Disinformation Hindus Misinformation

Freedom goes hyperbole!

Not just freedom to write and report by media professionals, globally threat to live freely and practice one’s Dharma is under attack K.A.Badarinath “Freedom is the goal of the universe. Nor love nor hate nor pleasure nor pain nor death nor life nor religion nor irreligion: not this, not this, not this.” This was one of the most comprehensive definitions to freedom provided by revered Swami Vivekananda, India’s greatest monk, Hindu philosopher in a letter to one Church sister Mary Hale on June 26, 1895. Freedom to write, think, interpret and see life as such is the essence of human life. And, this freedom is all the more significant in the context of press globally that routinely is at the receiving end for having spoken the truth or exposed inhumanity. From Syria, Russia, United States, United Kingdom to European geographies, freedom to responsibly write has been constantly under attack with no reprieve for reporters of media outlets, be it print, broadcasting corporations, radio or digital networks. In the name of region, religion, caste, creed, sex and otherwise, violence in all shades and hues is perpetuated without reprieve. It happens more so in the trumped up liberal societies internationally. Discussing freedom on international press freedom day becomes also pertinent as on this very day United Nations took upon itself 30 years back to protect freedom for media to report fearlessly on happenings across the globe. Well, in these thirty years, globalization and corporatization of media that was hitherto a commitment and conviction to societies and communities has made discharging this responsibility all the more difficult. Cutting edge technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning and robotics has given a new dimension to media that’s real time, hard to regulate and many a time sans responsibility. Discussing freedom makes sense when it’s exercised with responsibility. Political establishments, security agencies and terror groups have many a time seen free media as biggest hindrance to achieving their ulterior goals. For instance, Neither President Xi Jinping of China nor his Chinese Communist Party been a great votary of press freedom. Given a single party rule, the rigour of communist regimes made periodic attempts to even restrict human thinking, behaviour, families or even procreation. Same is the case with another military style communist regime led by President Kim Jong Un. These two are classic cases of turning respective communist parties into family enterprise or solo. Even in the most celebrated liberal democracies, freedom to live on one’s terms is skewed. Otherwise, there’s no plausible explanation for hatred heaped on minority Hindus either in US, UK, Canada, Australia or elsewhere. Constantly being targeted either in Columbia, California or elsewhere like Leicester in UK does not guarantee any freedom to even live, practice one’s ‘Dharma’. In countries run by religious fascism of extreme variety exemplified by Taliban in Afghanistan, military establishment in Pakistan, grooming gangs of UK and IS run Caliphate in Syria, threats to freedom is too grave to even discuss, decipher or interpret in saner terms. Gone are the days that hailed liberty, democracy and freedom centric slogans in these very countries. Constant threats to life, living spaces and eking out an earning honourably has become the basic issue in most of these ‘liberal minded’ societies that lecture the globe on freedom of every variety beginning with media to religion. A quick look in the mirror would reflect realities of life in these touted liberal democracies that time and again taken upon them to ostracise others on these very issues. Periodic reports dished out by USCIRF including latest speaks about non-availability of religious freedom in India. While credibility of this report or the team that trashes India needs to be called out, does this organization even recognize what’s happening in its own back yard? Gun running and violence related crimes due to factors like skin colour, religious faith or even the physical build of an individual is something the ‘most liberal democratic’ leadership in US refuses to even recognize. As per a last week’s BBC report that quoted not for profit organization, the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 160 mass shootings in United States so far in 2023. This report also puts the figures for mass shootings at 600 in each of the three preceding years. While freedom to live fearlessly is under threat, press and media freedom is a wee-bit complicated in both UK and US where lobbies, technology companies and access to information highway determine as to what messages are delivered to readers or narratives woven in conversations that are completely slanted and uni-focal. Freedom to live and report is definitely under threat. Threat perceptions have undergone a sea change. There’s no way any group, community or Dharmic people that can live unhindered. This may have to be recognized by all stakeholders. A global consensus on achieving freedom on different planes must be achieved. Lip service to freedom is like lip syncing in music. It’s not real. (author is Director & Chief Executive at non-partisan think tank, Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies based in New Delhi)

Disinformation Hindus Human Rights Media

547

Is it outright ignorance?

Western media’s refusal to acknowledge India’s Progress and transformative changes should be brought to closer scrutiny. K.A.Badarinath / Neha Dahiya Why’s it that several Western media editors are anti-India in their stance? Many media friends from Western world are either outright ignorant, pursue an editorial line given by their top management or oblivious to transformative changes that have turned this country into bulwark against tyranny, intolerance and is bustling with multifaceted activity. The view from London’s West Minister or US Capitol Hill may not fit into what’s on ground zero in India. Pathetic abhorrence about the country’s economic heft, celebration of diverse faiths, rule of law, thriving democracy and not for profit organizations that operate in multitude tantamount to driving a view point. It may not be easy for western trained minds to understand Indians sensitivity when casual and flippant comments are made. These commentators just may not fully comprehend this complex country, Hindutva, Modi or BJP and would have taken a line that’s far from truth. For that matter, rise of patriotic Hindus that love their country being equated with Mussolini’s forces is something that borders on ignorance par excellence. For instance, when The Guardian, The New York Times or BBC says 200-odd million Muslims in India are either being treated as second class citizens or subjected to genocide, do these responsible media outlets fully gauge the implications? I’m tempted to quote a recent research paper produced by Indian Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council member Shamika Ravi titled ‘A secular Democracy in Practice: Objective assessment of Amenities Programs in India’. The study that focuses on bottom 20 per cent households demolishes this preconceived view that minorities have been targeted in India. On the contrary, the study based on a nationally representative sample of 1.2 million households across 2015-21 shows no discrimination whatsoever against minorities. If at all, there’s bias in favour of minorities especially the Muslims who have been large beneficiaries of government schemes and projects to provide electricity connections, open bank accounts, access to toilets, mobile connectivity. In a few cases, the minorities dominated by Muslims have gained more than Hindus. The study cites the case of access to electricity provided to 71 per cent Muslim households while it was 68 per cent for Hindus. Bank accounts coverage in Muslim households was as high as 77 per cent. Even the myth that Hinduism purportedly dominated by ‘Brahminical order’ discriminates against low caste communities and tribes gets busted. While access to bank accounts for backward classes was 75 per cent, for scheduled castes and tribes it was over 70 per cent. Centre for Integrated and Holistic studies (CIHS), as a think tank based in New Delhi has recently put together a detailed report on State of Religious Minorities in India. The report’s in-depth analysis based on evidence and data provided by Indian Government and other agencies establishes that minorities have been big beneficiaries of specific schemes and projects for socio-economic progress of these faith-based groups. As per the report, 49,000 major infrastructure projects were sanctioned by Central Government for minorities including Muslims and their demarcated areas in last nine years till date. From schools, medical colleges, universities, top-notch health care centres, skill development institutes, service centres to sports facilities and handicraft hubs have either already become operative or in the process of execution. As per Ministry of Minority Affairs, students of religious minorities will have to study subjects that place them on par with other students. While the Ministry does not interfere in their traditional systems of education, it promotes subjects that enhance critical thinking, reasoning and incorporates scientific thinking. Religious minorities were allotted 35 graduation colleges, 177 residential schools, 1,572 school buildings, 23,473 classrooms, 14,311 smart classrooms and modern teaching aids, 689 student hostels, 94 ITI buildings, 20 skill centres, 15 polytechnics, 2,397 health projects, 413 sadbhava mandapas (community centres), 168 common service centres, 553 market sheds, 100+ hunar haats, 6,762 toilet and sanitation projects, 84 sports facilities, 27 working women hostels and one unani medical colleges. Central Government’s scheme for Education of Madrasas and Minorities (SPEMM) was reportedly rolled out. Madrasas which avail these schemes benefit from curriculum redesign and redevelopment that includes introduction of subjects like science, mathematics, social studies, Hindi, and English. Other skill development schemes like Seekho aur Kamao (i.e. Learn and Earn), USTTAD (Upgrading The Skills and Training in Traditional Arts / Crafts for Development), Nai Manzil, Haj Management were introduced by the government that were specifically for Muslims in India. A recent editorial in ‘The Guardian’ talked about laying an epitaph to multi-ethnic secular democracy in India. Again, this is a line that’s completely misplaced given that Election Commission of India is the most authoritative, independent and autonomous institution that does not allow elbow room for discrimination against any religious class, faith practice, castes, tribes or a political class. Even women representation in all four tiers of well-established Indian democratic structure has been on the rise. As per data provided by Law & Justice Minister Kiran Rijiju on December 9, 2022, Lok Sabha or lower house of Indian parliament has 14.94 per cent women members while upper house or Rajya Sabha accounts for 14.05 per cent. Similar is the case with state legislative assemblies, district councils to panchayats that represent lowest rung of Indian democracy at village level or clusters. If strong democratic institutions, law and order machinery coupled with judiciary were not enough, public scrutiny at virtually each level makes Indian democratic experience all the more unique though it’s a wee bit chaotic. This again demolishes Western perception that Indian democratic institutions ‘serve a particular ideology’. Western media reportage claims time and again that information gets censored routinely by the government and civil society organizations were hounded out. This is far from truth. As per Registrar of Newspapers for India, over 114,000 newspapers and publications in over 100 languages have formally been registered by the time Covid 19 set in India. This does not include scores of TV channels, websites

Disinformation Hindus Human Rights Misinformation

645

‘Hatred against Hindus does not shock people’

Treated as ‘oppressors’, British Hindus face bullying, hatred, bigotry & slurs. Teaching on Hinduism with prejudice & colonial mind set Charlotte Littlewood Research I conducted last year for the Henry Jackson Society study found a 173 per cent increase in anti-semitic incidents in UK schools over the past five years. With the more general rise in anti-semitism a regular headline, what was almost more shocking than the research was just how little it shocked people. This year, we have looked into the experiences of Hindu pupils and found that 51 per cent of Hindu parents surveyed said their child had faced anti-Hindu hate in schools. Where are the protesters against this intolerance? Why is it that in an age of supposed anti-racism, attacks on both the longest standing victims of race hate and a people held under British colonial rule for hundreds of years draw so little concern? David Baddiel’s thesis rings true: Jews don’t count because they are not the right kind of victim. Contemporary anti-semitism draws on centuries-old bigotry that depicts them as “too rich” and “too powerful”. Now it seems this idea has barred another group of victims from victimhood: Hindus. For sections of the left, the world is divided into the “oppressor” and “oppressed”. Should you fall into the oppressor class you are everything that should be opposed and can never be a victim? Jews are viewed as white and powerful, imperialist and establishment, therefore deemed not able by definition to face racism and incapable of being victims. Hindus, it seems, have joined them. Last summer, more than 600 people took to the streets of Leicester in violent protest against alleged “Hindutva”, a term unfamiliar to many. To some it means Hindu nationalism, to others simply outward expression of “Hinduness”. While Muslim and Hindu youths had fought in what looked like gang-style territorial violence, there was little evidence of any political nationalist allegiances with India. Instead, concern over Hindu extremism lead to threats to find Hindus and “chop them up”, to “chase Hindus out of Leicester like they were chased out of Kashmir”, vandalism of vehicles and homes that displayed Hindu symbols and attacks on Hindu temples — all while the majority of mainstream media seemed to comment on any aspect other than Hindu-hate. Despite the evidence pointing towards youth gang violence dressed up as “Hindtuva” terrorism, reporting on the unrest in Leicester either endorsed the notion of “Hindutva” by giving a voice to key Islamist activists, or ignored the specific issues in Leicester by discussing nationalism on the subcontinent. Mohammed Hijab, for example, who declared at a pro-Palestine rally in 2021 that “we love death” and rallied the crowds in Leicester with anti-Hindu slurs, referring to them as “violent vegetarians” and declaring he was leading a Muslim patrol, was interviewed on Channel 4. The reporter described him as an influencer with conservative views. The results of our study showed parents reporting their children to have experienced anti-Hindu hate, with cases ranging from having beef thrown at them to physical assaults, being held accountable for politics in India and the caste system and being told the bullying will stop when they convert to Islam. But despite such harrowing case studies, less than one per cent of British schools have reported any form of anti-Hindu bullying incidents in the last five years. This particular form of hatred appears poorly understood and is at times fed by teachers with substandard and prejudicial colonialist teachings on Hinduism. Similar accusations have, of course, been made on teaching about Israel and Palestine in schools and a lack of consistent understanding and approach to defining antisemitism. The British Hindu community has joined the Jews in not being fit for victimhood. The perceived economic success of the community, the relative lack of engagement in issuing critiques against the West — indeed, enthusiastic embrace of it with a Hindu prime minister — bars Hindus from the class of the oppressed. India’s growing relationship with Israel has led far-left activists to associate Hindutva with Zionism, the death knell for leftist victim support. It is an uphill battle but we must challenge at every opportunity this narrative of “oppressed” and “oppressor” classes, which underlie antisemitic and anti-Hindu frameworks of thinking — or risk seeing intolerance and extremism continue on their upward trajectory. (Charlotte Littlewood is a researcher at the Henry Jackson Society. This article was first published in London-based The Jewish Chronicle)

Disinformation Hindus Media Misinformation

512

Does ‘The Guardian’ understand Hindu way of life?

Making intolerable, unsustainable charges of caste bias on Hindus in UK, US or elsewhere is untenable. Get your facts right! UK based ‘The Guardian’ editorial board has made a completely flawed off the mark comment on caste related issues in India. In the edition dated April 17, 2023, titled, “‘Caste is anti-Asian hate’: the activists fighting ‘less visible’ discrimination in the US”, written by Claire Wang, shows a fabricated story of Thenmozhi Soundararajan. The comment centres around Soundararajan and a few others like her. Families of these individuals seem to have go through caste based discrimination purportedly for being dalits. For the moment, none may want to even question the facts narrated by these individuals that formed an organization in New York infamously known as Equality Labs. These individuals and the organization brand themselves as staunch believers of Babasaheb Ambedkar and were low caste Hindus. Equality labs branded itself as an organization that undertakes community research, cultural and political organising, popular education and digital security. In practice, it disproportionately spews venum on the very concept of ‘Hindu dharma’, sanatan way of living and instigating most Americans against minority Hindus. Personal grouses of few individuals that had difficult past has been trumped up as a community issue of low caste Hindus in India and elsewhere in the world especially US through Equality Labs. For Instance, Thenmozhi was a University of California Berkeley student who purportedly was tramautised by her teacher. Well, there’s no documentary evidence or veracity of her story is unknown. But, she’s taken upon herself to paint all Hindus with a Demonic brush which has conveniently been propagated by ‘The Guardian’. Unlike Thenmozhi and her gang, Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar never attempted or discussed demonisation of Hindus or Hindutva. In contrast, Ambedkar consistently advocated for equal rights for everyone, regardless of gender, caste, colour, or religion. For ‘Dharmic’ practitioners, discrimination of every kind is anathema as Hindus believe in an all inclusive and just society. Political director of Equality Labs is neither a Dalit or a Hindu. Sharmin Hossain, originally from Bangladesh, tweeted about the need to demolish Hindutva citing rampant dominant caste bias. Self proclaimed Dalit activists in reality do not want California school children to study contributions of Hindu sages from low castes as part of World History. Otherwise, there’s no plausible reason for Thenmozhi and her friends to campaign for removal of Dalits contributions from world history books. She allied with groups such as the South Asian Faculty Group (SAFG), which opposed inclusion of sages like Valmiki, Ravidasa, and Vyasa that have low caste origins in the text books way back in 2016. On November 7, 2017, she was found provoking and harassing Dalit, Bahujan and other Hindu American children as well asa parents gathered for a public hearing in the California Department of Education (CDE) in Sacramento. Eventually, she was removed from the building by police and security staff for an hour. This group also lobbied with several entities or individuals to prejudice their nefarious agenda. For example, Former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey had once stoked a placard that read, ‘Smash Brahminical Patriarchy’. This action fuelled the anti-Hindu debate, and unsurprisingly that poster was designed by Thenmozhi Soundararajan. In reality, neither Dorsey had an inkling of what he was standing for nor Soundararajan. Falsification and manipulation by Thenmozhi didn’t stop here. During the organised Farmer’s Protest or Citizenship Amendment Act of India, Equality Labs, led by Thenmozhi manipulated information and pretended to be a victim. However, Thenmozhi and her self-identified Dalit community were never a discussion point in the protests that were centred around agriculture reforms and price issues. On Seattle City Council resolution relating to trumped up caste discrimination issues, First Hindu and Indian State Senator of Ohio, Niraj Antani, said, “I condemn in the strongest terms the ordinance passed by the Seattle City Council. Caste discrimination simply doesn’t exist now.” “Adding it to their non-discrimination policy is Hinduphobic and is a tool for those who are anti-Hindu to use to discriminate against Hindus in America, India, and around the world. Instead of passing this racist policy, Seattle should be passing policies to protect Hindus from discrimination, ” Niraj Antani added. On April 10, 2023, the California Civil Rights Department voluntarily dismissed a case against Cisco systems engineers Sundsar Iyer and Ramana Kompella who were victims of false allegations of caste based discrimination for the past three years. Iyer and Kompella were blatantly targeted because of their Hindu identities. Equality Labs promotes a narrative against Hindus citing upper-caste and Brahmins which is potentially dangerous, particularly given recent events in America and in India wherein, misinformation has lead to violent attacks on Hindus. For instance, the organisation has linked Hindu festivals like Holi to Hindu fascism and Brahmin dominance. Hindus and Hinduism is not exclusivist and its known for inclusivity. Equality Labs has been accused of supporting the Pakistani deep state-funded “free Kashmir” campaign and labelling Delhi riots, where the majority of victims were Hindus, as an “anti-Muslim pogrom.” Equality lab allied with radically anti-Hindu groups and participates in conferences like Dismantling Global Hindutva which perpetuates Hindu hatred and Anti-India agenda. It constantly looks for an opportunity to denigrate India and promote Hindu hatred using run of the mill speeches and activities from business interactions.

Disinformation Hindus Media Misinformation

541

What ails ‘The Nation’?

Abolitionists’ magazine in US has gone topsy-turvy on Russia, India and Jews, Hindus; hogged headlines for its toxic work culture CIHS Desk Is US based weekly magazine ‘The Nation’ swinging wild, unpredictable and swayed by its beliefs on issues ignoring facts and realities? The drift from practicing classical liberalism to far Left and then to spread of Hinduphobia seems pretty obvious in this ‘new avatar’ of ‘The Nation’. A cursory analysis of its news packaging and opinion pages over years demonstrate radical change in the classical liberalism based discourse that it was once known for. ‘The Nation’ has come under close scrutiny more than once in recent past due to its intransigence and lack of sensitivity towards its readers’ preferences and sensitivities. Toxic work environment and charges of sexual harassment within the editorial organization also became the media fodder. From pursuing anti-Semitism, coverage of Russia to peddling false narratives about India and Hindu culture apart from top deck changes in editorial leadership has brought the magazine to focus for unenviable reasons. This downslide of ‘The Nation’ has not happened in a jiffy. Way back in 2015, the publication had to offer an unqualified apology for having written a stinging piece against Senator Bernie Sanders. The Senator with Jewish origin was targeted for his stance on Israel. The Nation’ and its editorial board seem to have not learnt its lessons from this unsavoury episode. Otherwise, it would not have committed another flip flop down the line. In an article, the magazine had demonized Jews by drawing a comparison of Israeli policies towards Palestinians with the Holocaust which was crass. While ‘The Nation’ management brazened out accusations of promoting anti-sematic ideas, it denied any wrong doing on its part. These were not just a couple of instances where ‘The Nation’ bungled on its editorial waywardness. In 2014, the magazine published an essay by filmmaker Oliver Stone and historian Peter Kuznick that held United States responsible for the rise of ISIS, Islamic State. It kicked up a row and was widely booed as its conspiracy theory was regarded as misguided and unfounded. It’s not just the editorial inconsistency that ‘The Nation’ came to be known for. The media company came to limelight after its personnel complained of toxic atmosphere and sexual predation. In 2017, a former intern at The Nation accused contributing editor Stephen F. Cohen of sexually harassing her during a trip to Russia. The magazine investigated and forced to sever its ties with Cohen. The incident raised broader questions about sexual harassment in American media and journalistic fraternity as well. Close on the heels were several women charging then literary editor, Leon Wieseltier of sexual harassment. The accusations, which were detailed in a report by the magazine’s ombudsman included claims that Wieseltier had made inappropriate comments and touched women without their consent. Wieseltier was again forced out from The Nation. Even as ‘The Nation’ struggled to smart after these insidious incidents, in 2019 yet another explicitly work place issue hit the publication. Its poetry editor Stephanie Burt resigned from her position after being accused of sexual harassment by a former student. The student alleged that Burt had engaged in years of inappropriate behaviour including sending sexually explicit messages, touching her without her consent. Burt denied the allegations but resigned from The Nation shortly after these came into public domain. About a year later, several former interns at The Nation wrote an open letter alleging that they had experienced sexual harassment and misconduct while working at the magazine. The letter published in ‘The Cut’, detailed several instances of harassment by senior staff members including unwanted touching and comments about their appearance. The Nation’s then editor, Katrina vanden Heuvel, apologized to the former interns and announced that the magazine would be conducting an investigation into these allegations. Not much was known on the outcome of this probe. While sex scandals made ‘The Nation’ a talking point, its stand on Russia and India apart from changes in editorial leadership turned the magazine into a rag pick. In 2018, through an article by Aaron Maté, ‘The Nation’ challenged reports relating to Russian interference in the presidential elections of US. The article argued that evidence on Russian involvement was weak and it was distracting the people from issues like role of money in politics. The article led the publication into a controversy with some of its readers accusing it of promoting Russian propaganda.[i] In 2019, the magazine published yet another article written by James Carden who argued that US should improve its relationship with Russia. It contended that US was too quick to demonize Russia, this could help ease tensions and promote stability. But, some readers argued to the contrary and pointed out that Russia was a security threat and that US should take a more confrontational stance. On India, ‘The Nation’ reportage has been completely off the mark, one sided and promoted Hinduphobia. For instance, in a write up headlined ‘India’s Press Crackdown: The Silencing of Journalists in Kashmir’, little known author Suchitra Vijayan failed to flag key issues confronting people in Kashmir valley. The write up was silent on dubious role played by Pakistan’s security establishment, its dirty tricks department, ISI and funding radical islamists leading to spread of radicalism in a few areas of Kashmir valley. Instead, ‘The Nation’ targeted Indian government’s handling of terror modules in the valley.[ii] ‘The Nation’ seems to have forgotten the widely agreed position that terror has no colour, creed, gender, region and religion. Again, in 2020, the magazine gave its forum to one, Ahmed bin Qasim who wrote a piece, ‘Delhi Is on Fire and My Kashmiri Parents Are in Prison’. Qasim argued that Indian government’s crackdown in the valley was part of a broader campaign to suppress dissent and promote Hindu nationalism in India. The article argued that Hindu nationalism led to authoritarianism in India thereby hate crimes against minorities. The article portrayed a false fearful image of Indian minorities.[iii] These were not isolated instances of ‘Hinduphobic’ stand

Disinformation Hindus Misinformation Opinion Policy World

531

Who took away Vedic history from Indian students?

Revisions in text books on Mughal invaders painted as preparation for a ‘muslims’ genocide’ by a few foreign media outlets Vinod Kumar Shukla Brouhaha has been made ever since India announced changes to History and Political Sciences textbooks prescribed for tenth and twelfth standard students. India’s designated agency, National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) removed or tweaked few lines relating to invaders Mughals. Rationalizing content for students in high school students has interestingly become a talking point internationally especially the western media. Several despatches filed by US and European media representatives attributed motives and an agenda to the revision in text books that NCERT termed as ‘minor’. These reports accused Indian government of pursuing an agenda and the latter faced flak from all across. Interestingly enough, individuals and organizations that have stridently taken anti-India stand and questioned Hindutva forces were found flagging their apprehensions on textbooks revision that happens periodically. These people have unabashedly termed revisions in text books as precursor to genocide of 210-odd million Muslims. What’s all the more surprising is that known global media outlets on-boarding such views that seem to have no basis. Aditya Mukherjee, a JNU professor has been quoted as saying that changes in textbooks were precursor to muslims genocide in ‘The Guardian’ of UK. Peddling such myth, falsehood and misinformation in the name of history definitely cannot be part of curriculum for students brimming with energy. Eulogising Mughal invasion of India is definitely unfit to be part of History chapters. ‘Time’ magazine published from US and UK justified its report with the contention, “…hyper nationalist Bollywood films and politicians fusing Hindu mythology with history; and open calls for genocide of Muslims from religious leaders (was) going unpunished.” Well, this narrative is so misleading about Bollywood industry which is arguably one of the largest after Hollywood and staple diet of citizens’ world over. Time’s antipathy to Hindutva, India or Prime Minister Modi seems to have been extended to Bollywood as well. Besides, ‘Time’ writers have conveniently forgotten that the reference to ‘Garam Hawa’ of M S Sathyu in the Political Science book also comes from Bollywood only. Time’s criticism on lines either amended or deleted is again completely off the mark. Let’s examine what opening sentence of the removed chapter ‘Kings and Chronicles, referring to courts of invaders Mughals say. “The rulers of the Mughal Empire saw themselves as appointed by Divine Will to rule over a large and heterogeneous populace.” Can this form part of Indian history? What were the books pre-revision teaching kids? Population is heterogeneous but rulers will only be Mughals. It doesn’t stop here as in the same chapter under sub-head ‘The Ideal Kingdom’ suggests, “…the power of Mughal kings came directly from God. One of the legends narrated to justify this was Mongol queen Alanqua who was reportedly impregnated by the ‘ray of sunshine’ while resting in her tent. The offspring she bore carried this divine light and passed it on from generation to generation.” Mughals draw their ancestry from Mongols. So a section of historians is objecting to removal of this myth. Hindu hate monger Audrey Truschke also an associate professor of South Asian history at Rutgers University claimed, “You cannot understand modern India without the Mughals—so it seems to be a silly and self-defeating embrace of ignorance about one’s own origin.” Similar arguments were posed by naysayers in India but people with the same ideological moorings had silently let Vedic history chapters deleted in 2007 without blinking an eyelid. It means, students would be deprived of the country’s long history of almost 1200 years. Students will never know that the decimal system, tables, 360 degree in a circle, Ayurveda and Yoga were invented during Vedic era besides lots of other things that were deleted as part of a larger game plan. Self-proclaimed historians, a few hardnosed social media enthusiasts and foreign media argued that one can erase history but not Taj Mahal, Lal Quila and other iconic landmarks. ‘Time’ wrote that Mughals helped make biryani and many everyday use spices popular. Traditional dress such as men’s kurta, pajama and women’s salwar kameez became common during the empire. Under Mughal rule, Kathak dance flourished and so did Indian classical music. Many Indian languages including Urdu and Hindi evolved. There’s no evidence to prove that these claims were even half true. Historian Meenakshi Jain argued that Mughals never patronised Indian languages or anything Indian. It was Akbar who imposed Persian by making it the court language and imported many Iranians to his court. Everyone including a low rank official was forced to learn Persian and thereby erase anything that was Indian. Even when the Mughal Empire was on decline, Urdu was promoted with Arabic and Persian words along with Arabic script and not Hindawi with Indian language words in it. Sanskrit scholars during Mughals were designated more as singers and not scholars or linguists only to humiliate them. A few Indian newspapers argued that Tulsidas wrote Ramcharitmanas during Mughal era while Mathura and Vrindavan were helped to emerge as key centres of Krishna Bhakti. The fact is that temples were demolished and vandalised during the Mughal era. Kesav Dev Temple (Krishnajanmabhoomi) was allowed to be rebuilt by Bir Singh Bundela only after he killed Abul Fazal on the instruction of Jahangir. Only after that he was allowed to rebuild dozens of temples including Kashi Vishwanath. What Aurangzeb did to temples and statues of deities’ need no further explanation. Howlers and humiliating posers like where would Indian Prime Minister deliver his customary Independence Day address on August 15 if Lal Quila were to meet the same fate of history chapter? These puerile arguments seem to be the biggest worry of historians? India baiters and self-proclaimed historians have till date only depicted sunny side of Mughal invaders. These ‘historians’ maintain eloquent silence on Shah Jahan splurging on Taj Mahal while the entire Deccan plateau and millions of Indians living there were going through protracted famine. ‘The Guardian’ went completely off the

Geopolitics Media World

521

China’s Camp David Moment?

Weaponizing economic prowess, military might and expansionist doctrines may limit China’s role notwithstanding Saudi Iran deal Dr Amritpal Kaur Camp David Accord of 1978 was a diplomatic coup for President Jimmy Carter. It was an Accord that brought open hostilities between Israel and Egypt to an end and peace in Sinai Peninsula. Though President Sadat of Egypt had to pay for the Accord with his life, it was an unprecedent moment in West Asia when a major Arab country concluded a pact with the Jewish State. It was also an exhibit of American diplomatic heft, a stroke of politics in optics where Muslim and Jewish states could be brought to the negotiation table. One assumption of world power is its belief that its mediation would be welcomed by parties engaged in disputes to break the stalemate as well as find a solution. Camp David is also an example to bring currency to the idea that a powerful mediator could possibly bring seemingly antagonist parties together and alter the tone of international relations. It also emphasizes psychological acceptance of the greater power by other nations. It is announcement of the superpower on global stage. Though US superiority could be contested even then, Egypt and Israel were forced into the accord. What perhaps could not have been denied is USA’ ability to project itself as an accepted world power. Recently, China sought to enact its own Camp David moment through a deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Saudi Arabia is the leading Sunni country and Iran is an undisputed Shia leader. For decades these countries have been at loggerheads stemming from their alternate Islamic belief systems and competitive bid to be undisputed leader of the Islamic world. The deal between the two would be a milestone if it enables the two warring countries to better manage their differences better though permanent solutions are nowhere in sight. If this happens, then there’s outside chance to ring in peace across MENA region with direct implication for Yemen war that has been going on for years now. On the other hand, USA bid to broker a diplomatic deal between Saudis and Israel has not worked till now. US failure may be attributed to chilly relations between Washington DC and Riyadh since Democratic White House under President Joe Biden took charge. Also, Saudi Arabia seems to have played the China card deftly to counter-balance US, its long standing ally. Given the changing global power equations, countries seem to be playing one power against the other to secure their respective interests. In this melee, China has upped the diplomatic ante. By leaving East Asian shores and engaging with West Asia, China seems to be testing waters. Saudi Arabia – Iran deal may be an opportunity for China to attempt shifting its positioning globally more as a deal maker rather than being seen as a global encroacher. However, there are limits to Chinese capacities to act as a credible global power broker of first resort. Since 2013 there has been a sense of urgency in Chinese set up to project itself as an acceptable global power. But then, turning a global power may not be easy and has to turn a ‘magnanimous player’ rather than limiting itself to Chinese interests under Xi’s new doctrine. For long, West Asia, especially Saudi Arabia was seen as a close USA ally. Geographical location of Israel along with its security challenge, another close ally of USA, the need for petroleum products had necessitated good relations between the Saudis and the West. From Saudi perspective also, allowing China to broker a deal with Iran may tantamount to ‘testing waters’ with the dragon state, at the same time signaling to USA of diversification of its interests. Increased Chinese assertiveness and aggression coupled with ambition is the phenomenon which has taken the western world off-guard. Wolf Warrior diplomacy coupled with expansionist military posturing on the borders, both territorial and maritime points demonstrates Beijing’s intentions vis-à-vis it’s much sought after branding of a ‘peaceful negotiator’. ‘Image makeover bid’ of China has been seen through as it weaponised its economic power to coerce other countries across the oceans. Diversification of Supply Chains, Friend-shoring, Near-shoring, China plus One are the strategies adopted by several countries to hedge against the Chinese coercion. Bonhomie between two communist powers China – Russia is something that worries to no end most global community that believes in free and open democratic order. This bonhomie got cemented in the wake of Ukraine crisis and their noise on ‘possible alternative global order’. Given the limitations, Saudi – Iran agreement may not translate into a Camp David Moment as the deal may not translate into gains for either of countries. Resumption of diplomatic relations between the two has been put on a tentative timeline which only suggest that there is a tip-toeing around the idea of lasting peace between leading Shia and Sunni countries. The acceptance of Chinese mediation has not convinced them to shed their differences unlike the accord between Israel and Egypt in the bygone era. The world has clearly moved away from cold war mentality of bipolar world order. Each country has its calculations in place of the blind camp following. For example, Saudi Arabia has accepted Chinese mediation because of its stressed relations with USA in aftermath of Jamal Khashoggi murder and pricing of petroleum products in the wake of Ukraine crisis. Same is the case with Iran. Crippling sanctions placed by USA under the Trump regime has pushed Iran into a tight corner with an acute economic impact felt across the country. Covert role of Russia in the deal takes the number of mediators to two. China and Russia, it is argued, were busy enlisting anti-USA countries as friends. Apart from Iran, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were others to be brought into the orbit. Will China manage to create one such group in the near future where world order gets altered? What would be Russia’s standing given that its

Disinformation Hindus Human Rights Media Misinformation Opinion

554

Ram Navami processions Reality, Myth & Propaganda

Citizens & Lawyers Initiative, a relatively unknown organization or forum of any consequence in a bundled voluminous report on ‘Ram Navami’ and ‘Hanuman Jayanti processions has the audacity to describe these festival marches that are in vogue for millennia as ‘Routes of Wrath’. Justice Rohinton Nariman, a former judge of Supreme Court of India has lent his name with the foreword to this ‘hit job’ of an ‘agenda driven’ report that’s full of falsehoods, half-truths and propaganda to drive ‘Hinduphobia’ globally and further divide an intrinsically sensitive socio-economic groups that constitute Indian society. Divisiveness is the narrative in this report. Agenda is to ‘criminalize’ the over one billion Hindus in India and elsewhere. Break the social fabric that’s delicately balanced and stir up communal divide apart from weakening India in perceptions and narrative battle waged by a few self-centered individuals, organizations and groups that are well funded, groomed and motive under question.

Business Economy Geopolitics Policy World

527

Bhutan, Bharat, bhai bhai !

China’s intrusive prevarication may not turn New Delhi – Thimphu relations sour. Trying dirty tricks as in Nepal may not work to Beijing’s advantage Rohan Giri / New Delhi As of now China has emerged as minor distraction in India and Bhutanese relations that span over millennia, civilizational ties with strong bonds of friendship and close people-to-people contacts. When Bhutan’s king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk was in capital earlier last week on three days sojourn, there was enough noise made that growing proximity between Thimphu and Beijing may derail former’s relations with New Delhi. Unflinching commitment to take this friendship to next level may have not gone down well with several Beijing protagonists within and outside India. This should not matter much. Much of arguments that relations between the two countries were not honky dory had been attributed to remarks made by Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering on India – China – Bhutan border tri-junction, Doklam. The 73-days standoff between India & Bhutanese troops against Chinese counterparts during June – August 2017 is still fresh in mind. Twist given to Prime Minister Tshering’s comments was interpreted as Bhutan going the Chinese way which was untrue. In this backdrop, India and Bhutan scrupulously moving ahead with their commitment to neighbour-hood first policy assumes significance. Their shared vision for future cooperation including beneficial partnerships, significant reforms will have to be carried forward with vigour. Bhutan king’s meeting with Indian Prime minister Narendra Modi had in fact cleared the air and set the ball rolling for Bhutan in expanded bilateral trade cooperation, technology, cross-border connectivity, mutual investments etc. In the 13th five-year plan, both leaders envisioned successive Druk Gyalpos to guide India-Bhutan relations to new heights. Long-term sustainable bilateral ties in agricultural and critical commodities, setting up integrated checking post on the busiest trading way between both countries were also streamlined. Historical project of cross border rail link between Kokrajhar in Assam to Gelephu in Bhutan along with expansion of energy cooperation beyond hydroelectric project would further round the relations between two inseparable neighbours. Indian foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra said, “India will work to extend an additional standby credit facility. We will work to shape long-term sustainable arrangements for export of agricultural commodities from Bhutan. Also, work to develop long-term bilateral arrangements for assured supply of critical commodities like petroleum and coal.” If joint briefings were anything to go by, Bhutan seems keen to collaborate in financial technology sector, start-ups and emerging technologies. In effect, clear message seems to be on using United Payments Interface and ride piggyback as Indian rupee’s acceptance for making transactional settlements. India and Bhutan are friends in need and in deed. Vaccine Maitri drive launched by India had pulled half a dozen neighbourhood countries out of the humongous Covid – 19 induced pandemic mess. In fact, Bhutan was the very first beneficiary of the Covid-19 vaccine consignment from India. On the other hand, China was on expansionist spree beginning 2017 when it tried to build a road in 2017 through Chumbi Valley of Bhutan. When Narendra Modi was elected Prime Minister of India in 2014, Bhutan was the first country he visited treating the latter as a ‘reliable friend’ that could be trusted as an ally. There’s no denying that prior to this visit, there were some hiccups when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh withdrew cooking gas and kerosene subsidies. But, these were restored in 2014 after India saw a tectonic shift in its own power structure. Besides the bilateral and diplomatic relations, vibrant cultural linkages defined friendship between the two countries made it unique. (Rohan is a journalism graduate from Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) New Delhi, and Manager Operations at CIHS.)

Disinformation Fact Sheet Hindus Human Rights Misinformation

606

OIC selective amnesia, attempts to interfere in India’s affairs

Undermining Indian values may not help Muslim outfit, especially when it falls in line to support terror modules, their handlers Since its inception, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has made serious moves to interfere in India’s affairs periodically to constructed inaccurate, selective and misleading narrative that contravenes facts. During the recent violence heaped on peaceful Ram Navami processions last week, OIC came into the ring denouncing one side and following a set pattern. In the statement, OIC general secretariat said, “It has followed with deep concern the acts of violence and vandalism targeting the Muslim community in several states in India during the Ram Navami processions, including the burning of a madrasa and its library by an extremist Hindu mob in Bihar Sharif on March 31, 2023.” It continued, “The OIC General Secretary denounces such provocative acts of violence and vandalism, which are a vivid manifestation of mounting Islamophobia and systemic targeting of the Muslim community in India. The OIC General Secretary calls upon the Indian authorities to take firm actions against the instigators and perpetrators of such acts and to ensure the safety, security, rights and dignity of the Muslim community in the country.” In a befitting reply to these unwarranted one sided comments, official spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi, said on April 4, 2023, “We strongly condemn the statement issued by OIC secretariat today regarding India. This is one more example of their communal mind set and anti-India agenda. OIC does its reputation damage by being constantly manipulated by anti-India forces”. Facts were contrary to what OIC said in its press statement. Across states like Bihar, West Bengal, Maharastra and Jharkhand, islamists had targeted peaceful Ram navami processions when they passed through muslim majority areas provoking reaction from the faithful Hindus in a couple of places. On March 30, 2023, Ram Navami procession near Panjrigar mohalla in the Vadodara district of Gujarat was attacked by Islamists who pelted stones at the procession. In Uttar Pradesh, an incident of stone-pelting on a Ram Navami procession passing in front of a mosque was reported in the state’s capital Lucknow. In Maharashtra, Hindu processions were attacked in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalgaon, and Mumbai. A Ram Navami procession in the Malvai region of Mumbai’s Malad suburb was attacked by an Islamist mob as it passed by a Masjid near gate no. 7 area. In West Bengal, clashes broke out between two communities during a Ram Navami procession in the Dalkhola area of Islampur town of North Dinajpur. One person was killed and 5-6 policemen were injured in clashes in a Muslim-dominated area. Failure of the muslim religious and political leadership to rein in the rioters and violence perpetrators from their side seems to be root cause of violence, arson and friction. One key question is why does violence always happen during Hindu festivals that denote tolerance, bonhomie and boisterous with bhajans, singing and dance? Why’s it that violence invariably happens in Muslim majority areas? And, why’s it that Muslim leadership maintains a deafening silence on violence by jihadists and islamists of every hue and colour? This is not the first time OIC made attempts to interfere in India’s internal affairs violating global norms of diplomacy, decency and engagement in sane manner. Previously OIC had come up with a dubious statement on purported ban on Muslim female students from wearing hijab in the state of Karnataka. The statement had read, ‘the continued attacks targeting Muslims and their places of worship, the recent trend of anti-Muslim legislations in different states and rising incidents of violence against Muslims on flimsy pretexts are indicative of the growing trend of Islamophobia.’ Here again, the issue was misrepresented. Karnataka state government had only asked all students including female Muslims to adhere to uniform code set for colleges and schools. The issue was blown out of proportion after about half a dozen girls made hijab an issue as activists of banned organization, Popular Front of India (PFI). OIC also seems least bothered about partial or complete ban on hijab imposed by some of top Islamic countries. Chad, Egypt, Cameroon, Morocco, Algeria, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, and Gabon are some of the prominent Islamic countries that are members of OIC that have not made wearing of hijab mandatory. Prior to that, the notorious organisation trumpeted its concern on reported Haridwar hate speech describing that as a public call for genocide of Muslims by Hindu followers. Muslims genocide has never ever happened in India’s history of millennia. In fact, it was the other way round. In Kashmir, thousands of Hindus had to migrate out over last three decades owing to constant attacks, humiliation, loot, rapes and abuse at the hands of muslim terror outfits fanned, funded and indoctrinated by Pakistani ISI. OIC, in its meeting on the side lines of 76th U.N General Assembly, pressed India to reverse its decision to remove Jammu and Kashmir’s special status. In fact, abrogation of article 370 of Indian Constitution was an internal administrative decision of the duly elected sovereign government through a due process of law enacted by Parliament, the highest democratic institution in the country. In 2020, Delhi riots, OIC selectively said that riots had caused arson and vandalism of Muslim-owned properties. On the contrary, facts have come to fore where Hindus lost lives, properties and got severely abused at the hands of gun trotting Muslim terrorists. Way back in 1969, Muslim world collaborated to form its own international organisation to act as collective voice of Muslim world named the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, later renamed as Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in 2011. After United Nations, OIC is the world’s second-largest international body with 57 member countries, all of which are Islamic nations or countries with Muslim majority. India, despite being home to second-largest Muslim population country in the world with over 210 million muslims is not a part of the OIC. OIC is managed by Saudi Arabia, although Pakistan, as the only Islamic country

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