Author: Easwaran Nambudiri
Publication: Organiser
Date: September 24, 2006
URL: http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=149&page=3
Assault for flying tricolour and scaring children
with witchcraft
From literacy to primary health care, the
southernmost state of Kerala has over the years been a source of envy for
the other states of the Indian Union. But it has been leading the nation in
yet another field-the growth of Islamic fundamentalism.
Forget the Moplah riots of the past, the Marad
massacre, the victory of extremist groups, led by people like the key accused
in the Coimbatore blasts Abdul Nasser Madani, in the recent Assembly polls
and the rising fundamentalistic activities are indicators of the country's
most literate state fast becoming the hotbed of Islamic terrorism.
While the so-called progressives have been
dismissing such elements as fringe groups, some recent incidents in the otherwise
secular haven are indications of the subtle but increasing influence of these
hardliners in the large number of Islamic institutions spread across the state.
After opposing the recital of national song
Vande Mataram, which had inspired millions of Indians to rise against British
imperialism, and targeting Onam, perhaps the most secular festival in the
country after Republic Day and Independence Day, the hardcore Muslim fundamentalists
in the state recently attacked a fellow believer for having dared to unfurl
the tricolour at the Madrasa he taught.
Mujeeb Rehman was attacked on September 3
for unfurling the tricolour on Independence Day and not succumbing to the
pressures of a section of fellow-Muslims who stoutly opposed it.
"Once you dare to do this here, tomorrow
you will do the same in the mosque also," the assailants told Mujeeb
as they beat him black and blue. Mujeeb should have known that the green flags
atop mosques across the country strikingly resemble the Pakistani flag, to
which the Mullahs have no objection whatsoever.
Writhing in pain in his bed at the Manjeri
Taluk Hospital in the pre-dominantly Muslim district of Malappuram, Mujeeb
told reporters that though opinion was divided on the issue (unfurling the
national flag) among the followers, the majority of them was in its favour.
"But after the attack, they all vanished
into thin air, leaving me alone", he said.
Not wanting to pick up a fight with the fundamentalists,
Mujeeb did not file any police complaint but the incident became the talk
of the town after he vomitted blood and had to be hospitalized again.
Though Police have registered a case against
six of the goons, they were still in the process of "examining Mujeeb's
complaint."
After all, in a state where arch rivals, the
Congress-led United Democratic Front and the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front,
had the audacity to come together ahead of the Assembly elections and pass
a unanimous resolution in the Assembly demanding Madani's release, one cannot
expect much from the Police.
However, the silver lining among the dark
clouds is that Mujeeb does not regret his actions. He continues to believe
that he did the right thing despite his friends and colleagues not supporting
him. Mujeeb represents the miniscule but growing tribe of nationalist Muslims,
who have realized the futility of vote bank and divisive politics and the
importance of being the inheritor of a centuries-old legacy.
Earlier this month, the Muslim management
of the AWH Engineering College at Kuttikattoor in the pre-dominantly Muslim
Kozhikode district decided to prohibit Onam celebrations on the campus.
Kerala's renowned harvest festival has always
been cited as a symbol of the state's secular character as it has for centuries
been celebrated by Hindus, Muslims and Christians alike despite its Hindu
origins.
The incident came to light even as reports
poured in from Agra about an enraged Muslim father disowning his son and divesting
him of his family property for committing the grave sin of singing 'Vande
Mataram', which was "un-Islamic".
It remains to be seen whether a property dispute
is being given a 'patriotic' colour but here too the ray of hope is that the
boy's mother has backed her son to the hilt and asserts there is nothing wrong
in singing the national song.
Another disturbing trend which came to light
in the last few days is the aggressive conversion attempts being made by Christian
institutions. Prompted and encouraged by the anti-Hindu and pro-minority stance
of non-BJP governments at the Centre and the states, these institutions are
blatantly indulging in religious propaganda.
Lucknow's prestigious Loreto Convent recently
organised a date with Lord Jesus Christ which led to several students fainting
and horrified parents questioning the school's wisdom and motive behind it.
The school Principal, a dozen staff members
and about 250 girls from Class VIII to XII were privy to the 'special' occult
session that had a medium 'transforming' into Christ and blessing them. A
dozen students fainted while some others required medical attention. Most
of the students were either too horrified or shocked to narrate the experience.
The innocent children, mostly non-Christian,
were exposed to a demonstration of the little-known Chandra cult based in
Krishnagar, West Bengal.
The cult is headed by Nobo Kumar Mandal, a
rickshaw-puller patronised by the Murshidabad-based Catholic priest Father
Sebastian Kuzhipala. Father Sebastian and Sister Monica, the school's Principal,
conducted the show where Mandal served as the medium to bring Jesus to "heal
and bless" the gathering. Mandal is said to gone around grunting and
growling, making hissing sounds while 'inducing' Jesus to enter into his body.
"It is not unusual to be terrified when
the Lord comes before you. Even I was frightened…it is very painful when
Jesus enters the body. That is why he was writhing on the ground", explained
the Principal.
The aforesaid incidents, one hopes, would
serve as eye openers for the so-called secularists who continue to insist
that Madrasas are not 'anti-national' and that the Christian-run schools are
progressive.
