SHASHIKIRAN MULLUR writes: In a yoga class seven years ago, I learnt Om is the natural vibration of the universe.
For weeks now, I’m seeing the symbol of the sound on saffron triangular buntings. The Om is encased within the rim of a flaming sun—can anyone, anything, imprison Om?
The vibration these buntings cause are not soothing like when we chanted Om and went into meditation, when the master made us pray four times facing four directions invoking peace (sukhino bhavantu) for all.
These buntings are aloft, fallen, drawn tight, hung loose, a clutter on the street, a mess. They are surely rousing some to anger, and driving the rest to fear.
They are everywhere, also in the Muslim areas, taunting the Muslims, daring them. Banners fly alongside buntings, and a major political party is the sponsor.
The banners demand to know: “Why should we be afraid to say we are Hindus, here in Hindustan�”
I am hard put to answer: It is written all over my face that I am Hindu, and how can I add speech to it with any pride when these chaps kill off a few hundred Muslims each time cricket goes into a lull?
Moreover, I have said I am Hindu wherever I have gone in the world, and until I saw these banners, never thought I need to fear saying it.
Some years ago, in Malleswaram, I walked by a huge gathering addressed by a fiery speaker. His oratory had charged the air and my skin bristled in resonance.
The public-address system was strong and clear and his timbre-rich voice carried over the mass of people in the maidan, into buses and cars rolling slowly down the street so they could hear him a bit, and into shops and small restaurants where people sat and listened, rapt�
“They ask us to welcome Muslims, to welcome everyone. Fine. We will make our home their home. And where shall we go? Where shall we go?” And again, “Where shall we go? Navellige hogona?”
He was dreadfully convincing, as fanatics are, masters of rhetoric, masters of the dumb and the docile. That speaker may know now that his countrymen have made the whole world their own.
On Sunday, to the taunts of the buntings, a B-grade Muslim politician gave response. He chose to grieve publicly for Saddam Hussein three weeks after the hanging. Shops and houses burned in Shivajinagar and its suburbs. An innocent orphan boy aged twelve fell to police firing.
The politician said sorry. “Calm returns,” announced the front page of a leading paper in the middle of the week. It is week’s end, and the boy is still dead.
Last night, with thoughts like this, I saw Parzania and in it the Gujarat riots.
Someone has had the courage to show what happened, and the talent with which to show it. One of our best actors has given a committed performance, and so have the rest of the cast. Very quickly in the movie the quality of its making became irrelevant and I subjectively suffered the evil that triumphs when good men are silent.
I ask every Indian to please go see Parzania. Riots must not happen. We must constantly speak out, or we are guilty like them.
churumuri 
Fantastic piece of writing. No one could have written a better review for Parzania than this one, though I agree this piece was not meant to be a review but a plea to everyone to stop this madness called riots.
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I guess, the article is thought provoking – but it looks like one major community is made to look like a villain. Pardon me if I am wrong.
Agreed, people who wanted to have the Hindu Samaj Utsav should not have had a gathering in sensitive areas – but tell me one thing, is it a crime to come out in the open and say “let’s live together”? If this is thought as a provoking of communal harmony, then I am afraid, we are in an absolutely intolerant world.
These joker politicians had no business to bring down the buntings when they went to grieve (rather celebrate?) the execution of Saddam Hussein. Justification given was that one of the so called “B grade politician” had met him twice and found him to be good!! A sinister move in the making??
Nothing wrong in either celebrating or protesting the execution – but why after 3 weeks? Why encourage people participating in the procession to start riots? They have no better business than doing this.
Added to this, after the riots, one ex-chief minister who looks no better than a pig says that it is “Police Failure”. Take that!! Being a responsible human being(?) he has derogated himself to such an abject situation that people had to make fun of him about his impotency to rule the state when he was in power. There is a saying in Kannada – “Kailaagadavanu Mai parachikondanante!!”.
The third politician is better than a monkey in jumping. The only difference between a monkey and this person is that whilst monkeys are adept in jumping trees, this person is very good in jumping parties!! He too had no business to join this procession if he wanted to have some respect from the people at large (which is only in and around his constituency).
Adding colour to all this was the spat between 2 people of the same minority community on the dias regarding participation in the government!! And this is a anti-communal procession!!
My dear friends, if this kind of a thing is happening in our country, god alone save us. These politicians are good at gaining cheap publicity at the cost of general public. I am happy to see that most of these chameleons have been exposed and the public at large have come to know of their sinister thinkings.
My only sad feeling is that these kind of politicians never got the kind of punishment that Saddam got – albeit the taunts that should be more provocative. Another option is that these people should be shot at gun-point. Something of such kind should be done about these people who gain to stand at the cost of the large public.
The common man in our country has been living in respectful communal harmony for centuries – without any fear. It is only due to these petty criminal politicians that we have seen the instances that happened in the recent past. I hope, some kind of sense prevails amongst the larger public to be away from such kind of provocations.
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I enjoyed Shashikiran Mullur’s piece, and I would like to join Rao saab’s opinion.
It is hard to condone any riots, but as I learn more about Sanatan Dharma and India’s ancient history — albeit from the “Marxist” historians — I find it hard to accept that Hindus can be liable for mindless violence as is portrayed in some media.
Media coverage unfavorable to the majority community indicates a liberal society of robust internal dissent. It is a good sign, and I am proud that India has grown into such an introspective society. Yet, such media coverage would be expected to be fair. Some of it is, of course, not fair.
When the media turn into agents provocateur, less liberal Hindus seem to behave like the zoo monkeys who hurt themselves when teased by an uncaring public.
Many English journalists seem to be ignorant of Sanatan Dharma that informs Hindu religious practices. To me, it seems that a Vedic education might be useful to such journalists, as well as to many film-makers.
I look foward to watching Parzania, thanks to Shashikiran’s post.
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Dear writer,
Let me ask you one question straight:
Would like to follow hindu customs in a muslim country or follow the statement ” be a roman in rome!”.
Apart from the local politicians ( 3 of them name by police internal report) there is absolutely nothing wrong in saying am a hindu. Just get on to saudi in ramzan time, any hindu will not get a slice of bread and are advised to be “roman in rome”. The tolarent majority here should be AFRAID to say they are hindus?
What nonsence is that?
Why go to saudi, just land up in Malaysia or Singapore during either ramzan or chinese new year and you will understand what these ethinic countries do… they just enforce the local rules ..
ITS AGAIN THE FAILING OF THE POLITICANS WHO ARE COWARDS TO CALL OURSELVES WITH PRIDE AS HINDUS BUT PLAY THE SECULAR CARD.
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If Hindus feel proud of their religion,culture and heritage it is communal, but if you criticise every thing connected with Hindu, you are secular. But this logic does not apply to Muslims as according to secularists, as their religion, Islam is secular and tolerant. Hence the best option is to convert all Hindus into Muslims so that India would be truly secular and riot free. It would be even better if a Taliban form of government is established in India as they (Taliban) used to claim that they are running the country based on the shariat (islamic law), that too in its pristine form.
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There are hundreds of commentaries aganist Hindu religion in Hindustan. These commentaries by Hindu’s themselves help in reforming and correcting, mistakes if any in the religion which is their way of life.
The freedom of speech in India allows every one to comment on Hinduism and Hindu gods.
Have anyone heard or seen comments being made by moderate Muslims on the ‘Holy Quaran’ on Prophet Mohammed in their own country and still alive ?.
I wish to read the English translation of the commentry against Islam made by a muslim , if it is posted on the Inernet for the benefit of all.
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Very well written, friend!
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I have to question the author’s Hindu credentials. he writes…”In a yoga class seven years ago, I learnt Om is the natural vibration of the universe.”
Inthavaru Irtharey!
Enough said
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Sorry I could not complete my earlier comment…try telling this ‘world truth’ to the ‘minority community’ and just see what happens. I think it is best these ‘Supermarket Hindus’ speak up and express their worldly knowledge on Hinduism.
Then again, the author is an aspiring film maker wanting to peddle a B-Grade movie script a la Mahesh Bhat style. May be we can have Upendra playing the lead role asking, “Yella OK, Riots Yakey.”?
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Yep ..all that and I would like to have Indians support the citizenship for ‘Taslima Nasreen’ ….
PS: As follow-up to this article the author can keep a list of aayees for this sensible/rational/life-saving cause
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Saw Parzania last night. It was hard to believe that something like that actually happened. What’s harder to believe is that people who condone such riots and justify “Hindu angst” actually walk amongst us. What use is religion if it does not respect life? One scene in the movie – a young Hindu man spares the life of a young muslim women covering under her Kitchen counter, hands folded, pleading silently for her life – aptly depicts what we all are ultimately, before we became hindus or muslims: Humans capable of compassion and kindness. What else do we need? Does it matter that one does not fast while another does during a ‘holy’ month? Does it matter that one eats meat while the other doesn’t? Does it really matter more than having our children safe in our arms? Does it really matter? Parzania might offer a few answers. “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind,” a character in the film quotes Gandhi. Some of the comments here seem to indicate, “So be it. We’ll all be blind. Why let one have the gift of sight while another is deprived. Let’s all go blind.” That may not be necessary though. We are blind. We refuse to see reason, refuse to look beyond fanaticism. The recent riots in Bangalore were a chilling reminder that we are not safe, not in Vijaynagar, not in Yadavgiri, not in Sultan Palya. What we have done today is strangled our sense of security. Yet, religious identity, assertion has become more important than being able to feel safe in one’s own home.
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Excellent blog Shashikiran Mullur.
Thanks for sharing this with us.
I am an Indian Muslim living in the US. I am ashamed of the recent violence in Bangalore by participants of the pro-Saddam rally. The so-called ‘Muslim leaders’ who organised this rally are idiots who would do anything to get votes. The pics of innocent Hindu and police victims made us very sad and ashamed. The resultant violence was expected and police did a good job in taking the command of their political bosses who wanted to prove the “other side” a lesson.
Violence begets violence, hate begets hate. We have to raise to stop hate mongers from speaking for us.
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Dear “Professional Journalist”,
Have you heard of the well known Urdu poet Allama Iqbal (The one who wrote “Sare Jahan se Achcha Hindustan hamaara”)? He is considered among the all-time greatest writers on Urdu and Islam. Please read his collection “Shikwa” (literally meaning ‘Complaint’), where his complains against God and his creations. Many decreed him to as a non-muslim, when he wrote it. There are hundreds like him who question things that they are taught to believe. Do a google and you will find them.
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@Enough Already
You seem to be speaking like a human being that apart,
a) Movies are NOT REALITY. They hype up or down incidents based on their requirements – this is not the yardstick to either measure or accept truth et all related to riots what ever. In hindsight, if this was true, every underwrold goon has a movie to depict he is the robinhood for masses…
b)Agreed peace is more important than religion et all
c) When you say how important it is if one clan does not eat meat, or fast etc… A good question. Why are you IMPOSING such things in the first place? A true hindus life is no different from his religion. He HAS to practice and live his religion with tolerance but when that golden line is crossed on a daily basis – after centuries you expect him still to keep quite? Thats absurd. No form of abuse of anybody,anyform,anywhere goes on like this nonsence.
d) Who is taking eye for eye here? You seem to have missed the point by the mile. It is the petty politicians vote bank politicis. Without first hand information do not post such statements.
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Ahmed – you are right about the rally and the organisers.
The idiotic politician who organised this rally would care little for the betterment of the muslims in his locality. He was the MP for 7 times and the condition of people living there is pathetic. As he could not fathom his stock going down, he had to resort to such cheap tricks. This rally was a gimmick to ‘appease’ (mislead) them. It is also very true that he instigated the violence. Most of the times, the opinions, perhaps may be the idea of Parzania as well, are influenced by NDTVs and CNN-IBNs of the world. During Mangalore riots too, little does the world know about how many Muslim goons were smuggled into Dakshina Kannada from neighbouring Kerala to keep the flame of hatred burning? Did any form of media dared to give any coverage to this aspect barring a few in the vernacular press? Has anything been done to those who have suffered, be it a Hindu or a Muslim? Given the media frenzy any joker who plays the ‘secular’ card will get good publicity. Anyone who makes a movie portraying Hindus as rioters would get a good press. And it takes a bloody 13 odd years for a movie like BLACK FRIDAY to get a clearance.
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How true is it about monkeying politician OR politician monkey!!! This creature (?) has jumped the party once again!!! Read today’s Sanjevani – (www.sanjevani.com)
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muulur
what do you have to say about the goons from kerala and the thug in bangalore?
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100% agree with lotus eater. Go into some areas near where the pro Saddam MP lives……honestly, they are anti indian, pro pakistani there………which is why clowns think it fit to organize such a thing as a pro saddam rally
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Guruvarya,
I will ask some hindu god questions tell me the answers send the answers on my e-mail 1)what is the durga bhavani power to create all things? 2)durga bhavani has power in his hand what is that power name? 3)Tadasthu or any other power is there to create any thing what is that power name? 4)Tell one veda mantram to create any thing?
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