THE TYRANNY OF RELIGION

                          While humans were barbarian hunters God wasn’t known to them and there was no religion as such in existence. Only when they settled in a place and opted agriculture as their main means of livelihood, religions came into existence. Jericho in Israel is one such place where early humans settled for agriculture and this place is one of the early centres of civilization. This place may be called as the cradle of one of the earliest religions, Judaism.  Another team of hunters from Middle East Asia travelled to the Southern Asia and settled on the banks of Sindhu River. They were known as Aryans and their religion was subsequently came to be known as Hinduism. Other religions like Jainism, Budhism etc. were the offshoots of Hinduism just like Semitic monotheistic religions like Christianity and Islam are the products of Judaism.

                         During the evolution of homosapiens,  religion had its own utility in the conversion of humans from barbarism to civilization. But after passage of many centuries religion became a liability rather than an asset to the human race. Religion became a force that retarded the progress and scientific quest of humanity. Any impartial observer can convince himself of this fact if he goes through the history of the Dark Ages in Europe.  Christian religion, especially its Catholic sect, was the most reactionary force that blocked all scientific discoveries of early scientists. Semitic religions like Judaism, Christianity and Islam are the most intolerant religions in the world where as the Hindu religion and its daughter religions are more tolerant than the former.  As far as Semitic religions are concerned they believe their God is the only true God and their religion is the only path for salvation or the passport for entry into heaven. They also believe that their holy books are the words of God that cannot be questioned or challenged.  A Hindu is free not to believe in any God and still he will be considered a Hindu. He may observe or not observe Hindu rites and still he will be considered a Hindu. There is no question of ex-communication as in Semitic religions. Hindu religion is broad enough to accommodate other beliefs also. But the story of Semitic religions is just the opposite and they brand other religionists as non-believers or khafirs.

                         I am a person who believes all religions have outlived their utility. If we study the past history of the world, you will be convinced that more millions of people had been killed in religious  wars  than in political wars like 1^st and 2^nd  World Wars.  Everybody is born into a religion if we like it or not. There is no option.  I am born of Christian parents and I became a Christian at least in name. Nobody asked me whether I wanted to be a Christian, Muslim or Hindu. All the prejudices and false beliefs of the respective religion are injected into a human being from early childhood. Even though I am not a believer or admirer of any religion, if I have an iota of respect towards any religion, it is the Hindu religion. But I feel sorry to see that the new face of the most tolerant religion in the world now is the Sangh Parivar, Viswa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal and not philosophers like Sri Narayana Guru.

                         The ignorance of the faithful is being exploited by religions and their clergy. So far in India religious organizations were satisfied with protection of their vested interests by their proximity to the political parties and their leaders. But the situation has changed drastically and now the political authorities are being determined and controlled by the religious leaders, brandishing the true or assumed strength of their vote bank.  As long as various political parties and their leaders do not come together and show the religious leaders their respective place in public life, India’s future is doomed to be bleak.

                         I have to openly tell you this. Like Martin Luther King Jr. I too have a dream, a dream of a society where there is no tyranny of religion, where there is no exploitation of the common people by their clergy, where there is no distinction between man and man on the basis of religion and where there is no slavery of the mind perpetrated by the so-called religious leaders.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, the New Hero of Indian Fascists.

 A speech of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Duma (Russian Parliament) on 4^th February 2013 against the minorities in Russia is being circulated by Modi supporters through internet. They present Putin as a role model for India and by implication say that Modi will be the only person in India who will dare to speak like Putin.  We all know that Putin is not a widely respected World Statesman. There are too many allegations against him and in the last Presidential election in Russia he somehow scraped through by hook or by crook. There was even allegations against the genuineness and impartiality of that presidential election and it was alleged that Putin manipulated the election process to ensure his victory. He first became President of Russia in 2000. Soon on becoming President he took out his true fascist colour. First victim was N.T.V. owner Vladimir Aleksandrovich Gusinski. The reason: President Putin was provoked by a programme telecasted on N.T.V. showing him as a joker. In June 2000 a case for cheating and forgery was charged against Gusinski and he had to flee Russia.

Next on the victims’ list is Boris Berezovski, a self-made billionaire with investments in oil, aluminium, car and airplane industries and T.V. channels. He played a substantial role in Vladimir Putin’s rise to power in 2000. Subsequently their relationship became soured and finally he fled to England. Very soon on 23^rd March 2000 he was found dead in his bathroom under mysterious circumstances and it is suspected that the long arm of Putin was behind the mysterious death of Berezovski. (One former Russian Federal Security Officer had given evidence for this.) The super-rich Russian Oil baron Mikhail Borisovich Khodorkovsky became Putin’s enemy on his public allegation that Putin is corrupt. He was arrested on 25^th October 2003 on false charges of fraud and sentenced to 9 years imprisonment. He is still in the prison cell.

A Russian accountant and auditor Sergei Leonidovich Magnitski brought to light a scam of 230 crore dollars against Putin Government in 2008. He was subsequentl y arrested on charge of tax evasion and thrown into prison. In 2009 he was killed in custody at the young age of 37 years as a result of cruel persecution. Former Russian Federal Security Service Officer Alexander Valterovich  Litvinenko was murdered in London in 2006 by poisoning with polonium. The reason is that he accused Putin and Co. for ordering the assassination of Russian industrial tycoon Boris Berezovski.   A vehement Putin critic and human rights activist Anna Politkovskaya, a journalist and reporter of opposition news paper Novaya Gazeta  was  shot dead in the lift of her apartment block. It is still an unsolved murder attracting international attention. After Putin became President four other reporters of the same news paper were killed under mysterious circumstances. Two anti Putin lady singers of an orchestra group are still in jail. Anti Putin left opposition leader Sergei Stanislavovich Udalsov is under house arrest. Elder Opposition Leader and former Deputy Prime Minister Boris Effimovich Nemtsov  is living in and out of jail. Former World chess champion Gari Kasperov was victimized for his anti Putin views. Opposition Leader and hero of the Russian people Alexei Navalny was arrested  on the flimsy ground of stealing some wood and put into jail. Only after strong international protest he was set free. In a land where those in power wreak havoc with the law and settle personal scores with opponents, no one is safe.                                                        
Modi supporters in India now make such a person who has low esteem in the eyes of the world (the only good thing he did is to give political asylum to Snoden) as a role model for India. I fully agree with them that these are what going to happen in India once Narendra Modi is in Prime Minister’s throne.

In Putin’s speech he says,“ Russia does not need minorities. Any minority, if it wants to live in Russia, to work and eat in Russia, should speak Russian. Russia doesn’t need minorities and minorities need Russia.  We will not grant them special privileges, or try to change our laws to fit their desires, no matter how loud they yell ‘discrimination’. The Russian customs and traditions are not compatible with the lack of culture or the primitive ways of most minorities. When this honorable legislative body (Duma or Russian Parliament) thinks of creating new laws, it should have in mind national interest first, observing that the minorities are not Russians.”

No wonder that this speech finds sympathetic resonance with the Indian fascists. They wonder if there is any leader in India other than Modi to give a similar statement in Parliament.  As far as they are concerned minorities are not Indian citizens. In their view minorities mean Muslims and Christians. But there are other religious minorities like Sikhs, Jains, Budhists, Parsees and ethnic minorities like Gorkhas, North Eastern People, South Indian People etc. Linguistic minorities like Konkanies, thulus etc. are there. In Putin’s view only people speaking Russian language can be considered Russians and those who speak other languages are minorities. If we stretch this argument to the Indian situation only those people who speak dominant Hindi language can be considered as Indians. People speaking Tamil, Telugu, Kannada or Malayalam will be considered as minorities and not to be fit to be Indians.  That may be the reason this Hindutva fascists never uttered a word of protest when genocide took place in Sri Lanka and the Tamil Minority was butchered.  In their view minorities are not fit to live as equal citizens and they must live as second class citizens. Yesterday Sikhs in Modi’s heavenly Gujarat took out a protest march against discrimination of Modi Government.

It seems fitting and proper that Putin is the new hero and role model of the Indian fascistsi. I have to forewarn that the same Russian fate is waiting the Indian people and the opposition parties and leaders who doesn’t toe the fascist line once Modi is in the Prime Minister’s  throne.

True Secularists must take forward the fight against Indian Fascism

I condider myself as a secularist to the core and I don’t believe in any religion. Even in the case of those who believe in their respective religions,  religious faith must be purely the private affair of a person. It must never be taken to the public domain. Religions must be restricted within the four walls of the places of worship and never be taken to the street. When it is taken to the street, it becomes a danger to the people and the nation. No religious leader must be allowed to involve himself in the public and political affairs of the country. Secularism doesn’t mean equal consideration to all religions but no consideration to any religion. The word ‘secular’ is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as ‘ not concerned with religion or religious belief’. Only when we become not concerned with religion or religious belief we can become truly secular. In this sense I am truly secular.

I strongly believe that Mr. Narendra Modi is a danger to a secular India. So I am always on the opposite side of this power hungry poltitician. I have seen nobody in India so far who is nakedly exposing his ambition to be the Prime Minister of India. Now I am more determined to continue my fight against him with all the means available within my capacity. I have spent long hours of my life to study about Fascism and Nazism.  With my background of this knowledge of Fascism and Nazism , I can tell even without an iota of doubt Mr. Narendra Modi represents Indian Fascism.  I am much concerned about the startling similarities between Narendra Modi  and Adolf Hitler. I may even say that Modi is the incarnation of Adolf Hitler. So I am determined to fight tooth and nail against the danger of Modi plan to to kill the plurality of Indian polity and make it a monolithic entity .

Formerly  I was much optimistic about the role of Indian intellectuals in the promotion of secularism, but now I must say I am not.  The intellectuals are now on the other side of the great divide along with Fascist Narendra Modi. They are promoting him as ‘Vikas Purush’ through twitter, facebook etc. So we, the true secularists must be more careful to take forward the message of secularism.

Protect Indian Democracy as the pupil of your eye

 I fully believe that Congress is corrupt to the core. The image of the present generation of Gandhi-Nehru clan is tarnished.  I am not an admirer of corrupt Congress. Nor am I a follower of any political party. I criticize political parties when they go wrong and appreciate them when they are right. Though not a supporter of HIndutva politics, even then I agree with some policy stands of BJP like common civil code for all Indians, abolition of special status to Kashmir, stoppage of government assistance to Haj pilgrims etc. I am secularist to the core. 

But when it comes to Modi, I am much concerned. I don’t have any faith in that man and his democratic credentials. He is number one fascist.

Some of my friends console me saying that there is our president, parliament and the Supreme court. But I am afraid that Modi can manipulate all these institutions. When Indira Gandhi declared emergency and suspended all the democratic rights of the Indian citizens, all these institutions were there. A pliable president and parliament were easily manipulated. Everybody thought at least our Supreme Court will not be a silent spectator. But that was not the case. Had our Supreme Court taken a firm stand, emergency could have been quashed.  In the infamous Habeas Corpus case during the Emergency had the 5 member Supreme Court bench under Chief Justice S.S. Ray accepted the minority judgement of Justice H.R.Khanna without bending their spinal cord before Indira Gandhi, India could have been spared the agony of Emergency. The only end result of the minority judgement of Khanna was that he was denied the elevation to the post of Chief Justice of India.

I have also to remind you that during emergency the General Election was postponed after completion of full term of five years by Parliament for 2 more years.

So only  if people are vigilant and active our democracy can be protected.

HITLERISM AT INDIA'S DOOR STEP.

                                                                                              
                                                                               JOY PAUL PUTHUSSERY

              When I write this, BJP National Executive meeting has commenced in Panaji, Goa and this conclave is expected to crown Narendra Modi as the face of BJP in the 2014 General Election and probable Prime Ministerial candidate. Though deep schism has developed in the BJP leadership and its patriarch Lal Krishna Advani and his followers are boycotting the conclave, Narendra Modi is likely to be installed as the chairman of the National Election Campaign Committee to lead the party in 2014 General Election and to be projected as the Prime Ministerial candidate.

             Like large sections of the Indian electorate, I have my own fears and forebodings about Modi. I firmly believe that he will be a danger to the multi-religious, multi-sub-cultural, multi-linguistic plural India. He is a man for conformity even if it is forced conformity like any fascist for whom diversity is anathema. The blood bath after Godhra is still fresh in my memory. To punish the culprits of Godhra is not the massacre of thousands of innocent people including women and children. They should have been brought before law and punished. My firm belief is Modi could have controlled and limited the intensity and massiveness of the carnage, if not prevent it altogether.

             Friends,  I wrote the above words two days ago and I was not able to continue since busy otherwise for the last two days. I was away at Kottayam to address a seminar on “Caste Politics and Kerala Society” and returned to Thrissur yesterday night. On my return I received the expected news of appointment of Modi as the Chairman of the National Election Campaign Committee of BJP and by implication the Prime Ministerial candidate for 2014 national election. The fate of L.K.Advani is surprising to even persons like me ideologically opposed to him and I am really shocked by the insult, ingratitude and shoddy treatment meted out by those groomed by him to this elder politician, who usually is described as BJP Patriarch  who built up the party from the scratches. From a tally of 2 seats in Lok Sabha he lead it to become the ruling party of India. In protest against electing Modi to the top slot he boycotted the National Executive of BJP at Goa.

            After Gujarat carnage in 2002 in the National Executive held paradoxically in Goa itself majority of its members including Prime Minister A.B. Vajapai wanted Modi to be replaced as Chief Minsiter of Gujarat. It was the strong backing and formidable support given by the ‘Iron Man’ Advani that saved the day for Modi. Otherwise it would have been the end of Modi story that day. It is tragic that in the National Executive in same Goa Modi made his unkindest cut of all against his mentor and saviour. The story of Mayaben Kodnani, former minister in Gujarat under Modi who has been convicted for Naroda Patiya massacre by a special court for 28 years imprisonment, proves that Modi is so power hungry that he will sacrifice anybody even his own colleagues for achieving his ambition. Since he wanted to exhibit his newly proclaimed secular credentials to make his way easier to be the PM’s throne, he wanted to dump Mayaben Kodnani  by moving higher courts to convert Kodnani’s 28 year imprisonment to capital punishment. I am sure it was not without Modi’s knowledge that Mrs. Kodnani incited people for Narodia Patiya massacre. This is Modi. This power hungry man will do anything to realize his ambition, even if by disowning his parents. No wonder he has thrown away Advani, his mentor and savior, to the wolves.

               I had spent a lot of time in my life to study the rise and fall of Adolf Hitler, the fuehrer and messiah of Nazi Party. From what I have read and learnt I am surprised by the striking similarities between Hitler’s and Modi’s style of functioning. Deep inside both are authoritarian and hated dissent and difference.  The political situation of 1933 Germany and 2013 India is strikingly similar, a weak and spineless government in power at the Centre with rampant corruption and inefficiency.

               Many even don’t know that Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany through a democratic election. In the German national election conducted on March 5, 1933 the Nazi party won only 288 seats, 36 seats short for an absolute majority. He made a coalition with Nationalist Party and its 52 MPs gave Hitler his required majority. German people never knew this would be the last election they would vote for many years to come. The rest is history. He declared emergency immediately after taking over as the Chancellor and even his coalition party leaders were arrested and jailed.  His closest colleague and second in command who helped in building the Nazi Party and organising the army of storm troopers called Brown Shirts, Ernst Roehm was put under bars soon in 1934. Hitler himself arrested him and put in prison. While in jail Hitler himself  gave him a pistol with the option either to shoot himself and commit suicide or be shot by the Guards. Rohem took the former course to redeem his courage and honour.

            Today Modi’s promoters are the Indian corporate houses just like Hitler’s were the German Corporates . At that time Hitler’s political and financial support came from industrialists like Krupp Von Bohlen of Krupp Works, Emil Kirdorff, the mining baron, Fritz Thyssen, the head of the Steel Trust, Albert Voegler of United Steel Works, Georg von Schnitzler of I.G.Farben and so on. I can continue quoting a score or more of names of German Industrialists who supported and financed Hitler. The same is the case now in India. Modi is the darling of Indian Corporates and the corporate owned media. They  project Modi as the messiah to save India from all evils with their selfish motives. If another Nuremberg model trial happens in India in the future, such industrialists surely will have to answer before it.

            I feel sorry and shocked by the abusive and vituperative comments against Advani by hordes of Modi storm troopers in the social media. Respecting elders is the part of Indian culture and those social media hooligans don’t know the cultural ethos of India. The intolerance of  fascist Modi and his brigade of storm troopers is a pointer to the future.

          Friends, don’t think I am spreading fears without any basis or creating unnecessary panic.  We have to learn from history and many a time history repeats itself sometimes more tragically than before. My friends who are admirers of Modi try to reassure me, but I am not reassured at all. The Germans in 1933 never thought that such ghastly events will happen in their country and were in a complacent mood, but had to pay the price with their and others’ blood. I have a premonition that Hitlerism is at the door step of India. My request to you is to think 100 times before you throw your weight behind Modi. I will never ever believe this man. As long as I can move my tongue, I will speak against him, as long as I can move my hand, I will write against him.

REMOVE SECTION 66A OF IT ACT

On 23^rd December 2008, the last day of winter session of the 14^th Lok Sabha, a draconian law was passed in 7 minutes time without any discussion and this law, passed without proper deliberation,  was the amended Information Technology Act 2000. This act included its section 66 A under which many persons have been arrested for expressing their free opinion in the social media on many political and social matters. No member of Parliament either left or right raised any objection to this Act when it was passed in Parliament. That proves that all the politicians whether of ruling parties or opposition parties saw eye to eye in the case of this Black Law. The classical proof of the harshness of this Act was proved when two girls were arrested in Mumbai for expressing their opposition to giving a day’s holiday in connection with the demise of Siva Sena leader Bal Thackeray. The girls were arrested by the police giving rise to widespread protest in India. Recently an social activist in Andhra was also arrested based on the same section of the IT Act.

The paradox is that for the same offence only a civil case is charged against the print media where as in the case of an offence in the social media immediate arrest and criminal prosecution are resorted to. This is wanton violation of right for freedom of speech and expression as guaranteed under Article 19(1a) of the Indian Constitution.

Our politicians know that print and visual media are amenable to government diktats due to patronage in the form of advertisement etc. Also our print and visual media are owned by big corporate houses which can be influenced by powers that be by government bonanza in the form of incentives and tax exemption.

I request all of you to come together and oppose Section 66 A of the IT Act and compel the government to withdraw it.

How true. And we keep feeding him. Nani Palkhiwala eminent Lawyer wrote on 16 January 1984. "The picture that emerges is that of a great country in a state of moral decay. The immediate future seems to belong to the doomsayers rather than to cheer mongers. We suffer from a fatty degeneration of conscience, and the malady seems to be not only persistent but prone to aggravation. The life style of too many politicians and businessmen bears eloquent testimony to the truth of dictum that the single minded pursuit of money impoverishes the mind, shrivels the imagination and desiccates the heart. The tricolour fluttering all over the country is black, red and scarlet - black money, red tape and scarlet corruption." My dog sleeps about 20 hours a day.  He has his food prepared for him. He can eat whenever he wants, 24/7/365. His meals are provided at no cost to him. By the way he does not need to pay for medical insurance He visits the doctor once a year for his checkup, and again during the year if any medical needs arise. For this he pays nothing, and nothing is required of him. He lives in a nice neighborhood in a house that is much larger than he needs, but he is not required to do any upkeep. If he makes a mess, someone else cleans it up. He has his choice of luxurious places to sleep. He receives these accommodations absolutely free.  He is living like a King, and has absolutely no expenses whatsoever. All of his costs are picked up by others who go out and earn a living every day. I was just thinking about all this, and suddenly it hit me like a brick in the head... My dog is like the Indian POLITICIAN