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COMMENTARY
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'Let us not misinterpret the good points of religion for our greed'
E-mail from readers the world over
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Wed, 12 May 1999 15:22:02 +0900 This is in response to your article on V P Suhara under the title 'The jihad within'. No matter how brave and courageous V P Suhara might sound, the fact remains that she does not have enough courage to question the handbook of terrorism and crimes against women, the Quran. The argument that "The fault isn't with the Quran. It has been misinterpreted," shows a fear to speak against the Quran and Hadith. V P Suhara asks, "Can you show me where the Quran allows a man to divorce his wife at will? Where does it allow him to say talaq thrice over and throw his wife out when he feels like it?" Of course there are numerous instances in the Quran and Hadith for talaq at will. According to the Quran and Hadith, marriage itself is nothing more than right obtained for a payment by a man to use a women's body. It is not the question of marriage and divorce. The real issue is the treatment and status of women in Islam.
A K Jha
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Fri, 28 May 1999 21:05:34 -0700 I appreciate the guts Tasni has displayed! We need more rational progressive people like her. May the god she believes in give her courage and let the government protect her.
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Mon, 03 May 1999 12:32:09 +0200 It's really amazing that a Muslim says that "Those involved are not real Hindus". I question his authority and knowledge of Hinduism. Nobody has any right to disregard the feelings of any society but Muslims often do this to Hindus -- be it painting a Hindu goddess in the nude and others. There is no doubt about the NDF's hidden agenda. They just want an "Islamic Republic of India". Had the RSS been so powerful, I personally would like it to be that powerful, then it should have been "Hindu Republic of India" and not just "Republic of India" as it now stands. The NDF wants to divide Hindu society into various factors (religious minorities, linguistic minorities? backward classes etc) with each having separate organisations and the NDF will head them as E M Abdul Rahman says: "We feel that all repressed sections should have their own separate organisations" and "bring them into our fold." The RSS is fascist? Well, in the recent earthquake in UP, how many organisations went to help people ? None but the RSS. The RSS also runs schools devoted to the all round development of human being as opposed to the babu-style education of NCERT. It is this face of RSS which has led to its growth. Nobody can grow without people's support to a 12 million strong (I believe that RSS has more than these numbers) organisation. Its base is in UP where Brahmins are also very less compared to south, where the main problem of untouchability lies. Rupak Rathore
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Sat, 01 May 1999 12:20:30 +0530 The feature was excellent, the questioning intelligent and the links to related developments well thought out. Although the language falters at times, the interview reveals something that people need to know about social trends in Kerala. T K Arun
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Sat, 01 May 1999 13:10:50 +0530 A commendable job and effort by Miss Suhara. I am sure we all (including Hindus and Muslims) will support her in her endeavour and wish her all the best. Mir Mahiuddin
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Fri, 30 Apr 1999 14:34:24 -0400 He represents true Indian secularism. This is what Indian secularism is!
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Fri, 30 Apr 1999 12:53:10 -0400 I feel the whole tenor of the interview was "guilty till proven innocent". It is sad when journalists interview in this manner. As a Hindu, I found Abdul Rahman's remarks unobjectionable. I did find the interviewer's questions objectionable -- in that they asked Abdul Rahman to disprove allegations, rather than asking the people who made the allegations to substantiate the charges. It is sad when logic and justice get turned on their head.
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Fri, 30 Apr 1999 18:56:20 +0530 I am very happy to have read this article. I wish there are more people who have the courage to speak out against wrongs done, especially those committed in the name of religion. There are many other issues like this that need to be addressed. Sadly, I'm not an authority on the various laws of Islam, but my common sense tells me most of them are misinterpreted. Any laws which do more harm, which plainly cause pain and injustice, cannot be correct. It is said in our religion if you do a wrong deed or act against God and then seek his forgiveness, He may absolve you, but a wrong deed committed against your fellow human beings cannot be condoned and there can be absolutely no forgiveness from God. For you to be absolved you have to repent and seek forgiveness from the person who you have harmed. Only if that person forgives you, God forgives you. Yet the atrocities we commit to fellow human beings is nothing short of deplorable and disgusting, and thereafter under the cover of religion indulge in meaningless, hypocritical acts and rituals to seek His blessings and atone for wrongs committed and then with a clear conscious continue as before! We should think, just seriously, honestly think, before we act. If we could only do that, the world would be a better place. We don't need rules and laws to tell us what's right! We should know what's right. It was great to have found this article on your site. I hope to see more of the same. Wishing you all the best. Wasi
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Fri, 30 Apr 1999 18:44:58 +0530 Very good and informative -- let's have in depth features on all the different fundamentalists and crazies in the country -- people will see how much they have in common and how very destructive they are as far as all notions of civilisation, decency and progress are concerned. Subhashini Ali
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Fri, 30 Apr 1999 11:38:52 +0400 It is really happy to see articles and news like this. I hope our people come out of the mighty clutches of the religion and live a life upholding human values and rights. Once again let me congratulate Senior Feature Writer Chindu Sreedharan and Illustrator Dominic Xavier and specially Rediff for the boldness shown to bring out such inhuman acts and thoughts in the name of religion. K Muraleedharan
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Thu, 29 Apr 1999 18:42:12 -0700 Great insights into fundamentalism. Am sure if anyone, say the BJP, says a word against it, they will be termed as "communal!!" Wish we could educate the masses. It's pathetic to see such social practices. When will Indians open up their minds to such problems? When will the government have the power to take care of social matters without being termed communal? When will the people and the world see the truth?
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Thu, 29 Apr 1999 17:38:12 -0500 I am quite impressed by V P Suhara's boldness and progressive thoughts. If anybody has to speak about Muslim women's difficulty, that should be a Muslim woman herself. Being such an aggressive religion, Islam has created fear for other progressive minds, which is the reason they are hesitant to join the flow of change. I am sure this is a human cause, not specific to Muslim society. Anyone who respects an individual's right must support her cause. Particularly all the women's organisations and get justice to the talaq-hurt women of the Islamic community. Women should be treated with respect and equal rights. Prasanna Kasthuri
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Thu, 29 Apr 1999 15:37:16 PDT It's a shame that such practices like talaq should still exist. The government should address this, it does not for the fear of the backlash of the Muslim voters: those who vote to whoever the Imam points to. A uniform civil code should come into existence. It should, in a civilised society. If Muslims want a separate civil code so that they can freely misuse it, let them have it. Let them also have a separate criminal code. Let them have a criminal code where nails are plucked from the accused's fingers and where the accused are stoned to death, as done in Muslim countries. If they want a separate civil code, let them have a separate criminal code also. Sarathy
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Thu, 29 Apr 1999 18:10:48 EDT The report says: "When I was 22 my family got another marriage offer from a man who was about 65. I was dead against it, but had to agree in front of my umma's (mother's) tears," she says." Whoever this lady is what she is complaining about -- she was being married off to a man of 65. Why should she be against it -- Hazrata Ayesha was married to a man of 53 when she was 8 years old and at 18 she was a widow and being a Prophet's wife, she was not even allowed to remarry. This is the highest tradition of Islam. She should be thankful -- she is getting a Muslim and still alive -- what more can she desire? Thank Allah for setting such examples for the believers. Why is India wasting its resources on such absurd things? India should let Muslims multiply as they want so that they can make India into another Afghanistan -- an Islamic paradise -- that is what Hindus deserve.
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Thu, 29 Apr 1999 15:03:12 -0700 (PDT) This is Asma from Toronto, Canada. I am writing regarding the article on V P Suhara. I was very moved and impressed by the article. I want to congratulate you on exposing such injustice. Even though I might be a Muslim, I know you would think we would want to hide it, but whatever she said is right. Islam is being portrayed wrongly and people are interpreting the Quran to suit their own convenience. Men are taking advantage of women, while in Islam women are given a much important status then men. I want to tell you I loved the article and this is not only a problem in Islam, but is a problem regarding women all over India, so it is important to raise our voices. It is sad that staying in Canada I cannot do much, but whatever V P Suhara is doing is good. I was wondering if I could get her address so that I can write to her. Thank you very much. Asma
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Thu, 29 Apr 1999 16:24:35 -0500 The articles have definitely been superb, but just writing won't suffice. We must help them in some other form too. I have a strong belief that all these women are doing is not going to be enough unless supported both my males and females from their community and many other communities as well. Right now the fire has just lightened. It has to become a revolution. Brijesh Mishra
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Thu, 29 Apr 1999 12:40:16 PDT The series of four articles are really good. More than targeting a religion, we should target the people who enforce it to meet their own ends. It is very easy for people from the whole spectrum of rich to poor, to enjoy the pleasures of life by bringing out laws in the name of religion. What really amazes me is the lack of human nature, spirit or understanding. If a man can divorce his wife, leave her with no support and just walk away, this is beyond religion or one of the worst crimes of any religion. Even in the United States, devoid of constitutional religiousness, teenage mothers are common with their fathers lying in other womens' beds. This is the nadir of humanity. Other aspects of the article will surely deal with depicting Muslim fundamentalism, but there is nothing new here. Some of the Muslims I met do consider Hindus infidels, and so do Christians for that matter. Hindus too have deep rooted casteism which they will never get rid off. They preach a universal religion and of course there are a few narrow-minded 'Sudras' and 'Brahmins' who are at each others throats. No need to argue too much here except that for a society to progress, we need to look at a man as a man, a woman as a woman, and judge them for what they are and not by a yardstick of what they do against "your" religion. Theft, murder and cheating are broadly classified as crimes against humanity, whether we bring in religion or not. Let us follow our own religions at home, at our gatherings, and not prosecute others based on what they follow. Let us not differentiate between men and women in terms of who can go to a mosque or temple, but live together as equals, in peace and harmony. Most of all, let us not misinterpret the good points of religion for our greed, but rather follow the goodness in each religion as they emphasise family values, honesty, generosity and kindness. Ravi Bhaskaran
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Thu, 29 Apr 1999 13:34:14 -0400 I am very proud of Ms Suhara who has come forward to work for the rights of Muslim women. I hope she finds more organisations that would be willing to back her up. I wish her lots of luck. Nisha
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Thu, 29 Apr 1999 13:21:05 -0400 I wish to read more articles like the one on V P Suhara. There are many who dedicate their lives to good causes. For the ones who cannot do the same such articles give them an opportunity to do so. Can you help me get in touch with the organisation Nisah? Sailaja Josyula Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 13:11:21 -0400 From: Chok Angappan <cangappan@secant.com> Subject: The jihad within Very good job. I like to congratulate the team in perceiving this topic and getting excellent news. Every religion has its own fundamentalism. But Islam has it very deep rooted -- that is the problem. These kinds of articles will at least make few people think. Good job. You can continue with the other religions too. You can expand this to the caste suppression in our community. I like to say one thing: I want to see follow-ups for this news. I never saw any follow-up for this kind of sensational news. If you can give a follow-up once a year about what happened to the characters and that community it will be the correct thing. Writing once and forgetting about it is not the correct way of giving news. If you think about a solution, you should not consider the news as merely a sensational one. Once again, good job. Chockkalingam
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Thu, 29 Apr 1999 10:04:25 -0400 The day I saw you posting articles on issues of Islamic fundamentalism, I thought I will read them. These are very good articles showing us what kind of elements are there in our society. I belong to an area in India where the Muslim and Hindu population is 50:50. Gradually, I became more of a Hindu fundamentalist and my point of view is that Muslims, even if they live in India, love Pakistan. Of late, I have started realising that the basic cause of all problems is population, illiteracy and poverty. We need to get out of this shameful trio to get out of these kind of happenings. I salute the courage with which Fousiya, V P Suhara, Tasni Banu and Palathody Abdul Rasheed have been fighting with the bad elements of the society with such limited resources. But to get out of such problems en masse, we need to educate more and more Muslim children. I know in my native area, hardly 1 per cent Muslim children go to school. They go to their masjid for some Urdu learning and that's it. I can't say that they can't afford it. They can. But many of them don't want to. There lies the root cause. Once these kids learn about the world, their point of view will change and help bring these sort of problems to a halt. I wish luck to Fousiya, V P Suhara, Tasni Banu and Palathody Abdul Rasheed in their great endeavour. Avaya Khandelwal
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