Hafta letters: Blaming the victims over Ayodhya and Gyanvapi, Hindu symbols in Newsance

In the recent podcast, Anand mentioned that he is not a journalist :) I am curious, what is his role or post at NL?

I know Abhinandan is a founding member and has been with NL since day one. I would like to know when the other NL members participating in this panel had joined NL? Can we expect to see Madhu in any capacity for NL shows or discussions?

Rhishikesh

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Hello Hafta team,

I like this podcast very much. Here is a recommendation for you to read. It is about representation of women in STEM.

Regards,

Pranav

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Hi team,

Can you cover the plight of Indian expats in the US and Canada? Their families are struggling to find visa renewal appointments in India, and thus have been prevented from visiting India since the start of the pandemic. This has resulted in many families getting stuck in India and loss of jobs abroad. I personally have been searching for appointments for this year since March but am unable to get one because of the shutdown of consulates.

V.K.

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Dear Hafta team,

The “formal” Muslim response to Ayodhya involved the courts, and was driven by individuals whose class insulated them from the physical violence that accompanied that agitation. Their response was ultimately pointless and detrimental to Indian Muslims although they were (unasked) “speaking for” the community.

The night of the Supreme Court judgement, less privileged voices on Mohammad Ali road in Mumbai responded with “Allah ne hum pe bada karam kiya”; a perfect illustration of the disconnect the formal response had with the actual community.

With Gyanvapi and Mathura Idgah, the same sort of “formal” responses emerged, with the same apparent disinterest in the broader impact of their actions on the country and its communities.

My question for you is: What is the best approach secular people in India can take to these conflicts?

It seems to me that we are reactive rather than proactive, and too often our response is automatic rather than considered.

Thanks,

Zafar

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Hi team,

Great podcast as always. Just responding to Manisha's upcoming Sydney visit. If there is a meet up, I'd love to participate. Also if you need anything while you're here please don't hesitate to ask. Cheers.

Rishi

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"The Muslim community is about to let its most retrograde and regressive members buy us all tickets to the potential blockbuster Ayodhya 2."

Manisha, Mehraj, and Fahad were too polite to this troll of a subscriber, but I am not obligated to any such politeness. So, allow me to uncork some ad hominem.

The very fact that Zaf blithely sees Gyanvapi issue as a popcorn-worthy blockbuster betrays their privilege, which allows them to perversely enjoy what is going to unfold as a mere spectacle, while countless underprivileged Muslims and Hindus suffer in the aftermath.

Zaf's letter is a classic case of blame-the-victim. Zaf should also show concern about the most retrograde and regressive members of the Hindu community, who have occupied positions of power and have already brought us to the cusp of Ayodhya 2.

I would like Zaf's opinion on whether the most retrograde, regressive, gullible, and misinformed Hindus keep enabling even more retrograde and regressive members of their community?

Anti Zaf Z

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This is my first letter to NL team. I subscribed mainly for Newsance, Sansad Watch and Hafta.

Here’s what I think of Gyanvapi or similar cases:

The government can't say it will be what it was in 1947. Whoever has fought for India would have this thought to get back at least some of its legacy monuments. I believe that every place of worship where there are more devotees (like more than 1 crore on 2013 stats, else they can be manipulated) should be considered for re-vamp. Because, if a place has more devotees, it will keep coming back.

I feel Muslims at the place should make a deal to take more space around the same spot and give this site to Kashi Vishwanath temple as gratuity. Also, take more shopping stalls nearby as part of the deal. That will help national integrity (I know I am living in utopia).

Thanks,

Sarath

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Here are few rhetorical questions:

1) How many places of worship were destroyed in modern India during construction projects such as Narmada dam? Is puja at mosque an essential part of Hindu religion?

2) About Aurangzeb’s rule, do we have evidence (on standards acceptable internationally) of how many temples were destroyed and built by him? What was the background/reasons?

3) My housing society has a common wall built by a mosque. Can mosques claim ownership of my housing society?

I would like you to provide insight into missing EVM allegations and progress (if any) on the case (if registered).

Asgar Shaikh

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Hi NL,

In Hafta 381, Fahad Zuberi mentioned the design of the Ayodhya mosque which includes a library, public exhibition space, dispensary etc.

It's normal for mosques to have non-religious spaces. In my hometown of Hyderabad, there’s a mosque nearby, built on waqf land, which has an adjacent library, and an empty sand pit where kids play.

I primarily reside in the UAE, and for a brief while lived in the UK. Most mosques in these countries have libraries and I know of some in the US that have basketball courts. My point is that having these kinds of spaces attached to mosques is not a new concept.

But in India, Muslims have to keep emphasising these things because we're so viewed with suspicion and also, because I find many from the Hindu community to be completely ignorant of what a mosque is and what it looks like from inside.

Brilliant episode with Fahad, and happy to have Mehraj back!

Sania

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Last week, I couldn't stop myself from being disappointed by anti-BJP forces in politics, news and social media making fun of Shivling. I myself am spiritual and don't get offended by shots at my belief. But this time it was a bit much. Yes, India is going through more serious issues and one can raise questions on economy and inflation without making fun of the Shivling. I have seen many people doing it, just to be on the opposite side. I am not saying this because I am offended. No. This is a perfect situation for BJP, where everyone opposing them appears to be anti-Hindu. Even people like me, who I think are very moderate, could sense Hinduphobia in those posts. This is good enough material for bigots to take advantage of.

In the thumbnail of last Newsance, I couldn't ignore the use of Tripund and Tilak…Wasn't the RSS uniform good enough for the purpose? Why use sacred symbols? Wasn't it stereotyping and Hinduphobic? Please think over.

Bhavesh

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New show suggestion: Help subscribers fight BJP propaganda forwarded on WhatsApp groups. I received a no context video of Rahul Gandhi at Cambridge University, where he is “stumped” by a question on violence. I personally did not see anything “pappu” in his response. But I did not know how to respond to the group members' attempt at mocking Rahul Gandhi. Do other people struggle with this around them?

Anon

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Hello! I just wanted to say that I enjoy your podcasts and I live in Sydney and would love to join in for any subscriber meetups!!

Bhavana