India Burning Again??

I was still trying to digest the news of the serial blasts in Delhi's famous markets yesterday when I had another shock at 1:30 am at night.

I received an SMS from my friend Monty this is what it said. "Emergency! Pray for Churches in Banglore. RSS beat up 36 Pastors; now heading towards New Life College. They have also attacked SIACS. Pray for Bible College students. Please forward this message." Shocked as I already was I switched on the television immediately. To my surprise I saw and heard no mention of Banglore on any news channel. I called Monty after surfing news channels of all languages. This is what he said.

Me: Monty is the news you gave true? I don't see anything on t.v
Monty: Yes I know even I don't see anything on t.v but I'm sure its true as I got the message from a friend who's from Banglore. He saw a Pastor being beaten up.
Me: Okay, I guess it will come in the news by morning.

We then wished each other good night but hardly slept. Me, Monty and other such Christians who received this message last night hardly slept.

No news till now and its already almost 12 hours since I received that SMS. It was probably a rumour. Probably.

9:00 am
My cousin Robin sends me another SMS stating the following.
Fresh riots in Orissa today: A nun burnt alive. Several Christian workers assaulted with deadly weapons. Orissa Christians forecast more trouble. Mobilize prayer support. Forward SMS to all Believers.

I asked myself what is going on?
I still have no answers. All I know at this hour of darkenss we need to rely on our faithful God. Just a passing phase hopefully.

Then I had other thoughts. How can such an inhuman thing happen in a very secular city like Banglore? How soon will these fanatics reach the home of Christian believers like me form beating up Pastors. (I guess when their high command allows them to graduate from Pastors to People). What is the Indian Govt doing? Why aren't the news channels showing the truth? (I'm guessing thats what they're meant to do).

Finally I asked myself Am I safe in my own country?
Did not have to wait long for an answer. I'm not safe here. India is burning again and I want to flee with my family and friends.

Why is India burning this time? Because a VHP leader was murdered by a maoist? Where do Christians or for that matter any minority feature here? What are these bodies VHP and RSS? Who the hell do they think they are? If you ask me I'd say they don't know what they are doing. If they were themselves they would've been rational humans and not fanatics bent on murdering innocent people for no reason. They're just possessed (not the Exorcist way). They are blinded by the opium called Religon. Karl Marx was right I guess "Religion is the opium of the masses".

I hope these lost sheep come back to their senses and treat man as man and especially the way they would like to be treated by others.

I would welcome the feeling of being a second rate citizen in another country when compared to feeling an outsider, a minority, a doormat in my own country.

Treat others as you youself want to be treated. Hope the same does not happen to you VHP RSS and all such other inhuman disgusting bodies. I'm saying this because Jesus said "Those who live by the sword die by the sword". He also said "Pray for your enemies and for those whom you hate. For if you pray for only those whom you love, what reward is there in it?"

So I shall pray not only for the poor souls of us who feel threatened but also for the poorer souls who threaten.

For related news read here http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14757893

Comments

Archana Narayan said…
Smriti, I think the issue is about religious fanaticism rather than about minorities. No one is safe, regardless of their religions. Fanaticism in any religion will result in politicization of religion and finally in blood shed. Forced conversions, riots, bloodsheds, fanaticism are common in all religions. But who is to blame? Really small groups that do not represent the thoughts and emotions of the majority or the group. Therefore, it is not about minorities and majorities. It is about crazy beliefs, conditions, feelings of being wronged, feelings of being neglected by the state, attention seeking behavior.
September 14, 2008 at 11:11 PM
Sneha said…
I agree with Archi that this is more about religious fanaticism and is more politically motivated than is really a reflection of how people really feel in the country.(but then again, I'm sure the Germans in the early 19 hundreds would have shrugged off early Jew killings the same way).
Something interesting popped from the recesses of my memory that seem very apt here.
Below is an excerpt from a book by a German Pastor who was against the Nazis.

" In Germany they came first for the communists and I didnt speak up because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the Jews and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for the trade unionists and I didnt speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Catholics and I didnt speak up because I was a Protestant.

Then they came for me, by that time there was no one left to speak up"
October 8, 2008 at 7:20 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Books Books Books

Books??? What are they? A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of paper, parchment, or other material, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf, and each side of a sheet is called a page. A book produced in electronic format is known as an e-book. Okay that got too serious :-) Who needs books?? We don't. We're Gen X. We flee from books the way a Princess would flee from an ogre (everybody is not Princess Fiona). But I guess in this context, if a book is an ogre and I a Princess, then I'd love it with all I have. I've been brought up reading, reading, reading or rather I choose to grow up that way. The habit of reading is said to be the most sophisticated and civilized habit. Who cares we're all rebels we don't need books to make us civilized. Or do we? The definition of being civilized has also changed. For our predecessors, being civilized mainly meant being cul
Read more

Novels Into Movies!

Reading a novel or watching a movie, which one would you prefer as your best mode of entertainment? In today's modern world novels are things of the past we'd rather prefer a movie. I'll tell you why. Who has the time to sit with a 600 page book for days together to enjoy a good story? Nobody, not today atleast. Thats why people prefer to watch a story that begins and ends within 3 hours and also gives visual pleasure. But my query is what about those movies that are made on these 600 - 1000 pages novels? Do we watch them? If we do, do we like them? Most of such movies are a filled with a little or (in most cases) lots of "masala" to suit the sesibilities of the so called "audiences". The best example I would quote here is Jane Austen's timeless classic "Pride and Prejudice" and Gurinder Chadda's murderous attempt to make it into a movie bollywood style! I wished Eliza and Dracy didnt exist in the novel after having watched this disaste
Read more

Africa

Africa!!! 'The Dark Continent" they call it. Why is it called so? Ever wondered why? Is it because its natives are black skinned? I don't think so. From my point of view it is 'Dark' because its highly backward. No amount of international aid can over come the rate of starvation deaths, infant mortality rate, and also the number of people infected with HIV and AIDS. Why is Africa, (the richest continent in the ancient days, read about the Pharoahs of Egypt or the Empire of Ethiopia) in such a state today? Do we blame it on the whites who rule them even today for destroying their culture and hereitge and rendering them helpless with an identity crisis? Why are the blacks so violent? Is it because of their violent past? Is it because of the violent legacy left behind by the Europeans? Or is it just because they like being tough? Can anyone answer my questions? Africa has been on my mind since childhood and i need answers. If anyone of u who visit my blog have any an
Read more