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ASSEMBLY POLL '98
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'Islamic clergy must modernise its archaic structure'
E-mail from readers the world over
Date: Mon, 03 May 1999 13:25:46 -0300 I have now finished reading the reports on 'The Jihad Within' on Rediff. Access to modern educational facilities and information have made Kerala Muslims a unique segment in the Islamic world. It is natural that it is turning out to be the birth place of a movement for modernising the Islamic religion. The reports of Fousiya, Tasni Banu and Suhara reveal the urgent need to restructure and modernise the so-called 'Islamic Laws', the preliminary versions of which were prepared 187 years after the death of Prophet Mohammed. In other words the laws are not part of 'divine' revelations and there is no proof that these were directly endorsed by the Prophet himself. They are discriminatory and undemocratic in the sense that feminine segment of the society never had any participation in it. The initiative of Rasheed is indeed revolutionary. The problem is that he and his family are caught within a community which has confusing notions of art and religion. Use of masks in dances and popular festivals is not uncommon in some of the Muslim communities in Central Europe, Africa and Middle East. The situation can be remedied not through suppression or punitive measures but by implementing local community programmes, which inform the public of the importance of art in understanding the essence of religion. Participation of modern Islamic religious organisations is crucial for its success. The most impressive part of the report has been the interview of Abdul Rahman. Hats off to him for taking such a courageous stand, under such adverse circumstances. I don't see any serious problem with the essence of his arguments, in which he is trying to rally support for people who he believes have suffered from discrimination based on religion. He has drawn attention to difficulties faced by minority groups, problems of political opportunism and lack of effective counter measures by government authorities. The problem deserves attention especially in view of the fact that there are several pockets within India where Muslim communities have significant roles. However, it is important that NDF open up its folders for participation of all (irrespective of religion, caste or creed), sincerely interested in fighting discrimination and social injustice. In this context, it is convenient to note that religion is no guarantee against human right violations. A prime example is Saudi Arabia where Asian Muslims suffer blatant discrimination compared to 'infidel' Americans and Europeans. There is no doubt that Islamic clergy must modernise its archaic structure and revise outdated interpretations of religion, incompatible with Quranic verses and the modern world. The prophet himself, if alive today, would not have agreed to what is being practiced in many countries under the name of Islam. They must have the courage to admit, in accordance with Quranic verses, that Hindus also belong to "People of the Book" and recognise them as universal brothers along with Jews and Christians. Valiya M Hamza
Date: Mon, 3 May 1999 12:29:22 +0530 It was a good feature series. Well told and with lovely illustrations. We want to see more such features from various corners of India. Thanks Rediff. Vaiju
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 11:09:39 -0700 I feel anguish in my heart for that girl named Fousiya. Is there an address where I can reach her and send some money to that family? If so, kindly do send it to me. I regret to say this, but I don't want any third person in this because I really don't trust people any more. Gurucharan Singh
Date: Mon, 03 May 1999 14:45:41 +0530 The article by Monu Nalapat is an interesting and a thought provoking one. It is an open fact that one who controls the purse strings of a political party heads the party. Sitaram Kesri, by virtue of being the treasurer of the Congress could manage to become its president. The case is no different with Sonia Maino. No wonder even shrewd politicians like Sharad Pawar and Arjun Singh bow before her. A concrete effort must be undertaken to identify the beneficiaries of the Bofors money. Probably the outcome of this investigation will get rid of the foreigner trying to play a big power game in India once and for all.
Date: Mon, 03 May 1999 13:01:10 -0400 I find the request for a fax of questions without answering supplementary questions strange.Why does the author have to go to the Chinese embassy, he could have requested a fax of answers also. Ravi
Date: Mon, 03 May 1999 13:11:25 -0400 China should be ready for USA removing the rung under their feet in the near future just as America did to Japan. At one side, they are stealing secrets and on the other their PM is begging Clinton to help enter China in WTO. Zhou Gang just parroted the answers his masters have given him to Rediff's prefaxed questions. No purpose has been served in this show of lack of confidence in China's ambassador. China looks a great country but the politicians appear to be cowards. Dictatorship in China is a clear indication that the Communist Party is a party of cowards who do not have any confidence that ordinary Chinese people will approve/disapprove their policies. Such people have no right to lecture. There was really no need for seeking any interview from those forces who are hell bent on destroying India by conspiring with Swamy, Natwar Singh and Sonia's Congress. This guy, Zhou Gang has misused the diplomatic immunity by asking India in a rude manor to disband the policy of minimum deterrence and shamelessly advising India to sign CTBT and NPT without conditions. Without his diplomatic immunity, he would have been egged and tomatoed in Delhi. China is a classic case of rudeness and brazen behaviour, not only in India but all over the world. Enough of it.
Mukund Kute
Date: Mon, 03 May 1999 13:15:47 -0400 Mr Shenoy, I am Sumanth, a regular visitor of this site. Some of the editorials really give a good view of the ongoing scenario on various issues. The issue relating to the elections in India has some very good points and should be considered to get rid of the uncertainty in the country. Sumanth
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 16:02:40 -0700 (PDT) True that a futures exchange may not be a panacea but using phrases like 'not a panacea' is a cynical attitude. Nobody claims it is a panacea. It solves many problems. We need a futures exchange for all commodities if we are to avoid wild situations like the onion crisis. Futures trading not only removes the uncertainty from the growers' minds but also stabilises prices. The stabilisation is not debatable, it follows common logic. I wouldn't invest in a commodity if the prices are too low meaning that enough growers have invested in it to meet the future demand. On the other hand, if the demand has not been met, it would be reflected in the prices allowing me to know that it would be profitable for me to invest. Futures trading of a sort goes on in India even now. Farmers get into agreements with traders who hoodwink them by preying on their insecurity. Setting up an exchange can only create an efficient market making it easy for the growers to know the price they can sell it to the trader. Right now, different farmers sell at different prices, mostly getting exploited by the existing socialist system that prohibits anything good for the society. The point on speculation is something I must strongly protest about. First of all, a small amount of speculation is bound to exist but the fact is that it is really *small*. It is for us to devise a system that makes trading efficient and this speculation inefficient. Such a task is not difficult. Please don't spread dangerous ideas. Journalists should be responsible because they have the power to instill ideas in other peoples' heads. Even the speculation that exists is irrelevant because it is an exception and not the rule. It cannot affect the market unless the system is really bad. And even this speculation has to cater to the limits of fundamentals. I wouldn't bet on a price more than what the market will be able to give me. Arvind
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 1999 16:25:57 +0530 The story is good. The revision is pinching to the individuals at home. Some of us have two phones. One exclusively for the computer and Internet. Now the calls made to the Internet Service Provider and the time one is logged on should be made free. Neelkanth Mehta
Date: Thu, 25 Mar 1999 10:15:38 +0530 The launch of INSAT-2E, the multipurpose satellite shall be an another milestone in the history of India, with all the successful launches of other satellites taken into consideration. I am very confident that the launch of INSAT 2E shall be a rewarding and a successful one. Wishing you all a very successful launch which is to be held on 3rd of April 1999, and wishing that all scientists of the Indian Space Research Centre involved in making this dream be rewarded in all aspects.
Kamlesh N Naik
Date: Fri, 19 Mar 1999 01:21:36 +0800 I quite agree with the idea of the article. Linux is reliable, fast, cute and fun. And it is FREE. Can't it be better? Yeah, let's contribute a bit and see.
Date: Wed, 24 Mar 1999 10:39:07 PST I read with interest your feature on Lata Mangeshkar. Truly, Lata is a legend having captivated so many hearts over the decades. She is a 'Bharat Ratna' though she is yet to receive it. The numbers which she sang eons ago continue to inspire us. Though Lata sang Naam ghum jayega...awaaz hi pehchaan hai in the good old days, it is obvious to any discerning ear that age has taken its toll on her voice too. A classical musician matures with age. Film music however, demands different skills and once the youth in the voice is lost, it sounds strident and grating. Presently, Lata is riding purely on the laurels she has accumulated in the past. It is high time she quit the film arena. Her voice in Dilwale Dulhania etc was terrible to say the least. She can continue to sing bhajans, ghazals, semi classical numbers in private. She must quit film music gracefully even while she enjoys popularity. I do hope someone will have the guts to actually tell her. Shankar
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1998 22:55:49 +0530 Dear Namita, Good Review. Best of Luck. Arvind Kelkar
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 1998 20:02:06 -0800 Dear Abdul Kalam Sahib, I belong to your generation. I was a freedom fighter way back in 1942-44 at age 15-17. The excerpts of your autobiography makes me doubly proud of our country. That India stands heads and shoulders above the rest of the world in terms of her human wealth -- a world that has no conception of a life, of a culture, of a civilisation not based on sensory valises crystal clear to me now as it always has been throughout my adult life. But the fact that India has scientists like you who too are heads and shoulders above those of the rest of the world is what makes me doubly proud of our motherland. I am at present a little troubled by one thought, namely, India's inadequate response to the challenge thrown at us by the so-called "sanctions" of some arrogant countries like the UK, USA, Germany and Japan. It is my absolutely firm belief that representatives of India should never sit across the negotiating table with those of these and other similar countries. Further, to make it abundantly clear as to where India stands, India must impose real sanctions of its own on these countries. I would start by asking all their cultural attaches and paraphernalia such as information agencies and libraries that are nothing short of propaganda machines to pack up and leave the country. I would be delighted to hear from you. With warm regards and sincerest best wishes, Ashok Choksi
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 09:43:59 +0800 Please tell Mr Nadar that giving the entire story-line away does not a review make. I now have no need to see Padayappa since Mr Nadar has helpfully chronicled the on-screen happenings. Yet another example of Rediff's poor film writing.
Yours in disgust as always,
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 19:05:19 -0400 It looks very surprising and shocking to notice that there is no mention about A R Rehman's music in this film. How could that happen to India's leading music director? Karthik
Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 14:10:23 -0600 Future is great and I wish them all success. One thing they have to keep a watch for is that the big ego shouldn't come into play in their lives. Satya
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