem as projected by these ALs, their opposition to the very Hindu festival was reason enough to bring out the most brutal reactions from them. From Barkha Dutt to Sagarika Ghose, everyone tried to project how 'patriarchal and repressive' this otherwise pious festival is. Tweets from them reveal the extreme hatred possessing them even while they tried to hide under the garb of secularism. When caught out, of course, they have the ready option of 'exercise of choice', especially when the argument veers to the very inconvenient burqua and hijab. Unfortunately, RW 'trolls' definitely were not taking it lying down. No wonder social media is such a leveller! 

The parody account India in emergency (@IdeaofEmergency) gets it completely right in response to the above tweet!

Garima (@gary_1980in), with her series of tweets starting with the first one below goes on to teach Barkha why Karva Chauth is important for Hindu ladies. Trust she did learn something after all!


 Raveena Tandon (@TandonRaveena), the beautiful and extremely outspoken Bollywood star, who has not been known to take things lying down, ensures here that Barkha not only does not have a free run but also has her running for cover! 

 Read the entire chain to see how Raveena speaks her mind! Kudos to the brave lady who dares! 

The list of festivals are huge. Hinduism, by its very nature has celebrated almost anything and everything with a festival thrown in for good measure. Immersions of idols of Ganesha (during Ganesh Chaturthi) and Durga (during Durga Pooja) have been known to create environmental issues due to indiscriminate use of chemicals and artificial non-biodegradable raw materials. Yet the growing awareness among devotees has resulted in the problem being addressed to a large scale by use of natural colors and bio-degradable materials by the manufacturers of idols. No one has protested about the correctness of such environment friendly measures exhorted. Try talking of environment to a similar festival of ROP pictured below?

Conclusion

              Every religion has its share of good and bad. Man is never known to be perfect, and religion, which is definitely man made (though many a secular would refuse to acknowledge this) is prone to errors too. Merely projecting one religion as totally communal and ridiculous no longer works. Gone are the days when main stream media (MSM) held sway and social media (SM) was a distant dream. Today, SM ensures instant rebuttal of biased and often totally incorrect reporting ensuring that MSM journalists no longer have it easy. Unfortunately, for those used to controlling opinions, this has become a bitter pill which they are trying as much as possible, to avoid ingesting! 

           Hinduism has always been and continues to be one of the most tolerant of all religions world over and has always strived to accept and assimilate other religions as well as provide the best possible environment. A true Hindu has always believed in वसुदैव कुटुंबक्कम (World is one family). No wonder India has never hesitated to accept those who fleeing from oppression elsewhere, be it Zoroastrians, Jews or Buddhists from Tibet. Not only has India accepted them, it has also allowed them sufficient space and freedom to practice and preach and often spread their religion too. 

             The Hindu accepts that God is not attained merely through one path and that multiple paths are always possible. Unfortunately, this tolerance is often treated as weakness and cruel and horrible ways were employed by those seeking to propagate their own religion as the only 'correct' one. India has continued to and definitely will withstand the onslaught, till the time Hindus remain true to themselves. The moment that is lost, India would cease to exist as a nation. Hoping that never ever happens. 

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16 October 2015

Season of Secular Outrage


    28 September 2015. Dadri, a dusty quiet place otherwise unknown outside Uttar Pradesh was thrust into limelight when 52 year old Mohammed Ikhlaq (Akhlaq) Saifi was murdered by a mob, that also seriously injured his son, 22 year old Danish. The immediate provocation apparently was an announcement made on the local temple's public announcement system that the family had killed a cow and consumed its meat on Eid-ul-Adha. As alleged, the mob arrived at his house late night and accused them of eating beef and storing the rest in their fridge. Even though the family insisted it was mutton, the mob didn't accept and dragged the family outside. Both Danish and Ikhlaq were subjected to repeated beatings and kicks. Ikhlaq succumbed to his injuries while Danish was badly injured, by the time the police could make it to the spot.

   Media was quick to pounce upon the story especially with Bihar elections round the corner. Channel after channel vied with each other to broadcast gory details, as sane reporting got kicked out of the window. Sensationalism to grab eyeballs was the name of the game. Just when Modi's BJP and its allies were seen as winning comfortably against the 'secular' alliance of Nitish Kumar, Lalu Prasad Yadav (and the Congress), the Dadri incident came as a shot in the arm for those looking to upset the PM's apple cart. The gleam in the eyes of journalists was more than apparent as #DadriLynching trended. Channel after channel spent exclusive prime time hours and beyond, debating on how India had suddenly become unsafe for minorities, just on the basis of one death. Ikhlaq suddenly became the new symbol of those desperately seeking to protect secularism from the Hindu right wing hate mongering BJP and, of course Modi. No one was interested in dousing the flames of passion and were instead more keen on pouring ghee of hatred to infuriate more. 

   Death, by any means, is bad. Nothing ever can justify killing of a human being except in self defence. However, exploiting the same death to try and further one's agenda merely turns you into a vulture, feasting on carcasses of unfortunate for sensationalism and self fortunes. While the media played their partisan role, could 'secular' politicians be far behind. Arvind Kejriwal, whose government was battling a horrible attack of dengue which had left hundreds dead in Delhi, left his governance in limbo and instead rushed to Dadri in an attempt to prove his pro-Muslim credentials.
  


The attack on PM was nothing new for someone who resigned from Delhi and stood for elections in Varanasi merely to prove how anti-Modi he really is. The attempt to garner sympathy from Muslims was nothing new too for Kejriwal whose single point agenda in life seems to be attempting to clamber upon the PM chair instead of concentrating on ruling Delhi, where the electorate had gifted him a thumping victory.

  If Kejriwal was playing beef politics, could Owaisi be far behind. He was critical of the police decision to test the meat since if it was proved it was not beef, as supposedly alleged by the mob while murdering Ikhlaq, his entire conspiracy theory would go for a toss. He was also critical of the state BJP for apparently fomenting trouble. Azam Khan's attempt to approach United Nations on apparent lack of safety for Muslims in "Modi's India" bordered on grave humour. Akhilesh Yadav, whose government was supposed to be actually responsible for maintenance of law and order, being the state CM looked on gleefully as both media and rival politicians instead laid entire blame on the PM's door step. Akhilesh could not have hoped for a better reprisal for failure of his own government in its basic requirement - governance. His only intervention in the entire affair was announcing ex-gratia compensation and photo-op with the bereaved family. 

Beef politics was highlighted by one and all as Dadri was politicised to unacceptable levels. Tweets and op-eds from 'esteemed' journalists talking about Talibanisation of India and how nation had been converted to a 'Hindu Pakistan' was in surplus supply. It was almost as if every other riot paled in the face of Dadri. Unimaginable, but true, but that was how news reports flew around. 
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/modi-may-have-called-dadri-sad-undesirable-but-us-is-not-impressed/1/499357.html

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/next-door-to-delhi-mob-kills-50-year-old-injures-son-over-rumours-they-ate-beef/

 http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/dadri-incident-a-wellplanned-conspiracy-says-report/article7731343.ece



 There were also the award returnees who linked their protests with the supposedly growing intolerance under Modi government which they said was "epitomised" by the Dadri incident. Journalists, secular politicians, 'reputed' writers, what more could India ask for. And of course who can forget 'eminent' personalities like Javed Akhtar, Shobhaa De, Farhan Akhtar... endless secularism on display! 

   The outrage might still have become acceptable if not for the reactions observed from the same clan following the death of a Hindu Anand Poojary in Mudbidri in Karnataka on 9 Oct 15, barely 10 days after the Dadri incident. Poojary was hacked to death by Muslims after he opposed illegal cow slaughter and transportation. None of the otherwise vocal media bothered to offer more than a few conveniently vague lines stating how a pro-right Bajrang Dal leader had been hacked to death by unknown persons for reasons "unknown". That the incident happened in Karnataka, ruled by Congress might have tipped the scales in ensuring non-reporting. Beef was the issue yet for the 'wrong' reasons as far as MSM journalists and seculars were concerned. No secular politicians including Kejriwal bothered to even talk about the issue, let alone visit the bereaved family. Journalists, had by then found a convenient story in the Sahitya Akademi returns to even bother to talk about Poojary's death. The outraged eminent personalities too suddenly developed sore throats, unable to even squeak in protest. Even the state CM did not bother to speak, let alone pay a visit.

    The irony could not be more apparent that a person is forced to be less-privileged merely for being a Hindu, that too in Hindustan.  Every secular (I prefer the more apt sickular) currently crying about how minorities are being ill-treated in India would only need to look at their own self and answer with complete honesty (alien to them) if that indeed is the reality. Pandering to certain communities merely because they vote enmasse and therefore could be termed as 'vote-banks' is an issue that needs to be checked, and immediately. True secularism, as enshrined in the Constitution, is equal rights for all irrespective of their faith and religion. What is practiced as secularism today is suppressing particular communities merely because they prefer to remain quiet and tolerate rather than revolt. Perceptions may not be complete reality, but a tilt in thinking that it really is, would only precipitate a crisis which would lead to even an unmanageable situation. 

 Food for thought...
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13 October 2015

The Season of Returns


          Suddenly, it has become the 'Season of Returns'. In fact, it threatens to beat the returns offered by banks and even bookies and punters and the stock market, all combined. And the frequency with which learned and esteemed writers are popping up all across the country, India suddenly seems an extremely talented nation. Where were all these 'famous' writers hiding till date, is not a question to be asked. Of course not, such inconvenient questions are definitely not in order, especially when India as an entity is being threatened by a very communal government, that has imposed an "undeclared emergency". At least Mrs Indira Gandhi in 1974 was courageous enough to openly declare emergency and thus boldly state her intentions. The current PM seems to lack even basic grace. A chaiwaala will always remain a chaiwaala. Zero grace, zero etiquette and simply no desire to ensure social butterflies are ensured their continued share of nectar. How demeaning can it get?

     BJP and other communal elements (all with that dreaded H word somewhere in their names) actually refused to accept the real provocation. A man had been lynched merely because he wanted to eat beef! Yet communal voices kept floating silly rumours in the air... "The actual has not been proved", "Beef does not get any mention in the FIR". High time we trashed such rumour mongering that was threatening to derail the very process of secularism. Didn't anyone hear all that the mainstream media had been speaking about what true reality was? Didn't anyone bother to see how they had dropped their glasses of scotch and vodkas and rushed over unpaved roads to gather truth from a remote village somewhere in UP? If that cannot be treated as how sincere the media reporting was, what possibly can? Tyranny of distances were ignored,

 all inconveniences left aside in an attempt to reach the beef of the matter. 
     Any wonder why Nayantara Sahgal got so distressed, a feeling that had been thankfully alien to her for all the years that secular governments had been ruling. So much was her distress that she returned her Sahitya Akademi award! One stroke and suddenly she thrust herself from being famous as an awardee to a non-entity! (Err, was it the other way around? Ahh! I am not allowed to ask!) Never mind that many of those who profess to possess in-depth knowledge about anything and everything had to Google to find out who she was and what exactly that she was returning. Also, never mind a trivial fact that there was no mention of return of the money and other favours received along with the award. Come on, you can't really expect someone to return all that, after so many years. Again, never mind that the Sahitya Akademi award was an extremely private award with the government no where in picture. Such trivial issues deserve mere contempt.

    Many communal lumpen elements even dug up evidence that Ms Sahgal had accepted the award in 1986, two years after a trivial genocide that killed thousands of Sikhs, in the aftermath of riots due to Mrs Indira Gandhi's assassination. They forget the fact that she had graciously protested against the riots, even founded the 'People's Union for Civil Liberties' which investigated the riots.  

 Yet RW lumpen elements, who had been protesting peaceful killing of a few cows here and there were exposed, as they bayed for her blood. They started questioning her secular credentials. They asked why she had been silent when other people had been killed or limbs cut off. Can any of these RW elements point out even one instance where people were killed over beef? Quoting cutting off of a hand of a professor in Kerala does not make any sense, does it, when he had brought it upon himself by insulting Prophet Muhammed, PBUH (I have been taught to say this each time I take his name!). Questioning her stand on 1984 also is irrelevant as her PUCL has ensured justice for all Sikh victims (Ok, give it to her! She tried). Yet everyone seems to be hell bent on proving her wrong. Imagine, a niece of India's first PM, Pandit Nehru being questioned by all and sundry. What has this nation come to? This is precisely what happens when you elect undeserving people with lowly backgrounds to highest positions in the government. 

     Ms Sahgal can also take heart that her actions have triggered a series of returns, the kind I referred to right at the beginning. Former Lalit Kala Akademi chairman Ashok Vajpeyi who returned it protesting "assault on right of freedom of both life and expression" was the next to surrender his prestigious award. He, of course, is not related in anyway to Atal Behari Vajpayee and would never even agree to such an association! Secularism was being threatened and it indeed is wonderful to see so many literary stalwarts closing ranks. Sarah Joseph of course would call it merely coincidental that she was an Aam Aadmi Party candidate and her politics had nothing to do with her returning the award. The "fear that engulfed in what one eats, when one expresses love and curbs on what one wants to write and speak definitely did not augur well!" I fully agree, especially since her silence was most eloquent when people of the North East were being lynched in Bengaluru based on rumours. Now maybe she was just ignorant and hibernating then. Then came names which suddenly became household ones... Gurbachan Bhullar, Ajmer Singh Aulakh, Atamjit Singh, Ghulam Nabi Khayal, all of who had been blissfully living in peace and serenity for all these years and this blatantly communal government headed by Modi suddenly was hell bent on ensuring all hell breaking lose. 

    They could have, of course, blamed state governments for the incidents. After all, law and order is and has always been a state issue. Again, to be honest, they did indeed blame the state government, again led by Modi for the 2002 riots in Gujarat. See, they had indeed been keeping track and right in the forefront of ensuring communal peace and harmony. It was always the RW lumpen elements that were in the forefront, hell bent on destroying the very spirit of secularism, as enshrined in the Constitution (Don't dare state now that it was included by Mrs Gandhi. If she had not done that much, India could never have been saved. It would have been reduced to a Hindu Pakistan, whatever that means).

    Latest to jump on the bandwagon is noted Hindi poet Rajesh Joshi who was conferred his award in 2002! Rings a bell somewhere? I can see all those lumpen elements smiling asking why he didn't bother to refuse then. Come on guys, such an honourable award, and imagine, if he had refused it then, could he have given it up now? Such foresight is admirable and no wonder all these people are right up in the top and highly honoured. 

     Feel glad I could express my own anguish and sympathy. India needs to be saved. I sometimes wish I had an award of my own, which I could return to express my own feelings. That's how strongly I feel over the deterioration of law and order happening under this anti-minority, anti-secular and communal government, a government elected with barely over 31% votes! Imagine 69% voted against Modi and yet he dares to occupy that exalted Prime Minister chair occupied by such esteemed personalities like Nehru, Indira (is India, India is Indira) Gandhi, Rajiv and of course the most affable, learned and assertive Manmohan Singh. High time we have a popular government back to rule, a government that can make sure Hindus stop demanding unnecessary rights and minorities can get their rightful first share of everything.

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12 October 2015

The Season of Open Letters

       I will take a page out of Mr Sardesai and state exactly what he stated. This indeed, seems to be a season of open letters and how better to respond to an open letter (http://scroll.in/article/761659/open-letter-to-aditya-thackeray-why-dont-you-defend-states-pride-by-helping-marathwada-farm-widows) than with another from yours truly. I am not a Xavierite nor any of the exalted schools that everyone (who seems to be anyone) seems to be from. I happened to grow up in a very 'normal' school where we were taught right and wrong in the true spirit of life and stealth and spite were completely beyond us. Ok, beyond most of us! I guess, one needs to be schooled in one of these exalted schools that most journalists have been, to understand guile. Or maybe not. I am happier I don't have to stand in front of a mirror and actually lie to myself each day. I am happy that I can be true to my own heart each and every time. And I am happy that I can peacefully go to my pyre. Peacefully is the catchword here!

Dear Mr Sardesai,
    This morning, when I woke up, I was feeling not too bright and cheery. I am sure more than 75% of fellow salary earners would share the same opinion of a Monday morning. Groans and mumblings apart, forced myself to land up at work and just about finished getting over the pending issues of the weekend when I happened to browse through news channels. That is something I generally avoid these days. The trash that is visible in them is extremely toxic, and I hate to spoil a decent day having to listen to people shout at one another for the greater part of 60 minutes, trying to drown the others' voices with their own (including anchors) and finally achieve zilch. Yes, you got it! Zilch almost sounds euphemistic. Yet, photographs of parties and gathering with all the glitz and glory have the same 'arch enemies' hugging and sharing smiles. So was all the shouting and anger merely for the cameras? I am sure the very classy educated journalists and politicians would be able to offer an explanation that would be extremely convincing. After all, they have been doing the same for years now and practice sure makes one perfect.

You wrote about how "Sudheendra Kulkarni, the former BJP national executive member and a former aide to both LK Advani and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had been attacked with black ink". Relevance of his being a BJP member and aide to LKA and ABV completely went over my classless head. You see, sir, I cant be blamed here. How can I, as a commoner, appreciate the finer nuances of how his links with the BJP were relevant as far as the ink attack was concerned. I am sure, with your esteemed knowledge, you would know better.

You then went on to describe his "crime". Yes you did use that very word, not me. His criminality arose from the fact that he "had organised a discussion in Mumbai on former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Kasuri's book". Oh my god, something as trivial as a friendly gesture helping out a former minister from our overtly friendly neighbour? He certainly didn't deserve such a treatment. I am sure many of my learned readers agree too. Especially since Mr Kasuri has been going so much overboard in establishing friendly ties with India that his nation keeps sending friendly messengers across on a routine basis. Who can blame them for possessing an AK-47 or two, or a few grenades. After all, those bully Indian soldiers sitting at the border just don't permit these peaceful messengers to pass through peacefully. This, even when they try hard to make sure they don't burden our soldiers by trying as much as they can, to avoid detection. How much more peace-loving can these messengers be? Mr Kasuri even had sent ten on a fishing expedition, just to make sure Mumbai is supplied with the freshest possible fish. And what did the cruel Indian soldiers do? Pinned them down, shot at them, and forced them to defend themselves using their peaceful weapons. Definitely Mr Kasuri should have been welcomed personally by Mr Modi at the border and escorted under SPG to wherever he wanted to travel in India. 

"The Shiv Sena we were told was angry with the presence of a Pakistani on Indian soil". Who exactly did you talk to? Mr Thackeray? I doubt because then this open letter would have become frivolous. So who exactly did you talk to? Some BJP leader for sure who was looking to get one up on the Shiv Sena. Quite possible. After all, both these parties have been responsible for so much of unrest all over and would never lose a chance at 'oneupmanship'.

"..ink had to be spilled on the streets of Mumbai yet again" Yet again? When did ink get spilled last? Maybe you happened to lose a bottle while travelling around. Cant blame you sir, the roads definitely are horrible, especially that patch of Marine Drive. I barely could touch 80 when I drove. BJP/SS after all are ruling BMC and the blame for condition of roads definitely lies in their backyard. Aha! I gave you a genuine reason to grouse, did I? Never mind! I would appreciate if you could indicate the exact position where you happened to break your ink bottle since evidence would help claim it as a 'tax break'!

"Last week Ghulam Ali, this week Kasuri" Did I miss the ink throwing episode on Mr Ghulam Ali? Another of our friendly neighbour who came to spread love through his charming manners and extremely soothing music? Ok, you were exaggerating. I can read as much. You see, one doesn't have to be exclusively educated to understand you many a time! Coming back to Ghulam Ali, if his music indeed was so peaceful, shouldn't he be playing it to the military leadership back home so they can take some time out from their plans of sending their peaceful messengers and concentrate on developing democracy back home? I know it is such an alien word across the border but technically, Pakistan still is a democracy even though even a child could reveal true reality without blinking an eye! 

 "... much like the Sena is angry with the invite to Kasuri, I am angry with the Sena, although I am not surprised." Nor are we! The Sena has been one organisation that has believed in openly stating their intentions and carrying it out to the last, regardless of public opinion slant. Much unlike a lot of journalists who would evaluate each and every option and possibility, and eventually opt for the one that guarantees maximum eyeballs. Or, maybe maximum chance of being termed secular, since that is the flavour of the season at present. Again, maybe the Sena is not as educated as you all are. How uncouth are they, right? Certainly do not deserve to be sharing time with classy educated people like you.

"... Kulkarni is not the first public figure you have attacked "..... "When I wrote an article against the Sena, there was a protest outside the Times of India building against me. I was lucky: I escaped unhurt. My senior colleague Nikhil Wagle who edited a Marathi eveninger was less fortunate: his office was broken into and he was physically attacked" Suddenly, you share something in common with a BJP leader. Oh the secular Gods must be kicking themselves. Oh I forgot, Mr Kulkarni redeemed his secular credentials with his association with Mr Advani (remember how he rebuked the very communal Modi publicly when he was attempting to become the PM candidate in 2013?) and Mr Vajpayee (Ahaa here it comes! 2002! Raj Dharma! Dereliction of duty as CM!) and of course this association with the extremely secular Kasuri. So your credentials are still unharmed. How you managed to escape unhurt would be something SS would have to offer an explanation about since, as I said earlier, they practice openly what they preach, again openly! Poor Nikhil, you should have forwarded your escape tactics to him so he too could have escaped. Maybe you can be held guilty for something trivial like that. Otherwise, who can question you, Mr Sardesai?

 "Many years ago, ... the Sena had dug up a cricket pitch ... to protest against an India-Pakistan cricket series" You missed the 'not once, but twice' part here Mr Sardesai. Remember Ferosha Kotla in 1999? Gosh, you lost a chance to throw more muck. I, for one, was not really really hurt. When my soldiers were dying or being killed (many brutally so) on the borders, I could not imagine my country desiring to host the same people for fun and frolic. Call me bloodthirsty, (am sure you do), but unfortunately, my lowly education didn't allow me to fathom the higher thought processes that people like you are blessed with. Many of your friends, the 'Aman ki Asha' kinds felt outraged, nay, cheated. They had been deprived of their moments of fame by an openly Hindu party! God save this nation! How can someone even profess openly to be a Hindu, let alone a party. Saffron was something we would prefer to call 'Orange' and that too grudgingly, merely because our forefathers had poor foresight to leave it on our national flag. How much better would our flag have been with just the White and Green, so truly secular!  

 "The difference is that then you were in opposition, now you are in government. In government, you are supposed to be the guardians of the law, not lawbreakers" Surprise, surprise, I agree with you here. Yes, guardians of law have been elected for guarding the law. Shiv Sena, as a member of the elected government, had no right to be breaking the very laws they were supposed to be guarding. They should have either resigned from the government and vented their feelings, especially since they were opposed to the protection that Mr Fadnavis was offering or else desisted from this attack. Oh, you thought you would get off easy? Ok, here is the rider to my agreement! That agreement is merely on the technicalities part. On principles part, I still agree with what the Shiv Sena did (or for that matter any individual/party might similarly do). I can't stand openly flirting with the enemy, regardless of whether he's doffed the wolf's clothes and wearing a sheep's now. All the more considering, his nation very recently exported some messengers to ensure some of my brave soldiers and countrymen left for heavenly abode, without their choice.

 "You have every right to feel strongly about Pakistan-based terror. You have every right to dislike Mr Kasuri. But if you don't like him or Pakistan, or his book, don't read it, boycott the function, wear a black band. Ditto with a Ghulam Ali". Do you really feel merely boycotting a function so openly supported by so many of you would have achieved anything at all? Mr Kasuri would have come here and been welcomed with open arms. Lots of smiles all around as pictures are clicked, at least one of which would have prominently included you. And then gone back, smug in the knowledge that we Indians don't care what hurts his country keeps causing at frequent intervals. We still would believe in the policy of "Athithi Devo Bhava" and even buy a few hundreds of his books so he can happily tote that money home and indirectly allow his messengers of peace to procure some more sophisticated weapons of peace.

 "But what gives you or the Sena's goons the right to physically attack the organisers or force the government to call off a concert?" Nothing, no rights at all. I would have completely been in agreement if there had been another open letter when a play had been called off at the behest of Christian organisations who felt their religion was being threatened by the very enactment of the play. Your studied silence then, and your very vocal protests now leave no room for doubt on your intentions. Not just you, but so many of you who call themselves journalists. The term has almost become an abuse, and that is all thanks to the way people who attach that term to their CVs have been behaving. If you think the common man on the street is still unaware, I would like to rewind a few months to one particular moment when you were 'reporting' from Madison Square Gardens. Not in India, very much outside, where your attempts to poison the atmosphere with your reporting left more than your reputation in tatters. You just experienced us common men (and women) in their rawest form. We believe in expressing our ideas openly, Mr Sardesai, not surreptitiously, as you have been taught. Our slip of crude upbringing showing, isn't it?

 "By the way, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has promised full protection for the book release function. Good for him." Oh, Mr Fadnavis could have looked the other way (as many secular CMs have done in times of crisis) but that is not how the BJP governments have behaved. History, is replete with examples of how impartial, even at danger of alienating own voters, BJP CMs have been, while ensuring restoration of law and order in shortest possible period. While you, undoubtedly, will dispute this, but Gujarat is classic example of how riots were controlled within the shortest possible period with relatively less casualties. You may keep quoting figures but the relative word is what will catch you out. 2002, your pet story, only therefore ends up buttressing my case! Sad, isn't it? I could place links here but then this blog would become too long so I will request you to Google if you still disbelieve me.

 "...how did you allow Mr Kulkarni to be a soft target?" Mr Kulkarni, if he so desired, could have demanded police protection and I am sure, Mr Phadnavis, the sweet guy that he is, would have ensured you were unapproachable by anyone. Instead, he Mr Kulkarni gets himself smeared with ink. Knowing the Sena, anything was possible so this was as mild as it could possibly get. There have been other politicians who have also had ink attacks (AAP leaders are easy reference) and every one of them have not failed to extract maximum mileage from the attacks. Mr Kulkarni, with ink dripping from his face and onto his clothes certainly made prime time TV look good but I am sure he would have encountered at least 25 (I am being conservative here) toilets where he could have cleaned himself up before appearing for a presser. Would he have done the same had he been attacked in Pakistan? Let alone a press meet, I am willing to stick my neck out in stating that he would have ensured he was on the next flight home. Here, knowing fully well that he was in no danger, he utilised his apparent discomfit to maximum gain. For whom, only time and the way journalists decide to take forward the attack, will tell.

I will not like to dwell into the patriotism that you touched upon in your post script (where else for such an irrelevant topic, Mr Sardesai) since that would be beyond your comprehension. That feeling one gets on seeing the saffron(!), white and green flag flutter or unfurl, or the national anthem played is unparalleled. Maybe clearheaded classy educated people like you would dismiss it with a wave or a sneer but trust me, for us country bumpkins, that is India. We would willingly sacrifice a lot, including our own lives to keep honour of both. Maybe it's high time you learnt that India does consist more of uncouth guys (and gals) like me who wear nationalism close to the heart. You might understand the "feeling called India" better!

PS: I am sure you wont even be reading this but I poured my heart out and am feeling so much better. Pride, nationalism and a lot of emotions, all of which flowed out.
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