Tag: communalism

Venue for a Speech on Tamas: A Chronicle of an Event That Should Never Have Happened

First posted December 5, 2011 By Dilip Simeon; published in Bruised Memories: Communal Violence and the Writer, by Tarun Saint (ed), Seagull Books, Calcutta, 2002 Early in the year of grace 1988 certain (dis)reputable members of the academic community in the University of Delhi organized a public address on an unspeakable subject by a reluctant speaker in an… Read More Venue for a Speech on Tamas: A Chronicle of an Event That Should Never Have Happened

Dilip

Communist Party of India’s resolution on Pakistan and National Unity, September 1942

Pakistan and National Unity is an important position paper of the Communist Party of India, and a far-reaching text in the history of the Indian communist movement. The resolution dated September 19, 1942 contains an outline of the CPI’s support for what it called the ‘just essence of the Pakistan demand’; and the Report by Gangadhar… Read More Communist Party of India’s resolution on Pakistan and National Unity, September 1942

Dilip

‘Is this how justice ends?’: Bilkis Bano’s question should haunt the Indian republic

NB: It should and will haunt some, but not the bulk of us. Rampaging across the media are battalions of ideologically infuriated fanatics who will indulge in shameless whataboutery and yet once more, abuse Gandhi, Nehru, liberals, communists, anti-national elements, etc. The Sangh Parivar and its allies are never at fault for anything at all,… Read More ‘Is this how justice ends?’: Bilkis Bano’s question should haunt the Indian republic

Dilip

Bilkis Bano speaks: ‘Trusted highest courts, faith shaken, give back right to live without fear’

“Undo the harm” and “give me back my right to live without fear and in peace”. Breaking her silence for the first time after the release on remission of the 11 convicts who were convicted of gangraping her and killing 14 members of her family, including her three-year-old daughter, Bilkis Bano said on Wednesday that she was… Read More Bilkis Bano speaks: ‘Trusted highest courts, faith shaken, give back right to live without fear’

Dilip

It is time for Punjabis to atone for the sins of 1947

no one speaks, really, of their own crimes. Seventy-five years on, the ruling political elites of all communities – Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims – and the governments of both nations show a complete unwillingness to acknowledge their own misdeeds.. NB: I salute Amarjit Chandan for fearlessly upholding truth and humanity. Thank you Amarjit sb. Dilip AMARJIT… Read More It is time for Punjabis to atone for the sins of 1947

Dilip

Bloodied pen

Mukul Kesavan on Salman Rushdie and the violence on free thought NB: In case we forget what’s happened in India between 2013 and 2017: Four Indian intellectuals who were murdered for their ideas (2013-2017) In the decades since Khomeini’s fatwa overset Salman Rushdie’s life, his critics have sometimes suggested that he isn’t really a free speech icon because… Read More Bloodied pen

Dilip

Salman Rushdie has again instructed us in a profound lesson: great literature will always be a matter of life and death

NB: Iran’s vicious theocracy has never withdrawn the fatwa against Salman Rushdie. The practice of placing monetary rewards on persons heads, i.e., offering money for death, is repulsive and barbaric, no matter who does it. Contract killings are murder, and to for so-called believers to claim this is done for Almighty God is despicable. God… Read More Salman Rushdie has again instructed us in a profound lesson: great literature will always be a matter of life and death

Dilip

Salman Rushdie on ventilator after being stabbed onstage at New York state event

Sir Salman Rushdie remains on a ventilator after being attacked onstage at an event in western New York state on Friday morning. Rushdie, the author whose writing led to death threats from Iran in the 1980s, was stabbed in the neck and torso as he was about to give a lecture in western New York. Rushdie, 75, was… Read More Salman Rushdie on ventilator after being stabbed onstage at New York state event

Dilip

High Court of Jammu & Kashmir upholds Sanjay Tickoo’s petition for protection of religious places and castigates communal versions of nationalism

First posted October 10, 2013 NB: The operative aspect of this case may be seen in the highlighted part of para 1 (emphasis added). It is well-known that a large number of temples all over the Kashmir Valley have been desecrated and/or abandoned. According to Sanjay Tickoo, President of the Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti the figure runs into… Read More High Court of Jammu & Kashmir upholds Sanjay Tickoo’s petition for protection of religious places and castigates communal versions of nationalism

Dilip